Page 8

Killian and I laleked directly to Star, thanks to that bond he kept bringing up. We appeared in a dark room, the only light coming through a crack in the curtains. Hell's sun shone through that slit, but it wasn't enough to drive away the darkness. It didn't matter. Kill and I had enhanced sight. It was easy enough to find Star, slumped in a chair facing the balcony. One arm draped over the armrest, a bottle dangling from his hand. Star’s shirtsleeves were rolled up. No letaq on either wrist. I glanced around the King's bedroom—massive, black, and a bit depressing—and located the letaq on the bedside table.

Well, that explained why he hadn't answered.

“Oh, come on,” Killian whined and kicked Star's foot, pushing it into the slash of sunlight. “Seriously, dude? You're pulling the Beast routine?”

Star jolted up and glared at us, the bottle falling from his grip to chug its contents onto the rug. “What the fuck are you doing here? And what is a beast routine?”

“You know, 'Beauty and the Beast?'” Kill waved his hand about as he strode forward. “Belle goes home and the Beast just withers away.” Kill rolled his eyes. “This is the alcohol equivalent of that. And it's already been done by Sever—far better, from what I've heard. So, sober up, asshole. And suit up. We've got a mission.”

“What the fuck is happening right now?” Star looked at me for the answer.

“I'm sorry to invade your privacy.” I sent Killian a withering, shut-the-fuck-up look. “We tried scrying you.” I waved at his abandoned letaq. “But you didn't answer. It's important.”

“Of course it is.” Star stood up and ran a hand through his disheveled hair, smoothing the black locks back into place. That's all it took for him to become King again. “What calamity has struck now? Have the humans started rioting?”

“Nope, it's not humans,” Killian said.

“Can I handle this?” I growled.

“By all means.” Kill waved at Star, then went to the curtains and jerked them open to let in the light.

It may have been night in Thailand, but in the crown city of Hell, it was midday. Star squinted at the stretch of blue sky seen through the glass balcony doors.

“The vampire hunters we caught tonight have escaped,” I said.

Star jerked his stare back to me. “How is that my concern?”

“Can you ditch the smug attitude for ten fucking seconds?” Killian huffed.

“Killian!” I snarled.

“Fine!” he snarled back.

I closed my eyes, sought peace, thought of the unborn babies, and then opened my eyes. “Killian investigated using psychometry. He saw a Demon free the humans. He was covered, including his face, but Kill could tell he was male.”

“And then the guy disappeared with our prisoners in a rain of embers,” Killian said.

“Kill, you are terrible at keeping your trap shut,” I said.

Killian shrugged.

Star remained silent.

“Star?” I prompted.

Astaroth slid his stare toward Killian. “Isn't your job diplomatic?”

Killian had no poker face so his bafflement showed immediately. “And?”

“Diplomacy involves discretion. And tact .”

“Yeah, well they made an exception for me. On account of me being such a people person.” Killian bared his teeth.

“Damn it, Kill. You were the only one who got along with him. Can't you guys hug and make up?”

Both men looked horrified.

“And you think I'm tactless.” Killian plopped down on Star's bed.

Star's face scrunched up as he looked from my uncouth husband to me and back again. “Shall I send for more blankets or are you comfortable?”

Kill looked down, stroked the comforter, and grinned. “No, I'm good. Is this silk? It's nice.”

Star rubbed at his forehead. “I'm not sober enough for this.”

“I usually say I'm not drunk enough for something.” Killian laid back on his forearms. “This is a comfy bed.”

“Thank you.” Star grimaced at me.

“I'm sorry,” I said. “It's been a rough night for all of us.”

“Yes, indeed.” Star picked up his bottle, set it on a dresser, and then strode out of the bedroom.

“Killian!” I hissed and waved him up.

Kill chuckled and got out of the Devil's bed. “I'm just having a little fun.”

“Well, stop it.”

He stuck his tongue out at me.

Honestly, it was a relief to see Killian back to being himself. I hated when he got serious because that meant things were really bad. Like when I cried. Shit, I had cried and didn't even realize it. Maybe I was the one who needed to get drunk.

