she moved to pass the vampire king, she suddenly felt more than naked. She had no way of defending herself should this meeting go to shit, but she was making a gesture of goodwill. Otherwise they’d get nowhere. She had no stake in this game and didn’t want one. This was the only way she knew how to prove that to them.
“So you really are a Fallen Angel,” Isobel said, breaking the silence.
Chloe turned and glanced over her shoulder before she entered a large kitchen. The brownstone was enormous. The warriors had to have combined two homes to give it so much space inside. “You could say that. Are you familiar with my kind?”
Isobel bobbed her head up and down. “My Guardian Angel Ramiel married a Fallen Angel and Zakara got her wings back.” Chloe should have known these warriors knew Zakara. It brought forth a rumor years ago about a young Vampire Princess being called the Demonator because she gave demons a true death. “Did you know her?”
Chloe took a seat on a stool at the large island. “I haven’t seen her since the Great War. Although I work at her old bar now.”
Zander ran a hand through his hair while Dante removed items from the bag and set them on the island. “Dante was right about you. You aren’t what you seem. Why is that?”
Chloe sighed and fought the urge to lay her head on the marble countertop. “What does it matter? I am not here on a demon’s orders and I mean you no harm. I just want to be left alone to live my life.”
Dante popped open a plastic container. The aroma that escaped made her mouth water. Whatever was in those burgers smelled delicious. “We need to understand what the demon is after. You didn’t see any runes or dark symbols which tells me he isn’t trying to free Lucifer, but that doesn’t make any sense. They’re all after that.”
“It makes as much sense as a Fallen Angel that isn’t really a true fallen.” Isobel leaned against one of the walls and had her arms crossed over her chest. Her words were spoken in a monotone and her gaze was hollow.
Zander tucked hair behind one of her ears. “You don’t have to be here, nighean. I can take you home.”
Every single one of the warriors had furrowed brows and pinched mouths as they watched the exchange. Even Dante had shifted his gaze from Chloe to the Princess. These males were worried about her well-being. Why was that?
It wasn’t as if she was incapable of protecting herself. If the rumors were accurate, this girl could kill Chloe, soul and all, with one touch of her hand. That wasn’t someone they needed to worry about. Their concern and protectiveness reminded Chloe that not all males were cold-hearted bastards. Just ninety-nine percent of them.
“I’m not going home.”
Zander nodded. “Okay. Why do you say she isna a true fallen?”
Isobel’s eyes landed on Chloe and stopped her mid-grab. She had a plate with a bun and a patty hovering in the air in her hand. Something probed her. It was as if there was some device running over Chloe’s body and taking her measure.
Isobel approached the island and grabbed a soda Axel had gotten from the fridge. “Because she’s never been in the Underworld. She doesn’t carry dark energy.”
Dante’s head snapped in Chloe’s direction. Chloe lowered her eyes and focused on putting the patty on her bun. She grabbed lettuce next and picked up a container of a white sauce and brought it to her nose. Lime, cilantro and mint. Figuring it was meant for the burger, she spread some carefully on her bun.
Dante held out some cucumber and fresh jalapeno slices. “You have to add these, too. They take it to the next level. So, is Izzy right? Have you never been in the Underworld?”
Chloe placed the veggies on her patty then lifted the burger and took a bite. Flavor exploded on her tongue and she moaned in delight. “So good.” She chewed and swallowed thinking these burgers were worth staying in the house for. Chloe considered what she should tell them. Izzy had hit too close to home for her liking. In her experience everyone would use you for their own purposes. It was best to keep to yourself and never share too much.
Finally deciding on a middle ground, Chloe nodded. “Isobel is right. I have never been in the Underworld.”
All of the males started speaking at once.