He was still mad. Not that I could blame him. I understood exactly where he was coming from. He thought I’d made assumptions about him, based on who he was. And he didn’t seem to realize I hadn’t. My unease was only based on what he’d done, and even I could admit that maybe I’d been wrong.
He made it really hard to tell him that though. His smug disdain toward me got on my damn nerves.
This party was a little different than the other. Instead of a rooftop bar, the host had chosen her own penthouse apartment as the venue. As soon as we stepped inside, a strange chill swept across the back of my neck, like an ice cold hand had pressed against it. I shivered and glanced at Az.
He cocked his head at me, and something strange flickered in the depths of his eyes. “What was that?”
“I felt something weird,” I replied in a low voice. “Like ice on the back of my neck.”
“Hmm. Stay close to me.” His words shot a new wave of unease down my spine. It was the first time he’d spoken to me without sounding angry. He almost sounded…concerned.
Great.
“What kind of party is this anyway?” I asked as we trailed across the empty floor toward a bar that had been set up along one wall. As far as I could tell, no one actually lived here. No sofas. No dining tables. No TVs or comfy rugs. It was just an empty space full of fancy supernaturals in their pristine dresses and suits, clinking drinks and chatting animatedly, probably about how they wanted to steal a bunch of human souls.
“It’s a mixed party,” Az said, shifting closer to murmur into my ear. “Like the Covenant Ball, you’re not allowed in unless you have a human date. The host likes to call it a game. See how much we can get away with, all without humans finding out what we are.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Great. It’s one ofthoseparties then.”
“What kind is that?”
“The creepy kind.” I glanced around and sighed. In the far corner, I spotted Serena’s familiar head of midnight hair. She was speaking quietly with a group of older, suit-clad men, and Noah stood beside her like a steady, calming rock. My face transformed into what could only be described as cringing awkward turtle. I shifted closer to Az, hiding myself from view.
“Oh, are we already to that then?” he asked in a low purr, winding his arm around my back.
“Is there somewhere else we could go? A hallway or something?”
He arched a brow, and that dimpled smile made an appearance. “No one would be able to see us then, Mia.”
The way he said my name shot a strange tremor through my gut.
“There are others in the hallway,” I whispered back and pushed up onto my tiptoes. Peeking over Az’s shoulders, I caught sight of Noah again. I really didn’t want to face him right now. For one, our last encounter had been awkward as hell. And two, I didn’t know how I could hold myself back if he gave me a smug smile and congratulated me on moving out of Serena’s apartment. He’d gotten what he wanted, and I hated that with a passion. As happy as he made my best friend, he’d still been a dick to me.
Az twisted sideways to follow my line of sight, but Noah had vanished into the crowd. “Wait, isn’t that your friend? Have you two had a falling out?”
“No, it’s the guy with her.” I grabbed his hand. As soon as my fingers touched his skin, his ice-flecked eyes zeroed in on my face. An electric charge passed between us. It ripped through my body, lighting my gut on fire. A sharp gasp popped from my throat, and the darkness in his eyes flared to life.
“What was that?” I whispered.
“I don’t know,” he murmured back. “I’ve never felt it before.”
Okay, so that was good. Kind of. At least I wasn’t hallucinating these weird zipping sensations. On the other hand, it must have had something to do with magic and demons and souls and deals. Az, the Prince of Hell, didn’t know what it was. And ifhedidn’t know what it was, then it could mean anything.
“Hello, Asmodeus,” a sickly-sweet feminine voice purred right beside my ear. I jumped two feet in the air, knocked out of my strange reverie with Az. Who was now…pulsing? Shadows leapt across his body in vibrant swirls of grey and black. His eyes turned pitch black. Tightening his grip on my hand, he pulled me behind him. A single feather poke up out of his shirt.
“Eisheth.” Az’s voice was pure steel, and it packed a powerful punch. If I’d been on the receiving end, I might have flinched. Who was this girl? Frowning, I leaned over to get a glimpse of her on the other side of him. Sleek raven hair hung down to her tiny waist, accentuated by a glistening silver gown. Diamonds dangled from each petite earlobe. Despite her small stature, she commanded attention. Power radiated off her body in waves.
She was also fucking gorgeous.
“It’s been such a long time since I’ve seen you, sweetie,” she said with a curving set of full lips that most girls could only dream of having. “I didn’t think you liked to come to this kind of party.”
“Maybe I’ve changed,” he growled back.
She clucked her tongue and sighed. “No, I don’t think so. You seem the same to me. Aren’t you going to introduce me to your little friend?”
“No.” He stepped closer to me, his back pressing into my chest. “I’m here to network and nothing more. Stay out of my way, Eisheth.”
“It’smyparty,” she said with a pout.
