Page 9 of Consorting With The Enemy

Grinning, I answered, “I might have stalled just a smidgeon. Who doesn’t love a good battle?”

“You weren’t there. You’d already left,” Az said. There was a strange expression on his face, as if he couldn’t possibly believe I’d done a kind deed. Frankly, it’d shocked me, as well.

“Well, there is that.” I shrugged it off and hoped they’d move on. Hell, I needed to move on, but Az was like a fucking magnet to me. Wherever the fuck he was, I wanted to be there too—like a stray puppy instead of a powerful demon. What was it they called it in this realm? Ah, a forever home. I was a stray looking for a forever home whenever Az was near.

Nic snorted out a laugh. “You were afraid, demon. Just admit it. You ran because you were afraid.”

Afraid of seeing Az hurt. Afraid of Az destroying me, knowing the angel I loved was the one to take my life. Afraid something would go wrong, and Marchand might not survive. So, yes, afraid. “Ding, ding. You got it in one guess, witch. Should I give you a gold star?”

Before Nic could respond, Az said, “Ariel doesn’t run from a battle because he’s afraid of losing. He never has and I suspect he never will.”

Gabriel stepped between his brother and Az, trying his best to defuse the bomb that was going to eventually explode. To me, he asked, “Why don’t you stink?”

Well, I didn’t see that one coming. “Because I bathe daily and wear expensive cologne.” I held up my hand before anybody could say anything and added, “And yes, I steal it. I don’t have a job or money. If I want something, I take it.” I smiled. “Just so there’s no confusion on just how delightfully evil I am.” Never in all the centuries that I’d lived did I realize just how irritating it was to be judged.

“No, that’s not what I meant, and you know it,” Gabriel snapped. His nose wrinkled as he took a big whiff. “You don’t stink like a demon. Why?”

“I didn’t know our smell was offensive,” I answered honestly. “Anyway, none of this matters. We’re wasting time. It won’t take Tantrum long to realize his demon army isn’t coming back. He’ll send another. I don’t need you all slowing me down.”That was the demon way of saying I didn’t want them to get hurt.

“He’s right,” Az agreed, crushing my heart. “He’ll lead the demons straight to us. If they were able to locate him even when he was locked in a demon trap, finding him here will be a cake walk. He needs to go.”

Before I could shimmer away to lick my wounds in privacy, Az grabbed my upper arm and held tight. “I’m going with Ari, to help fight those that come after him. I’m trusting all of you to keep Marchand safe until I can return.”

My heart might have soared at Az’s words, but every other person in the room was beyond displeased. Well, except for Marchand. He didn’t look angry, only sad. “There’s no need for that, Az,” I said. “With the Dark Lord gone, the underworld doesn’t have a need for Marchand. Tantrum has a mate that is just as beautiful as she is deadly. All my siblings do. I’ve no doubt that the end result of having Marchand as captive wouldn’t be worth the risks of a battle.” I stood up, ignoring Az’s death grip. His hold couldn’t stop me from vanishing. “Anyway, they’ll be busy chasing me.” Then, with one last look at the man I love, I vanished.

****

Azazel

I couldn’t move. My body was frozen in shock. He was gone. Without me. He was in dangerbecauseof me. He’d sacrificed everything to keep Marchand safe, and my thanks had been to fuck him like he was nothing more than somebody I’d picked up in an ally and then look at him in disgust when he’d revealed who his father was. I’d fucking told him I planned on letting him die a slow, lonely death in that cabin.

“Go after him.” Marchand yelled. “He can’t face them alone, Az.” He sprang to his feet and raced across the floor to me. “He saved my life and this morning he saved yours. Make him come back,” he demanded. Gabriel was at Marchand’s side immediately, showing his support.

If it were only that simple. “I can’t make him come back, Marchand. Hiding has always been one of his finest skills. If he doesn’t want to be found, he won’t be found.” Was that true? I’d never really tried to find him, so I didn’t know if that was really true or not. As long as he stayed away from Marchand, his activities hadn’t concerned me. If anything, I’d been thankful that there hadn’t been encounters between the two of us because I’d know they would either lead to a fucking or a killing.

My nephew placed his hands on his hips. “How did he find you in the bayou, Az?”

“He didn’t find me. It was your scent he followed.” But that wasn’t what Ari had said. He’d told me it was my scent that had lured him to the cabin. Was it true? Could I find him that easily?

Nic stepped forward and touched my arm. “Listen, Az, I don’t know what the past is between the two of you, but there’s plainly some sort of history. I’m sorry that things are going down this path.”

Fuck, I must really look despondent if Nic was resorting to niceties.

“Oh, I believe we all know what the history was,” Julian cut in, a smirk on his face. “A demon and angel love tryst? My, my…weren’t you the naughty heavenly creature back in your youth.”

My eyes went directly to Marchand. “March, listen to me. It was well before you were born. I would have never consorted with Ari if I’d know he would eventually be hunting you down. You must believe me. Since your mother’s death, it’s been my sole purpose to keep you safe.”

“Why are you acting like I’d be mad?” he asked. “I’ve made it clear that I’m a fan of Ari. Knowing that the two of you were lovers at one time simply makes me like him more. It also makes my determination to save him even stronger. He’s one of us.” Everyone in the room snorted in disbelief, except for me and Gabriel.

“He’snotone of us,” Nic countered, his moment of softness disappearing. “He may have been Az’s old lover and helped you out of a tight squeeze, but he’s still a demon. Our type doesn’t associate with dark, nefarious creatures.”

“We’re right here, you know,” Valen piped up. “Vampires are considered to be amongst those dark creatures you just referred to. Is that how you feel about us…future brother in law of mine?”

“Of course not.” Nic snapped. His face tinted with a blush. “You’re all different.”

“So is Ariel,” Gabriel said firmly. “There’s something about him, Nic. Something’s not right.”

“That goes without saying,” Nic muttered.

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