Page 101 of Shadow & Stars
His hurt was every other demons’ to bear, too.
There were parallels there with Queen Margarite.
Roman stopped, forcing me out of my thinking.
He held up at hand. “There’s someone here.”
My senses prickled. “Demon.”
Slow, cautious footsteps sounded around the next bend. I moved in front of Roman on instinct, inching closer to the demon.
Those footsteps stopped “Who’s there?”
A familiar voice.
Roman came up to my side, his glittery light everywhere. “Phillipe?”
Yes. That was Phillipe’s voice—the demon who campaigned for peace between the races and was a target for those opposed to his views.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, his voice going up an octave on the last word.
His fear was palpable to say the least, heavy in the air like a fog.
“Trying to stop the madness,” Roman said.
A few seconds passed.
“Who are you?” the peaceable demon asked.
Roman brushed past me. I went to stop him, but he was already out of my reach.
“Hi,” he said, standing in view. “You look knackered.”
I followed him, swallowing my irritation at his move. He shouldn’t be so quick to act, a capable assassin witch or not. Phillipe might well be regarded as safe, but still.
Phillipe leaned against an ice-kissed pipe, his clothes covered in filth, dirt smeared his fair freckled complexion, his red hair greasy, his boyish charm tainted by something sickly.
“Shadow…” he said breathlessly. “Margarite’s assassin.” He looked at me. “Xavier.”
We’d encountered Phillipe on Roman’s last job for the deposed queen. He’d gone to assassinate King Basile as the royal train made its way from London to France. He didn’t slay the king, leading to our first night in a French motel.
My skin tingled in remembrance of that wonderful moment, vivid echoes of Roman’s touch tingling across my skin.
“Are you hurt?” Roman asked him, taking a step closer.
“Stay back!” he barked.
I took Roman’s shoulder, ready to kill if the demon tried anything.
“Sorry…” Phillipe hunched over. “I’m so tired. I can’t…” He released a shaky breath. “Ismael has Basile and Piper.”
Roman visibly paled beneath his sparkle. “Where are they?”
“Horse Guards Parade. He wants to execute them on live TV to show the world he means business.”
Just like Margarite did to the human and the demon.
Roman looked at me, his eyes wide. “Shit.”
