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RAUM FLEW BACK TO THE City Square after assisting Kade to break his chosen partner’s link to the Immortal Triumvirate. It has seemed wise to leave while Sorcha was still coming to grips with having her magic unleashed. It was a mystery why she’d attempted to attack him. He would be certain to ask her about it once the warlock had bonded her to himself.
Transforming into his human form as he descended, Raum landed lightly on his feet a block away from the City Square. He half expected the black and gray demon to follow him, but the spy remained absent. It had been a surprise when the minion had come to his rescue. He’d carried the woman who had to be a sorceress away before she could blast him with a spell. Raum had no doubt Kade’s partner was alive and well. Sorcha could have easily teleported to safety.
He reached the staircase that led to the Demon Guildhall and headed inside. Eyes followed him as he strolled across the foyer. His guildhall was similar to the Magic Guildhall, except black marble was on display everywhere. An ugly little hell spawn was manning the reception desk that was made from black marble. She had oily looking purple skin and disgusting lumps all over her misshapen head. She quailed when he flicked her a look and ducked down behind the desk.
Raum assumed his expression was stormy. He schooled his face to blankness as he pushed open one of the large doors that led to the offices. He took the staircase to the top floor, then walked down the wide hallway to his office at the far end. Smaller offices branched off to the left and right, including Azazel’s.
Entering his office, Raum closed the door, then crossed to the window to stare outside. He crossed his arms and clenched his fists, trying to contain his annoyance that Kade Sinclair had beaten him to finding his partner. Halloween was only six months away now and he still hadn’t found a match.
A crow with pale green eyes soared past his window, breaking his train of thought. The creature glanced at him slyly, then circled around a few times, watching him with unnerving intensity. He put his hand on the window to shove it upwards as hellfire blazed in his eyes. The crow flew away before he could lift the window and incinerate it with his innate demonic magic.
Raum had felt darkness growing in Nox for the past few months. He wasn’t sure what was causing it, but it felt familiar. It wasn’t demonic, but it was definitely evil. He hadn’t said anything to his allies about it yet. Their focus had to remain on gaining enough strength to challenge their enemies and take them down. It didn’t matter how much evil spread through the City of Night. Not when the city would most likely cease to exist in a few months anyway.
A cold smile turned his mouth upwards as the demon contemplated his future. Just because he’d made deals with the Immortal Triumvirate didn’t mean he couldn’t turn on them. The fairy, vampire and werewolf were going to find out that all their machinations had been for naught. They thought they’d become truly immortal, but their fates weren’t set in stone. No one was meant to live forever, not even them.
“Their time is almost up,” he murmured and hellfire flared in his eyes again. First, he had to choose someone to become bonded to, so his power could be increased. Kade was probably binding himself to his woman right at this moment. “I’m the last to find my mate,” he said in annoyance. The warlock had found himself a sorceress, so they were a perfect pair. “Who am I possibly going to find who will be a suitable match for me?” he asked.
Rain lashed the building, then lightning flared, illuminating the black and gray spy as he glided past the window. Gold eyes stared at Raum insolently, then the minion sped off into the growing storm.
“Well, that was helpful,” the demon lord said wryly. Somehow, he doubted the spy who had killed so many of his prospective partners was going to be able to assist him with this matter. If anything, he would do his best to make sure Raum never became bonded to anyone.
Raum still didn’t know who the lackey was working for, but it had to be one of his rivals. Unfortunately, he had too many foes to narrow the culprit down easily. He’d intended to set a trap for the annoying hell spawn and he decided it would be better to focus on that. The sooner he eradicated the creature, the sooner he could concentrate on locating the powerful and dangerous woman that Xiara Evora had told him to find.
“This is going to be fun,” he said and grinned at his reflection in the window. While his smile looked charming, malevolent enjoyment at the prospect of torturing the spy for information roiled inside him. There was no question that he would capture the elusive minion. The spy had managed to elude him so far, but his luck couldn’t hold out forever. “I’ll find you,” Raum vowed, eyes roaming the sky in search of his prey. “And when I do, I’ll make you wish you’d never been born,” he added with a malicious chuckle.
