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

“Shya. I should have known. Only you would be fool enough to summon me.” The demon’s voice was low and gravelly. It sniffed in my direction and smiled. It was a strange looking thing.

“I need a favor, Saber,” Shya said, fearless. After all, he was the master of this situation. The goat demon was trapped, unable to do more than scrutinize us. “I need help finding the key to Lilah’s kingdom.”

The goat burst into laughter. It sounded very human, but coming out of that animal face, it was both ridiculous and scary.

“Still chasing that dream, are you? She rejected you. Is that why you still want what was hers? For spite?”

“Because it is mine by right. I served her endlessly. She was my queen, my everything. And she abandoned me. I deserve what she would never give me. Even if I have to take it myself, it will be mine. Help me, and I will allow you to reign with me.” There was genuine emotion in Shya’s tone, something I rarely heard. Lilah had broken his evil little heart.

Saber stared at Shya, wearing a mocking grin. I blinked several times, still unable to believe I was seeing a grinning goat. I’d be seeing that face in my nightmares.

“I have no desire to reign in Lilah’s kingdom whether she sits on the throne or not. Nor should you. Consider what will happen when she breaks free of the angels’ cage. She will return and make you suffer.”

Despite the scary face and creepy demon vibes, Saber was making sense. Shya was an idiot if he thought Lilah wouldn’t return to her throne the first chance she got. Although I hoped for my own sake that the angels wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

“Then I suppose that is the risk I’m willing to take. Now, will you help me or not? You know of the scroll’s whereabouts, don’t you?” The calm Shya exuded seemed forced. He was desperate and trying hard to hide it.

“It’s just eating away at you, isn’t it? The need to have those who oppressed you grovel at your feet.” Saber crossed his arms over his beefy chest. Eyeing Shya up like he was a worm, the goat headed demon snickered. “No, I do not know where the scroll is, though I do know something about it that may be of use to you.”

“What is it? Tell me.” Shya’s snappy demand brought my gaze to him. So far this short interaction had been very enlightening. I was beginning to understand Shya’s motivations. It went much deeper than the need for power. He was also seeking vengeance.

I had witnessed Lilah talk to him as if he were dirt. She had basically told him he was worthless. Apparently demons had feelings too. I wondered if just maybe Shya had even been in love with Lilah. In my experience it was love that spawned the greatest revenge stories.

“You must promise me something first,” Saber said, and his creepy goat eyes landed on me. “I’ll tell you what I know, and you let me take the Hound.”

Those words echoed in my head, and for a moment I thought I might pee my pants in sheer terror.

Shya gaped at him with his mouth open in shock and anger. “I need her, and you damn well know it. She’s not an option. There’s your payment.”

Saber glanced at the bound man and shrugged. “What makes him so special?”

“It’s a life. A pitiful human life. You have no right to ask for more.” The heat of Shya’s growing ire caused the atmosphere to pulse and burn. It felt like the sun on the hottest day of summer. I considered jumping into the pool if only to rid myself of the wretched feeling. Arys held my hand, and his soothing energy helped.

“You’re asking me for help. I have every right.” Saber wasn’t backing down. “Give me the Hound or let me leave.”

“Alexa isn’t property for you to bargain over,” Arys spat, losing his temper. “There’s a reason Lilah never wanted you, Shya. You’re unworthy of acquiring anything on your own. Using other people as pawns, playing them against each other, you’re nothing but a fucking puppet master with no real authority. We are going to end you.”

Uh oh. I expected Shya to kill us both right then and there. Especially when Saber burst into laughter.

Instead, Shya merely smiled, the fakest, most plastic-looking of smiles. “Is that so? By all means, please do. Oh wait a minute, you can’t. Not while Alexa is still mortal anyway.”

“The vampire is right, Shya,” Saber said when he managed to stop laughing. “There is a valid reason why Lilah didn’t want you for anything more than a servant. You should just be glad that she’s gone, for now.”

“Tell me what you know about the scroll!” The screech Shya let out was astounding. It hurt my ears, and I cringed when the rising heat of his rage continued to grow.