got fed up enough to go after him with a blowtorch.
Raum growled as another burst of feminine giggling erupted, turning his head to look out through the window. He now had a fine view directly into the large glass window of Lotions and Potions, even though Ember had not come into view again. He also had decent beer, though the company left a lot to be desired. For once, he wished for a few of his brethren to appear. As annoying as they were, he much preferred their company to what he’d ended up with on this mission: the underworld’s most notorious narcissist, and an unsympathetic sea monster.
Raum slumped further into his chair and glared at the bottle in front of him. He did not, as a rule, bed she-demons. He liked control, which the succubi delighted in wresting from any man brave, or foolish, enough to succumb to their many charms. But Ember Riddick had affected him … differently. He was intrigued, and not just because she was by far the most beautiful creature he’d seen in ages.
Raum didn’t want to be interested. It pissed him off. Like a lot of things these days.
“Oh, stop brooding, Raum,” Gadreel sniffed, motioning to the waitress to bring him another beer. “You’re so boring. Be happy, will you? We found the half-breed, which means all we have to do now is wait for some asshole to descend from on high to tell us to send her back where she belongs. Then I can go work with someone who appreciates my talent, and you can do … “ He trailed off for a moment, then waved his hand dismissively. “Well, you can do whatever it is you like to do. Sit in the dark. Write bad adolescent poetry. Buy more black shirts. Whatever.”
Savoring the image of slamming that pretty golden head into the nearest wall, Raum took a deliberate swig of his beer, middle finger extended. Then he looked to Leviathan, who was toying with one of the small electronic devices he himself wanted nothing to do with.
“You’re quiet,” Raum finally remarked. After punching a few more buttons, Levi raised eyes that were a pale, icy blue to look at him. His hair was as black as Raum’s own, but hung straight to the middle of his back. Today he wore it pulled back with a simple leather thong, exposing high cheekbones and elegant, angular features that drew human women like flies. Not, Raum had noticed, that Levi really seemed to care. About much of anything, actually. But he was wickedly clever, which was what truly counted. Leviathan was ancient, possibly even older than the demons themselves. He had been in the underworld long before Lucifer had claimed it for his own, that was certain. But the sea monster had been tamed by Lucifer’s hand, and had come to be a prized pet of the King of Hell. Leviathan had certainly wreaked his share of havoc on Hell’s behalf, Raum thought, considering the enigma sitting across from him. But after all these thousands of years, it seemed as though they had all made a mistake when they’d assumed that Levi felt any loyalty to what they had created … and that a monster like him must necessarily be pure evil.
In fact, since leaving Hell, Raum had come to realize that he didn’t know anything at all about Leviathan. And the serpent shifter, for his part, seemed happy to keep it that way.
“I don’t like it,” Levi said, trading the BlackBerry-thing for the glass of water he’d opted for instead of the beer. “Too many Reapers hanging around. Too many nefari skulking around in one place, for that matter. It’s not like this is anything like a big city, and this half-breed hasn’t killed anyone.”
“Yeah, I’d say killing is pretty far down on her list,” Gadreel snorted, trailing a finger absently down the waitress’s arm as he accepted his beer. Raum saw her quiver before she headed back to the bar, and knew that Gadreel, at least, would have plenty of company to distract him later. For once, Raum envied him that.
He thought again of Ember’s eyes, the way they’d turned from warm honey to hot gold when he’d touched her. She was a luscious little creature, though she was trying rather badly to hide it behind those ridiculous glasses: small but perfectly curved, and with pointed little features and a rosebud mouth that made her look like a sexy faerie. It fascinated him, that she would run a shop devoted to scent when she wore none but her own natural one. The heady combination of sweetness and spice that poured from her creamy skin had made him want to tug the band out of her wild tangle of fiery curls and plunge his hands into it, holding her still while he ran his tongue over every inch of her to see if she tasted as good as she smelled.
Stupid. It didn’t matter. She didn’t matter. She was a job, nothing more.
“Do you think the Reapers are here just because of all the extra nefari?” Raum asked, frowning. “I haven’t seen anything like this before.”
“Don’t think so,” Levi replied with a small shake of his head. Then he indicated the window. “Look at them. It makes no sense. They’re all just waiting.”
Raum followed Levi’s gaze and watched a black-robed man, slim and pale and dark, flicker into existence across the street, walk past several shops, glance his way and vanish once more. Around him, humans walked and drove on the bustling main street, enjoying the crisp fall day. Raum wondered how complacent they’d be if they could see what he saw … if they knew their sleepy little town was now a hotbed of supernatural activity of a rather dark kind.
He wished they could. It would at least make for some entertainment.
The bell above the door rang again, but Raum didn’t bother to look. Not until Gadreel growled several colorful curse words with venom that was uncharacteristic even for him. Then Raum knew who it was, even before he heard the creak and groan of the vacant seat at the table as another, very large, body settled into it.
“Well,” said a familiar voice. “This is cozy.” Reluctantly, Raum turned his attention to the new comer. His white wings, tipped in gold, were hidden away, but everything about him still bespoke his exalted status. Light gleamed from his short, wavy cap of golden hair, from his gold-dusted skin, keeping him in a nimbus of light that even human eyes would be able to see faintly. Hard, intelligent blue eyes swept the three demons, and from the expression on the angel’s face, he didn’t much care for what he saw. As usual.
“Hello, Uriel,” said Raum, not bothering to disguise his lack of excitement. “To what do we owe the plea sure?” Levi was normally the only one who had to deal with the seraphim running the little operation they had going, and that suited everyone just fine. But every once in a while, the highest rank of angels stuck their nose in a little deeper than their demonic recruits would prefer. And because Raum’s existence had turned into one epic failure after another, it seemed like every time this happened, they sent Uriel.
“I wouldn’t think another half-breed would merit so much attention from someone of your … elevated status,” Gadreel added. “We are but your lowly exterminators. Isn’t that about right?”
Uriel shot him a look. “Shove it.”
“It’s not just the half-breed,” Levi said coolly, draw ing a surprised look from the angel and demons alike. “Maybe you should tell us what exactly is going on here, Uriel, before we go any further.”
Uriel snorted, but Raum caught the quick flash of something one rarely saw in an angel’s eyes: fear. It only validated his own suspicions about this mission. There was something very off about this place, even beyond his odd reaction to Ember Riddick.
“I’m not sure what you think you’re entitled to,” Uriel said with a hard smile.
“We’re entitled to some small amount of courtesy, considering we put our asses on the line for you on a regular basis.”
“You’re paid well for it,” Uriel replied. The light around him contracted and turned a deeper
