Demon Blood

shop, but the surroundings were so feminine, he overwhelmed them, made everything seem off balance.
    Or maybe he just overwhelmed her .
    At the balcony doors, the filmy white curtains stirred from a breeze. She closed the doors while Deacon examined the equipment. Theriault probably wasn’t listening, but at this time of night when few humans were awake, the people who were up seemed louder by comparison. She wouldn’t make it easy for the demon to hear them.
    Deacon looked over when the latch closed. Studying her, perhaps trying to puzzle her out. Finally, he nodded toward the door. “A radio would help with that.”
    Relief rushed through her. Yes, a radio would create background noise—and Deacon’s suggestion meant that he intended to have a conversation.
    Progress.
    Her computer had music. She turned it on low. High volume could completely cover their conversation, but it might draw attention, too.
    “This is one hell of a setup.”
    She glanced over her shoulder. He’d come to stand next to her. When she straightened, he leaned over the keyboard and tabbed through the computer screens. He paused on the infrared.
    “From across the street?”
    “Yes.” She crossed her arms, tucking her fingers into her elbows. She told herself that she should be looking at the screen, too, but his black trousers fit him well. Very well.
    “You don’t need this kind of surveillance to kill him.”
    “No.”
    “Why bother, then?”
    How many reasons did he want? She offered the simplest one. “I’m trying to find another demon through him.”
    He straightened, and she felt how close he was again, how much bigger and taller. And if she’d been uncertain about how she’d decided to proceed before, it vanished when he said, “So you aren’t planning to kill him, but are looking for information. I’m not going to help you with that, sister. And if I get the chance, I’ll slay him, even if it means you don’t get what you need.”
    She hadn’t said anything about help since he’d come in. So her request had been on his mind.
    “I don’t need you for information,” she said. “I need you to kill Belial’s demons.”
    The look Deacon gave her said she was a lunatic. “What do you think I’m doing?”
    “Kill different demons. For now.”
    “Why would I do that?”
    She sighed. He’d taken the tone of a man who asked just because he wanted to hear the answer, not because there was any possibility that he might change his mind. “Because if I do it, they will have a reason to unite under a new lieutenant and move against the Guardians.”
    “That’s not my problem, sister.”
    “Then what of this one? The one who will lead them plans to destroy vampire communities and harvest their blood rather than protect them from the nephilim.”
    “ My community is already dead. The others can do a better job of protecting theirs.” But that one had gotten to him. He shook his head, turned away from her, and just as quickly turned back. “So that’s who you’re looking for.” He gestured at the infrared. “The one who will lead them.”
    “Yes.”
    “And you’ll slay him?”
    “Eventually. Yes.”
    “But you want me to kill others before that.”
    “Yes. And when the pieces are in place, we will kill them all.”
    “All?” He stared at her. “How?”
    She almost sighed again. He asked, but only to humor her. Or to humor himself.
    “Trap them inside my Gift and blow them up.”
    Probably. She hadn’t worked that through yet. Only the slaughter that came before—only the part where Belial’s demons slaughtered the nephilim. How to destroy the demons that remained, however? Without Michael, she didn’t know yet how she would slay so many at once—but she wouldn’t risk the other Guardians. And if all went well, Deacon would be far away, too.
    Rosalia didn’t think she would be. She didn’t see how she could be, and still be certain that no demons escaped. And without Michael, she simply didn’t see any other way. But she hoped to God she found one.
    “Don’t do that,” he said roughly.
    Startled, she looked up at him. “What?”
    “That sad little . . .” He broke off. Looked away. “I don’t know what you’ve got planned, sister, but leave me out of it. I’m not killing demons for you .”
    No. On behalf of his community. “I’m not asking you to do it for me. But how many will you slay before one kills you? Ten? Fifteen? With me, you can see them all die.”
    He shook his