Page 5 of Dark Prince

Havek pauses, trying to figure out if this is a trap.

Pro tip:it’s always a trap.

“Uh, well it’s not money, that’s for sure,” he quips clumsily before he laughs at his poor joke. I let him laugh, although I don’t join in, simply waiting in stony silence for him to peter out.

“No,” I tell him once he’s quiet. “Nothing to do with money. My problem has more real costs associated than mere mortal currency. Tell me, Havek, have you heard about the uptick in bloody murders and sudden disappearances in your territory?”

His gaze flits toward the door. He tenses, as if ready to bolt. I clear my throat, and it’s the only warning he needs. He wriggles in his seat for a moment, then shrugs.

“I mean, I guess,” he says, gesturing erratically with his hands, “You know, some people are just violent. Just violent, violent people, right?”

I lean over the table and lower my voice to a growl.

“No person did this,” I tell him. “I was there. I saw the aftermath. Something is hunting humans in your territory. The authorities are catching wind of something inexplicable, and you know how humans get about things they can’t immediately explain.”

“Like dogs with bones,” Havek says, clenching his fists in frustration. “Like, let it go already. Pick, pick, pick at every little thing. DNA and microchips and spaceships and shit, like stay on your plane, am I right?” He gives me a little grin.

“If you believe I brought you here to bond over our mutual frustrations with humanity, you are sadly mistaken,” I tell him. I wait a beat for his face to fall before continuing. “You are allowing your territory to get out of control. I wonder, Havek, if I’ve made a mistake in allowing you to obtain so much responsibility.”

“No, no, not at all,” he rushes to reassure me. He knows what a demotion looks like. From the terror in his eyes, he’s contemplated what it would feel like, too. “I slipped, I admit it. I’ll find out who’s doing what, and I’ll put a stop to it.”

“It’s easy to make promises,” I reply, curling my lip. “But now everyone in your territory knows exactly how long they can get away with being messy before you step in to clean up after them. What do you intend to do with the demon or demons who are compromising our cover?”

“I’ll kill ’em,” he promises, speaking in a rush. “Heads on pikes, the whole shebang. I’ll call a meeting and remind everyone what we’re allowed to do and what we’re not allowed to do and I’ll remind them why and if anybody gives me any lip I’ll… I’ll… I’ll whip ’em. With hellfire. I’ll have it under control, I swear. I’ll have patrols every night, and make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

“It should never have happened in the first place,” I tell him mildly.

“I couldn’t agree more, I could not agree more. You’re absolutely right, sir. It should never have happened. Bad Havek, ha ha. I’d put my own head on a pike, but how would I talk to pass on your message? I’ll handle it, you have my word. I’ll handle it, and I’ll tell you the second it’s handled, and this’ll never happen again.”

I drink in his stress like an even finer bourbon than the one in front of me. Havek is sweating.Actually sweating.The man was raised on the shores of a lake of fire, and he’s sweating under the weight of my displeasure. I allow myself a moment to feel smug, but I don’t let it show on my face. Nothing there but icy displeasure and flickering threats.

“I’ll be waiting for your call,” I tell him dismissively once I’ve had my fill of enjoying his anxiety.

“Yes, of course, I’ll call you soon. Very soon. I’m on it, sir, on it.”

Havek bows repeatedly as he backs out of the booth and the little alcove. When he’s out of sight, I catch the sound of his heavy, relieved sigh. I’d take a lot more pleasure out of that if I had any reason whatsoever to believe that our meeting has had the desired effect. He’s clearly terrified of me when we’re face to face, but once he’s back in east L.A., he’ll be top dog again. He’s got the kind of ego that renders fear irrelevant in the face of personal power.

Once I’m sure he’s out of the building, I pick up my phone and dial Fenriz.

“Problem, boss?” he answers right away.

“Potentially,” I muse as I stare down into my drink. “We need eyes on Havek. He was full of promises, and I don’t believe a word of them. I can’t trust him to follow through. He’s a sucker for a compliment and an insecure leader. If he doesn’t get his people under control, we’ll have to take matters into our own hands.”

“You’re sure it’s his lower-level demons wreaking havoc?”

I sigh and take a small sip of the bourbon. “I’m sure. I followed the blood trail that far at least. If he keeps letting them get away with this shit, all of our asses are on the line.”

“Understood,” my second says. “I’ll get a detail on him tonight.”

“Do that.” I end the call with Fenriz and lean back in my seat. There’s half a shot of bourbon left in the glass. I swirl it, brooding over the various problems that go along with attempting to keep order among the demons who live on Earth like I do, then knock it back.

I chuckle darkly at the irony of it all.Leave Hell to get out of the never-ending war with Heaven, and end up finding trouble on Earth…

I suppose no one can ever truly escape their birthright.

Chapter3

Sophia

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