Demon Bound

I witnessed the oddest thing: there were demons who were concerned—horrified—when they saw that a young winged child had been injured. I’d have thought they would rip his wings off, as if he were no more than a fly.”
    “No.” The demon’s heart pounded. “You saw a winged child?”
    “I held him in my arms,” she said in the most wistful tone she could muster, and rose to her feet again. Her stunned gaze met Jake’s. He’d been standing silently behind her.
    Oh, dear God. Dear God. There was something Teqon wanted. But how could she possibly use this?
    She didn’t know. But if she did not try, she would gain nothing. “That is why you follow Belial, is it not? In hope that when he ascends to the throne, he will give you children.”
    Teqon remained silent. Alice held Jake’s gaze, seeking inspiration. He gave a tiny shake of his head, and the tags beneath his shirt clinked softly.
    And it came to her easily, as if it had always been lurking there.
    Jake had given her his heart in return for that gift. And Michael had already cut out his own—metaphorically—when he’d given the order for Anaria’s execution.
    “And yet,” Alice said, turning to face Teqon, “if you destroy Michael’s heart, you destroy your best chance for having those children.”
    “I think not, Mrs. Grey.”
    “You will, when I tell you of a woman in Hell, who was the one to give the prophecy to Belial. The woman who told us that Michael’s heart was his sister—once Lucifer’s pupil, and the mother of the nephilim. It is she who already has the knowledge to allow demons their children.” She leaned in close. “I know where Anaria is, demon. I know where she waits.”
    It was, she thought, the name that did it. Teqon hesitated, but only long enough to say, “I do not agree yet, Guardian. You must release me, and then I will see if this alteration can be made to our agreement.”
    Though she wanted to take a wary step back, Alice held her ground. “You cannot decide now, demon?”
    “Or maybe,” Jake said, “he can’t make the decision on his own.”

    “So we let him down. And that was when he talked to a demon buddy on his cell phone.”
    From the lowest step of Michael’s temple, Jake watched that sink in on the faces of the Guardians in front of him. Some of them, anyway. Michael’s expression hadn’t changed since Alice had announced they’d found Anaria. Irena had grinned through the description of how they’d caught Teqon in the web and his fear of Sir Pup, but her face had slowly darkened through the rest. Pim looked concerned, Drifter thoughtful.
    “You got any inkling of who it was he called?” he asked.
    “Nope. And he was speaking demon so fast I didn’t pick up anything. But I’m guessing he was told what offer to come back to us with—and that was the change to Alice’s bargain.”
    “Which is?” Selah’s gaze was concerned when she looked to Alice.
    Jake had noted who hadn’t appeared so understanding when Alice had explained what her bargain entailed. And they could all go take a fucking leap into Caelum’s sea, and keep on swimming.
    “Michael’s heart, or Anaria.” She stood straight, her hands clasped behind her back as if she were at ease. But Jake could see how her fingers were clenched. “And both in the same condition.”
    “Bloody?” Irena’s smile was feral.
    Alice didn’t return the smile as she shook her head. “They must be outside of the container they come in. Michael’s heart from his chest, or Anaria freed from the sarcophagus.”
    “Now why does that matter? You figure demons ain’t going to be able to open it?”
    “Yes,” Michael said. “Only the grigori, the nephilim, and Lucifer would be capable.” He met Alice’s eyes. “If it is what you wish, I will open it for you.”
    Alice’s fingers twisted tighter. “Yes, well—that is why we are here. It is not my decision to make alone. We cannot know the consequences of releasing her.”
    “I can imagine one.” Drifter had his thumbs in his suspenders, his gaze intent on Alice’s face. “And that is, Teqon isn’t able to hold her, she takes up with the nephilim, and the vampires they’ve been slaughtering suddenly have a whole lot more trouble to deal with.”
    Selah paled. Becca shifted her weight from side to side, looking uneasy.
    “And it means you’re turning over a living person to a demon ,” Pim said.
    “ Demon-spawn to a demon.” Irena arched her brows in response to