“Is common. He has an entire army of them.”
“She’s a daughter of Michael.”
Thorn narrowed his gaze on the demon. “Which you knew before I told you?”
Belial took a step back. “I… I…”
He tsked. “Dangerous game you’re playing. Have you any idea what Michael would do?”
Belial snorted. “She’s not his only bastard.”
“No, but she’s one of his favorites.” Her mother had been a particularly strong nekoda who’d died fighting against one of their worse demonic enemies.…
Ambrose Malachai.
And still Belial refused to see the stupidity of his actions. “It wouldn’t be our first battle.”
“Could be your last.”
Belial scoffed. “You seriously overestimate his abilities.”
“You seriously underestimate them.”
“Are you telling me that you’re afraid of Michael?”
“Hardly. Rather, I have a healthy respect for his skills. As should you.”
With a derisive snort, Belial stepped away. “You forget the number I command.”
“I forget nothing. Ever. But you’d do well to remember what happened the last time my father’s army rose up against the Kalosum.” The Army of Light was a powerful force that had put his father’s army down and left him imprisoned with his sister, Azura, while his other sister, Braith, had “vanished.”
Belial sneered. “He was betrayed!”
“So he says.” Thorn wasn’t so sure. His aunt Braith was ever one of great surprises and he’d never quite figured out if she’d betrayed his father or was betrayed by him before she’d left. “And what of Valteri?”
Belial scowled in confusion. “What of him?”
“Do you think it wise to toy with him?”
“What’s a human going to do?”
Thorn froze as he realized Belial’s full stupidity. He had no idea what he was dealing with.
Whohe was dealing with.
Interesting, given how obvious it was.
“Again, I wouldn’t underestimate anyone in this scenario.”
Belial blustered. “That’s why you’re where you are, and I’m—”
“Enslaved,” Thorn reminded him. “I live freely. No one holds my leash.And while you may command a few demons because my father allows you to, I lead the entire army of Maziqim.”
“Only because they’re traitors!”
“Nay. They were loyal… to me.” A gift from his father, which Kadar had regretted since the day he’d unleashed them into Thorn’s command. For all his father’s gifts, he’d never seen that one coming.
Still, Belial refused to back down. “You can’t interfere with her free will.”
