Most likely, anyway.Mainly, he wanted to get her alone incase things got...complicated.
“I agree.”She eyeballed him as she stroked the stem of herglass, her jewel-encrusted fingernails reflecting the hall’s flickering lightin sparkly little bursts.“I’m just trying to decide if I should tell you tomake an appointment or if I should suggest we go somewhere more private totalk.”
Those nails.He was mesmerized, and his mind kept thinkingabout what they’d look like—and feel like—in places much more intimate than thestem of a champagne flute.Was she doing that on purpose?His dick sure thoughtso, and it tapped against the fly of his pants, begging for the same attention.
It was a damned good thing he’d buttoned his jacket.
“I vote for private,” he said, his voice humiliatinglyhoarse.He’d come over to seduce her, but she was clearly the one who held thecards in this game.
Succubus, for sure.
She made him sweat for a few seconds before finally noddingtoward one of the exits.“I saw a balcony out that way.”She started toward it,but a flash of light drew his attention, and he reached out to grab her elbow.“Wait.”
“What is it?”
His gut churned as he checked out the next flash of light.Then the next and the next.Shit.Not good.He pulled her close and whisperedinto her ear.
“Let’s get out of here.Away from this conference.”
“Aren’t you naughty?”
“Yeah.Naughty.Let’s go.”
“But dinner is—”
He took her glass from her and placed both his and hers on atray, his alarm growing as robedRamreeldemons withhalberds began to station themselves around the room, the clop of their hoovesringing out over the sound of the guests and the music.
“Forget dinner.”
“Look, I was invited for a reason,” she snapped, clearlyannoyed by his manhandling.“It would be rude to leave now.”
He nonchalantly shifted his gaze to the four corners of theroom, starting at the northern side.“See the glowing symbols painted on thewalls?”At her nod, he continued.“Those symbolize sacrifice.Sacrifice toLothar.”
She frowned.“Who is Lothar?”
“How can you not know who Lothar is?”he asked, incredulous.Lothar was listed as one of the most famous scumbags in the first chapter ofDemonsForDummies.“Didn’t your demon parents teachyou about the hundreds of patron fiends you can worship?You aren’t limited toSatan, you know.”
Her haughty sniff announced her irritation.“My parentsdidn’t fill our heads with ridiculous fables—”
“They’re not all fables.Definitely notthis one.”He tightened his grip on her arm and made a beeline for the exit.“Lothar is known as the Prince of Riches.A sacrifice to him gets youeverything you want, and since you are one of the guests of honor...”Hetrailed off, letting her finish the thought.At her sharp inhale, he knew she’dpieced it together.
“I’m either part of the plan to get the riches...or I’m asacrifice.”
“Exactly.”
“Well then,” she said crisply, “I don’t see why I need tohang around.”
Clever, how she made it sound like leaving had been heridea.
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you,”heground out.
They’d nearly made it to the main doorway when a big blondmale blocked their escape route.The dark energy emanating from him marked himas a fallen angel, which meant this could only be Shrike, the fucker who’d putthis whole thing together.
“Leaving so soon?”His smile, showing way too many teeth andfar too much of his gums, was as greasy as his slicked-back hair.
Razr was about to tell the guy to fuck off when Jeddaoffered an apologetic smile.“I have a family matter to attend to, Mr.Shrike,”she said, inching closer to Razr.“And Razr kindly offered to escort me home.Please accept my apologies as well as my gratitude for a delightful evening.”
Razr had to give her points for diplomacy, but Shrike didn’tbite.“Unfortunately, I can’t let you do that,” he said.“The festivities areabout to start, and I haven’t had a chance to speak to you about my proposal.”
