Tall, muscled, brimming with power. Asmodeus was unlike any man I’d ever known. Probably because he wasn’t a man at all. Demonic energy pulsed from his skin in silken strands of shadows. As I’d gotten to know him, I understood what the presence of his shadows meant. He was either very happy or very, very angry. Most likely the latter. Not a good look if he wanted to convince Lucifer I meant nothing to him.
Speaking of Lucifer…my eyes drifted to the other figure in the dark club. My mouth went dry. He was wider and more muscular than Az, and elaborate tattoos swirled across the back of his neck and down the length of his left arm. He wore his silver hair down past his ears, and golden rings glimmered on strong, powerful hands.
Hands that were clenching. His head jerked to the side, and slowly, he turned toward the window that I hovered beside.
I let out a yelp and ducked down. The metal wobbled beneath me, knocking me off balance. My boots skidded across the yellow slime and sent me tumbling off the dumpster.
Arms windmilling, I landed in a heap on the alley pavement. My knees buckled; my hands flew out to brace my fall. All my breath shot out of my throat as a storm of bright spots blinded me momentarily.
I shook my head and blinked away the shock. Lucifer haddefinitelyheard me creeping around on the dumpster. And if he’d heard that, there was no chance in hell he’d missed my shriek and tumble.
Time to run.
2
Ithrew myself to my feet and charged down the length of the alley. Blood seeped through my jeans where my knees had slammed into the ground, but fear powered me. I just kept running, despite the flashes of pain.
The mouth of the alley loomed large before me. Sucking in a deep breath, I threw myself out of it and swung a left, away from the entrance toInfernal.
My heart pounded in my ears as I considered my options. I could keep running until I reached the nearest entrance to the subway, where I would promptly take a train to Brooklyn. Apparently, Lucifer didn’t like crossing the East River, whatever that was all about.
Of course, he had wings. If he were following me, he’d no doubt take to the skies and search for a red-headed idiot flailing her way through the downtown Manhattan streets. He’d find me before I reached the subway.
Or I could hide and hope he hadn’t spotted me yet.
I slowed to a stop and tipped back my head to gaze at the smog-infested sky. No sign of those massive, powerful black feather wings that Az and the rest of his Legion sported. I assumed Lucifer had a pair, too. So, that was good, at least, right?
But it probably wouldn’t stay that way for long. I whirled on the spot, searching for a hiding place that the King of Hell wouldn’t think to look. My eyes landed on an old cathedral on the corner of the block.
I smiled and raced down the rest of the street, ducking inside with my heart pounding out a rhythm against my ribs. Thankfully, the place was open, even if it was almost eight o’clock by now. I pushed away from the door and peered inside. A lofted space stretched out before me, broken up by rows of wooden pews. They all faced a small stage draped in red velvet carpet. A cross hung on the wall behind it, and candlelit sconces flickered with flames. The place was empty other than that. The silence pounded against my eardrums.
Shivering, I hugged my arms to my chest and hovered by the door. As eerie as it was, at least I would be safe in here. The question was, how long would I have to wait before I could leave? Would I have to camp in here all night?
A heavy thunder sounded from behind me. I whirled on my feet with a gasp, my hand pressed to my heart. Asmodeus stood before me, inky ribbons of shadows swirling across his skin. Danger flickered in his ice-blue eyes like flames from Hell. He growled and strode toward me, his hands fisting by his sides.
I sucked in a breath. My heart nearly stilled. “Az.”
He growled, his eyes narrowing. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Um.” I wet my lips and cast a glance behind me. “Thought it might be a good time to pray?”
His eyes darkened even more, if that were even possible. “You were atInfernaltonight, poking your head in where it doesn’t belong.”
“Oh, that.”
“Mia.” He grabbed my shoulders and gave me a gentle shake. “What the hell were you thinking? Your soul is on the line. We made a deal.”
“We did. And it said I couldn’t step foot inside your club.” I gave him a wincing smile. “But the deal said nothing about me peeking through the windows at you.”
God, that sounded way weirder when I spoke it out loud.
He let out a heavy sigh and closed his eyes, as if he were on the verge of losing his patience with me. My heart flickered, and a strange sorrow whorled through my gut. I’d imagined our reunion over and over in the weeks since we’d said goodbye, and it was never like this. Tense, uneasy, layered in anger and disappointment. I’d pictured him sweeping me up in his arms and carrying me back to his penthouse, where he would spoil me with gin and tonics and pancakes.
Not this.
“Lucifer heard you.” His words felt like punches in my gut.
I grimaced. “Yeah, I thought that might be the case. Hence, the church. I figured he might not be much of a fan of this place, so he wouldn’t think to look here. Also, I thought demons might not be allowed inside.” I eyed him warily. “But I guess demons are more welcome here than I realized. Did you see me run inside?”
