Page 35 of Demon Apathy: Sunderverse

We pressed past the lobby toward a set of elevators. Before we got there, I pulled Drevan to the side, grabbing him by the arm. He let me lead him aside.

“I’m not going any further with you until you fully explain the deal with LeBeau and Jophiel. I mean, we’re up against… an angel?”

He looked down at my hand, which was still wrapped around his strong biceps. I immediately let go of him and made myself stop thinking about his delicious, latent strength. He seemed disappointed when I broke contact, but he recovered quickly.

“Lucia,” he said in a slightly condescending voice, “we’re not up against an angel. We’re up against God. But you already knew that.”

My mouth opened and closed as I thought of what to say. The idea of being up against God had never seemed real—not as real as Jophiel, anyway. God hadn’t attacked me with a firelash.

“You shouldn’t worry about them. They can’t hurt you now that you’ve rejoined the effort.”

I huffed. “You never left theeffort,and they were happily hurting you.”

He scratched his temple, considering. “I guess I should’ve said they can’t… kill you.”

“Gee, that’s a relief. I mean, it’s so comforting to know they can tear out my fingernails one a time, but they can’t murder me. That will sure help me sleep better at night.”

He smiled hugely. “Glad I could help.”

I reeled in my frustration and tried to keep the conversation on course. “So… they’re working together to make sure Solar continues to be a slob.”

“Yes, they are.”

“I still don’t understand why LeBeau is doing this? What does she get out of it?”

“I suspect she made a deal with my dear old grandfather.”

This couldn’t be real. “You think LeBeau made a deal with God.”

“Yes. He likes making deals. Think about it, who could refuse an offer of eternal life in paradise? The whole thing is overrated if you ask me, but nobody ever asks me.”

“So she gets eternal life in paradise and I get… what?”

Drevan rubbed the back of his neck. “You getme, of course.”

I swallowed thickly, thinking that if Drevan was truly my reward for sacrificing who knew how many years of my life to this quest, I was all-in. But seriously, how pathetic was that?

“I get…you?” I tried not to sound too eager.

“I mean… you get to hang out with me.”

Of course, keeping the most gorgeous creature I’d ever laid eyes on to myself was too good to be true. He was only the one male able to set my skin on fire when he touched me, the only one I’d ever loved. Why should I be so lucky?

“Swell!” I rolled my eyes to hide my disappointment. “Because hanging out with an annoying, arrogant demon is so awesome.”

“Not just a demon. I’m a prince of Hell. It has to account for something.”

“Get over yourself.”

“I will try, but you must realize it won’t be easy. My pedestal is tall and… hard,” he added suggestively.

Oh, God!He had no business driving my attention tothatpart of his anatomy. Especially not when it sent a thrill straight to my core. Bastard!

“Well, good luck,” I managed, then decided to give him a taste of his own medicine. “It’s... dry and cold at the top, andmoistand warm down here.”

“Ms. Sunder!” he exclaimed, sounding scandalized. “It appears your mind has gone straight to the gutter.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”