Page 2 of Princess of Bael

“I’m not going to entice him with a date,” I snapped, exhausted from popping all over the damn country in an effort to shake that vexing Tracker. I also hadn’t slept in, like, a week, thanks to Ashmedai’s interference.

At least he’d given me a present before letting me go.

One I very much wanted to use.

I just needed to take care of the damn Tracker first.

And Prince Alastor.

“You’re going to ruin my plan,” I accused him. “You know Princes of Hell are banned from Earth.”

Now it was his turn to snort. “Hate to break this to you, love, but so are Princesses of Hell.”

“Ah, but I’m a Halfling,” I reminded him. “And I have this,” I added, showing him my golden cuff and the silver runes embedded in the metal. It was a gift from Yaz, the head of my Royal Guard.

Prince Alastor flinched in response, his head rearing back. “Warn a demon, would you?”

I shrugged, tugging my sleeve back down. “I’m sure you sensed it already.”

He took another sip from the bottle before screwing the cap back onto it and returning the item to the bartender’s side of the counter. “I assumed Evangeline gave you a knife.”

I scoffed at that. “We’re not friends. The only way she’d give me a blade would be the old-fashioned way.”

“Good thing you’re immune to silver, then.” He stood, only to lean an elbow on the wood and stare down at me. “Seriously, what’s your plan?”

I finished my cocktail, then focused on him. “Why? Do you want to help?”

“I believe that’s your job.”

“Then let me do it,” I countered.

“I’ve been waiting seven years, Kayla. Things are not improving.”

“I’m aware,” I returned, standing and still having to look up to meet Prince Alastor’s midnight gaze. He had at least ten inches of height on my five-foot-five frame. My boots didn’t help at all.

But that didn’t make me powerless here.

He might be hundreds of thousands of Hell years older than me, but I was Archdemon Bael’s daughter. I possessed my own bag of tricks.

Fortunately, Prince Alastor had taken a liking to me early on. All his torture had been in the form of tests, just to ensure my strength.

And I had to admit, he’d done a great job fortifying my backbone.

I slipped the phone back into my leather jacket pocket as I said, “I need that Tracker off my tail for this to work. Want to take care of him for me?”

“Are you asking me to create a diversion?”

I smiled. “I am.”

He pretended to consider that for a moment. “Well. I’m already here. I may as well enjoy myself a little.”

“Just not too much or the Archangels will descend,” I warned him, already walking toward the door.

“Oh, they’re already on their way,” he called after me. “They really frown upon breaking treaties.”

The cuff around my wrist burned in warning, telling me he was right. “Then that’s my cue.” I gave him a little wave with my fingers.

“I want an update in twenty-four Earth hours!” he shouted after me.