“My buddies, as you refer to them,” it said, “were not authorized to attack. It’s my understanding that you—what’s the human word?—tailed an imp who was minding his own business, and once confronted, that imp defended himself against you.”
“Minding his own business?” My hands fisted. “You mean in the process of raping a sixteen-year-old girl? Endangering human lives can’t be an acceptable Underworld practice. He had called attention to himself and had served jail time in a human prison. Those things have to count as some kind of an offense in your world.”
The demon’s mouth curved in distaste. “What an imp chooses to do on this plane is up to him. He had broken none of our laws.” Its hand flipped upward. It was shiny and way too clean. “You were the pursuer”—the demon flipped the other one so they were both out—“therefore you must pay.”
“Damn right I was the pursuer,” I said as I took a step forward without realizing it. “And I would pursue again and again to stop any imp from harming another innocent.”
“My point exactly.” Its eyes narrowed, its meticulous mouth curving up on one side in a half grin. It was like an extremely refined Hannibal Lecter. There was something so creepy and unnatural about this demon. Chills raced along my spine. I’d just inadvertently put myself right in its snare. “You are a nuisance and you will answer for your crimes before we allow you to commit any others against us.”
“I’m not going to answer for anything,” I growled. “But if it gets you off my back, I will vow to you that I have no beef with the Underworld. My words should ring true enough to you.”
“Your vows are not valid to us.”
“Why not?”
“There are too many loopholes with the spoken word and it is too late for that anyway.” It turned from us, clasping its hands behind its back, as it stalked away. “You have already violated our laws. You will pay for your crimes first, and then we will craft something that will bind you to your word, but it will take time to hone it to perfection, of course.”
“I’m not paying for my crimes because I committed none.”
Rourke, Tyler, and Danny were all a hairsbreadth away from dropping and changing. I had to make sure that didn’t happen. If they attacked we would go to war with this Demon Lord, and I didn’t like those odds.
“Are you challenging my authority? The Crown of Astaroth is mine, you see.” It looked at me curiously. “Don’t you know who I am?”
“Um.” I paused. I was a twenty-six-year-old newborn werewolf. I had no idea who this demon was. I’d just heard of the Crown of Astaroth for the first time from the imp. I had zero idea what it meant. “I don’t know who you are and, to tell you the truth, I don’t really care. I know you won’t tell me your real name, because giving it to me would be too risky—even though I don’t know how to summon anything. My disinterest alone should prove I have no desire in your crown or your throne. Keep your imps and soul-selling goddesses on a tighter leash, and we shouldn’t have any more problems in the future.”
“That’s not how this works.” It turned back to face us. “I apologize for any miscommunication. Crimes were committed and payment is due. We do not barter.” Before it could mask it, the demon’s eyes blinked and its pupils flashed serpentine. The irises went completely oval. In the next blink they were back to normal, which were a true, solid black.
“I told you, I’m not going anywhere,” I stated again, throwing power into my words. I could use all the help I could get. “According to my Pack Laws, I perpetrated no crime. Supernatural Sect laws will prove my innocence, and I know you have to follow the rules on this plane to some extent, or you’d already have swept me away. You can’t take me without my permission, right? I have to agree to something. Isn’t that how it works? Did you really think I’d agree to go with you willingly?”
“I will not debate my laws with you.” Its voice shook the cavern and sulfur permeated the air so quickly I coughed into the back of my hand. “I am a Demon Lord, a Prince of Thrones, the Lord Treasurer of Hell. I am not some low-level imp! If I say you are in offense of our laws, that is enough.” It pointed its manicured hand at the ground and rocks jumped. “You will be tried for your crimes in the Underworld and you will be found guilty.”
“No.” I threw as much power into the word as I could and I felt my power press up against the demons energy. “That’s not what’s going to happen here. What’s going to happen is you’re going to go back to where you came from and be thankful I want nothing more to do with your race.”
Its eyes flipped to full serpent and it made no move to correct them. “I can carry you to the Underworld without your consent. I do not need your permission. You have a court date with the High Court of Mephistopheles. It has already been written in the Book. It is a mandatory appointment. If you do not show up, you will die.”
“You can’t bind me without my consent.”
“Your own blood has made the binding already.”