My eyes narrowed for a moment as I spotted something perched on the table under the mirror where Selene had just stood. “Is that a shrunken head?” I pointed to what looked like a withered pygmy head. “From our plane?”
“Yes,” Lili replied, not even bothering to glance where I gestured. “Before he was the Prince of Hell, and was only a high-ranking demon, he was summoned to your plane often, by many. He brought back… a souvenir each time.”
“That head doesn’t look like it was given freely.”
She shook her head. “No, unfortunately for some summoners, most of his trinkets were not. The Prince has always been a very fierce, very proud demon. He was meant to rule, not to be called upon like a slave.” She turned abruptly and started walking through an entryway. “His personal rooms are this way.”
We all followed, including a pensive Selene, who kept running her hands over her hair and face, hoping for a miracle. Keep an eye on her, I told my wolf. I want to know if she suddenly generates a lot of power. My wolf gave me a “no shit” look and shook her head. Well, lately we’ve been on opposite sides of the argument. I’m just trying to keep it real. She huffed at me and turned her back. My wolf was such a good sport.
We strode through a huge living area decorated in straight lines and smooth textures. There were several long black couches made out of some kind of demon material. It was all very orderly. I didn’t see a kitchen or any place to prepare food. “Where does the Prince eat?” I asked, thinking about the horrid gazebos. I knew for a fact that the Prince of Hell did not eat with the common demons.
Lili stopped. “In the main kefefr laat, of course. That’s where all the Demon Lords and demonesses eat.”
“What’s a kay-fay-frea lay-at?” Ray asked.
“It’s the main dining room. We have four meals a day there. Each feast is a very elaborate event.”
“Is your food always… alive?” I asked, wondering if I really wanted to know. “From what I’ve seen, demons prefer to have their meals wiggle and fight.”
“Yes,” she said. “We prefer our food breathing, but we do… mix it up on occasion. Freezing the main course and letting it thaw just before we partake of it is a recent favorite.”
I shivered. That was just plain gross.
“That’s fairly disgusting,” Tyler commented, not having to read my mind on that one. “Even in my wolf form, I make a clean kill before I eat.”
“We are… not like you, if you haven’t noticed,” she said. “It took me time to adjust to it too, but my demon side takes great joy in food that… puts up a struggle.” Her pupils elongated, radiating her pleasure. “It’s an acquired taste.”
“Well, it’s one that none of us will be acquiring any time soon,” I finished.
We continued down a long hallway with a beautiful bowed white ceiling, and at the end was another elaborate door.
Lili pushed it open without incident. “This is where the Prince conducts his business while he is home. Do not touch any of the buttons on the desk if you do not wish for company.” She went across to the far wall and pressed a lever, and a sheet of material cascaded down one wall. She turned back to us. “There you go. No prying eyes. Once this is down there can be no surveillance.”
Rourke strode immediately to the Prince’s desk, fingering all the notes and books piled there. “I know the Prince will have specific demon law books as well as High Law books that cover the rights of all supernaturals. If the Prince of Hell is also the judge and jury of the Underworld then he must have access to all information and I want to see it.”
Lili walked behind the desk and opened a large cutout in the wall to expose row after row of orderly books. “You are welcome to look here, but all these demon books are written in Demonish. I doubt you know the language well enough to read it.”
Rourke grunted his response.
All the books were adorned with strange characters on the spines, like hieroglyphics.
“If he has High Law books,” Tyler stated from the doorway, “they will be footnoted in English as well as all the popular European languages.”
Tyler and I only spoke English, since we’d been raised in America and we were very young on the supernatural age scale. I had no idea how many languages Rourke spoke, but my guess was many.
“I know some Demonish phrases,” Rourke said. “But of course the written language will be a challenge. But the demons have close ties with the Shamans of the East, correct? They worship the Underworld and speak many European languages. I know a lot of those.”
Lili appraised my mate with a calculated gaze. “Yes, the Shamans do have a strong connection to the Underworld. Unfortunately, they are not involved in any of our laws. We use them for… ceremonies.”
I followed Lili and Rourke behind the desk and sat down in the chair. It was ridged and cool. “There has to be something here we can work with, Lili. We need information, specifically about the Scriptures.”
Lili strode back to the entryway where Tyler stood. Ray and Selene had stayed outside the office. I could hear them bickering about something in the hallway. “I will check the other rooms and see what I can find.”
I nodded toward Tyler. “Go with her and see if you can come up with anything.” Watch her like a hawk, I said. Something’s up.
I’m on it. He turned and followed her out, closing the office door behind him.
I swiveled in the chair and met Rourke’s heated gaze. It was the first time we’d been alone since he’d arrived. Shivers raced up my spine and a calm heat spread over my entire body.