but made no effort to shake them off.
Knox would've ordered the rest of the pack into the panic room at the first sign of danger, which explained why the other nephilim weren't clamoring to get to Quin.
That still left five angry bodies, sizing up the very demon who'd decided that moment was the best time to flick dirt from beneath his nails.
"Listen to the demonling. I saved you. All of you."
"Don't call him that," I snarled, bringing Quinlan under the protection of my arm since he clearly was refusing to return to the hotel.
"Whether I call him one or not, he still is, Alpha."
We knew Portal likely had profiles on each of us by now, but it wasn't outstanding having it confirmed. "If you truly saved Quinlan, then, your job is done. He's mine to protect. Leave now." My omega must've sensed how I was barely holding on to my control. The scent of Quinlan's pain, the scent of Pierce, Quinn's fear, the demon's presence, all added up to an agitated wolf who would bite first and ask questions never.
Knox growled and I met his stare. He was crouched behind the demon, ready with claws and teeth, to take it down.
"I can't make any promises for your safety if you stay." I nodded to my pack mate.
Claus smirked. "You can't kill me."
I dropped my arm from around Quin's shoulders to his waist. He let me hold him but for some fucking reason, I felt interest and curiosity, all directed at the red devil at my twelve. Why would my mate care so much about a demon? He'd saved him from Pierce…
Cold dread rolled down my spine, catching on every notch. "Quinlan, were you about to run after Pierce?"
"See, yes! He was!" Claus shouted as though relieved. "And I kept him from doing that too. So really, demonling, I saved you twice. So you shouldn't even try to kill me. Besides, when you fail, I would pay back the favor like that." He made a slicing motion over his neck.
"You can't kill us either. Yet."
The demon rolled his human-shaped eyes, but his lips were a wide, tight line.
That bothered him, that he couldn't kill.
"Okay, no, I can't kill any of you. Right now," he added, turning his head as he spoke to address the wolves closing in on him. "I can hurt a few of you, though, and if this fight lasts, say, a few days or so, then I'll be full strength. Then like that." He made the same slicing motion.
A cold breeze blew, chasing away the thick, gray blanket of fog and revealing a beautiful dawn morning. The sky brightened so suddenly it seemed as if I'd taken off a pair of sunglasses. "You would kill us?" Hopefully if Quinlan heard the demon admit to wanting to kill us, then he'd stop leaning just a tiny bit forward—but enough to make me want to throw him over my shoulder and run.
Claus narrowed his eyes, like he knew exactly what I was trying to do. "No. Then I could kill you. I would have the capability to." He swung around suddenly, pointing a clawed finger into the air. "You know, if we're being real pedantic here, then I should say I could kill you now. I'd just have to be creative. I could…blow that tree down and knock you off the cliff."
"That was yesterday's activity," Quinlan quipped.
The demon smiled at him. Luckily for the demon, there wasn't any attraction in that smile, only a fondness.
But I still hated him smiling at my boy.
"We've gotten off track." Claus waved his arms in broad gestures as he spoke. "Abridged version, the scoundrel Pierce returned tonight to nephi-nap Quinlan and the other angs."
"Angs?" Quinlan asked.
"Half-angel." The demon flicked his hands like he was beating a drum. "I'll be here all night, folks."
"No, you won't be," Knox growled. "Where is Pierce?" Knox looked over the demon's head, making it clear he was addressing the question at me.
"Ran. Gone."
The news that our old leader had made an appearance agitated all of us. Neither twins had spoken since rushing outside. They circled around the demon like caged panthers and from the look in their eyes, the demon had no idea how close we were to testing out that "can't kill him" theory.
"Hey, private bubble," Claus shouted, flapping his hand at the twins, who'd crept up even closer behind him. "Anyway, Pierce was here with the Skull of Arach, a fact he likely regrets now since this