Sweet Evil (The Sweet Trilogy #1)(25)

I peered under Kaidan’s arm at the tall man who stood there wearing a black suit with a baby blue tie that matched his eyes. His hair was darker than Kaidan’s, cut shorter, and gelled back with a gentle wave. He had a red starburst three times the size of his son’s. The handsome demon man smiled lightly as he took in the sight of the two of us. It even seemed as if he sidestepped to get a better look at me. I pulled up the blanket that had slipped down and revealed my bra.

“My apologies, son. I didn’t realize you had company.” As he moved toward me to eye me more closely I could have sworn his eyes flashed red for an instant. His voice chilled the room. “I never imagined you’d care to entertain female Nephilim.”

“I don’t normally.” Kaidan stood now and moved away from me. “She caught me while I was bored and alone after practice.”

His father sniffed and wiped his nose, as if there were an unpleasant odor in the air.

“You will come up for tea. Both of you.”

He turned and went up the stairs. Kaidan closed his eyes and balled his fists at his sides. My heart was hammering. I rushed to get my shirt back on, pushing clumsy arms through the sleeves, and was horrified to see two buttons had popped off in the middle. I held it shut with trembling hands. Kaidan picked up his red T-shirt from the floor and tossed it at me. I turned away from him and switched shirts. His was gigantic on me, but it was better than exposure. I tried to ignore the fact that it smelled like a total dream: woodsy and citrusy and masculine.

I followed Kaidan up the stairs, attempting to convince myself that having tea with a demon and his knife-slinging son was nothing to be scared about.

We came to a formal living room, where Kaidan’s father sat in an armchair and motioned for me to sit on the love seat nearest him. Kaidan leaned against the wall with his arms crossed over his bare chest. His father looked up at him and chuckled low.

“Look at my boy standing there,” he said to me. “Such a caveman. Son, find a shirt and join us.”

Kaidan walked out as a woman came in carrying a tray with a delicate tea set. She poured three cups of steaming tea, and then looked to Mr. Rowe for approval. He gave her a crooked smile, causing her aura to redden, and then he nodded her away with a pat on her bottom before returning his attention to me. Gah!

“What is your name?”

My throat was too dry to answer on my first attempt, so I swallowed and tried again. “Anna.”

“Anna, my name is Pharzuph, but among humans I go by Richard Rowe. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a badge so unusual.” He stared at my chest with a bit too much interest, and I had to refrain from crossing my arms. Kaidan came back in wearing a black shirt and sat on the love seat, keeping clear distance between us.

“Do I recognize the color of Belial?” Pharzuph asked. I didn’t like how he spoke, as if he were practicing his lazy, sexy drawl on me.

“I... I’m sorry?” I asked.

“Belial is your father’s dark angel name,” Kaidan explained.

“Surely she knows that,” Pharzuph scoffed. But as he looked at me he got that same look of confusion Kaidan had worn the night we met.

I coughed and swallowed again, keeping my breathing even in hopes of calming my aura. I wanted to take a drink of the tea to wet my throat, but I didn’t want to spill it.

“I just found out I’m Nephilim. Kaidan explained some things to me.”

My voice came out calmer than I’d expected. I was careful to say only that I’d learned from Kaidan. I didn’t want to talk about Sister Ruth or Patti.

“And how did the two of you meet?”

“By coincidence,” Kaidan answered for me. “She was at one of my gigs.”

“I take it Belial has not taught you what it means to be of the Neph race, then?”

“No. We haven’t met.” I shifted, still in disbelief that I was sitting here explaining myself to a demon who looked so normal.

“I assume he doesn’t know of your existence? I daresay he would not have neglected your training otherwise.” Pharzuph appeared relaxed, amused even, but his tone was cold and calculating.

I didn’t answer, opting for a small shrug. Playing dumb felt like the best option here.

“I can assure you that I will have him informed at once. But in the meantime, you cannot be left unattended. Kaidan will show you the ropes. First things first—you reek of innocence. Yes, that’s right. I can smell it—your virginity.” He said it like a bad word, and my face flushed hot. “Like overripened fruit. Not to mention your emotions hanging about your person for all to see. How old are you?”

“Sixteen.”

He leaned forward and smacked his knee with astonished laughter at my answer. “A sixteen-year-old Neph virgin! How do you expect to be a bad influence to humans if you aren’t behaving badly yourself? I assume you at least partake in substances with your peers?”

“Yes.” Surely I could be given a free pass if I stretched the truth to a demon.

I tried to process all he’d said. A bad influence on humans? Oh, boy. And what had he called me? Neph? Ah, short for Nephilim.

“You must not be partaking enough or you wouldn’t still have your virtue. Get my bag, Kaidan.”

His bag? That sounded like creep city. Pharzuph picked up his tea and sipped it until Kaidan returned. Pharzuph pushed aside the tea tray and opened the small black bag, laying out vials of powders and liquids, baggies with various dried plants, silver pipes, syringes, and other drug paraphernalia that made my skin crawl with revulsion and need. Please, please don’t ask me to do any of these.