Page 22 of Demon Touched (The Demon Syndicate #2)

Dex

H oly fucking shit. Dex had never felt so out of control before.

All he could see was red, and he wanted to rip that hunter apart.

For no fucking reason.

Of course he knew Nova had been with other people, but hearing about it firsthand had hit him like one of Agmos’s infamous punches. It was difficult to breathe after hearing Zane talk to her like that.

Couldn’t kill the hunter either or the council would blame Nova. Then they’d just send another one.

Dex sighed. This was not something he was mentally prepared for.

He needed to talk to Agmos.

Wrapping an illusion around himself, he took the window and flew toward the demon’s penthouse. If he wasn’t there, Dex would check the office, but Agmos rarely left his place these days.

Why would he when Dex did most of the legwork?

Agmos was the better businessman though. Always had been. He was the one who hired the negotiators who got them contracts to continue their territory expansion.

The demon had built this company from the ground up and he had the skill to hold on to everything he’d taken. That was no small feat for an unclaimed city.

Dex went through the window of his room and into the penthouse, trying not to think about how long it had been since he’d lived here. Agmos kept trying to get him to move back in, but he’d always thought that being closer to the businesses was easier.

Especially now.

“Where is he?” Dex asked one of the bodyguards.

The shifter jumped and tried to hide it, making Dex smile. He loved scaring the shit out of them. No one but Agmos could sense him and it made them all nervous.

“Sir, the boss is in the study.”

Dex slapped the shifter on the back and went to go find his adopted father.

There was a lot they needed to talk about.

With council hunters in the city, the Black Lotus, and their plans for expansion…something needed to change. Not that he had any plans to tell Agmos about the hunters, but he might tell the demon about Nova the witch.

He hadn’t decided yet, but if he asked Agmos for advice, the demon would figure out something was going on in his personal life.

Pausing outside the study door, Dex ignored the two bodyguards and tried to remember if Agmos had ever had a relationship.

The demon had always presented himself as single and unattached. It was how he’d wooed both sexes into performing favors for him and it worked every time. Dex had used the same trick to get the job done on occasion.

Considering the idea that Nova might have to do the same didn’t bother him either, but this hunter still had a thing for her whether she knew it or not.

Dex knocked and Agmos gave him permission to enter. He closed the door behind him and then considered the massive study.

It was everything he’d thought he wanted one day, but it didn’t suit him at all.

The floor-to-ceiling bookshelves held shit from every realm that Agmos had been able to visit and the black leather furniture was a stark contrast to all the mahogany and oak.

There was an entire bar on one side of the room, just like how it was at the corporate building, but there was something cozier about this study. Maybe it was because Dex used to fall asleep on the couch when he was little, watching TV after a long day of school or training.

“Everything okay?” Agmos asked, raising his eyebrows when Dex didn’t immediately say anything.

“I’m just worried,” he said carefully. “There’s a lot of movement outside our borders and I’m bulking up our forces, but have no idea why.”

“Is that all?” His demon father stood and poured two glasses of scotch.

“No, that’s not all. I think it’s risky to continue expanding when the Black Lotus appears to be looking for a war we can’t afford.”

A war would alert the council and no one wanted that.

“Here, sit down.” Agmos handed him the glass of scotch and Dex took it even if he didn’t want any.

After so many years the demon would know something else was going on if he refused.

Dex sat and hoped Agmos would have something to say that would reassure him.

“There is no way the Black Lotus can take us within our own borders,” Agmos reminded him. “The reason I’m leaving them alone is because I’ve received word there are some council hunters here in Seattle, looking into some reports.”

Dex drained the glass of scotch and buried down any thoughts or feelings he had about that.

“I’m hoping the movements of the new syndicate will bring the council down on them.

” Agmos smirked and grabbed the bottle of scotch, pouring more into Dex’s glass.

“If they did, the hunters would eradicate any competition without us having to lift a finger. Then we can take their properties and expand without any bloodshed on our part.”

Fucking hell.

Dex drained the second glass and then took the bottle from Agmos. He was going to need a lot more alcohol for this conversation. “Then why are we bulking up our forces?”

“To protect our territory of course.” Agmos smiled indulgently, like it was all obvious. “We need to protect our assets and our people. If they try to cross the border then we need to defend – and document all of it in case the council comes sniffing around.”

So…Agmos knew about Nova.

How?

The demon knew there was more than one council hunter too, which meant that whoever his source was, they didn’t work under Dex. It was way more likely that Agmos had a spy, or maybe even a friend with a seat on the council, one who kept him apprised at all times.

If that was the case, then he might know exactly who Nova was and that she wasn’t just a hunter.

He had to keep her a secret, at least, until she could finish her mission.

“What should I do if I have to leave our territory?” Dex asked.

“Don’t leave our territory.” Agmos shrugged. “Pull everyone back.”

“For how long?” Dex kept his voice calm and his face blank, but inside he was panicking.

Nova’s new apartment was in the grey area. How was he supposed to be there for her if he couldn’t leave his territory?

“For however long it takes.” Agmos sat on the couch across from Dex and swirled the scotch around in his glass.

“When the council hunters leave, we can free up movement again. Perhaps I should have told you sooner, but I was waiting to see if the council would pull back the hunter after taking a look around.”

Dex sensed a trap. Agmos must know how long Nova had been in the city – probably knew the exact moment she’d arrived. If he tried to feign ignorance…

“I considered offering them a job,” he admitted.

“Did you now?” Agmos smirked into his glass. “Why is that?”

“If they switched sides, then the council would no longer be a problem, and a hunter can easily take down a witch. The Black Lotus seems to have an army of them so I figured it was a good idea.” Dex shrugged and leaned back against the couch like he didn’t care.

“Shifters are not immune to certain magics the same way hunters are.”

“And yet you’ve been hiring witches instead of hunters. What changed?”

Dex threw his arm over the back of the couch and considered his adopted father. Agmos was crafty and mean, but he’d always taken care of him. He’d always made sure he had everything he could possibly want, including the knowledge and training for his demon half.

Angels very rarely came down to earth themselves, and when they did, they made sure no one knew about it. So, the only ones he could potentially talk to were the fallen angels in hell, but…Agmos had considered it too much of a risk.

Nephilim were hated by both sides since they were stronger than both demon and angel.

If Lucifer, or any of the other princes of hell discovered his existence, they would end him or try to use him.

If an angel discovered his existence, they’d send an army of Seraphim after him.

At least, that’s what Agmos had always told him.

“Nothing’s changed. I just figured that having both would be beneficial.” Dex sighed and waved his hand. “The hunter and I crossed paths last week and he took down my best fighters without killing them. So, I offered him a job. I’m still waiting for a reply, but he knows how to reach me.”

“And now there are two hunters,” Agmos said, like it was Dex’s fault somehow.

He shrugged and dropped his head back on the couch. “I could always make the new hunter the same offer.”

“And what happens when the council realizes they’ve switched sides?” Agmos tsked. “They’ll only send more when they discover what happened. And then what? Are you going to turn them all?”

Fuck.

Dex should have known that his plans for the council hunters would piss off the demon.

“I assumed that they could join us after they’ve taken out the trash, maybe work as a double agent for a while, since we aren’t the ones breaking Council law.”

“And that’s why I rule the syndicate and you follow orders.” Agmos sipped his scotch and studied Dex out of the corner of his eyes. “Invite the hunters to dinner, why don’t you? I’d like to meet them.”

Every muscle in his body strained as Dex forced himself to stay in the same relaxed position. “It’s not like I have their number.”

“I’m sure they’ll end up in our territory again. So make it happen.”

“Of course. Whatever you say, Agmos.”