He’d been angry. That’s why he hadn’t tried to talk to her. He was never at his best when he was angry and would probably have said or done something he’d regret. Like screwing her against the wall. Not that he really regretted that, it had felt too fucking good.
He had to find a way to make her see past the whole demon thing. Show her he was a nice guy underneath.
A long way underneath.
Hell, he was definitely kidding himself now.
He’d never been one of her “good guys.” He wasn’t sure he had it in him. But he’d always followed his own set of rules.
“You seem a little distracted,” Luc murmured. “Am I keeping you from something important?”
“Yes. Get to the fucking point,” he snapped.
Luc laughed. “There is someone who would like a meeting with you.”
“And that would be?”
“Raphael.”
“Great.”
“It appears you were involved in some sort of fracas.”
“So?”
“With your new friends. Against the angels?”
“Maybe.” He couldn’t lie to Luc. Not with Luc’s sigil twined around his arm, marking his debt.
“What have the Order been up to that has brought the wrath of heaven down on them?”
“It’s not really council business. There’s a woman—the angels want her dead.”
“Ah.”
What did “ah” mean? “She’s part fallen angel.” He felt the need to clarify the situation. “You know how they feel about that.”
“So why don’t the Order hand her over?”
“She’s Piers Lamont’s woman.”
“Ah.”
“Stop fucking saying that.”
Luc laughed again. “You know, when I ordered you to join this new committee, I never really thought you would get involved.”
“I’m not involved.”
“You fought beside Christian Roth. I think Raphael believes the Order is getting too powerful. He doesn’t like this new accord between us and the fae.”
Ash thought about it. In a way, it made sense. While an accord between the factions would lead to peace, the angels didn’t like any change to the status quo. Maybe they suspected that an alliance between the fae and the demons would mean the angels were no longer the biggest dicks on the block.
But under the Shadow Accords, they were not allowed to interfere in the workings of the Order. Not allowed to interfere directly with the three worlds. They should be powerless to intervene.
And he was betting that would really piss them off.
“So, Raphael?” he asked.
“He’s awaiting you.” Luc nodded through an archway at the far end of the room.
“He’s here?”
Shit, Raphael must be desperate if he’d come to the Abyss. Usually they would demand a meeting on neutral ground. This was his world and even Raphael could not stand against him here. The angel must be sure that whatever he was going to say, would keep him safe.
For the first time, Ash’s curiosity was aroused.
“Are you joining us?” he asked Luc.
“No. He wanted to speak with you alone. And we don’t really get on.”
No, Luc was the ultimate fallen angel. Though in all truth he hadn’t fallen, he’d jumped. Better to rule in hell than have to listen to Raphael’s pious outpourings for one more day, he’d once told Ash.
Ash hoped this wouldn’t take too long. He had to get back. Do something nice. He just wasn’t sure what. The whole idea was an alien concept. Maybe he’d ask Tara for advice. There had definitely been a softening toward him there.
He strolled across the room and through the tall archway into a smaller chamber. Raphael sat on a chair in front of a flickering fire. His light was muted, and he appeared human. He was smiling. That couldn’t be good.
Ash didn’t trust him an inch. Angels were tricky bastards and devious as hell.
Raphael rose to his feet as Ash appeared. “Asmodai.”
“Raphael. What do you want?”
“Blunt as always. To talk to you. To make you an offer. Come sit with me.”
Ash moved farther into the room. “I’d rather stand, thank you.”
Raphael gave a casual shrug and sat down. He stared into the fire for a few minutes while Ash tried to curb his impatience. Finally, he looked back at Ash. “We want the abomination.”
It was Ash’s turn to shrug. “I can’t help you. I don’t know where she is.”
“We know she has disappeared with the vampire. But they will return. And when they do, we would like you to hand her over to us.”
“And how would I do that?”
“You are on this committee now. You fought with Christian Roth against us. They trust you. You will find a way to separate her from Lamont and bring her to us.”
“And why would I do that?”
“Because we’ll offer you something in return.”
Again, his curiosity stirred. No way would he betray the Order. That would definitely show him up as a bad guy. And any softening Tara might have toward him was likely to harden into granite. But what could they possibly offer him? One way to find out. “What?”
“We will return your dead wife, Lillian of the fae, to you.”