Page 17 of The Devil's Trials

“Hmm,” I hum, scratching the stubble darkening my jaw. I haven’t shaved in a week, and when I went for the razor, Blake suggested I leave it, that it made me appear older.

I didn’t care much, but I listened to him, nonetheless.

“I’ve shouldered your rejection in the past,” she says. “You would be foolish to send me away now.” Her tone isn’t sharp exactly, but it’s not warm either. She has an air about her. There’s power in her presence. I can feel it brush against my own power, but she continues to regard me with respect.

“Noted.”

She exhales a heavy sigh. “Come on, Xander. You know me. Better than most, to be completely honest. Let me do this—bethis for you.”

I arch a brow at her. “What exactly do you want to be for me, Francesca?” I don’t miss the subtle tinge of color in her cheeks.

“Whatever you need,” she offers in a velvet-smooth voice that makes my cock stiffen. Francesca is skilled in many ways. She’d be the perfect distraction from thinking about the impending trials. But as physically attracted as I am to her, the haze of arousal is tainted by a wave of nausea at the idea of letting her touch me. I chalk it up to needing time to figure out my life without a human connection. Considering that also means adjusting to living without a soul—and my soulmate—it doesn’t seem entirely far-fetched.

Leaning toward Francesca, I lower my voice to shift the conversation. “What do you expect Marrick to say about this choice of yours?”

Francesca’s father was on Lucia’s council. He was one of the demons who fled after the compound attack and has essentially gone MIA. While he hasn’t expressed opposition to my new position, he also hasn’t granted his support—and he won’t. He’s always hated me almost as much as he was obsessed with Lucia. If I had to bet, he’s off somewhere pathetically trying to figure out how to make a play for the throne.My throne.

She shrugs. “I’m not sure how you’d like me to answer that. I don’t talk to him. I heard he relocated somewhere on the west coast.”

I put that information away to share with Blake in the unlikely event he isn’t listening in. It’s something we need to keep an eye on—what’s left of Lucia’s inner circle, even the ones who have decided to stand with me. I have no illusions of trust in any of them until they prove themselves to me. Even then, I’ll be incredibly selective about what I share.

That said, Idotake Francesca at her word, not sensing any hint she could be lying. She’d be rather stupid to try at this point.

“Just so you know, we will be keeping tabs on him and what’s left of Lucia’s council,” I tell her.

Her brows lift. “?‘We’? So I’m in?”

I inhale slowly. “If you’re sure this is what you want.”

“I am,” she says in a level tone. “Who else will you ask to stand with you? Besides Blake, of course.”

The aforementioned demon chooses that moment to return to the living room, sitting with his legs draped over the arm of the chair in the corner. “I was getting bored pretending not to listen. Plus, I should be part of this conversation.”

I glance over at him. “Do you think Stephen and Will would accept positions on my council?”

Blake purses his lips. “I agree they’d be good additions, but you remember what they said when we asked them to help with Lucia. They prefer living their quiet life. I don’t think they’d be down for the risk involved in sitting on the council.”

I can’t fault them for that, especially after the failure that was sending Lucia back to hell. “That’s fair. The others I’d consider at this point are Greer and Jude.” They were part of Lucia’s inner circle and fought with us at the compound. I’ve known them since I was a kid. Greer’s always had a soft spot for me—unconventional for a demon but incredibly useful in getting her to betray her queen for us. And I earned Jude’s loyalty when I saved her from a hunter attack shortly after we came topside a decade ago.

“Where are they, then?” Francesca asks.

“I’ll get in contact with them,” Blake says, flicking a piece of lint off his shirt, “while you think of who else you’d like to join us.”

I don’t miss a beat. “I’m content with a small council. Four trusted members are far better than a dozen whose loyalty I’d likely doubt.”

Blake grins at me. “Look at you. You’re thinking like a king already.”

I merely roll my eyes, but the warmth of satisfaction proves just how much I like the sound of that.

He gets up, glancing between me and Francesca. “You kids behave while I’m gone. Maybe put on a movie or something.”

“Gee, thanks,Dad,” Francesca mutters.

“I’d much prefer you call me ‘Daddy,’ Fran,” he says with a wink in her direction, and she flips him off as he leaves the house.

“I won’t blame you for changing your mind and hightailing it out of here,” I offer once we’re alone again.

She turns her attention to me, chuckling. “It’ll take a lot more than Blake being a pervert to make me bail.” Swallowing, she adds, “I’m here. I’m in this.”

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