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EMBER CRACKED AN EYE open when she sensed the demonic presence was gone. “Okay, that’s enough, guys,” she said. The werelion nuzzled her stomach again and she snorted out a giggle. “That tickles!” she protested. “The werewolf who was pretending to crush her throat licked her face, then sat back on his haunches with a pleased grin on his hairy face. “You did good,” she told the pack who had pretended to maul her to death. They surged in to get as close to her as they could so she could pet them all in gratitude.
The hellion had known she was being followed by one of her own kind. The red eyes had been a bright beacon that he hadn’t managed to hide from her. It had chilled her to the bone when she’d realized Azazel was the one who was trailing her. Had Raum decided to send his second in charge to murder her? She couldn’t really blame him. She’d rejected his advances, she’d stabbed him through the heart and she’d tried to shred his face. He couldn’t be bothered to eliminate her himself, so he’d sent Azazel instead.
Raum could sense her whenever she was near, so she figured the only way she could get out of this alive was to fake her own death, then stay away from him. Using the rogues had been an effective way to make it seem as if she was dead. She’d made sure Azazel saw her enter the cave, then had whispered instructions to her pack. They’d played along perfectly and her ruse had worked.
All around her, shifters settled down to lie in a jumble. Most of them fell asleep quickly, but she remained wide awake. It was going to be far harder to plan the murders of the Immortal Triumvirate now that she had to avoid being in Raum’s proximity. She would have to stalk them from afar. If the Demon Guild Master sensed the dark essence he’d placed inside her, he would know she was still alive. He would either come after her himself, or he would send someone worse than Azazel to track her down and end her existence. She would have to be on the lookout for any hell spawn that might attempt to sneak up on her.
After a restless day full of broken sleep, she hunted with her pack in her werewolf form, then gathered them in close. “It isn’t safe for me to stay with you guys,” she said. Howls, yips and screeches of dismay rang out. “If the demons find out I’m still alive, they’ll hunt you all down and punish you for helping me,” she explained. A werewolf growled ominously and bared his fangs. “Yeah, I know you could tear them apart, but how many of you would die in the process?” the demoness asked, then shook her head. “I’m not willing to risk it. I’ll come and visit you when I can, but I’ll find somewhere else to stay during the day.”
Her pack watched her with mournful eyes as she changed into her demon form and flew towards the City Square. Ember made sure to stay far away from the Demon Guildhall and the Immortal Triumvirate’s headquarters. Now that Raum thought she was dead, he would resume searching for the perfect match he was after. His quest would take him all over the city, so she would have to remain on her toes.
Ember hid behind a chimney of a mansion a few blocks from the City Square and watched the Immortal Triumvirate’s headquarters. She didn’t have a very good view of the building and she couldn’t see any of the trio coming or going. The roof was too low for her to be able to see into Raum’s office. She had no idea if the Guild Master was sitting at his desk, or if he was already roaming the city in search of a partner.
Fitful rain came and went as she kept up her vigil for a few hours. She was used to being kept in a cramped cage and sitting still for long periods, so she didn’t feel the urge to move or fidget. The Immortal Triumvirate didn’t always spend all night in their offices. They sometimes didn’t come to the City Square at all. It was hard to predict their schedules, but they always met with the Guild Masters at least once a week. Even their meetings weren’t on a strict schedule, so it was hard to say when they would be here.
The hellion decided to scout her enemies’ houses and flew towards the Fae District first. She spied Lord Dallinar in his private tower. His purple hair was tousled and he sat on his couch, staring into the fireplace. A crow was perched on his windowsill, staring at him. It turned its head when Ember swept past it. Pale green eyes watched her with cunning intelligence.
She left the Fae District and checked on Lord Kreaton’s mansion next. He was alone in his den and was reading a book that looked ancient. He glanced at his desk and a glass of blood appeared. Gulping it down in a few swallows, he wiped his mouth with his sleeve, then resumed reading.
Finally, the demoness headed for the Shifter District. Lord Graham was in his bedroom, but he wasn’t alone. He had one of the women from his harem pinned down on his bed. He was biting and clawing her as he used her body for his own enjoyment.
Ember glowered at the alpha werewolf through the crack in his drapes. She jerked back when his amber eyes suddenly turned to the French doors. He’d sensed himself being watched and she quickly flew away when he bounded to his feet. She flicked a look over her shoulder to see the shifter thrust the French doors open. His entire body was covered in ginger hair and his manhood jutted upwards from the thick thatch at his groin. He scanned the area, but he didn’t see her as she zoomed off into the distance. Her black wings and dark gray body made her blend into the gloom.
She let out the breath she’d been holding when the werewolf didn’t send his servants out to see who had been spying on him. Ember hadn’t had a chance to see what any of the Immortal Triumvirate members had gotten up to earlier in the evening. She hoped she hadn’t missed anything noteworthy.
Dawn was getting close, so she chose an empty apartment to sleep in during the day. The clothes she’d stolen from the markets appeared next to her. It seemed the magic of Nox had deemed them to be her property. They’d been sent to her in case she needed them.
Ember had spent enough time in the various Districts to see just how bad things were getting. The Demon District was a horrible place to live, but the vampires, fae and shifters didn’t have it much better. The only ones who had a good life were the wealthy and the elite. Everyone else was starving and weak. Thanks to the Energy Tax, things were only going to get worse with each year that passed.
As she lay sprawled on the soft carpet, the demoness realized there was more at stake than just her personal vengeance. Their leaders had failed to keep the city operational and they didn’t deserve to rule Nox. Once they were gone, hopefully things would change.
She was half shifter and she’d grown fond of her pack. Drognar had been Ember’s only friend when she’d been a child. For thirty-five years, she’d been a helpless slave. Now she was free and she could do something about the conditions they were all forced to live in. Without the Immortal Triumvirate, there wouldn’t be an Energy Tax. Everyone would have a chance to regain their strength, energy and magic.
Someone was bound to take over, but they wouldn’t have the ability to steal power from others. The City of Night would have to adapt to operate without the magic that used to sustain it. Nox would become a normal city full of supernatural creatures. The protective barrier would no doubt fail and they would become vulnerable to the human armies, but it would be better than being trapped here.
Ember’s mind whirled with possibilities, but one thought remained constant. The Immortal Triumvirate needed to be eliminated, just as Raum had said. They had a common goal, but the demon couldn’t be trusted. He only wanted more power for himself. God help Nox if the Demon Guild Master took over. He would turn it into a new version of hell and everyone would pay the price.
