Demon Forged

before looking back at him. “First, let me say that I am sorry for your loss.”
    “I’m sorry she’s dead,” Irena cut in, and let Rael feel the brutal honesty of that. “But I’m not sorry for you, because I know you feel nothing but enjoyment at this situation. Because not only did the human who tried to kill you fail in that attempt, a human who meant nothing to you died. One human is damned, another is dead. I am only surprised you are not dancing, demon.”
    “You know nothing, Guardian. Julia was a good woman and a good wife.”
    Taylor’s hand clenched into a fist against her thigh. She said smoothly, “Forgive my associate, please. She was also at the protest yesterday and was deeply saddened by what happened. So much so that she has not quite recovered.”
    “Is that how you would put it?” Rael said.
    “Yes. She asked to be assigned to help find your wife’s murderer—and has agreed to the condition that she puts aside her Guardian prejudices .”
    Taylor finished through clenched teeth, staring Irena down. Irena sneered at the demon again, but fell silent.
    “Thank you, detective.” He steepled his fingers. “Might we begin?”
    “Yes. Thank you,” she said, as if he’d done her a favor. “Of course you’ve realized that we are here because the FBI cannot follow certain lines of inquiry.”
    “I have realized that, detective.”
    “Good. That will make this so much easier. We won’t spend any time on your political enemies—”
    “Political opponents , detective,” Rael said. His smile invited her to join in. “We are all on the same side, working toward a common goal. We simply have different ideas about how to get there.”
    “Opponents, then,” Taylor said. “The FBI will look there, and at special interest groups. But do you know if any of your opponents are demons who might be interested in seeing you fall—either in the political arena or as one of Belial’s favored demons?”
    Rael shook his head. “None would dare.”
    Did that mean none would dare try to harm him, or none would dare to take office? But Taylor moved on before Irena could ask.
    She let her frustration burn.
    “What of Lucifer’s demons? Wouldn’t they like to take you down a peg or two, just because you’re loyal to their enemy?”
    “Of course they would, detective. But at this moment, they are enjoying their brief freedom while the Gates are closed, and pursuing their own interests—not Lucifer’s.”
    “Don’t they worry about the prophecy? The one that states the Morningstar will lose his throne to Belial? Doesn’t that prophecy make Lucifer’s interests their own?”
    Rael’s expression went blank for an instant, and Irena realized that Taylor had surprised him by even knowing about the prophecy. Had he thought the Guardians would keep it to themselves?
    In normal circumstances, Irena supposed that they would.
    A hint of condescension came into his voice. “You must understand, detective, that the demons who follow Lucifer do so not because they are loyal to him. They follow him because he has the power to crush them if they don’t—and when my liege takes the throne, they will switch their allegiances without hesitation.”
    Hugh would find no lie in this portion of the recording, Irena thought.
    “All right.” Taylor nodded. “What about the other part of the prophecy—the nephilim and Anaria?”
    “No,” Rael said firmly. “The nephilim would not conspire in that way. Neither would Anaria. She wants the throne. That is all she wants; her efforts will be toward that end.”
    “So she would not bother with you?”
    A brief flash of anger crossed his face. Apparently, he didn’t like the way Taylor had phrased that. Irena grinned. Perhaps Taylor had not meant her question to dig as it had, but he’d felt it.
    “She would not bother with anyone who does not support her, or whose goals do not match hers.” Rael glanced at Irena. “She doesn’t bother with the Guardians, either. Not even Michael.”
    “That is good for her sake,” Irena said. “Because when we find Anaria, I’m going to cut out her heart and eat it.”
    Crimson rolled across his eyes, as if he had trouble controlling his fury. Irena grinned, snapped her teeth together.
    He regained control, looked at her with disdain, and dismissed her.
    Taylor stepped in again. “How many people knew that you would be attending the protest?”
    “The rally,” he said, and smiled. “Protest is too negative