“Sayadi!” Star shouted as he strode down the corridor.

I lifted a brow at Killian.

“They're not technically Sayadi anymore.” Kill rolled his eyes. “You'd think he, of all people, would know that.”

I chuckled. “I think they're whatever he wants them to be.”

“You're damn straight they are,” Star said without looking back.

“Hey!” Killian called after him.

Star spun to glare at Kill. “What?!”

Killian tossed Star's letaq at him.

Star caught it.

“A king shouldn't be unreachable,” Killian said.

“A king can be whatever the fuck he wants.” Star put his letaq on. “And if the worst of my shortcomings is being incommunicado, I'm already superior to my predecessor.”

“That was never in question, dude,” Killian drawled. “But answer your damn phone.”

Star shook his head and continued down the corridor. Up ahead of him, his King's Guard was already gathering. They took one look at Star, then turned and strode in the opposite direction. I would have questioned this, but I saw where they were going—into a room at the end of the corridor. Star followed them in, and we followed Star.

“What fresh hell is this?” Apitron asked as we entered.

“That's pretty funny, dude.” Kill fist-bumped the Demon, then took a seat at the long, ebony meeting table that took up most of the room.

The wall across from the door was floor-to-ceiling glass with a view of a lush, sun-drenched garden. The rest of the walls were bare, as was the table. But as Star sat at the head of the table, the black surface came to life, projecting a hologram of Earth above its center.

Star set his hand on the table and the planet spun, lowered to the tabletop, and then flattened. A 3D image of Thailand covered the table. “The Ambassadors and a united team of vexes and extinguishers apprehended three, human vampire hunters tonight.”

I sat down on Killian's left. He was in the chair to Star's left. It felt safer to have Kill between us.

“Vampire hunters.” Nassar chuckled.

Star cleared his throat.

Everyone went quiet.

“After I left, the hunters escaped,” Star went on. “A Demon freed them.”

All the Demons at the table, with the exception of their king, groaned or made other sounds of annoyance.

“Come on,” Sallales whined and pounded her forehead on the table.

“Haven't they learned yet?” Phodrel added. “For fuck's sake. What do you have to do to make them fall in line?”

“Maybe there was a reason Lucifer was such a prick,” Eladeb said.

“I refuse to believe that I have to become a monster to keep our people in check,” Star said. “And Lucifer's reign wasn't without incidents either. You, of all Demons, should know that.”

Sal grimaced. “Yeah. Fair enough. Maybe we've been so focused on the negatives that we haven't noticed all the positive changes. Shit. I mean, how often did we use to hunt? All the fucking time. And we were only one of several Sayadi teams. Now, it's just us, and we've only had a few incidents to deal with. That's pretty fucking awesome.”

They exchanged nods and looks of agreement.

“Except that Lucifer didn't handle shit like this himself.” Phodrel waved a hand at Star. “Maybe you should make some new Sayadi teams, Your Majesty.”

“I don't have to make new teams.” Star leaned back and looked at his guards. “There are still several in place, waiting for my orders. But you're the only ones I trust. And this situation involves Seren. So, we're handling this ourselves.”

“Wow, dude.” Killian shook his head. “You're not even trying to be discreet about it.”

“Why should he?” Sal, who was Star's right-hand woman, asked. “We all know what's going on with you guys. It's why we stayed back tonight.”

“Yeah. All right,” Kill muttered.

“So, a Demon has teamed up with humans who hunt Bite Witches?” Veshim asked.

“Yeah,” Killian said. “That about sums it up. Any ideas on why?”

“Why do Demons do anything?” Nassar shrugged.

“Usually money, magic, or power,” Sal said. “Or revenge.”

“Or to fuck with their new king.” Star leaned back and his partially unbuttoned shirt gaped.

I looked away from the sleek, hard chest that teased me. And right at Antaura.

