Sweet Reckoning (The Sweet Trilogy #3)(61)

Double ouch. I knew he didn’t mean it, but the words still cut.

Pharzuph chuckled. “I know being with her was a chore, but it was necessary. She’s somehow been able to fly under the radar. Now we know for sure that she’s a threat.”

“A threat?” Kaidan laughed.

“You think this is funny?” His voice seemed to get closer to Kai. “You think I have time to joke around?”

“Of course not, but having spent a good bit of time with her, it seems preposterous. She cares about nothing except where she’ll find her next drink.”

“Then she’s fooled you well.” Pharzuph’s voice turned deadly, making goose bumps sprout on my arms. “That boring Neph who you think’s so benign was caught being affectionate with her human mother-figure this morning. We sent five Legionnaires to get more information, and the girl took out four of the spirits! She’s a mercenary of heaven.”

“Wha—? How is that possible?” Bravo, Kaidan—he sounded genuinely shocked and confused.

Pharzuph seemed to hesitate, then said with reluctance, “She’s somehow able to wield a Sword of Righteousness. Only angels of light have been able to do that.”

A beat passed before Kaidan said, “But . . . why would an angelic weapon allow her to use it? I’ve watched her lead souls astray, and I’ve banged her myself. She’s hardly angel material.”

“I . . . we don’t know.” It was the first time I’d ever heard a Duke sound less than confident. Defeated, even.

“Is it possible someone is trying to deceive all of you? Point you in the wrong direction? I mean, how do you know about the sword and the spirits she supposedly killed?”

Kaidan sounded so convincing, and it seemed like his father was buying it.

“One of them escaped.”

“I hope that spirit isn’t misleading you.”

“They’re too stupid to come up with something like that,” Pharzuph said. “Unless they’re being led by someone. But I haven’t seen a spirit that terrified since the Fall. We sent it down to Lord Lucifer for further questioning. He’ll get the truth out of it.”

I shivered as Pharzuph kept talking.

“We’ve got Legionnaires on the hunt for both her and her father. Belial’s been eluding us for a while now, so he’s definitely up to something.”

“I see you’re keeping several whisperers with you to keep an eye out. That’s good.”

“I’m not going to let that girl get in a sneak attack. The other Dukes and I are staying armed and ready. We’ll find her and hold an emergency summit to learn the truth and get rid of her once and for all, angels be damned.”

“What can I do to help?” Kaidan asked.

“Do you have her mobile number?”

“No.”

Pharzuph cursed. “Then search for her. If you find her, she becomes your prisoner and you’ll notify me immediately. Do whatever is necessary to keep her with you and get her to the location we choose for the summit. And most importantly, disarm her. Under no circumstances should she be allowed access to the Sword of Righteousness.”

“Of course. I’ll begin immediately. I have a few ideas where she might be.”

“Good.” His next words were spiked with coldness. “It’s in your best interest not to fail me in this endeavor. Do you understand?”

I felt the chill between them from a quarter mile away.

“I understand,” Kaidan said, his voice low and deadly.

Finally, Pharzuph spoke again. “I’m going to Marissa’s tonight, and I leave in the morning. My new duty station will be in New York City, so it’s time for me to get settled there. Don’t waste any time getting to work on your task.”

“Yes, sir, but . . . you’re going to Marissa’s, you say?”

He sounded confused, and it took me a second to realize why. Marissa would have no idea who this young guy was. Her underground trade was highly secretive.

Pharzuph chuckled. “Marissa is a special human. She knows about our kind. She’s expecting me, and can’t wait to get her claws into my new skin.”

I nearly vomited.

Kaidan cleared his throat. “She must be an exceptional woman if you’ve been able to trust her in such a way.”

“Exceptional, yes. And I still expect you to be at her service if she calls on you, regardless of whether or not we live here.”

“Of course, Father. Enjoy your evening. I’ll begin my search for the Neph straightaway.”

“If you need to involve the son of Melchom to help you, then do that. He has a lot of resources at his disposal on the West Coast.”

Blake. Oh, he would be involved, all right.

“Brilliant idea,” Kaidan said.

Nothing else was spoken. Just the sound of footsteps as they both walked from the room, up the stairs, and out the door. Pharzuph started his car and drove away.

I let out a silent breath, and I rolled the conversation around in my head, pondering all I’d learned and feeling proud of Kaidan.

Mercenary of heaven. Was that really how they saw me? A dangerous demon assassin? Actually, I kind of liked that image. I was determined to find a way to secure our safe futures. If only I felt like a merciless assassin.