Wicked Bite (Night Rebel #2)(32)

Out of all the cruelties Dagon had inflicted on me, that was the most unforgivable.

“I don’t know your height or weight because this image of a slip of a girl with blue eyes and yellow hair isn’t the real you.” Ashael all but purred at me.

I dropped my glamour. That was the least of my secrets now. My long silver-blue-and-gold hair streamed down my back as my body filled out until it strained the jeans I wore. My sweater had been bulky to help ward off the cold temperatures, so that still fit comfortably, at least.

Ashael’s gaze raked me with a thoroughness that made Ian’s scent sharpen with anger. Good, I thought crossly. I still wasn’t over the stunt he’d pulled with the waitress yet.

“Stunning,” the demon drew out.

“Impatient,” I countered. “Do we have a deal or not?”

Ashael waved away Mao, then waited until she closed the screened door behind her before he spoke. Guess his trust of her had its limits. “Meet my terms, and we might,” Ashael replied.

“Greed is natural for demons, but do try to restrain yourself,” Ian said mildly. “Dagon’s death is all you’ll get.”

Ashael shrugged. “You’re going to kill Dagon anyway, so that’s no incentive for me. But there is an ancient relic I’m interested in. Fetch it for me, and we have a deal.”

Ian eyed him with all the wariness I felt. “Prove to me you can deliver us to Yonah first.”

Ashael dumped the contents of his teacup onto the platter. Then he used his fingernail to slice open his wrist. When the cup was full of his blood, Ashael closed his eyes. He didn’t speak, nor did his hands move, but magic flowed out until it made my skin crawl. When it crested, Ashael opened his eyes.

His blood rose from the cup, stretching to form the head of a middle-aged bald man with a Roman nose and deep-set eyes. When that head turned to see all three of us and his expression showed surprise, I realized the creation wasn’t merely a magic-infused molding. This was a blood-coated conference call.

“Yonah,” Ashael said to the head in Aramaic when he turned back to him. “I might be sending two sojourners to you.”

Yonah looked back at Ian and me. “Are these the sojourners?”

Ashael flashed a cold grin our way. “If they meet my test.”

Ian moved until he was facing the head. “If this is the true Yonah,” he said, also in Aramaic, “tell me the name of the red-haired demon-branded bloke who met you a few years ago inquiring about refuge.”

“Nathanial,” Yonah replied at once.

Ian nodded as if satisfied. “Tell me about this relic,” he said to Ashael.

The blood-formed head turned back into liquid that splashed down onto the platter. It reminded me that I was hungry, not that I’d feed from demon blood. Aside from my repugnance for their species, demon blood was also a vampire inebriant.

“It’s an ancient horn,” Ashael replied. “Guarded, of course, though the guards are vampires, so it should be easy for you to get past them. That’s why you’re going alone, Ian.”

“Like hell he is,” I said at once.

Ashael sighed. “Ariel—”

“Veritas.” My voice was sharp. “I don’t know how you heard that other name, but I don’t answer to it.”

Ashael inclined his head. “Veritas, then. You might not like this condition, but it’s nonnegotiable. Besides, with the added benefit of Dagon’s power, Ian should have little trouble overcoming half a dozen or so vampire guards.”

Ian’s expression didn’t change, but he was still holding my hand, so I felt his temperature rise a notch. “See that, do you?” he asked in a careless tone. “Didn’t know your powers included spotting evidence of a demon brand.”

Ashael smiled. “You’re not branded by Dagon anymore. Somehow, you have his power another way.”

Ian’s temperature spiked again; something that wouldn’t be possible for a normal vampire, but Ashael had just confirmed he knew Ian wasn’t normal. More significant, Ashael confirmed that a demon’s power signature was as unique as we’d hoped. Now we really needed Yonah to do that tracking spell.

“Why do you want Veritas to stay here?” Ian asked, as if nothing of importance had occurred.

Ashael’s smiled vanished. “I don’t trust you. Yes, what I know about Veritas means she has every reason not to betray me, but I can see you keeping the horn and selling Yonah’s location to the highest bidder while leaving her to pay the price.”

I let out a contemptuous laugh even as Ian bit out, “That won’t happen.”

“Prove it,” Ashael stated. “Steal a priceless artifact and give it to me instead of keeping it for yourself. Then I’ll know you value her more than your infamous tendency to add yet another treasure to your vast collection of rarities.”

“Done,” Ian replied, letting go of my hand.

I muttered a curse in Sumerian, then picked up Ashael’s cup and drained the demon’s remaining blood from it.

Ian gave me an amazed look. “What are you doing?”

“Getting drunk,” I replied tartly. “I can’t take more of your eagerness to get killed while sober.”

He snorted. “A few vampire guards will hardly kill me—”