Zagan stirred and slowly opened his eyes, his body warmer than normal. Immediately, he was conscious of three things. Anael was curled up beside him, adorable in sleep; his wings were still out and were being used as a blanket by the sweet angel, and there were demons in his house. His earthly house where no demon would dare to come unless they wanted beheading. The only person in the underworld who knew his address was Lucifer and that’s because that dangerous half-pint knew everything. Zagan sniffed the air.
The smell of sulfur was strong but the power behind it was weak. Baby demons. The worst kind. Any demon less than five hundred years old was a menace in Zagan’s opinion. Strong enough to wreak havoc among humans, but dumb enough to think they could take on the big boys in the underworld too. If I find out they’ve been following me, I will have them for fucking breakfast.
Anael stirred, his blue eyes sleepy, his curls in a mess. “Company?” he whispered.
“Uninvited and unwelcome.” Zagan put his fingers to his lips, furious beyond measure at anyone disturbing his private time with his angel. Slipping out of bed, he clicked his fingers long enough to clothe his lower half in leather. Striding across the room, he flung open the huge double doors protecting his sleeping chamber, his growl menacing as he was confronted with three scruffy individuals creeping down his hallway.
“Looking for me?” Letting smoke billow from his nostrils, Zagan quickly assessed his intruders. At least the demons weren’t part of his legions, but they were young and cocky. Whoever was managing them was doing a piss-poor job.
“King Zagan,” the tallest one gave the sketchiest of bows. “We were told you had a residence here and were just checking it out. It is big enough to accommodate more of our kind. She was right.”
“Who was right?” Wasting no time, Zagan covered the distance between them, grabbing the speaker by his throat and running him up the wall hard enough to crack the plaster. “Who dares discuss me and my business?”
“Let him go!” One of the other intruders, a slender male with a shock of red hair, jumped on Zagan’s back. Flicking his wings, Zagan brushed him off, but the guy came back, biting and clawing at Zagan’s arms. Incensed, Zagan’s hand flicked out, catching the redhead as he launched another attack; slamming both him and the demon under his other hand together. Their skulls made a satisfying clunk as they both passed out. A wave of his hands and the men were bound in siren silk; they wouldn’t get out of that in a hurry.
There were three. Where…. Zagan scanned the empty hallway. The only door open was to his room. “Precious!” Zagan sprinted back to his room, stopping in the doorway, stunned at what he was seeing. The third demon; who was pretty rather than handsome, was sitting on the floor listening to Anael with a rapt expression on his face.
“It’s very beautiful but a bit too sterile for my liking,” Anael was saying. He noticed Zagan immediately and smiled. “Do you know Petrov has never even seen an angel before? He was asking me what it was like in Head Office.”
“You’re on a first name basis with them now?” Zagan stalked into room. “These idiots broke into my house. Do you see my arms? One of them attacked me.” He waved his arms for emphasis, only slightly mollified when the elfin-looking demon shrank against the wall.
“It’s just a scratch and Petrov had nothing to do with it,” Anael smiled at the demon, but at least got off the bed, coming over to examine Zagan’s arm. “I think these guys might be in some sort of trouble,” he whispered as he brushed a kiss along the meanest looking scratch.
“Of course, they’re in trouble. They’re demons. It’s what demons do.” That’s new. Zagan found his anger dropping away; something that never happened unless he climaxed and even then, there was no guarantee. But Anael’s gentle, caring presence was making a pussy cat out of him.
“You heal fast,” Anael said softly. “I’m sure Petrov will explain why they saw the need to break into your private space if you just ask him. Won’t you Petrov?”
Smiling, smiling, smiling. Everyone’s smiling except me. But Zagan was helpless to ignore his angel’s request. Tucking his precious under his wing, he glared at Petrov who was worshipping Anael with his eyes. “Spill it.”
/~/~/~/~/
Anael had always found it difficult to be around any form of negative vibe. It wasn’t as though it made him sick or anything, but he would get butterflies in his stomach and have this urge to make everyone smile again. It was why he had such a problem with stalkers. Zagan wasn’t smiling and while Anael figured he had good reason to be upset, he didn’t understand why they couldn’t just all sit around a table and talk out their problems. He was hungry. He could cook, but he was sure Zagan wouldn’t appreciate him asking Petrov to stay for breakfast and it was just rude of him and Zagan to eat with others in the house.
