Page 6 of Demon with Benefits (Hell Bent #3)

BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE

N OT LONG AFTER THAT STARTLING REVELATION , I RIS found herself back in the very place she’d so hastily vacated that morning. She, Lily, Mist, and Raum were gathered in Belial’s spotless kitchen—thankfully absent of Belial himself for the moment.

There was also no sign of Meph. Not that Iris cared.

Eva and Asmodeus appeared shortly after their arrival, and Ash had taken one look at the dog before asking how they’d gotten their hands on a hellhound. If Iris had held onto any doubts that Mist was wrong, that dispelled them.

Raum had taken on the role of puppy holder. Apparently, Raum was like a demon Dr. Doolittle or something, because the previously squirming dog now slept peacefully in his arms while Eva’s cat, Thelonious, wound around his legs, purring loudly.

It was common knowledge among witches that most animals had a strong aversion to demons—with the exception of Raum, evidently.

Cats, in particular, hated them, which made the behavior of Eva’s cat all the more remarkable.

It was part of the job of a witch’s familiar to act as a warning system in the presence of supernatural beings, which was why cats were a popular choice.

Mist had explained on the walk over that hellhounds didn’t feel the same hostility toward demons as other animals since they were also creatures of Hell.

As such, the puppy looked right at home in the kitchen full of demons.

And since Thelonious was soothed by Raum’s presence, it appeared Iris was the only one out of her element.

“So,” she said into the growing silence, “what—”

Belial strode into the kitchen and came to a dead stop, eyes locked on the puppy in Raum’s arms. Great.

“Tell me that’s not what I think it is.”

“It’s a hellhound,” Raum supplied. The dark-skinned, golden-eyed demon shot his brother a challenging look.

There was an ominous silence.

Iris swallowed. Was today the day she would witness one of Belial’s rage attacks? She was pretty sure she’d just seen a flicker of hellfire in his blue eyes as he glared back at Raum.

“Where did it come from?” Bel asked.

“I found him,” Iris replied, keeping her tone even. The last thing she would do was show a demon even a glimpse of fear. “Someone abandoned him outside my door.”

Bel’s jaw flexed as he glared at the puppy. “I don’t like it. I’ll open a hellgate and toss him back where he came from.”

“No!” Lily, Iris, Eva, and even Raum said simultaneously.

The hellhound in question lifted his head off Raum’s muscled arm and blinked sleepily as if he knew the conversation was about him.

“I do agree that it’s strange,” Eva said, trying to defuse the tension.

“How did he get here?” Her riotous curls were tied into two messy buns on either side of her head, and her sunny disposition seemed incongruous next to a brooding Asmodeus with his crossed arms and long raven hair hanging in his face.

Yet somehow, they had the same ultra-compatible, power-couple vibe Lily and Mist had.

The kind that Iris wouldn’t have believed existed if she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes.

“Is he safe?” Lily asked from the other side of the kitchen island. “I mean, is he... evil?”

Raum shot her a dark look. “He’s a baby. He’s not evil.”

“I had to ask.” Her cheeks flushed. “I mean, he is from Hell.”

“It’s still an animal,” Ash said. “He’s just like any regular dog.”

“But smarter,” Mist said from behind Lily. Surprisingly, he had chosen to remain in human form. Lily had said he was getting more used to maintaining it for long periods.

“And bigger,” Raum said.

“And way more bloodthirsty,” Ash added.

Iris winced. “How much bigger?”

“The size of a horse.”

Iris gawked at him. “A horse ?”

“A small horse,” Ash amended. “Like a pony.”

That did not make her feel any better.

Before she could start worrying about how a gigantic dog was going to fit in her apartment, Ash added, “But hellhounds can shift into a smaller form that looks like an Earth dog.”

“So he’s a giant, bloodthirsty, cunning, shapeshifting dog.” Eva cocked a brow. “Totally the same thing as a regular dog.”

“He can’t stay here anyway,” Belial announced, slashing a big hand through the air. “We don’t know how he got here, and it’s too big of a risk that he was sent by one of our enemies.”

Ash scoffed. “And what fearsome enemy would send a puppy after us? Lucifer?”

Bel’s jaw clenched. “It’s too big of a coincidence.”

“I agree it’s strange,” Raum said, “but Ash is right. If it was Lucifer, we’d be facing an army. And anyone else dumb enough to send a hellhound pup as an infiltrator isn’t a real threat. Let them come. It’ll be fun to kill them.”

“It’s still a risk,” Bel growled. “How else can you explain the hound finding us here?”

Mist spoke up. “Hellhounds have been known to escape their keepers before they’re tamed. It is possible he went through a hellgate by accident.”

