light on the topic. If not, at least sheâd know sheâd tried.
Feeling easier now that she had a rough course of action, Sapphira promised herself to try harder with the next sway. Perhaps by offering the next candidate at least a shot at redemption, sheâd enable the indecisive one to seek the path of light.
Duncan pulled her tighter and sighed into her hair, and Sapphira let go of her many worries to snuggle tighter in the arms of her demon. Her demon. She groaned, wishing she didnât like the sound of that so much.
Three days later
âWeâve got problems.â
Asael looked up from his desk and frowned at the higher demon waiting for him. âZelec? Iâm busy.â
âI know, sire. This is important. I wouldnât have disturbed you otherwise.â
Asael sighed and watched as his underling carefully skirted the aura of light clinging tightly to him. It probably said much about Asaelâs state of being that he liked the fact his demons feared him. The light surrounding him would never fade, a testament to his status as a fallen angel, and one he wore proudly like a badge of honor. Unlike heaven, the Abyss looked favorably upon those who switched sides, and Asael had more clout down here than heâd ever had above.
âWell, Zelec?â
Zelec met Asaelâs stare, one of the few demons this side of Baphomet Falls who could do so. âIâm sorry to be the one to tell you, Asael. But there have been rumored sightings of Duncan in the presence of an angel.â
âI know. My son is serving out his sentence for the upper realm while gathering information for us.â
Zelec cleared his throat, his red eyes flat, showing not the slightest hint of fear, though he had to be feeling some. âYes, Iâm aware of that. What you donât know is that Uriel is laying claim to Duncanâs forthcoming Ascension.â
Silence met Zelecâs heresy, and Asael took a moment to compose himself. âYouâre telling me my sonâs in danger of joining the upper realm, as in, permanently?â
Zelec had to know he stood on the brink of forever-death, yet he nodded all the same. In Asaelâs world, âdonât kill the messengerâ had no meaning. Fury, the likes of which heâd felt only twice before in his lifetimeâonce when heâd first fallen from grace and the other when heâd lost Bethanyâfilled him. It was only Zelecâs quick reflexes that saved him from utter immolation. Instead, Asaelâs desk caught unholy flame and continued to burn.
Asael stood and walked through his fire, deep in thought. âDo we know this for a fact?â
âI was getting to that, my lord. No, we do not. We have only our spies in the upper realm reporting what theyâve heard. In the Ordinary, your progeny continues to collect souls for hell.â
Relief filled Asael. As much as he loathed the upper realm and their cloying sentiments of love, his time spent in the above as well as his tie to a human had dulled his demonic reflexes. As such, he still felt tremendous love for all of his children. And Duncan, capable, strong-willed Duncan, had never failed to make him proud. Even his prank with James, blaming the angels for a dragon theft, had done much to amuse Asael. But to have his son turn⦠It didnât bear thinking about.
âWhat else, Zelec? Surely you wouldnât come telling tales unless you had more to go on than Urielâs bragging in the upper realm.â
âTrue. Iâm worried thereâs more at stake than Duncanâs soul. The ladâs been seen in the company of a most desirable angel, my lord. And they appear to be quite close.â
âWell, who is she?â Curiosity struck. Duncan had done well for himself. A fine piece of ass and information he was no doubt gathering to bring the angels to their knees. Fat lot of good it would do the angels to continue stealing the souls of
James Holland
Scott Caladon
Cassie Alexandra, K.L. Middleton
Sophia Henry
Bianca D'Arc
Ha Jin
Griff Hosker
Sarah Biglow
Andersen Prunty
Glen Cook