Page 8 of Paramour of Sin

“It might not be a framing at all, just a coincidence,” Lord Zebulon replied. “Which is why I intend to review both crime scenes personally.”

Eve snorted. “I’ve already been and the bodies were reminiscent of the corpses we used to cart over to the crematorium. But the staging wasn’t Gwen at all. I’m certain of it.”

“I think we’ve already established her innocence, love,” Xai said, his arm slipping around her lower back. “Lord Zebulon wants to search for auras.”

“Yes,” he confirmed. “Am I to assume Tax is lurking nearby? Or did Remy bring you on his own?”

“My lord.” The masculine voice came from the living room, causing Gleason to sigh from the other side of the kitchen.

“Just how many demons are in my house right now?” he asked.

“Ourhouse,” I corrected under my breath. I’d used the money from selling Eve’s bar and our former residence, to purchase this one closer to Nashville.

A blond male appeared in the doorway, his head bowed in reverence. “My apologies, my lord. I didn’t want to interrupt.”

Eve rolled her eyes. “More like you and Remy were hiding.”

“It’s Archdemons Tax fears,” Xai murmured. “Not Demonic Lords.”

“I hate both of you,” the light-haired Tracker demon muttered. He was an old friend of Xai’s, but hell if I knew why. Remy, a portal demon, also seemed to like the Fallen Angel asshat. They clearly saw something in him that I didn’t.

“Did you visit the crime scene with Evangeline?” Lord Zebulon asked.

“Yes, my lord,” Tax replied.

“Good.” Lord Zebulon stepped up to my side, his arm brushing mine and sending a hum of electricity over my skin. “Did you sense any auras other than Guinevere’s?”

Tax was silent for a moment. “Several auras,” he said slowly, lifting his head from his bowed position.

Lord Zebulon didn’t remark on it, his silence indicating that Tax should continue.

“The sidewalk is outside a well-known demon haunt. But I could attempt to track the strongest presences around the body?” he phrased it as an offer, his light eyes holding a touch of excitement.

Most demons longed for an opportunity to impress and gain favor with our Demonic Lords, so I understood his eagerness.

“We will venture back together to review.” Another shock of power warmed my skin as he shifted to face me. “Call Zane,” he reminded me. “No unsupervised feedings until this is resolved.”

“Yes, my lord,” I agreed.

His gaze smoldered as he stared at me, then he glanced at Tax. “We’ll go now.”

The Tracker Demon stepped forward. “With Remy?”

“No.” Lord Zebulon reached for him. “We’ll leave him to teleport Evangeline and Xai. I’ll handle our transport.”

The two vanished without another word.

Likepoof. Gone. Disappeared. Leaving only a hint of power in Lord Zebulon’s wake.

Wow, I thought, awed by the display.Wow. Wow. Wow. I’d witnessed it before, but the effortlessness by which he’d done that stole my breath.

“Hmm, I see he’s perfected that new talent,” Xai mused.

“Yeah,” Eve agreed, her awe palpable.

“Oh, come on, guys. It’s not that impressive. I mean, I do it every day,” Remy said as he popped into the kitchen in a pair of jeans and button-down shirt. His emerald gaze landed on me with interest—something that always happened when he visited. The Portal Dweller had a flirtatious side that I enjoyed exploiting. “Hello, gorgeous.”

“Handsome,” I returned without missing a beat.