“Who?” Talon asked.
“I don’t believe you’ve met. And it doesn’t matter. He’s hiding very well right now while his people work on perfecting the pill.”
“Perfecting it?” Storm asked. “You mean it’s not already doing what it’s supposed to?”
Lilith laughed aloud. “Not at all. You think it’s supposed to take seven doses before the possessor can break free? And even then, it’s not fast enough. The host dies before it can get out. Human bodies are so goddamn fragile.”
Under Storm’s arm, Nathan shuddered.
“What’s the point?” Talon asked. “Why bother with possessors? If you want to go after the guild, just recruit your army of halflings. Don’t you have enough people already who would do your bidding?” He gestured to the goons on either side of her, who both stiffened in offense.
Lilith scoffed. “Halflings were once human. They have the same selfish nature as their human counterparts. They’re cowardly and self-serving. They only do what I want because I provide them with services they want to use, like the club and the drugs. No, halflings aren’t a sufficient army to go up against the guild—not with their holy water and blades. But possessors? They’re remarkably strong in Hell. So strong, in fact, that it was consideredbalancefor them to be unable to travel with their physical bodies to Earth. But give them an avenue to the surface, and they’ll not only be powerful adversaries, they’ll beloyal. They’ll fight for our cause—or rather, his cause.”
“Who?” Talon barked. “Give me a name.”
“No,” she said gleefully.
Talon growled and took a step toward her. The goons behind her raised their guns—not at him, but at Alex and Nathan. Storm stiffened, and Nathan’s hand went from petting his stomach to clenching in his shirt.
“Talon,” he warned. Nathan hadn’t had his blood. If he was shot, he would die.
“Now you know,” Lilith said dismissively. “I’ve answered all the questions I’m going to. You know what the pills do and why. Just keep your humans from ingesting anymore, and they’ll likely be fine.”
“That isn’t the point—” Storm started.
“It’s the only point you should concern yourself with,” Lilith said coldly. “If you’re worried about your human, convince him to take that ring off and leave his precious guild.”
Nathan made a noise under his breath.
Lilith went on, addressing Talon. “You’ve never involved yourself in my affairs before. I suggest you don’t start now. My companion’s desire to handle the guild for me has nothing to do with you or your human. Stay out of the way, for both your sakes.”
“I don’t take kindly to threats,” Talon said gravely.
“It’s no threat,” Lilith said calmly. “But truly, wouldn’t it be in your best interest to let the possessors handle the guild?”
“There are good people in the guild,” Nathan murmured, scrubbing his jaw on Storm’s shoulder.
Lilith rolled her eyes. “‘Good’ is subjective. No, we’re done here. It’s time for you to go.”
Storm met Talon’s assessing gaze. They couldn’t press without being threatened, and she wouldn’t hurt them. She’d hurt Alex and Nathan.
“Fine,” Talon said. “We’ll go.”
Nathan raised his head. “We will?”
“Yep. Come on, Nate.”
Storm hauled Nathan back out of the room with Talon and Alex on his heels. Talon was frog-marching Alex in front of him—likely because he didn’t trust Lilith’s goons not to shoot him in the back if presented with the opportunity. None of them spoke until they were downstairs, their voices masked by the pulsing music overhead.
“What now?” Storm asked.
“We know a demon is pushing the drugs, and Lilith is helping distribute them. We need to find out where they’re coming from.”
“We could come back without the humans, push her until she talks,” Storm suggested.
“No, she’s obviously upped her security.” He tilted his head. “Did you know she had a lover? Has she ever talked about anyone before?”
“Not that I know of. I mean, I just guarded the door. It’s not like I was part of her inner circle or anything.”
