The Lure of the Devil (The Demons' Muse #4) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,126

couch for Sam. A few minutes later, Nick and Ron came in carrying three cups each. Nick claimed the spot beside Sam, Ron took the place on my other side, and everyone looked at me.

"So," I said, pausing to taste my coffee. "Mm, this is so much better here than lukewarm on Tyrnigg."

"I tried to bring it fast," Bel told me, sounding sad.

"I know, hun, " I assured him. "I think it's more that I'm home. Everything tastes better at home."

Luke huffed in amusement. "Sounds like we're going to need to transfer the deed of this house to her, then."

"Really?" I asked.

He just lifted a hand. "Don't get distracted, demon."

"It's pumpkin," I reminded him.

Nick dropped his head and shook it. "You are so bad at pet names, Luke. I'm the demon. She's 'pumpkin.' You're 'angel.' Get it straight."

"Fuck off, hellboy," Luke teased, making it clear Nick had his own pet name now. "Demon's reserved for Bel. I was just trying to let Sia know she's one of us."

Sam pointed at himself. "Chopped liver?"

"Petunia," I teased, making it up on the spot because it sounded like something Luke would use.

"And," Luke said, "that is definitely going to stick. Now. Angels in Kharma Kafe?"

"Right," I said. "So let me start at the beginning. Sam is hot in the morning, especially with no shirt on and wet, messy hair. That's how he swept me off my feet and to my favorite coffee shop in five worlds. We were talking about last night, and a girl sitting kinda beside us heard." I pointed at Sam, because he had the flier. "Anyway, she invited me to her prayer group. Said it sounded like I had some relationship problems. Keep in mind, all she heard was orgy."

Sam tossed the flier onto the coffee table between us. "Looks like Sia got invited to the Delta Phi fellowship."

"But," I continued, "while I was talking to her, she waved at someone on the sidewalk outside. Since she was closer to the door, I couldn't initially see who, and then Gabriel walked in. And yes, he recognized us. He tried to throw out a few threats, we told him it doesn't matter, and I pointed out that I know they're scared."

"Did you mention Ayala?" Nick asked.

I shook my head. "No. I figured that would make things worse. I mostly told him that I have the advantage because this is my home turf. That I understand how humans think about religion."

"She did good," Sam told the guys. "Almost as arrogant as an angel and twice as confident without giving up anything. The problem is that Gabriel knows we're here, which means they'll be looking for us now."

"So what's the plan?" Ron asked.

"Delta Phi," Luke said. "Classes start on Monday, which means the frats and sororities should be going all out this week. They're going to be rounding up potential slaves. We need to figure out what they're doing with them."

"And," I added, "they're all on Greek Row, which means everyone on campus knows how to find them. Wouldn't be hard to just walk in, right?"

"We can't," Nick said. "I'm willing to bet that their house is warded against demons. Even if it isn't, any angel who slips into the corridor would be able to pick out our auras."

"Shit," I grumbled. "Because I was thinking that since he's never been off Daemin, then Ron and I - "

"Nope," Nick said, not even needing me to finish that. "Looking up from the corridor, there's no way for Ron to look like anything but a demon. They don't need to recognize his face."

"Well, fuck." Because that ruined my idea.

Ron dropped his hand on my leg and rubbed it reassuringly. "It's ok. I don't think I'm ready to blend as a human yet. I probably wouldn't be good at it."

"You'd be great," I assured him.

"You would," Luke agreed. "But Nick is right. I, however, do not look like a demon. Sia's still human. With her altered skin, she doesn't even glow too brightly. I think we could pull it off."

Nick nodded. "Then I can take Sam to Mac's. We'll make sure Sia's incident there didn't raise too many questions. Bel and Ron can check out the pool hall down the street to see what they can learn about the missing people."

"We can play foreigners," Bel said. "That will explain why we do not know what we do not know. It may also make people talk around us, thinking we do not understand."

"I can do that,"