Inside, demons filled a large, open space, and the combined smell assaulted Eddie’s sensitive nose. Wrath led the way, shouldering other demons out of their path. A few turned around and snarled or snapped, but one look at the size of him, and they grudgingly gave way. They couldn’t risk much conversation in such a confined space, so Eddie concentrated on looking around.
The array of demon shapes and sizes was dizzying. Some of her worst nightmares seemed to drift around the space. There was everything from the almost humanoid to the barely there mist variety of demon. She struggled not to stare.
Sophia was given a wide berth. Demons seemed united in their dislike of succubae. Eddie wanted to know why and added it to her mental tally of questions when they got out of here.
Wrath and Shade kept very close to her. Not allowing any other demon to get between her and them. Dee and Daniel stuck to Sophia, both of them taking things in like Eddie was.
The atmosphere in the room shifted, and a hush fell over the demons.
Eddie felt a power signature prickle over her skin, and she glanced at Shade.
He gave her a barely susceptible nod. Something was going down.
Coal stepped to the front of the room and mounted a small, raised platform. “Shut the fuck up,” he shouted.
Silence followed.
Movement rippled from the back of the room. Eddie craned her neck to see what was happening and made eye contact with Ashe. This time there was no mistake. It was really him. Her heart leapt into her throat, and sweat broke out all over her.
Wrath growled and Shade tensed.
There were a lot of demons between them and the door if Ashe recognized her.
But Ashe made his way to the front of the room as demons parted for him. He passed close enough to Eddie for her to touch him, and she shrunk back against Shade.
He put a hand on her hip, warm and reassuring.
Power prickled and snapped from Wrath, turning his skin a darker shade of blue. Other demons started murmuring and side eyeing him.
Sophia wrapped her arms around his neck, pressed her body to him, and whispered in his ear.
He took a deep breath, and the power subsided to a manageable level. Between them, Shade, Wrath, and Sophia could level this gathering, but then they’d be working as blind as they were now. Information was what they needed most.
Coal bowed low to Ashe and gave up the platform.
All eyes turned to Ashe. Eddie could almost taste the excitement in the room.
“Pride is ours,” Ashe said. He didn’t raise his voice, but it carried to the corners of the silent space.
A murmur broke out.
Coal growled, and silence fell again.
“As is Lust,” Ashe said. “Their lords are missing, and we are to take full advantage. The seal of Wrath remains stronger and should be a priority to destabilize.”
Waves of fury drifted off Shade, and Eddie put her hand on his arm.
Sophia pressed even closer to Wrath.
“We are to continue to gather our armies.” Ashe’s gaze swept over them. “And to ramp up our destabilization of the seals before the hell princes figure out how to repair them.”
Eddie’s heart stopped as his gaze seemed to stick for a moment, and then he was speaking again.
“The master needs more demons, and it is your task to get them for him,” Ashe said. “More rebel demons means more pressure on the seals, and we need those fucking things to break.”
Nods of assent happened all around them.
Eddie nodded along but kept her eyes trained on the feathered back of the demon in front of her.
Coal held up his hand. “What of the amulets?”
“Production of amulets has slowed,” Ashe said. “But the master has plans to correct that soon.”
Another demon hand went up.
Ashe’s gaze snapped in that direction. His voice dropped silky with menace. “You have a question?”
“No, Ashe.” The hand disappeared again.
“The horsemen wake,” Ashe said. “They sense the chaos we are creating. The master wishes for that to escalate. With the hell princes focusing on hell, we can continue to generate more anarchy on this plane.” His gaze swept the room. “That is all. You know what you must do.”
He stalked out of the room, and it wasn’t until he’d gone that Eddie drew her first full breath.
“What are you?” A demon snarled close by.
The hair on Eddie’s nape rose.
A large bull-like demon was focused on Dee and glaring at her.
