Demon Forged

as if that had just occurred to her, too. You have also been blinded. Because of my quarrel with Michael—and his recent behavior?
    Aware that the Doyen could see their conversation, he said, Yes.
    You stupid ox.
    Her smile softened the words, and he thought of pushing her up against the wall, down to the floor, into the office next door. He thought of a promise he’d made four hundred years ago and not kept.
    Next time, it will not be my hands, but my mouth.
    Castleford sat forward. “Replay that.”
    Alejandro caught himself, forcing his attention back to the screen. One smile from Irena, and he’d still been distracted. He couldn’t have said what had caught Castleford’s interest.
    “I know what it is to love a woman and to want nothing more than to lay the world at her feet.”
    Castleford shook his head in disbelief. “That is truth.”
    “He loved his wife?” Taylor looked shocked. Alejandro thought her expression spoke for all of them.
    “No. Two years ago, Lilith asked him if he loved her. He said yes then, and it was a lie.” Castleford asked Lilith to play it again. When it ended, he said, “I don’t think he’s speaking of his wife.”
    Taylor and Irena exchanged glances. Taylor said, “Her friend told us that, two years ago, Julia suspected he was having an affair. Then their sex life got better. Could there have been someone else then?”
    “Me,” Lilith said, and Castleford pinched the bridge of his nose, obviously holding in laughter. “I threatened Rael. I knew he probably didn’t screw his wife often—and guessed he was a lousy lay when he did. So I told him I’d use Sir Pup’s venom to paralyze him, stick Hugh on top, and take pictures. If he was cold in bed, his wife would probably believe them. So would the Enquirer .”
    Irena’s laugh was low and appreciative. The sound set off the detectives—Preston snorted and Taylor’s lips pressed together.
    Alejandro fought not to be distracted again. “But your threat gives him a motive, does it not? Without Julia Stafford, you have no hold over him—and cannot threaten his political career.”
    Lilith considered that, then shrugged. “He might be all right at a local level, but nationally, photos of him having sex with a man could damage his political career whether he was married or a widower. And it’s been two years.”
    “Demons have long memories. He may be speaking of someone dead,” Michael said.
    “Or not,” Irena countered, frowning. “Everyone avoids mentioning this in front of me, as if I will tear Caelum apart if I’m reminded—but Belial’s demons did try to obtain Anaria for themselves.”
    Yes, one of Belial’s demons had traded a Guardian’s life for Anaria while she’d still been locked in her underwater prison. The nephilim had reached her first, however.
    Although the Guardians didn’t know who had authorized the negotiation, Alejandro assumed that Rael had approved the trade before the demon had brought it to the Guardians for their consideration. The gathering in Caelum, during which the bargain had been discussed, had drawn lines between the Guardians. Irena had wanted to kill Anaria—and had been vocal in her opinion of the grigori, saying that the demons’ spawn could be trusted no more than the demons could be.
    After the gathering, Guardians—particularly those who worked at SI—had tread lightly on the topic when Irena was in the room. Alejandro thought that a few Guardians expected her to lead a revolt against Michael.
    They didn’t know her well. The revelation about Michael’s parentage had hurt her, deeply. But Irena wouldn’t slay Michael for the offense of being born to a demon—and she wouldn’t think highly of anyone who waited for her to move, if they believed Michael should die.
    “Why did they want Anaria?” Though Preston’s psychic scent burned with curiosity and mild frustration, he didn’t ask why they feared Irena might tear Caelum apart.
    A diplomatic man, Alejandro thought.
    “She studied with Lucifer and created the nephilim,” Michael said. “She has extensive knowledge of the symbols and their magic. And so Belial’s demons believe she can tell them how to have children, as well.”
    Taylor held up her hands and looked at Irena. “Okay, wait. So you’re saying: Rael falls for some lucky girl . . . and then kills his wife to get her out of the way. And he gets pissed when Irena says she’ll kill Anaria, because Anaria might show him how to have