The Crown Prince of Hell, she assumed. Still, Gemma decided to push it. Keeping her eyes on the Seeker so she wouldn’t see what was happening on the other side of the window, she prodded him. “Well, he sure seemed to be in charge here. Kind of like the commanding officer, I guess. Maybe he’s just a natural leader and I picked up on that.”
Shadow’s eyes narrowed in distrust. “What exactly are you getting at?”
Gemma shrugged. “Just an observation.”
“Grimm’s not the only one who leads.”
“Just for the important stuff?” she asked, wondering if she was pushing things too far. But it seemed as if the Seeker was swallowing the hook.
“Yeah, we let him handle the important stuff, and he wanders off right before the finale.” Shadow’s eyes darted toward the door, and Gemma knew she’d hit on something and pressed on.
“If you can teleport, why don’t you just flash to him and bring him back? It should only take a second.”
“It would if I could find him.” Shadow huffed. “The dumb fucker must have ripped up the map.” That last part was growled under his breath, but Gemma caught it. If her suspicion was correct, Grimm had made it so that Shadow couldn’t find him. Maybe he’d used his powers against his fellow demon. No wonder he’d been muttering about treason.
But how could she use this information to her advantage? How did she manage to escape this room and get into the other, where the bitch Sanri was kissing her way down Cal’s chest?
“You have to stop,” she heard Cal say, attempting to pull away, but the demon in disguise clung to him.
“This might be the last opportunity we get to be together,” Sanri-as-Gemma warned. “Any minute, we could be pulled apart or worse. We’re in the Seekers’ clutches, and they’re too powerful to defeat. We can’t waste this chance.”
Cal grabbed her by her shoulders and shook her gently. “That’s not true. I’ll kill before I let them hurt you.”
“You’ll kill, or you’ll die. Either way, we’re screwed.”
Frowning, Cal shook his head. “You’re admitting defeat already? What happened to your fighting spirit?”
The fake Gemma scowled. “You didn’t just go through hell in that hallway. I know what they’re capable of.”
The real Gemma watched Cal’s face carefully. She could read the doubt there, the indecision. Was he at last beginning to realize that things weren’t what they seemed?Come on, Cal. Use your brains. You know that isn’t me.
“We can beat them,” Cal said, then allowed her to burrow back into his chest where she started placing kisses on the bare skin there.
Seeing her being so familiar with him, taking liberties that Gemma had only recently been allowed herself, stung. It was like a hot coal in her guts, burning a hole there. Her anger rose to cover her like a cloak made of righteousness.
How dare you lay your hands on him? He belongs to me, and the only way you can even get close to him is to pretend to be me. Get your filthy, lying hands off him!
But deep down in the part of her that was still unsure of the feelings Cal had for her, she was also wondering,Why doesn’t he realize she isn’t me?
It seemed so hopeless. What chance did she have to get Shadow out of the room, to get over there herself? None, unless Shadow took her. And the tall man was brooding, not even paying attention to the scene beyond the window.
It all rested on what Cal did. Whether he gave into the demon or not. Gemma didn’t want to think of what would happen if he did. But if he didn’t, maybe Shadow would get bored enough to interject.
If that happened, she would need to be close enough to hitch a ride with him. Otherwise, she’d be stuck here in a locked room, still a voyeur. She would have to catch him right before he teleported. Which meant she needed to be closer.
Turning her back on the window, Gemma moved closer to the blond demon. “I have to say, I expected more from you guys.”
The tall blond stared down at her icily, cocking a smooth eyebrow. “Is that so?”
Gemma nodded, taking another step in his direction. “Yes. A horde of demons with powers most mortals can’t comprehend and millennia of experience? I thought you’d sweep down on us with all the fury of Hell and we’d be swept away like ashes in a matter of moments.”
Gemma leaned her head toward the window to indicate the scene in the next room. “Instead, you guys have failed to execute a cohesive plan of action.” That was certainly true. “Everyone’s distracted. Arguments. Infatuations. Disagreements.”
She moved closer, finally close enough to touch. “And now you’re even talking about treason. Where are the rest of your horde? Toying with the mortals? Fighting with each other? And you just stand here watching while your partner tortures the Vartik for no other reason than sheer pleasure.
Shadow leaned down, his expression becoming fierce and his eyes lighting up with an emotion she couldn’t entirely read, something between desire and malevolence. “My dear, you said it yourself. We’re demons. The pleasure of causing pain is our driving ambition in life.”
He drew closer, and suddenly, Gemma was struck by fear. This man was powerful, and committing evil deeds was his sole purpose in existence.
“Maybe I’ll take a page out of Sanri’s book,” he said, grabbing her chin and forcing her to lock eyes with him. “I’ve got nothing better to do. But I can promise, human, that I won’t be as polite in my seduction as she’s being. I like my fucks with a lot more force.”
Gemma’s eyes widened at his threat. The look in his eye said he meant business.
From the room beyond the window came raised voices. Gemma couldn’t make out what they were saying. Her heart was booming too loudly in her ears. Shadow, however, broke eye contact to glance at the window.
His face became a storm cloud and he dropped his hold on her chin. Gemma had to react fast. She grabbed onto his arm a split second before he disappeared.