Hopefully this won’t take long. Anael peeked out from under Zagan’s wing and gave Petrov an encouraging smile.
“The Lady Zoltus sent us to spy on you,” Petrov began hesitantly. “She claims out of all of the higher demons, you’re the one who spends the most time on earth.”
“So what if I do? I don’t shirk my duties. Lucifer has no problem with the way I operate.” Zagan was growling and while it was a sexy sound, Anael was sure Petrov didn’t think so. The poor demon’s face was almost white.
“Of course not, sir.” Petrov bowed so low his hair was brushing the carpet. “But surely you can see, as a demon here on earth, your opportunities for causing chaos and confusion are enormous, and yet….” He broke off and cast another adoring glance in Anael’s direction.
“Say it,” Anael nodded. “Zagan won’t hurt you if you tell the truth.”
“It’s not my words, I didn’t want to come but Ruck insisted.” Petrov pouted.
“Then maybe it’s time you started standing up for yourself. Spying on demon lords can have lethal consequences,” Zagan snarled. “What did the high and mighty Lady Zoltus have to say about my business?”
“Only that you weren’t taking advantage of your powers over humans,” Petrov said haltingly. “You live among them. You own a club, but the clientele are human dregs unfit for blackmail or exploitation. You have this massive house, but don’t share it with any of your underlings. You could hold the whole city of Seattle in the palm of your hand if you weren’t too stupid and lazy to do something about it. Her words, not mine,” He added quickly.
“What I do and when I do it is no concern of hers,” Zagan’s growl intensified. Anael wrapped his arm around his mate’s waist and prayed the situation wouldn’t end in bloodshed. “Lucifer hasn’t sent out any orders claiming we should take control of human cities. To do anything like that is a severe breach of the contract we have with Head Office and Zoltus knows that.”
Confusion etched itself over Petrov’s face and Anael’s heart ached for the position the poor young demon was in. “But…but…what about your wedding? Lady Zoltus said taking Seattle was a wedding gift from the Dark Lord himself. That’s why she sent me and the others. She wanted to ensure your human home wasn’t in the same state as your club. She claims she’d never set foot in there.”
“What wedding?” Zagan’s voice was so icy, Anael could feel the chill in the air. “What damned wedding?”
“Well, between you and Lady Zoltus.” Petrov’s eyes flickered between Anael and Zagan. “The Dark Lord was so happy with the mating of Lord Botis and the Archangel Raziel, he said he wanted more of his leaders to form relationships. Of course, no one believes Lord Botis is any better off having an angel as a husband, no disrespect intended Anael; but several of the legion leaders are forming alliances to strengthen their position in the underworld and here on earth. Lady Zoltus chose you because you have the strongest legions of all bar Haures and no one wants to ally themselves with him.”
“You’re getting married?” Anael was compelled to interrupt. “You have an understanding with this Lady Zoltus?”
“I haven’t had words with Zoltus since 1563! She tried to slink her sleazy way into my bed then and I kicked her out. What the fuck does she think she’s doing now?” Zagan stormed across the room, glaring out of the window.
“I’m sure she only intends to marry for alliance purposes,” Petrov hands were twisting around each other. “She’s always been determined to rule more than three legions; her soldiers are all young demons like me, but Lucifer won’t give her anymore.”
“Because she’s cracked in the head,” Zagan fisted his hair as he turned away from the window. Anael silently pleaded with him to let Petrov and his friends go. This situation was so much more than three demons who were given faulty orders. Somehow, Zagan must have understood because he sighed. “Take your friends and go back to the realm. Report to Captain Samuels for your punishment. If I hear he hasn’t seen you, I’ll find you and punish you myself. There’ll be nowhere you can hide. Understood?”
“Yes, King Zagan.” Petrov crawled out of the room and moments later, Anael felt a zing of magic as the demons disappeared.