“Yes, my liege.”
Thamiel backed away with a bow, causing Luc to chuckle.
The man would make an excellent butler for a crusty old English lord. In fact, Luc had offered the daemon’s services to train the first house servants centuries before. In return, he’d amassed a fortune from investments for him, Thamiel, and Dinathial. The latter two were wealthy in their own right and were freed from their moment of creation. Yet they chose to stay and serve him.
Ah, if only the rest of his horde didn’t need to be threatened with death or dismemberment to stay in line. Speaking of Sal…
Luc found him snooping around his office.
“It’s a good thing I don’t keep anything important in here,” he deadpanned as he entered and strode to his desk. “Any secrets would be sold to the highest bidder once uncovered by you, Salvokos.”
“My liege, I didn’t?—”
“Don’t insult me with lies,” Luc snapped. “You and I both know I can both feel and see your intentions. Tell me your news and be quick. I have an engagement.”
“With my employee?” Sal asked snidely.
“But she isn’t your employee, is she? You hold the position because I acquired it on your behalf. You are in servitude to me, Morto. And should you ever forget it again, I will see you chained in the worst dregs of Hell as a reminder.”
The demon paled.
Salvokos embraced corruption and betrayal long ago. It had taken fifty years for him to hold another position of significance since then. His supervisory spot at the library was the first one, and only because Luc needed eyes on the ancient books. Because of what he was, Sal was unable to handle them and couldn’t gain useful information to unseat Lucifer. But should he ever develop a brain in place of the pea soup he possessed, he would eventually find a way around it.
Nadia had appeared at the right moment.
If Luc didn’t know any better, he’d say she was a gift from God.
Having thoroughly researched her background, he’d discovered she specialized in celestial texts. She was the expert he needed to decode The Liber Inchoatus once uncovered.
He was close. He could feel it.
“Your news,” Luc reminded Sal.
“We’ve found a tunnel leading to a closed-off section of the catacombs.”
“Were you able to breach the wall yet?”
“No, my liege. It’s a structural issue.”
Good news as far as he was concerned. If Sal had been able to get in, he’d surely have made off with the contents of the chamber.
“I will consult with the team this evening. Call a meeting for seven,” he instructed.
Sal lingered.
“Is there anything else, Morto?”
“I noticed there is a gathering downstairs. I wondered?—”
“No. You’ll do as instructed and schedule a meeting with the crew. After that is completed, give Thamiel the details and take the rest of the weekend off.”
A gleam lit his beady eyes.
“No killing,” Luc stated firmly, his expression promising retribution should Sal defy him.
“What about those who deserve to die?”
“You are not the Creator, and therefore, it is not up to you to decide who lives or dies.”
