among those present.
Lilah did her best to look bored. It didn’t work. She was thrilled to see me. “Because I wanted to. I only wish it had been easier to track down the white wolf.”
I repressed the sudden surge of venomous hatred. I wanted so badly to slap her with a blast of power. Cool and calm. That’s how I had to do this.
“So, what now? You bleed me and let my sister go?” I asked, indignant and refusing to show fear.
Lilah pretended to consider. She looked more like the Lilah I knew tonight. Her flame-colored hair was in a tight braid, and she was dressed to fight. I eyed her sturdy army boots, certain I’d take one in the face before the night was over.
“Are you in a hurry, Alexa? I’m not keeping you from anything, am I? Another hush-hush meeting with the FPA, perhaps.” She shot a snide look Shya’s way. He shrugged but remained silent.
“That’s a pretty cheap tactic for someone as old and experienced as you. Isn’t it?” There was a light touch on my mind from Arys. I let him in, seeking reassurance in his presence.
Lilah raised a hand to Falon, a wordless command. The asshole angel came to stand before me. It was so damn hard not to step away. His pale eyes were vacant of any emotion. Without laying a hand on me, he grasped my energy and jerked hard, stripping power from me.
The pain was immediate and agonizing. I screamed and went down hard on my knees. Falon grabbed my hand and pulled me up. The more solid connection intensified the pain. It felt like he was tearing me in half. Instead, he tore all the power that I’d gathered in readiness from me as if it were a limb from my body.
He whispered to me, using the sound of my shrieks to ensure nobody else heard. “You fucked up. I tried to help you.”
I sagged against him, and he let me go. Jez caught me before I hit the floor again. I gasped for breath, drained to the point of exhaustion. The leopard inside Jez crawled to the surface where it tried to offer me some comfort. I drew on her energy, taking just enough to stay on my feet.
“How was that for a cheap tactic?” Lilah asked, her steely, burnt orange gaze upon me.
My mind raced as I tried to figure out what Falon had meant. When the hell did he ever try to help me?
‘When he dosed you with his power,’ Arys supplied. ‘You came for her, and you failed.’
Shock settled in to fuel more questions. If that were the case, it would mean Falon wanted me to take out Lilah. I regarded him suspiciously, and he carefully avoided my eyes. As far as the angel was concerned, I couldn’t afford to assume anything.
“Can we just get this over with? Or, do you plan on torturing me further?” Maybe I was asking for it, but if I could get Lilah busy kicking my ass, Willow might get his chance to pop in.
“Honey, I haven’t even begun to torture you.” Lilah rose and walked around my sister’s chair, trailing her hand along Juliet’s arm as she did so. “Where is your vampire, Alexa? Surely he wouldn’t let you walk in here without him.”
“He doesn’t know I’m here. I’m not willing to risk my sister like that. Lilah, seriously, just take what you want from me and let Juliet go. Please.”
“I gave you the opportunity to make an ally out of me. You chose Shya instead.” Lilah’s angry gaze landed on the demon who grinned, infuriating her further. “Naturally, I’m feeling a tad betrayed. I worked at your side for years. I saved your ass, yet you trusted him over me.”
She was jealous of Shya? Really? I would have rolled my eyes if I hadn’t been so sure she’d knock them out of my head.
“Hey, it’s not personal. Remember?” I threw her own words at her. “I didn’t come to stroke the ego of an insecure, washed up demon. Stop wasting my time.”
Jez stiffened beside me and gave my arm a warning squeeze. Lilah’s slow calculated actions were unnerving. I wanted to piss her off enough to shake her control, to throw her off her game somehow.
Lilah’s eyes narrowed, but she held herself together. Without taking her eyes from me, she grabbed Juliet by the hair and jerked her head to the side. Dragging a sharp nail over Juliet’s jugular, Lilah