Page 138 of Hellbound

A pale blond Argent and his companion with a deep tan laughed. The sound rippled through the room, and in seconds, they were all laughing at her. Even Verinne.

“Honey, read the room. But I guess dumb chaos is the vibe Marian Meyer always brings to the function. And your shorts are … a choice.”

Another ripple of cruel laughter made its way through the small crowd. Even the guards stationed at the entrances smirked as they watched Marian standing there in her bright yellow kid’s shorts and Guinness tee.

Marian inhaled slowly, forcing her voice to remain calm. “I’ll give you whatever you want if you let her walk out of here right now.”

Verinne’s tinkling laughter fell over Marian like a hail of glass shards.

“First thing’s first: introductions.” She turned toward the cadre of Argent behind her. “I’m told you’ve met these three here. But this is Europa, Sheridan, and Mikhail. Then here we have Miles and Preeti.”

Verinne gestured to the blonde man and bronze-skinned woman who watched Marian like a bug to be squashed.

“And of course you know Greg.”

Marian’s heart jumped from her throat and straight through the ceiling when a chair creaked behind her. She turned to find Greg Bjernsen rising from a chaise lounge fashioned of the same matte black and chrome as most of the furniture. He wore an all-white Adidas track suit and backwards sunglasses. His thin lips twisted in a frown.

“Sup.”

As if he hadn’t revealed his identity as a back-stabbing fuck.

The urge to strangle him came on so strongly, it made her lose her bearings. But Greg wasn’t the target, and she couldn’t show her hand yet.

“We’re waiting on one more, but we can go ahead and get down to business. You sure you don’t want a drink? Seltzer? Maybe something stronger?” Verinne asked ever so sweetly.

Marian turned to face her. “What is this, Verinne?”

“These are the believers I told you about. Once he arrives, it’ll all make sense.”

Marian frowned. “ ‘He?’ ”

Verinne’s cherry lips split into a toothy smile, exposing perfect pearly white teeth.

“Vale, of course. He wouldn’t set foot here if he thought that I actually wanted him.”

Verinne glanced away from Marian. Her soulless eyes lit up as she looked over Marian’s shoulder.

“Speak of the devil.”

No. What? But she’d been told to come alone. What was this?

She played you like a fiddle.

Heart full of dread, Marian slowly turned around to find Vale walking up behind her, his dark countenance set in grim lines as he surveyed the room.

Verinne smiled. “Your dear Mr. Vale has done a poor job concealing his intentions. Or maybe he’s underestimated the wrong demon.”

“Verinne,” Vale said, sounding utterly bored. “Reduced to kidnapping humans to get what you want from me? That’s a bit desperate.”

Vale was here. Fuck, Vale was here. Did that mean Tori’s life was forfeit? Without thinking, she started running for her. She made it three strides before the guards scrambled. One appeared behind Tori, gun aimed. Marian stopped short.

“Stay where you are, or I’ll kill her right now,” Verinne drawled. The false light in her face dissolved into sinister determination. “I know what you are, Vale. And I know what your little pet is, too.”

Marian could scarcely breathe as Verinne turned to address the audience of Argent, who watched the proceedings with keen interest.

“He is Lucifer, and he has turned from his purpose as Lord of Hell and exiled us all from our domain, and now he seeks to destroy us—his children.”

Verinne looked back at Marian. “And you are his reaper. You killed my servant and a demon. An immortal.”