September Moon (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #8)

That last comment was spoken in a furious whisper. A black-eyed demon leaned in close to another, proclaiming in hushed words that Shya would be made sorry for his sins.

I hid a smile. So not all the demons present supported Shya’s decisions. Interesting.

Another interesting thing I noted was that they were all men. Falon ushered me away, guiding me around the pool to where Shya stood near the flaming pentagram.

“Why are they all male?” I asked Falon. Being on the ground level enabled me to feel the mix of human and demon energy. Every female present was undeniably human.

“Female demons are very few in number, as are female angels. Most of them are hybrids of a sort, nephilims and the like. Lilah and her kin are among the only true female demons.”

“Why?”

“You’re asking the wrong person.”

Before I could question Falon further, he shoved me toward Shya and promptly turned away. Shya’s red gaze landed on me, and his lips curled up into a sadistic grin.

“Alexa, I’m so pleased you could join us.” He spoke as if I hadn’t been forced into it. “I’m sure you understand why you’re here. It’s in everyone’s best interest for now.”

“You mean it’s in your best interest. Being your hostage doesn’t do me a damn bit of good. I have a wedding to attend. If you think I’m missing that, you can think again.”

“Let me fetch you some wine. It will loosen you up.” I gawked at him, finding the charming host act to be a true indicator of how mad Shya was. Was there such thing as a sane demon?

“Fuck your wine,” I snapped. “Why am I here? I’d be perfectly happy to stay locked upstairs watching television.”

Shya’s gaze narrowed. “It’s bad manners to be so ungracious to your host, Hound. Are you sure you want to piss me off?” The fake charm was gone, replaced with venom in the blink of an eye.

I swallowed hard. Incurring his wrath was not going to work in my favor. I knew that, and still it was so hard not to tell him to go fuck himself.

“Why am I here?” I repeated in a softer, more complacent tone. I’d play along for as long as I possibly could. It was going to be damn difficult. “I don’t need to witness another of your…events.”

“Of course you do. You’ll be the guest of honor at one of them. Once I find that scroll.”

The heat from the flames warmed my face. I stared at the man bound in the center of the fire. He was human, and he was giving off enough fear to make even the most well controlled vampire come apart.

I gave up. Talking to him was useless. So I reached out to Arys instead, letting him see what I was seeing.

‘Just play along,’ he told me. ‘I’m not leaving you there.’

‘Don’t come here,’ I pleaded. ‘He could hurt you. Or take you prisoner too.’

‘He can try.’

‘Arys, don’t.’

“Why so quiet?” Shya interrupted, giving me a knowing look. “Communicating with your vampire? He’s coming for you. I wouldn’t expect otherwise.”

“No, he isn’t,” I lied. “Look, Shya, I can appreciate the dramatic imprisonment. But this is ridiculous. You already grounded me to the city. Let me go home.”

Shya stared into the flames. There was an eagerness about him that disturbed me. “Help me find the scroll. As soon as we get this all over with you can have your life back.”

Hooking his arm through mine, he pulled me along beside him. We walked the perimeter of the pentagram. I couldn’t tear my gaze from the quivering man in the middle. I had a bad feeling I would watch him die tonight.

“Shya, please. My best friend is getting married. I’m supposed to be in the wedding.” Trying to appeal to a compassionate side that didn’t exist was an exercise in futility I knew. Still, I had to try.

He appeared thoughtful. “I understand that’s important to you. Perhaps I’ll make an allowance for that occasion. Falon can accompany you there. If things go well tonight that is.”

“Wait, what?” I stopped walking, but he jerked me along, making me stumble. “What happens tonight?”

He put a finger to his lips and shook his head. “One thing at a time. I must see to Gabriel. He’s eager to feed.”

The thought of a blood-hungry, black-magic Gabriel scared me. Sure there were several humans present, but my werewolf blood would smell like premium compared to their regular.

Shya met my frown with a tight smile. His grip on my arm tightened painfully. I steeled myself, refusing to show weakness of any kind.

“I hope Arys arrives soon. It wouldn’t be quite the same without him.”

I knew better than to take the bait. Talking to Shya was getting me nowhere. Staying silent was my best option.

We circled the pentagram, coming back to the pool. It was impossible not to look. Several people had exited the pool to crawl all over each other on the grass. It was hard to view them as people. They were just bodies, writhing and squirming.