Page 96 of The Devil's Waltz

Both hunters’ expressions are grim, filled with distrust as they glare at the demons they’ve reluctantly agreed to work with. Noah’s jaw looks sharp enough to cut glass, and the hatred is crystal clear on Elias’s face, though neither of them say a word. They don’t have to. And if looks could kill, they wouldn’t need obsidian daggers to take out Xander and Blake. In fact, the demons would have already been reduced to ash.

Tension crackles in the air, making my breath shallow as I start to question this entire plan. Are these guys going to be able to work together? Hunters and demonskilleach other all the time. Have we made a huge mistake in thinking they could set aside the decades’ old shared hatred for one another?

Xander steps into my path, and my focus shifts to him as I lift my eyes to meet his gaze.

“How are you?” he asks softly, as if we’re the only ones in the room. I fight the urge to close my eyes and lean into him when he splays his fingers across my cheek.

“I’m ready to end this,” I answer in a hushed voice, my breath catching when my gaze flits to Noah over Xander’s shoulder.

He’s facing us on the couch, and his eyes are locked on Xander’s every movement, narrowing as the demon’s fingers warm my skin.

Suddenly, I wonder if Xander might not be the only one who’s jealous…I quickly look away from Noah and fight to ignore the flush of heat in my face.

Xander nods, letting his hand fall back to his side. He’s as ready as I am. Likely more so, considering Lucia has controlled him his entire life.

We join the others in the living room, and we all sit around the coffee table. I exchange a glance with Harper. We’re both thinking the same thing—how wild it is to have hunters and demons together under our roof, with neither actively attempting to kill the other—yet.

“Who else are we expecting?” I ask.

Harper exchanges a glance with Noah, who says, “I called in Ezra, Archer, Sophia, and Rylee. They’re all from Seattle, so they should be here any minute.”

I nod, though the names are wholly unfamiliar to me. But our options are pretty limited at this point. If Noah trusts them enough to bring them into this, that’s good enough for me. I’ll take whatever help we can get.

As it turns out, Ezra and Archer are twins and hunting partners. They graduated from the academy the same year as Noah and look about as happy to be in a room with demons as Harper and Elias are. They’re dressed the same as the other hunters, black from head to toe, and no doubt equipped with several obsidian daggers each. The only noticeable difference between the two is their hair. One has bushy curls, while the other has choppy and straight locks. They both have stunning blue eyes and dark skin. They’re similarly built, with broad chests and thick muscles from years of extensive physical training.

Noah makes a quick introduction, and I offer each of them a smile as I say, “Thanks for coming.”

“We’re not ones to pass up a challenge,” one of them—I think it’s Archer—says with a lighthearted grin. He says it so casually, as if the challenge he’s referencing isn’t thwarting the plan of the most powerful demon in existence.

A few minutes later, Sophia and Rylee show up, again wearing the same unofficial uniform of the hunters. Sophia has cropped white-blondhair and sharp blue eyes, while Rylee’s appearance is softer. Her hair falls in long brown waves and her eyes are a warm golden brown. They introduce themselves to me, greeting their fellow hunters, but virtually ignore Xander and Blake.

I suppose it’s better than attacking them—verbally, or otherwise.

Once we’re all seated around the living room, I swallow past the anxiety creeping up my throat. “Let’s make sure we’re all on the same page. Lucia Kane, aka the queen of all demons, is planning to destroy the organization and wipe out the hunters completely. She’s hungry for power in the wake of doubt being cast on her reign. Her initial plan was for me to infiltrate the organization and feed her information, but I don’t think she’s counting on my involvement anymore.” I steal a glance at Xander, who confirms that with a subtle nod.

“She’s not going to let anything stand in her way,” Harper chimes in. “Which is why we need to act quickly before she can enact her plan.”

Sophia and Rylee exchange a grim look that fills my stomach with more unease. I scan the rest of the hunters’ faces, who all have similar expressions of concern and doubt.

“What’sourplan, then?” Archer asks, crossing his legs at the ankles and leaning against the back of the couch as he looks between Harper and Noah.

To my surprise, it’s Blake who speaks up. “Xander and I know Lucia better than anyone. We know how she thinks and operates. Above all, she craves power—to a self-destructive level. She’s blinded by her desire for it, which is exactly what we’re counting on.” He turns to me. “You’ll need to convince her you’re prepared to surrender to her.”

My stomach plummets, and I can’t bring myself to look at Xander despite the pull I feel to meet his gaze. I can feel it on me—Noah’s too, but I ignore both. “How do you expect this to work?” I blurt. “I don’t think Lucia is going to buy me having a change of heart to betray my family. Especially after she had Phoebe and Grayson killed in front of me.”

“We’ve considered that, and you’re most likely correct,” Xander says. “That’s where I come in. I’ll apply pressure and suggest she offer you an incentive for your cooperation.”

I frown at him. “What incentive?”

His eyes shift to Harper, and she immediately narrows her eyes at him, muttering, “I don’t like that look.”

He nods. “I could suggest another of your colleagues, but there’s far less of a chance that Lucia will believe Camille surrendering herself to save them. You, on the other hand, have an established relationship. Her being willing to fight for you makes sense.”

“It’s a good plan,” Blake says, kicking his feet up on the coffee table.

“You think I’m okay with putting her in danger?” I aim my icy tone at the flamboyant demon.

“I’m sure she can take care of herself.” His tone is confident, but it does nothing to comfort me at this moment.

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