Demon Angel

entrance to his house, arms crossed over his chest as if guarding it. "I know you."
    Hugh smiled coldly. "And I, you. Rael."
    Lilith blinked, looking between them uneasily. She had not known Stafford's demon name; there were many of Belial's she did not know.
    "You have slain hundreds of my brethren."
    "Thousands," Hugh corrected softly. "As you have mine."
    "Not as many," Stafford said, and opened his front door. "We are not equal. Do you still regard the Guardians as brethren?"
    "Yes."
    Stafford's eyes narrowed. "And yet you are Fallen."
    "As are you," Hugh said. "Only I have not fallen as far."
    With a quirk of his lips, Stafford gestured for them to come inside. "It is a pity that you dragged Lilith down with you."
    Hugh shook his head at the same time Lilith began laughing.
    "Oh, Thomas," she chuckled as she passed into the foyer. "Don't even attempt it. You can't break him, can't make him bend. Believe me—I've tried for centuries, and you aren't half the demon I was."
----

CHAPTER 31
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    How had Michael let it come to this? Demons in positions of power in a human government? Hugh took in the expensive furnishings, the tasteful décor. Oddly feminine touches throughout— flowers, patterns—were probably the influence of a designer who'd been instructed to make the room appeal to all his constituents; manipulation, down to the last detail.
    Outside the windows stretched a multi-million dollar panorama.
    Money was also power, and Rael apparently had a lot of it. Was it only Belial's demons who had managed to gain such a gilded foothold in human society—or Lucifer's as well?
    Hugh's fists balled in his pockets, and he welcomed the cold that settled in him. It made it easier to think, to examine the pieces falling into place around him.
    He knew feudal systems; from all Lilith had told him, Lucifer's reign resembled one. Protection—of a sort—and power traded for service and payment. But Rael did not have the same obsequious air as Beelzebub, or any of Lucifer's demons.
    Any of Lucifer's demons, except for Lilith. She'd always resisted and hated her service, whereas Beelzebub seemed to find honor in it.
    Rael was a mystery, but his willingness to cooperate was not. He hadn't taken his eyes from Sir Pup since he'd scratched at the door and Lilith had let him into the room. The hellhound hadn't transformed—appeared only as a large dog—and lay at Lilith's feet, staring up at her adoringly. Hardly a scene to inspire terror, and yet the demon looked almost sick with it.
    "We need weapons, Thomas," Lilith said. Her hair caught the light streaming through the window, the deep black strands glinting blue even under the golden sunlight, as if they refused to be gilded with false color. He'd not often seen her in the daylight, no matter the form she'd taken—it suited her as well as the darkness did.
    As if she'd felt his gaze, Lilith turned. She flashed a quick, mischievous grin, and something inside him warmed and softened. She was still angry with him, and he had no doubt he'd pay for it—and not as pleasurably as he'd paid before. Had no doubt they would argue again. But for now, he simply allowed it to be—and took pleasure in watching her work. Though it would be more difficult for her now. Hugh had made the demon uneasy; although he thought Rael rather enjoyed Lilith's presence, he did not appreciate Hugh's.
    Rael stared at her, as if trying to probe her thoughts. He'd done the same to Hugh when they'd been outside and failed. Hugh doubted he'd be any more successful with Lilith— particularly not with the hellhound as a constant distraction.
    "Why?"
    Lilith shrugged, and reached down to scratch Sir Pup's ears. Hugh had to fight his grin; she'd never let the demon forget the hellhound's presence. An unspoken threat lay beneath that fond caress. "What if I said I plan to kill Lucifer?"
    "I wouldn't believe you."
    "And if you did believe me?"
    "I still wouldn't give you weapons to do it; killing Lucifer is an honor that belongs to my liege."
    Hugh's eyes narrowed. Rael actually believed that. "Because it would secure Belial's power Below?"
    Rael nodded slowly, his gaze traveling between Hugh, Lilith and the hellhound. "Perhaps we can bargain."
    Hugh's stomach turned to ice, and Lilith's gaze hardened.
    "No bargains," she said, and Hugh relaxed slightly. "What if I said we'd kill the nosferatu with them?"
    "I'd laugh," Rael replied, although laughter seemed the farthest thing from him at