Nefri gave a small dip of her head, fiercely leashing her female reaction to the sexual pheromones released by the demon.
Zalez demons were part incubus and capable of becoming whatever form their companion most desired. Nefri had no desire to reveal her deepest fantasy.
Not after she’d devoted the past month to pretending those fantasies didn’t exist.
“Recise,” she murmured.
“Ah, Nefri, so good of you to come.” His voice stroked over her like warm velvet, his smile charming despite the fact they both knew she hadn’t had a choice.
An invitation from the Commission was an imperial command that only the most idiotic demon would ignore.
“Your messenger insisted that it was important,” she said.
Recise gave a slow blink. “The Oracles do not interfere in matters of the world unless it is of the utmost importance.”
Not boasting. Just simple arrogance.
“Yes, of course.”
“This way.”
Moving with a fluid grace, Recise led Nefri through the darkness, the pulse of his sexual energy easing as if realizing Nefri wasn’t in the mood to play.
They moved in silence through the tunnels that angled deep into the earth. The air was cool but surprisingly without the dampness that she expected, although she could hear the splash of a waterfall not far away.
More distantly she could catch the sound of muffled conversations, the languages as diverse as the creatures who made up the Commission. Like the United Nations, only with lethal demons who were happier killing things than negotiating.
Nefri hid her grimace as her companion came to a halt at the entrance to a large cavern.
“The Oracle is waiting for you in the back chamber.”
“Thank you.”
She waited until the Zalez continued down the tunnel before stepping into the cavern and allowing her senses to flow outward. It wasn’t that she expected a trap. If the Oracles wanted her dead, she’d be dead.
But the Oracles had a varied sense of moral values. She didn’t want to walk in on demons having a public orgy, or sacrificing an innocent to their particular gods.
It wasn’t until she caught the scent of brimstone that she moved forward. She was familiar with this particular Oracle.
Crossing the smooth stone floor, she ignored the barren surroundings that were hardly suitable for the most powerful creatures on earth.
Each of the Oracles had their own private, and usually lavish lairs, but during the battle against the Dark Lord they’d gathered together in these caves. The fact that they remained wasn’t particularly reassuring.
Reaching the back of the cave, Nefri caught sight of the tiny demon who was staring into a shallow pool of water, her three-foot body covered by a long white gown.
At a glance it would be easy to mistake her for a human child, with her heart-shaped face and silver hair that was in a long braid nearly brushing the ground. But a closer look revealed the strange oblong eyes that were a solid black. Eyes that were filled with an ancient knowledge.
Oh, and then there were the sharp, pointed teeth.
And the barely leashed power that could shatter cities.
“Siljar?” she murmured when the female continued to gaze into the water, studying some image she’d scryed.
With a wave of her hand, Siljar dismissed the image and heaved a heavy sigh. “Children today,” she complained as she turned her attention toward Nefri.
“I can return another time if you’re busy.”
“No, this is important.” Siljar pointed a finger toward the lone wooden chair. “Sit.”
Nefri obeyed without hesitation, perching on the edge of the chair and folding her hands in her lap.
“Does this have anything to do with the Dark Lord?”
Siljar shook her head. “No, that chapter is closed.”
“Thank heavens,” Nefri said in genuine relief.
Siljar held up a small hand. “Do not be overly hasty.”
Nefri’s serene expression never faltered. It rarely did. She’d had centuries of practice in hiding her emotions. To the point that many assumed she no longer possessed them.
Inside, however, a ball of dread was forming in the pit of her stomach. If new trouble was brewing there was no reason to specifically seek her assistance, unless . . .
“This has something to do with the Veil, doesn’t it?”
Siljar gave a slow dip of her head. “It has more to do with what the Veil was created to contain.”
The ball in Nefri’s stomach doubled in size. It had been nearly four centuries ago that she’d approached the Commission asking for sanctuary and been given the medallion that allowed her to lead her clan beyond the Veil.
So far as the world was concerned her only interest was creating a new home for those vampires who sought absolute peace.
Only she and the Oracles knew the truth.
Or actually, only the Oracles knew the truth, she wryly conceded.
She had a few, bare-bones facts and dire warnings. And she’d been fine with that. The less she knew, the easier it was for her to pretend that the paradise she’d created wasn’t built on a cesspit.