William puffs up his chest. “I am a devout follower of Lucifer. Lawrence was playing a game of the gods he had no business in doing. I assure you, I run a tight ship. I can give you a tour if you’d like.”
I flutter my hand at my chest as I try to work out if it would be best to strike here where we can control the throughput of demons as opposed to an unknown environment. “Maybe later,” I say leaning forward with a conspiratorial whisper. “I’d prefer a private audience.”
William licks his lips. “Very well, Pandora.”
I tilt my head and plaster a coy smile. “Tell me, Prince, what does Duncan do for you?”
Duncan stiffens as William darts his gaze to him then back to me. “Duncan is helping me take care of the overflow problem we have. Greed is a popular sin and we have to cull the masses every so often.”
“And Lucifer knows that?” I wonder.
William’s jaw tightens. “He expects me to handle these small issues without a fuss.”
“What about Bernard?”I ask Duncan as William launches into a corporate bullshit spiel.“Can we easily take him down?”
Duncan doesn’t blink.“I think Bernard may help us.”
It takes everything I have to continue to nod and look like I’m hanging off William’s every word.“I thought it was his job to befriend the beasties of the world?”
“Perhaps you are onto something. Not everything is black and white. Don’t underestimate William. He’s got a mean streak a mile wide and power at his fingertips. The only advantage we have is surprise.”
“How physically strong are you?”I ask.
“Very,”Duncan answers.
“Excellent. On the count of three, I’m going to make sure Bernard doesn’t interfere. I need you to launch yourself at William and tear his heart from his chest.”
“That’s oddly specific.”
“Hold on to your panties, it’s about to get a lot more specific.”
“The trident?”Duncan asks. I resist the urge to roll my eyes. He’s more concerned about the relic than me.
“The trident will obliterate anyone who’s not a god or related to Poseidon. So don’t touch it. One.”
I sweep my eyes around the room and chuckle in time with William. I’m sure his demon jokes are on point. Pity I’m not listening.“Two.”
My gaze passes over Bernard, who’s too perceptive for his own good, as he narrows his eyes on me. I haven’t fooled the demon into thinking I’m the weak Pandora everyone expects me to be. He takes a step forward. I launch myself out of the sofa at him. “Now!” I shout as I slam into Bernard. He stumbles back but stays upright. God damn, they make these demons strong.
Duncan runs over the coffee table, his hand slamming into William’s chest as he yanks out his black heart. Blood drips onto William’s lap as his mouth parts in shock. “Now what?” Duncan shouts.
Bernard throws me back against the sofa. I swipe the trident and fling myself between Duncan and Bernard. “You don’t understand what you are doing, little girl. Put his heart back before you make Duncan something he’s not willing to be.”
“Eat it,” I command.
“What?” Duncan and Bernard both shout.
“Eat the fucking heart, Duncan, now.”
I keep the trident trained on Bernard as a terrible, gut lurching, tearing sound nearly makes me vomit all over the rug. Bernard pulls at his hair, his tail swishing. I glance around the doors. No reinforcements come barreling through, which means either William and Bernard haven’t called for them, or they are waiting to see what happens.
“Not all of it,” I remember to tell Duncan.
“Now she tells me,” Duncan mutters.
“Now tear his head off,” I advise. Bernard’s eyes grow wide as more tearing and a gurgling noise sounds from behind me. I wrinkle my nose, glad not to be witnessing it with my eyes again.
Duncan cries out as a giant clap of thunder erupts in the room. I risk a look over my shoulder, finding William headless and Duncan crumpled on the floor, his entire body shaking.
