Chapter One
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ROQUE WAS USED TO HIGH-tension situations.It came with the territory since he was the prince’s bodyguard.Still, beingBerith’sbodyguard was usually quite peaceful.He was one of the good ones.They might be in Hell, but contrary to human beliefs, that didn’t mean they aimed to be monsters.A lot of demons were, but not Berith.
Which was probably why a lot of demons didn’t like him.He’d gotten his power and had kept his position for so long because of the way he treated his people.Most princes of Hell had gotten it because people feared them and struggled with uprisings and assassination attempts.
But the first attack had failed.Jessamyn was gone, and Berith was still in power.Jessamyn’s brother was, too, and he was ready for war.
Which was why everyone was gathered in Berith’s office.It had only been a few days since they’d fought Jessamyn, and the war was far from over.Ramiel was still coming for them.Well, he was coming for Lucifer, but he knew that he’d need to kill Lucifer’s allies to obtain what he wanted, so Berith and his people would be collateral damage—and a nice bonus if Ramiel managed to kill Berith and take his territory.It was why they couldn’t affordnotto fight.That, and because life would be literal Hell if Ramiel was ever to become their main ruler.He already had too much power as it was since he reigned over one of Hell’s territories.They couldn’t afford to allow him to garner even more support and allies.They certainly couldn’t allow him to take Lucifer’s throne.
Roque wasn’t only thinking that because Lucifer was dating one of his best friends.He did want to keep Yakim safe, though.It was bad enough that Yakim would be moving to Lucifer’s palace once this mess was over.Roque needed to know that he’d be fine when he did, even though he wouldn’t be going far since Lucifer was building a palace in the area.
Hence why he was here, in Berith’s office.Berith had given everyone a few days after the fight, but the war was far from over.They couldn’t waste any more time, even though half of the people in the office were still healing.
Roque eyed the table on the side of the room that was covered with food.He’d eaten already, but he was still a little hungry.Since everyone would stay in the office for the time being, maybe Roque could get a second breakfast.He wouldn’t be the only one eating.Mikal was filling his plate as if he expected the food to vanish.
“Nice of you to join us,” Berith teased Mikal as if Roque hadn’t had to remind him that Lucifer wanted to see him three times before he managed to drag himself away from Reyni.
Mikal grinned.“I can’t imagine it was any easier for you to leave Mel than it was for me to leave Reyni.”
“You’re right.I’d still be with him if Lucifer hadn’t decided he needed to talk to me.”
If that wasn’t a hint that the prince of Hell should explain why he’d gathered them, Roque would eat his shoes.Thankfully, Lucifer and Berith were friends, so Lucifer wasn’t offended.In fact, he looked gleeful, which wasn’t an emotion Roque had expected to encounter today considering the circumstances.
Lucifer’s wide smile was quite dramatic, like the demon himself, and fangy.“I’m done waiting to be attacked,” he declared.“We allowed Jessamyn to come too close to our loved ones and us, but I won’t make the same mistake when it comes to Ramiel.We’re going to kill him and squash the rebellion.We’ll take the fight to him instead of waiting for him to bring it to us.”
Roque looked around the room for everyone’s reaction.Mikal leaned back against the desk and looked mournfully at his plate as if Lucifer’s declaration had ruined his meal.Berith didn’t look surprised, but then, Roque didn’t think he was.They’d gotten way too close with Jessamyn.They couldn’t afford to let anyone else attack the palace, especially when someone had managed to get in and reach Berith’s family.
They’d stopped Jessamyn and the demons who’d invaded the palace, but it wasn’t over.The palace’s defenses were weaker now, although not weak by any means, and waiting for Ramiel to take the next step would keep everyone on edge indefinitely.
But this wasn’t Roque’s job.His job was to protect Berith, which was why he was in the office right now.The fact that he and Berith were friends meant that Berith would probably want to know his opinion, but in the end, what Roque said didn’t matter.Lucifer and Berith were in charge.
It was a relief.Roque was pretty sure that if he’d been in charge, they’d already be out there, trying to get to Ramiel.He agreed with Lucifer that it was time to stop waiting and to finally kick the demon’s ass.Not only had he been allowed to threaten Berith, but he’d also attempted to kill Berith’s family.They were the people Roque had sworn to protect, and he took that very seriously.More than that, he loved them like his own family, and he’d give his life for them.
He hoped he wouldn’t have to.
“I’m not saying this isn’t the right way to go about this,” Berith said.“But how do you propose we do it?”
Lucifer rolled his eyes.“Always the voice of reason, aren’t you?”
“Someone has to be.”
“I haven’t had time to think about that yet.I just know that I need Ramiel dead.”
Roque snorted.They all needed Ramiel dead.If it was that easy, the demon would already be six feet underground.
Since Berith and Lucifer were bickering, Roque stepped up to the table with the food.He poured himself another coffee first, then looked around.Did he want sweet or salty?Those croissants looked good, but the bacon was making his stomach growl.
He wasn’t the only one interested in food.Dimri, Berith’s spymaster, was sitting by the window, sipping coffee and eating a pastry.He looked mentally interested in what was happening in the room, but also like he wasn’t about to participate.It made sense.The man seldom had much to say, at least in group settings.When he and Berith were alone, though, he never seemed to shut up.The only reason Roque knew that was that he and Yakim had attended their meetings more than once.They weren’t just Berith’s bodyguards.They were two of the people he trusted the most, and that included the information Dimri found through his network of spies.
Roque had always been intrigued by the demon, and that hadn’t changed.In part, it was because of Dimri’s work.Being a spymaster sounded interesting, although it wasn’t Roque’s thing.He wasn’t one to sneak around in the shadows.When something needed to be done, he took a more hands-on and direct approach.Dimri was handsome, though.His white eyes seemed to glow as he looked around the room, and his black curls looked soft.Roque kind of wanted to reach out and see for himself if that was true, but he didn’t dare.Not only would it be weird, but even though Dimri was a spymaster rather than a fighter, Roque was ready to bet that he could defend himself.He’d probably have Roque on the floor crying if Roque tried anything he hadn’t agreed to.
That made him all the more appealing.
* * * *
DIMRI HADN’T BEEN SURPRISEDto be summoned to Berith’s office.In fact, he would’ve been surprised if he hadn’t been.Considering what happened a few days ago, Dimri suspected that he would see a lot more of Berith’s office than he usually did.
