Page 66 of Princess of Bael

Ezra glanced at him. “Yes.” No elaboration. Just a confirmation.

“And that’ll lead to an eventual rift in the veil,” Gleason translated.

“Yes,” Ezra repeated.

“Well…” Some of Gleason’s bravado slipped into an expression of uncertainty. “I guess the Dark Provenance is about to be needed now more than ever before.”

Not sure how you all can help, but okay, I nearly replied.

Gleason’s sharp green eyes cut toward me, his eyebrow arching. “You have no idea what we’re capable of, Princess.”

My lips curled down. I hadn’t said that out loud. “Did you just…?”

“Read your mind?” he finished for me, his lips curling a little. “Not exactly. But as I said, we’re a lot more powerful than any of you give us credit for. Perhaps we’ll demonstrate at the meeting.” His attention returned to Ezra as the coffee maker dinged. “Reach out in two days. I’ll give you a time and a place to meet.” He didn’t wait for a reply, just turned to refill his mug.

But Ezra nodded anyway. “We’ll be in touch,” he said, holding his hand out toward me in a clear invitation to leave.

However, I didn’t accept it. Instead, I considered Gleason’s revelation. He was noted at the top of my Nephilim list for a reason—his powers had increased exponentially over the last few decades—but mind reading wasn’t part of the profile I’d reviewed with Ashmedai.

Which led me to saying, “I want the files.” That had been the original reason to reach out to Gleason, after all.

Gleason glanced back at me, amusement lightening his features just a little. “Of course.” He set his mug down and left the room without another word.

I glanced at Ezra, curious as to whether or not he’d picked up on the admission, only to find him grinning.

What?I nearly demanded, my eyebrow lifting.

But he just shook his head again, instead finding a mug and pouring himself a shot of coffee. He downed it in one go and set the cup in the sink as Gleason returned with a thumb drive.

Ezra took it from him and murmured, “Thanks.” I didn’t recall seeing a computer in his study, but he must have one somewhere.

This time when he held out his hand, I accepted it.

And the world spun around us once more.

All the way back to his estate.

Ezra

A Little Over Two Days Later

Kayla’sluscious brown hair gleamed in the moonlight streaming through my open windows. I wanted to comb my fingers through the silky strands, create a fist-like hold, and drag her into a kiss.

It was a craving that hit me square in the gut, tightening my insides and lighting my blood on fire.

I’d never desired a woman in this manner before.

Every day only intensified my yearning.

Knowing she slept in my home, just down the hall, drove me mad, making sleep impossible. Which was a problem because I needed to be able to focus.

Yet I couldn’t.

Because all I wanted to do was grab my mate and devour her.

She stood in front of my back row of bookshelves, eyeing the boards we’d propped up against them. We’d drafted several lists, the first being all eleven Archdemons, their realm attributes, and the Demonic Lords who reported to them.

Ashmedai had Zebulon and Valentino written beneath his name, as he only had two Demonic Lords under his proverbial wings.