Antaura was Star's gorgeous ex-girlfriend. They were together when we met. Antaura begged Star not to give me a piece of his magic. He did it anyway, and he ended their relationship shortly afterward. So, yeah, she resented me, and I totally understood. But I also saved her life. Well, not saved exactly. I could have let her die, but I didn't. Judging from the way she nodded at me, it was equivalent in her opinion.

I nodded back—soldier code for accepting an offer of truce.

“I guess we'd better investigate the scene before the trail gets cold,” Sallales said. Then she looked at me. “Why didn't you track them, Your Majesty?”

“I can only track you guys when you're near,” I said. “It was too late by the time we figured out what had happened. Maybe if I hadn't been so distracted, I would have felt the Demon arrive.” I glanced at Star, then Kill. “But with one Demon present, he didn't register with me.”

The King's Guard stared at me. As in, all of them. Together.

“All right.” Star stood up. “There's no point in hashing this out. Sal's right. We need to investigate the scene first.” He sighed and looked down at himself. “All of you, head over with the Ambassadors. I've got to change.” Then he left.

The rest of us watched him go.

Then Killian looked at me. “Should we scry the others?”

“Can we wait?” I winced under his sharp look. “They're going to want to come, and there's no sense in that. They'll just make everything more difficult.”

Killian snorted. “I'll be sure to tell them you said that.”

I lifted a brow at him.

“Yeah, all right. Maybe you have a point.”

“Do you want Dad to send the Star's Guard out?”

“No,” he muttered.

“Then let's wait until we have more information.”

“You two are hilarious,” Sal drawled as she got up. “But this shit interrupted my fuck time, so I'm not in the mood. Can we go?”

I got up, looking around the group. Nine Demons. But with my Demon and Angel magic, I could lalek them together, no big deal. It was even better than Twilight Magic, which required the use of a rath or it had to be twilight—the hour when that magic was at its strongest.

“Come on then.” Killian stood up and waved toward an open spot at the end of the room. “Form a circle.” He frowned at the size of that space and added, “A small circle.”

“Or we could go into the corridor.” Rathi waved at the door.

Killian switched directions with a nod. “Yup. You right.”

I rolled my eyes and went into the corridor with the rest of the Demons. We clasped hands, and I didn't bother with any instructions. They knew what to expect. They had done it themselves thousands of times before. So I just laleked them to Thailand without warning. Specifically, to the yard of the vex house.

The house was lit up brighter than before, with floodlights illuminating the garden as well. It made the transition from day in Hell to night on Earth less obvious. Extinguisher Tanya Murdock was out on the porch, talking on her phone.

She flinched back, then said into the phone, “They've just returned, sir.” A pause. “Yes, sir. They brought Demons with them.”

Sallales chuckled.

I glanced at her, then crossed the bridge to the porch.

“Yes, sir,” Murdock said. “She's right here.” She looked at me. “Yes, sir.” Then she held out the phone. “Ambassador, High Councilman Reginald Murdock would like to speak with you.”

“Of course, he would.” I glanced at Killian.

Kill laughed and patted my shoulder. “Have fun with Reggie, babe.” Then he waved the Demons inside. “This way.”

I took the phone.

“I'll be inside when you're done.” Extinguisher Murdock ran away too.

I shook my head. The High Councilman was a grumpy old man, but he wasn't fearsome. Hell, my daughter, Shahzadi could be more terrifying than Reginald. And yet everyone tiptoed around him. He knew it and I think he liked to hang out near the Council's crystal ball so he could be the one who answered scries just so he could freak people out. At least this was a phone call and not a scry, so I wouldn't have to deal with his admonishing expressions.

Holding the phone to my ear, I said, “Hello, High Councilman.”

“Hello, Ambassador,” High Councilman Murdock said. “I've heard about the escape. I assume King Astaroth is going to assist?”

“Yes, sir. His team is investigating now.” I may be a queen, but when I was working as an ambassador, high council members outranked me. I believed that ranking had to be respected. Being raised as an extinguisher probably has something to do with that.

“Good. Keep me apprised of the situation. The fucking Coven is breathing down our necks. They keep spouting crap about the alliance only being good for humans and fairies.”

