Page 128 of Alastair
“I’d like to see them try.”
Gods.The slight snarl in his tone, combined with that possessive gleam in his eyes, made me want to find a private room in the club, lock the door, and ride his cock like there was no tomorrow.
That fantasy was soon interrupted. The air beside me shimmered before a male with light brown hair and yellow eyes appeared.
“Taeden,” I said.
“Pride.” He tipped his head. The reaper had a bad-boy reputation—both in the club and outside of it. He was said to get a sick satisfaction from when he reaped souls and took them to the fiery pit. Their terrified cries got him off. Or so the rumors claimed. “Last time I saw you, you were in the underworld on your way to rescue your brother’s demon mate.”
“Yes. You’re the one who took us there.”
“Out of the goodness of my heart too.” Taeden lifted a hand to his chest. “However, I believe a certain deal was struck between us for that assist. If I helped you, you’d help me in the future. A favor for a favor.”
My good mood from earlier was rapidly dissipating. “I take it you’ve come to claim that favor?”
“Maybe. Maybe not.” The reaper glanced over at Daman, and sadness filled his eyes, if only for a moment. “I heard you boys are playing at being heroes again. You have a weapon in your possession that can kill Lucifer himself. Is it true?”
“Where did you hear that?” Lazarus asked with a growl.
Taeden scrutinized him. “I have my sources. None of which I’ll reveal to you.”
“No one outside of us and our allies knows about that,” I said as an unsettling feeling jumbled in my stomach. Had someone betrayed us? Did Lucifer have a spy in our ranks reporting back to him? “Answer the goddamn question, Taeden.”
“What will you offer me in exchange for the information, Pride?”
“This isn’t a game, reaper,” I said. “If someone is feeding info to the enemy, we need to know about it. We’re at war.”
“A war I have no part in. I’m on neither your side nor theirs.”
“Right. You only care about what you can get out of it.” I forced myself to stay calm. Agitation bubbled in my core, threatening to spill over. “You’re loyal to no one but yourself.”
“I’m the only one I can trust,” he countered.
“Is everything all right here?” Kallias asked as he reached my side. His dark eyes were unwavering on the reaper. “State your purpose with my brother and his mate.”
“Ah.” Taeden’s smirk returned. “You’re the long-lost brother. We haven’t had the chance to meet yet. How is life among the living treating you? It’s a pity I wasn’t the one given the honor of reaping your soul. I wasn’t alive back then.” His yellow eyes trailed my brother’s body. “But if the rumors are true and youareabout to face Lucifer in battle, perhaps I’ll get my chance soon enough.”
Kallias’ expression remained hard. “You smirk, but I sense a great sadness in you. Hiding your pain will only make it hurt worse when it finally becomes too great to contain.”
Taeden’s gaze flickered to Daman, so quick it was nearly imperceptible, before shifting back to Kallias. “Pain? I know it well. It rings clearly in the screams of the souls I drag into hell. Nothing makes my dick harder.”
“Tell me this…” I stepped closer. “Would your dick get hard if it was Daman’s soul screaming in pain?”
The reaper’s cheeks lost some color.
“You don’t have a smart-ass response for that one, do you? After all this time, you still love him. So stop with the games and tell me where you learned about the weapon. His life could depend on it.”
Taeden averted his eyes to the floor. “Holden.”
“Your reaper buddy?”
“Buddy is a stretch,” he responded, regaining some of his former cocky attitude. “Coworker is more like it. After helping Belphegor with the souls earlier this year, Holden went into hiding, as you know. He knew you and your mighty band of heroes would be after him. So he’s laid low in between performing his duties to Death. Who… yeah, was fucking pissed by it all but gave Holden a second chance.”
“How did Holdenlearn of the weapon, then?” I asked. “Has he been spying on us?”
“No.” Taeden looked at Lazarus. “One of your angels is fucking him. They met when that Purah fucker was setting all those zombies loose here in Echo Bay.”
“When I sent angels to help,” Lazarus said.
