forward to hiss angrily into the demon’s face. “We’re not pawns in your game of underworld chess. You don’t get to decide who lives and who dies.”
She was yelling loud enough to hurt my ears. I stood close, ready to grab her if she went for him. As entitled as she was to what she was feeling now, I couldn’t let her do something crazy.
I was dying to address Shya’s comment about being unwilling to lose me, but that wasn’t what I was here for, not this time.
“Is that it? Are you finished?” Shya studied her, peering deep into her green eyes with his snake-like crimson ones. “Demon blood might run in your veins, but if you don’t have the power that goes with it, it doesn’t mean a thing, so watch your tongue, sweetheart. I’d hate to have to pull it out of that pretty face.”
Jez recoiled in horror. Her face fell and she backed away. Unease slid through me. Shya watched her as if she were a wounded deer. Easy pickings. I cleared my throat in an attempt to draw his gaze back to me. It didn’t work.
He stared into her with a drowning red intensity. Only when she finally dropped her gaze did he avert his. The temperature in the room seemed to rise by several degrees. Shya’s strange otherworldly vibe resonated strong and hot. It was slightly painful.
Dismissing Jez, his attention swung to Falon. With a brow raised in interest he asked, “Now, what’s this I hear about your whore? Is there something you want to tell me?”
Disappointment filled me. I was bummed out that I wasn’t the one to expose Falon’s secret. However, I was more than happy to be present for its exposure. This I wanted to see.
Falon met Shya’s gaze evenly. He was unafraid, facing the demon with a stubborn set to his jaw. “I don’t need your permission to take a lover, Shya.”
“No, of course not. Who that lover happens to be, though, may affect your loyalties. I’m sure you’ve heard the human saying, don’t shit where you eat. Be careful, Falon.”
The two of them faced off, exchanging so much without saying a word. The tension was palpable, heavy enough to suffocate. If they didn’t stop staring at each other like that, my head was going to explode.
“I want to see Gabriel,” I repeated, risking Shya’s wrath. “I’m not leaving until I know he’s alive.”
“Fine.” Shya spun on his heel and motioned for me to follow. “Let’s get this over with. Once you see he’s alive and well, I expect you’ll be on your way. I’m busy.”
“I see that.” Finally, I got my chance to shoot a questioning glance at Arys. I mouthed the words, ‘What the fuck?’
I felt him, a light touch in my mind. ‘We’ll talk about this later.’
I didn’t reply. Instead, I chose to give him my best dirty look. My night was so full of chaos and shit already, I didn’t have the capacity for more. Whatever Arys was doing here with Shya, I wasn’t going to like it.
Shya led us into the living room. It was open, attached to the kitchen. With a high ceiling and a second floor balcony overlooking, it felt much bigger than it actually was. The back walls were glass from floor to ceiling. They looked out onto the backyard with its pool and sprawling lawn.
Gabriel was out there, seated on the back patio couch. Several spellcasting items were spread on the small table before him. His back was to us. I watched as he added a sprinkle of something black and dusty to a chalice. Shya had wasted no time putting him to work.
“There, you see? He’s fine. Happy, Alexa?” Shya’s expression all but dared me to argue.
“I want to speak to him.” I didn’t wait for Shya’s permission. I strode to the patio doors and let myself out into the backyard.
Gabriel raised his head, surprise registering on his face. His eyes were solid black. He was filled with the dark magic he performed.
“You shouldn’t be here,” he said, his lips curling in annoyance. “This is a delicate spell. You’re ruining it.”
“You shouldn’t be here either. And, you sure as hell shouldn’t be messing with dark forces. It’s dangerous, Gabriel. If you get in too deep, it will never let you go.”
“I guess you would know. Do you expect me to believe your power isn’t rooted in darkness?” He reached for a bag of what looked like dried flowers and continued preparing