made Abel a greater threat now than ever before. He’d become the go-to guy when she couldn’t turn to Alec.
Sabrael levitated until his feet were once again level with the top of the tower. “You will remain an archangel until I decide you are no longer useful in that capacity. I find that possibility very slim indeed.”
The seraph left.
Alec lingered, hoping that time would present the solution he searched for.
***
Once Sydney and Montevista were settled for the night—Sydney in the guest room and Montevista on the couch in the living room—Eve had Ishamel shift with her to the subterranean floors of the tower. Together they knocked on Hank’s door.
“It’s late,” Eve said. “Are you sure he’s still here?”
“He lives here.” Ishamel set a hand at the small of her back and urged her through the opening door.
“Welcome back,” Hank said, appearing out of the darkness. “You’ve had an interesting afternoon since you left me.”
“You could call it that’ she agreed dryly.
He must have noted Eve’s velour jogging suit and Ishamel’s casual state, because he changed from dress slacks and shirt to a black sweat suit that reminded Eve of Riesgo’s, although the priest was considerably more muscular.
Her resolve strengthened further. A lot of people were depending on her to not screw everything up. “I have a couple of questions for you.”
“Let’s sit?’ Hank led the way to the now-familiar rough-hewn table. Immediately afterward, Fred approached in a tight patent leather and metal bodysuit. Her face was heavily made-up and her long white hair was teased big. She set a tray down bearing a pitcher of Hank’s favored iced tea and three glasses, then sashayed away, revealing a horsetail-thing swaying from the rear of her outfit.
Eve stared. Ishamel looked away.
“Hot damn, Fred,” Eve called after her.
Hank gave an elegant shrug. “Note that the tengu is quiet. Seems he’s become enamored with Fred. The dominatrix guise keeps him distracted.”
Since Eve herself had been rendered speechless for a moment, she could see how well the getup worked. She returned her attention to Hank. “Do you have something or some way to keep Infernals from disintegrating when killed?”
One red brow rose. “Why?”
“I need a body.”
“The masking agent seems to preserve bodies.”
“It also restores them.” She shook her head. “I don’t need any more recurring kills. I want the vanquished to stay dead, but I need some remains. At least until cremation.”
“Hmn. The necklace might do the trick.”
Eve sat back. “You think?”
“It’s a possibility.”
“Okay, next question. What happens to mortals who see things they shouldn’t?”
Hank’s fingertips rubbed back and forth along a deep groove in the table. “Depends on how credible the witness is and what proof they have, if any. It’s impossible to say until it happens. You’ll have to take your chances.”
Ishamel picked up a glass and swallowed tea in great big gulps. When he finished, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and asked, “It just so happens that I might have a use for a Nix attractant. You wouldn’t happen to have one, would you?”
“Why, yes.” Hank smiled wide. “I have one. Glad you can use it, since our firm leader ordered me not to give it to Evangeline.”
Fred reappeared with a lovely green glass atomizer bottle, which she set down in front of Ishamel. Eve studied the lili while she was close, looking beneath the cosmetics to the delicate features beneath. Eve wondered how closely Fred resembled her mother. She was a very pretty girl, with a delicate deportment that effectively hid the nature of the beast within.
“Thank you,” Ishamel said.
Eve’s lips pursed.
“What troubles you?” Hank asked.
“Would Lilith have a reason for wanting to get her hands on Abel?”
Ishamel stared hard at her. “You assume she is interested in him. Why not assume her motivation is the resulting gain? I see him as a means to an end.”
“Perhaps it’s you she wants,” Hank suggested, catching up on the conversation by reading Eve’s thoughts. “Perhaps she views you as a surrogate Eve, beloved wife of Adam. She hates both of them with a passion.”
“Let’s skip that avenue for now’ Eve said. “It’s a dead end. Lilith would either kill me or torture me. Either way, end of story. But if she had Abel, what would she do with him? Keep him or trade him, right? If she kept him, why? And if she traded him, what would she trade him for? What does Satan have that she might want?”
Ishamel laughed, a rusty unused sound. “Lilith wants everything. And