Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 110802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
The demon beside Beck spoke. “I heard there’s a lot of arguing going on about who will rule it.”
Another Prime frowned, confused. “I heard they simply don’t intend to replace her until they’ve grieved her death. In any case, the fact that there’s a lair operating without a Prime is concerning.”
“It’s also none of our business unless there’s a reason for us to step in,” said Raul. “Right now, the lair isn’t being a problem for anyone.”
“Onto another subject, Dario has gone off the grid,” one Prime announced. “I don’t suppose anyone knows why that is?”
Jolene’s brow furrowed. “Gone off the grid?”
“He’s become quite the recluse,” said Alethea. “There are rumors that he’s building an army.”
There was a short silence. Harper broke it. “Our kind don’t do war.” Mostly because demons found it boring.
“Yes, but he’d hoped to be elected as a Monarch over us all,” Alethea reminded her. “Perhaps he’s angry that the elections didn’t go in his favor. Perhaps he’s so determined to be a ruler he intends to fight for that.”
“I find it difficult to believe Dario would feel that way,” said Raul, leaning back in his chair with his hands behind his head. “He didn’t seem all that bothered by losing the election.”
Harper happened to agree with that.
Apparently, Malden also did because he nodded. “He was disappointed by the result of the voting poll, but not terribly angry. It was only Isla who reacted badly.”
Alethea twisted her mouth. “In all honesty, I don’t believe he’s forming an army. But I still find his behavior odd. I don’t like to say it, but it’s possible that Dario’s strange behavior is a result of him turning rogue.”
Malden’s jaw hardened. “I will not believe that.”
“It was just a thought,” she said with a shrug. “Maybe it’s something we should investigate, just to be sure. I went to his home, hoping to see him for myself and put my mind at rest. He refused to see me.”
“You say that like you’re someone important,” one Prime said to Alethea with a derogatory snort. “You’re not a Prime. He’s not obliged to see you. And you’re certainly no friend of his.”
Harper fought a smile as spots of color entered Alethea’s cheeks.
Alethea’s hand curled tight around her napkin. “Dario and I have history.”
“Yes, history,” said Malden. “As I recall it, you two didn’t part on good terms. Unlike you, I am his friend. Until recently, I was in regular contact with him. He showed no signs of mental degradation.”
Jonas spoke up. “I’m skeptical about him being rogue and about him forming an army. But I can’t think of a reason why the man would lock himself up in his own home.”
“Maybe he’s found himself a nice woman and they’re not inclined to leave the bedroom,” joked the Prime beside Harper.
“It’s more likely that than anything else.” Raul took a sip of his scotch. “It’s rare that Primes turn rogue.”
“It’s rare, but not impossible,” Alethea pointed out.
Raul’s mouth twisted. “You seem quite preoccupied with Dario.”
“I merely don’t wish to see another Prime turn rogue,” she told him.
Raul sighed. “Look, I know what happened with your old Prime was bad —”
“No, you don’t know,” she clipped. “You didn’t see what happened. You heard about it, but you didn’t see. Let me tell you it is a frightening and painful experience. So many died – women, men, children, demons, humans, animals. A rogue will kill indiscriminately. It cares for nothing. It seeks only to cause pain and misery and destruction. In my opinion, every demon even bordering on rogue should be killed.”
Wow, that was definitely going too far in Harper’s opinion.
Alethea took a deep, centering breath. “I only wish to be sure that Dario is well.”
“I’ll contact him,” Malden told her. “But I’m quite certain we have no reason to worry. I’m also very certain he is not forming an army.”
“I would have dismissed the rumor if it wasn’t for the unpredictable weather,” said Alethea. “You know Dario can influence the weather. If he’s out of control, his gift will be too.”
“Raul can play with the weather too,” one Prime pointed out with an accusatory tone that caused Raul to stiffen. He had bushy eyebrows that Harper badly want to pluck.
“Why would I do that?” asked Raul.
“You tell us,” said Bushy Brows. “Maybe your anger keeps getting the better of you.”
Frowning, Raul put down his glass. “Anger at what?”
“Your female. I heard she left you.”
“The decision to separate was mutual and civil. My anchor can attest to that,” Raul added, to which the she-demon nodded.
Bushy Brows shrugged one shoulder. “Not what I heard.”
“Nor me,” said Malden, a smile playing around the edges of his mouth.
Raul narrowed his eyes at Malden. “Personally, I find the rumor I heard about you much more interesting. Caught cheating on your woman with her two brothers, weren’t you?”