The Lure of the Devil (The Demons' Muse #4) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,125

was right. We couldn't throw sprites. There were too many cameras around, and one of them would catch something. That wouldn't end well for either of us. Granted, it also meant he couldn't simply attack me, so I was willing to consider this a stand-off.

"Religion still has power over their pathetic little minds," he countered. "It's been passed down for too many generations for you to erase. Not even a Muse with your ability can change that."

"I don't need to," I assured him. "See, I'm an atheist, and that means I've learned to play within the rules. I know how to work your religion for my benefit as well as you do. Gabriel, your weapon cuts both ways."

"Their faith is stronger than even your ability to manipulate them," he said.

I shrugged. "It's also not as blind as it once was. Go ahead. Tell the world that you speak for God. That's fine. But try telling them that he speaks back and you'll end up with a real cute white, self-hugging jacket. People believe in the concept, Gabriel. Not the reality." I smiled at him, knowing he couldn't refute it. "And I'm the one with the advantage here."

He huffed at that, clearly having no idea what I was talking about. "Most people don't like demons, Muse. They can feel the evil wafting off of them. Unless they're evil themselves."

"Mm. I've seen." But I waved that away, making it clear I didn't care. "It also wasn't what I meant. See, you're worried. We both know I'm not going to wait around for you to collect more slaves, which means you need to hurry, and you know what happens when you do that? You're going to make a mistake." I pointed across the lobby at one of the ever-present missing posters on the wall. "I think you already have. I don't need to destroy your religion, Gabriel. You're already doing that yourself, and I'm the one with God on my side."

He scoffed. "So confident. For a mere child, you think you have this all figured out. The ignorant always think they know more than they really do. It's never that easy, little girl."

Sam chuckled. "Was that what you told Michael when Vesdar failed? Or were you too busy trying to put your body back together after that dragon snapped you in half?" He smiled cruelly. "We're the one with the weapon, Gabriel. Angelis is playing by the old rules, thinking you know what will come next, but you're mistaken. You think we're aiming a slingshot, but you're so wrong. You have no idea what's really happening, while we know exactly what you're doing."

I lifted my cup of coffee and took a long drink, then pointed at the brochure the girl had given me. "Should I assume I'll see you at church? I mean, since you can't kick me out without destroying your impression of acceptance for all."

"Try it," Gabriel snarled. "Go ahead. Try to convince our followers that we're not everything we promise. They'll tell you all about how our fellowship allows them to see angels, and that's something you can't fight against."

Then he stood. Side by side, Sam and I just smiled knowingly, but inside I was cursing because he had a point. If they'd found some angel without a skin on this plane, then they had a miracle that I couldn't refute. Not directly. Then again, this was Earth. Here, angels weren't real, not even when people saw them.

I just had to figure out how to convince the masses of that.

29

Sienna

When we got back to the house, the rest of the guys were awake and working on their own coffees. That meant someone had cleaned the coffee maker, and from the pouty look on Bel's face, I had a feeling I knew who. Luke was sprawled on the sofa with a game controller in his hands, and Nick was in the kitchen with Ron - and from the sounds of it, teaching him about the strange items in the fridge.

Sam didn't bother to mince words. "We ran into Gabriel at the coffee shop!" he called out.

"Living room," Nick yelled back. "Coffee all around?"

"Please!" I told him, and the others made sounds of agreement.

We all poured into the living room. Luke paused his game and tossed the controller away. When he sat up, he patted the spot beside him, inviting me to take it. I had to squeeze between Bel and the coffee table to get there, but it left the other