Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 80563 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80563 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
I cock an eyebrow and curl my fingers ever so slightly, letting energy crackle above my palm. “You still haven’t given me a reason not to smite you right now.”
“I mean, the fact that we’re in a crowded restaurant should be reason enough. You wouldn’t dare.” She takes a step closer, blinking and letting her eyes ink over again.
The energy buzzing around my hand sparks with hellfire. “Try me.”
“Yes!” She claps her hands together. “That is the Queen of Hell energy I was hoping for. You do not disappoint.”
“I really think something is wrong with you. Did you hit your head on your way out of Hell?”
“No,” she says and snorts as she laughs again. “And look, I’m not the only one who wants to stop Paimon. For the same reason.”
“So you can be free demons,” I say slowly, blinking a few times. This is really happening, right? Easton and I were just talking about the djinn…this feels like an alternative reality right now.
“Yes! So glad you get it. I knew we would be friends. I mean, it might take you a day or two until you’re ready to talk about boys as we brush each other’s hair and have pillow fights or whatever, but we are going to be a dream team.”
“Oh fuck no.”
“Hey, you need me.”
“No I don’t,” I counter.
“Really? Have you defeated Paimon yet? Do you have a plan?”
Fuck. Does the crazy demon have a point? Curling my fingers into fist, put out the energy ball before someone can see it. “I’m not working with a demon. You’re possessing an innocent person right now and we both know what that does to her body.”
She rolls her eyes and heavily signs. “I knew you’d say that. Okay, how about this? I show up in a cruelty-free body and we talk in let’s say an hour at the bar your vampire husband owns?”
“How do you—”
“You’re like our favorite reality show.”
“What?” I say even though I heard her clearly.
“I mean, it’s not like you’re a Netflix Top Ten or anything, but we get glimpses and you’re life—” She puts her fingers to her mouth, and makes a kissing motion. “So interesting.”
We always assumed the demons were able to watch somewhere, whether through astral projection or some sort of one-way mirror type of deal. I could get answers if this demon—no fucking way. This. Demon. I will never trust a fucking demon.
“Look, I’m risking my biscuit here just talking to you. We both know that. You really could conjure and shove a Lightsaber up my ass and burn me from the inside. Yet I’m here because we share are common enemy and we both want the same thing.”
“Paimon’s lifeless body rotting at the bottom of a sewer?”
“Emphasis on the lifeless part. So what do you say?” She holds out her hand. “Do we have a deal?”
Chapter
Thirteen
Now it’s my turn to let out a snort of laughter. “I am not making a deal with a demon.”
She rolls her eyes again and drops her hand. “Nothing formal, I get and respect the hesitation. Agree to meet with me? We can wait until the bar opens, which will be more for my benefit than yours. We can both agree you’re the more powerful one between us.”
“Flattery isn’t going to get you anywhere and I’m annoyed you interrupted my lunch. I didn’t even want to about demons let alone talk to one.” I arch my eyebrows. “Yet here I am.”
“I’m sorry,” she says and actually looks like she is. “I cornered you because I chickened out last night. I thought it would be a little safer here.”
“Have you been jumping from body to body just to follow me?” I ask.
“Guilty.”
“Gross.” I close my eyes in a long blink and let out a sigh. My brain is so fried I shouldn’t make any decisions right now. And there’s a fifty-fifty chance this demon is telling a partial truth. Maybe she doesn’t want Paimon to take over, but joining forces? “Look…I won’t kill you here as long as you leave this girl alone before she starts to rot from the inside. And as far as talking later…” I shake my head. Stranger things have happened, right? If only I could talk to my uncle. “I don’t even know. It’s been like nearly a full day since I’ve killed a bunch of demons, so I’m more than out for blood.”
She shudders. “I felt it,” she whispers.
“Felt what?”
“You vanquishing my brothers and sisters.” Her eyes meet mine again, but instead of anger or sadness, she looks at me with adoration. “Which is why I knew I had to man-up as the humans say and try to convince you. I don’t have the power to take down Paimon, and you don’t knows his plans. We can help each other out.”
“And then what?”