Bel shook his head. “It’s too far-fetched.”

“So is the idea that we’re being hunted by a puppy,” Raum said.

Ash snickered. “Maybe they hired this little guy to replace Mist. Watch out, guys, the new Hunter is coming for us.”

Bel was grinding his teeth, but it was obvious he knew the others had a point. “He’ll need training to learn to hold his Earth form. The hellhound form is his natural state.”

“Would regular people even be able to see him like that?” Eva asked, referring to the naturally occurring glamor that hid the supernatural world from those without the Sight.

When presented with a demon in demon form or some other supernatural entity like an angel or vampire, most humans would either see nothing out of the ordinary, or their minds would devise a logical explanation for whatever they had witnessed.

Blood-born witches like Iris, Lily, and Suyin were born with the Sight. Witch practitioners, like most of the members of the Montreal coven, had to train their minds to see what was really out there. With enough exposure and practice, eventually anyone could develop their Sight.

“Not at first glance, no,” Belial admitted, looking angrier by the second. “But it won’t stop him from eating everything in his sight.”

“So basically, I have to give him the most rigorous training a puppy has ever seen,” Iris said, already feeling overwhelmed.

“No,” Belial snapped, “you have to send him back to Hell.”

The idea was abhorrent. She’d only just gotten him. She didn’t even want a dog; it was the last thing she needed right now. Yet she’d already become attached to him somehow. He’d turned up on her doorstep, after all.

“But who would take him?” Lily asked. “We can’t just abandon him.”

All the demons instantly looked at Belial. Bel looked between them. “No.”

The pointed looks continued. Bel’s nostrils flared. “I said no , damn it.”

“You’re the only one with reliable contacts in Hell,” Ash said. “If you want to get rid of him, that’s the best way.”

“I still say we just open a gate and toss him through.”

“And I still say no,” Raum replied. “If you won’t take care of it, I’ll just keep him here and find a way to make it work.”

“No.” Belial pointed at him. “You are not adopting a hellhound. And speaking of things we’re not doing, what did I say about bringing that damn cat into my house, Eva?”

The damn cat in question was still purring at Raum’s feet, ignoring everyone else.

“He misses Raum if I don’t bring him up here,” Eva replied, seemingly unfazed by the murderous glare the seven-foot-tall blond was pinning her with. “At least he’s not howling at you guys anymore. Raum makes him feel safe.”

Belial’s jaw clenched. Raum looked smug.

“Maybe Eligos and Natalie could take the puppy?” Lily suggested. “They have a big property with lots of room to run, and I already know Natalie takes in stray gargoyles.”

Iris had heard all about Lily’s road trip to the Gaspé to make friends with more demons. Apparently, Eligos and his human girlfriend, Natalie, had declared their intentions to visit Montreal and catch up with the crew here, but they’d decided to wait until summer when the weather cleared up.

Belial was still glaring at the dog. “I still think—”

“We’re not tossing him through a hellgate,” Raum said, “so shut up about that.”

Ash held up a hand when Bel looked ready to attack. “How about Raum takes him for now, just while we find somewhere he can live permanently?”

“I told you,” Bel snapped, “I don’t want a fucking dog—”

“I’ll take him,” Iris said quickly. “I found him, so he’s my responsibility. I’ll just have to figure out a way to train him.” The idea was daunting. She looked at Raum. “But I can’t keep him with me all the time. Maybe you could take him when I have to work and stuff? Dog-sitting or whatever?”

“ No ,” Belial snapped.

“Deal,” Raum said.

“It’s not happening.”

She did her best to ignore Belial’s furious glare like everyone else, but it was hard. There was hellfire obscuring his eyes, after all. Forget the light-blue shade his irises normally were—right now they looked like windows to the roaring furnace of the underworld.

“Chill, Bel,” Ash said. “It’s a good plan. If he’s too hard to control, we can set him loose in Hell.”

“You’re a fucking idiot if you don’t see that this could be a trap.”

“It’s a puppy,” Raum cut in. “How can he trap anyone? He’s a helpless little baby.”

“He’s a goddamn hellhound!”

“A goddamn baby hellhound, dumbass.”

Bel stepped closer. “Call me that again.”

Without blinking, Raum looked up at him and said, “Dumbass.”

“Stop it, Raum.” Ash shot him a pointed glare and then looked at Belial. “Everyone calm the fuck down. If Iris can train him, he won’t be a problem. If she can’t, he’s gone.”

No pressure , Iris thought with a wince.

Belial and Asmodeus stared at each other for a good long time. The tension was so thick, she could taste it.