Page 4 of Demon Hunger
Drevan turned to me, and I thought he was expecting to find my hand raised, but instead, he wiggled his fingers, asking for the summoning stone. I dropped it on his extended palm, frowning.
With a flick of Drevan’s hand, a perfect summoning circle flanked by candles appeared on the blacktop. Smirking, he turned to Regina, offering her the stone.
“Ms. Becker, your unrelenting enthusiasm is a joy to any teacher.”
Insufferable.
She beamed and still had the presence of mind to throw a nasty glare in my direction. I bet she wouldn’t be so eager to please him if she knew what I did. But let her find out the hard way, just as I had. The bitch deserved it.
Holding her Queller in one hand and the summoning stone in the other, Regina stepped forward and faced the club. Everyone else moved to stand behind her, while Drevan stayed by her side. She squared her shoulders, then leaned down to place the stone inside the candle lit circle. It took her a few beats and several deep breaths to issue the summoning words.
“From the depths of hell, I command you to come forth. The circle will bind you. The flames will charm you. Eisheth, you are summoned.”
Everyone seemed to hold their breath, waiting for the succubus to appear. We were used to obscure entrances that included smoke such as Phenog’s, but when the succubus simply materialize on top of the stone, it was clear to see she relied simply on her chosen semblance for her theatrics, which judging by the gasp that rippled through our group, was more than enough.
Eisheth stood over six-foot tall. She wore an outfit suitable for a fantasy novel warrior. The thing looked like a red one-piece bathing suit that barely covered the important bits. The crotch and boobs were clad in intricately forged metal and trimmed with razor-sharp edges. The suit was accompanied by matching gauntlets and elaborate boots that extended above her knees. Her skin was the color of cream and just as smooth. Her hair was red and shoulder-length, parted in the middle and framing her face like silken sheets. She wore dramatic red eyeshadow and lipstick, which gave her a femme fatale appearance that I was sure few menandwomen could resist.
“Holy fuck!” Sage exclaimed breathlessly, sounding as if he was ready to drop his pants to offer himself to the succubus.
I elbowed him in the ribs and looked him straight in the eye to make sure he wasn’t under some sort of spell. From the way he blinked and shook his head, it seemed he had been.
Eisheth’s dark gaze flicked to Drevan for only an instant before settling on Regina, who was holding her Queller at the ready.
“How dare you disturb me, you ugly human? I was in the club, having fun,” the succubus said in a voice that flowed like honey over a warm surface.
I pressed my lips together, doing my best to stifle a laugh at the way Regina bristled at being called ugly. Though my amusement died when the haughty blonde decided to pay the insult back.
“Easy for you to call someone ugly when you hide behind an illusion. Everyone knows demons are hideous.”
I almost choked up at that. One because I’d fooled myself into believing Drevan was gorgeous, and two because the succubus looked pissed.
Drevan pursed his lips. “Not a smart move, Ms. Becker.”
Don’t say.
“Hideous?” Eisheth hissed, her smooth voice acquiring a deadly edge.
My hand itched to unsheathe my Queller, wishing it was Blazebringer and not the regular Queller Director Grant had given me for the class.
Abruptly, Eisheth threw her head back and laughed. Her red hair swung like curtains swaying in a gentle breeze. Her laughter was like the sound of tiny bells playing a melody. I swallowed hard and focused on the summoning stone at her feet, forcing myself to remember I was dealing with a high-class demon.
“My true form is pure elegance and beauty,” the succubus said. “Too much for your weak human eyes to handle, but since you insist…” Smoke started billowing up from the pavement under the demon’s feet.
“Eisheth,” Drevan warned in a tone a father might use on a naughty daughter. He shifted on the spot, which made me fear things were getting a bit out of hand.
Placing a hand on Regina’s back, he gave her an encouraging push. “I think it’s time for you to quell this beast.”
Eisheth’s black eyes darted to Drevan at the wordbeast.
Uh-oh, the spawn was pissed off at daddy.
The tip of Regina’s sword trembled, revealing how unprepared she was for this.
Stepping out of the line, I inched closer to Drevan and hissed between my teeth. “Do something.”
He ignored me and instead frowned at Regina, his expression askingwhat are you waiting for?
I was about to yell a clever insult at him when the cloud of smoke that had quickly surrounded Eisheth exploded outward, blinding us for a moment. Everyone gasped, and Benjamin even screamed.
