we ring the bell or just burst inside like some action movie?” I returned Jez’s grin. Nothing about this was funny, but it was impossible not to get off a little on the excitement.
“Hey, she only murdered people we care about for her own gain,” Jez said, heavy on the sarcasm. “No reason we can’t be civil.”
“Alrighty, then.” With a shrug, I leaned on the doorbell longer than necessary. I gathered my power close, ready to use it. The pressure built fast thanks to the taint of fallen angel, which would not be easily held.
“I swear,” I muttered. “If Falon opens this door I’m going to kick him in the damn-,”
The door cracked open, and I braced for whoever was on the other side. I wasn’t expecting a human. Thin and exceptionally pale, she stared at us with eyes the size of dinner plates. Stinking of fear and blood, she glanced nervously at someone out of sight before speaking.
“Can I help you?”
I could feel a vampire or two nearby, no problem. I was more worried about the demons that I couldn’t sense.
“Tell her we want to talk. That’s all.” For now.
I waited for a reaction, but the woman had none. I could smell the bites on her though I couldn’t see them. Lilah certainly wasn’t the first vampire to keep human cattle, but it was still sickening. For once, I didn’t feel so bad about my ties to The Wicked Kiss, as owner or patron. At least our victims were willing.
“She will see you in the library.” The frail woman turned and walked away, fully expecting us to follow.
Jez didn’t hesitate. She entered the house without batting an eye at the elaborate decor or the two vampires standing in the shadows beyond the sun’s reach. I approached more cautiously. One of the vamps I recognized right away—because the bastard worked for me.
Shawn was a wannabe tough guy who had tried to scare me into letting him taste my blood the first time we’d met. Upon learning I was Arys’s wolf, he’d backed off so fast he almost burned a hole in the carpet. Since then he’d been an acquaintance and The Wicked Kiss employee, ready and willing to provide muscle where needed.
“Sorry, Alexa,” he said, lifting one shoulder in a half-assed shrug.
“No worries,” I replied with a cold smile. “You’re fired.”
The foyer was huge, complete with the largest spiral staircase I’d ever seen. Lilah’s human led us behind it to a set of open double doors that revealed a library so magnificent I couldn’t help but gawk. Still, my survival instinct was stronger than my awe. When a pair of hellhounds appeared in front of us, I threw up an energy barrier that crackled with fire.
“Stand down, boys.” Lilah’s command was immediately obeyed. The beasts sat down and shut up but never once took their vacant red eyes from us.
Books lined the room from floor to ceiling. Right away, I could tell human eyes had never seen many of the titles. I would have loved the chance to take a peek inside any of them.
The hardwood floors were smooth and shiny. Paintings depicting various historical scenes adorned the walls. I didn’t take any time to study them; I had eyes only for Lilah.
She sat in front of an empty hearth. I did a double take; she barely looked like Lilah. With her flame-colored hair in long, loose waves that framed her face and a flowing black gown that pooled on the floor at her feet, she was almost pretty. A shiny silver crown sat upon her head. The front of it was a cobra’s flared head. The body made up the rest of the crown.
A small harem of vampires and demons fell all over themselves, fawning over her in worship. They kissed her arms, her face, touching her with lusty caresses. She sat in the middle, eating up the attention, smiling in satisfaction.
Her human pet stood awkwardly nearby, awaiting further instruction. A pair of demons flanked Lilah, each standing on either side behind her chair. One of them was Brook. He stood protectively over her, watching with a cold, steely gaze that spoke of nightmares come true.
I was willing to bet there were others, currently unseen. I wondered if Falon was among them. A dozen vampires scattered about the library watched us with intrigue.
“Look at you.” Lilah’s burnt orange gaze traveled over me appraisingly. She shoved her men away and gave me her full attention. “Sucking up power like a