“What does that mean?”

“Oh, it's political nonsense. They're trying to make us feel responsible so we'll help them.”

“We are helping them.”

“We are. Not the Fey.”

“Ah. I see.”

Murdock sighed. “They just want as much support on this as possible, and I don't blame them. A Demon's involvement has escalated things.”

“Should I speak to the High Fairy Council?”

“No. They're all here. I've just come from a meeting with them. I believe the Fairy Council will send a team in. Expect them soon.” A pause. “You're in Thailand, right?”

“Yes.”

He chuckled. “Have you met the Thai Fey before?”

I thought about it. “No, I don't think so. Thailand has distinctive fairies?”

“Ambassador, your people are all over this planet. And the planet is all over them.” He laughed harder.

“What?”

“You'll see,” Murdock said. “I served in Thailand for a short time.” It was the most interesting experience of my life.”

“You know that's a Chinese curse, right?”

“No, Ambassador. The curse is 'May you live in interesting times.'”

“Yeah. As I said.”

Murdock laughed again, even harder. “Good luck, Seren.”

“Thank you, sir. Goodbye.”

“Goodbye.”

“Who was that?”

I yipped and spun around to find Star standing behind me. And surprise, surprise, he wasn't wearing a suit. Still, he made the black leather Sayadi uniform look elegant. Elegant and fucking sexy. I glanced down, taking in everything from his form-fitting leather jacket to his matte boots. And then I jerked my stare back up to where it belonged.

Star's lips twitched.

I grimaced at him. “That was High Councilman Murdock. He said to expect a hunter team.”

“Good.” Star glanced at the garden. “Then I don't have to kill the fairies in the garden.”

“What?” I peered around the garden, the floodlights putting everything into sharp relief. But the illumination only went out a few feet. Beyond the fading edge of light was a dark forest and road. I stared into the darkness using my enhanced vision, and adding my psychic sight to it. There, near a twisting tree trunk, I caught the glimmer of a glamour. “If you're reporting for duty, maybe you should, oh, I dunno, fucking show yourselves and stop being such rude creepers!” Then I muttered to myself, “Damn it. I'm sliding back into the habit of using real swear words.”

“Real as opposed to the silliness you usually employ?” Star drawled.

“It's easier to stop swearing around the kids if I stop swearing period.”

“Ah. Yes. The joys of parenthood.” Star's expression was sardonic—as usual—but I saw the longing beneath the mask.

Then rustling sound caught our attention. A group of people appeared. All of them were on the slim side, delicately boned with Thai features. But they weren't humans. If they had been, I wouldn't have been able to catch that gleam of magic with my second sight. The Fairies stepped forward—a team of eight—and inclined their heads to us before coming over the bridge.

A woman in the lead separated herself from the others and stepped up to Star and me. “Greetings, Ambassador. I am Malai, Lady of the Wild Hunt.”

I shook her hand. “Hello, Lady Malai. We're glad to have you with us.”

“We are careful here in Thailand. We don't approach any meeting without an initial inspection.”

“Ah. I see. Well, this is King Astaroth of Hell.”

“Your Majesty.” Malai nodded, her long braid swinging forward. She, like the rest of her team, was dressed in loose pants and a tunic made of dark lightweight material, with a sword strapped to her waist.

“Thank you for coming, Lady Malai.” Star nodded at her. “My team is inside, investigating the scene.”

“We will wait out here.”

“You don't want to have a look?”

“We were told a Demon took the prisoners. Nothing more to investigate.”

I chuckled.

Star lifted a brow at me.

“Well, I mean, she's not wrong. What else do we expect to find?” I asked.

“How about where the vampire hunters sleep?” Killian asked as he came outside. “Would that interest you?”

“Did you get a vision?” I asked.

“Yup.” He nodded at Malai. “Lady of the Wild Hunt, welcome.”

“Thank you, Ambassador.” She nodded back. “Are we hunting?”

“Oh, yeah,” Kill said. “You have perfect timing.”