Touch of the Angel (Demons of Infernum, #3) (26 page)

As if he didn’t already know.

Feeling properly chastised, Dagan crossed into the living room.

Keegan stood by the bar, addressing everyone in the room. “We don’t know whether the sword will destroy the entire shield or create a hole in it, so we’ll plan on sticking together in case we need to hack our way through.”

Lina smoothed a hand over her hair. “How many men will Asmodeus have on the inside?”

Amara answered. “Usually no more than a handful. Two bodyguards, a servant, and a few assistants. Then he has six succubi. Well...five, I guess, excluding me.”

“That’s not a lot.” Ronin came to a stop beside Amara. “Do you think he’ll have hired anyone to protect him since he knows we’re hunting him?”

Amara shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“We’re sorta flying blind here.” Taeg rubbed his hands over his face. “We’ve got no clue what he can do.”

“That’s a chance we’ll have to take.” Keegan picked up his glass, chugged the last of his whiskey, and set it down. “Let’s go.”

Everyone rose and started moving toward the entranceway. Careful to keep his gaze off Lina, Dagan started to turn.

“Keegan,” Brynn choked out, her voice fearful. She rushed over to him and threw her arms around him, the brave mask on her face threatening to crumple.

“I’ll be okay. Promise.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

“You better be. If you get yourself killed and I have to raise this baby alone, I swear to you I’ll stomp on your grave every chance I get.”

Dagan’s chest tightened. In all the craziness, he hadn’t stopped to think how hard this must be on Brynn. She had to stay here while everyone she loved went off to fight in a battle, one in which they didn’t even know the stakes.

“I wish to hell I could go with you,” Brynn said. “I could help.”

Keegan rubbed her stomach. “You can’t. You have to keep the baby safe.”

“I know.”

The defeated sound of Brynn’s voice sparked an ache in Dagan’s throat. “There’s a good-sized number of us going. Maybe you should stay here,” he said, knowing all the while that asking Keegan not to go was like asking him not to breathe. Freaking impossible.

As expected, Keegan shot him a glare. He hooked a finger under Brynn’s chin and forced her to meet his eyes. “I’ll be back soon. In the meantime, don’t stress yourself out. You know it’s not good for the baby.”

With one last, passionate kiss, Keegan drew away. “All right everyone. Time to get this over with.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

The block that housed Asmodeus’s residence seemed eerily quiet tonight. A light snowfall had started sometime during the night, peppering the sky with white flakes that melted as soon as they touched the ground. What should have been a beautiful sight seemed strangely foreboding. Ronin knew it was probably only in his head, but it didn’t make the situation any less discomfiting.

After parking their cars a few blocks away, they gathered at the darkest corner. Not exactly inconspicuous, but there wasn’t much they could do about that. He surveyed the crew of people: Lina and her men, Bram, Reiver, and his brothers, along with Maya and Amara. These people were here for him. Sure, Lina claimed it was only for the money, but in his heart he knew she wasn’t being truthful about that.

They could have all waited to take Asmodeus down. Technically they
should
have waited for the Council’s orders. But it would have destroyed Amara to sit back and do nothing. That wasn’t an option. So they had all taken this leap. For him. Faithfully and without question.

“I want to say something.” His voice cracked, and he cleared his throat. “Thank you for standing up with me. I appreciate it, more than you know.”

Dagan, who stood the closest to him, squeezed his shoulder. “You know it. Besides, what else were we going to do tonight?”

As Ronin laughed, Amara slipped her hand in his. Her eyes were large and shiny in the harsh, artificial lighting of the streetlamps. “Thank
you
. No matter what happens, remember I love you.”

Ronin squeezed her hand and pressed a kiss to her lips. “And I you.”

He heard Lina’s indrawn breath and glanced over at her. Something in her eyes was soft and vulnerable, but then she noticed him watching and the mask of indifference crept back onto her face. “Are we gonna stand here all night playing kissy-face?”

“No.” Ronin reached into the oblong bag slung over his shoulder and pulled out Excalibur.

“
That’s
the legendary sword?” Lina asked, her brows furrowing.

Ronin couldn’t blame her for being skeptical. He had been too the first time he’d seen it. Though the sword of Merlin had clear magical powers, it appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary sword. Not even any ostentatious jewels to decorate the hilt. “Believe it or not, that’s it.”

Lina shrugged and unzipped her jacket. To his surprise, she wore two belts slung crisscrossed over her shoulders. They held a multitude of small daggers.

“Oh, shit.” Dagan stared at the weapons on her chest. Or, who knew, maybe right at her chest.

That uncomfortable feeling hit Ronin again, the one that told him to warn his brother away from his adopted sister. He ignored it. For now. Definitely not the time.

“Let’s go.” Ronin walked toward the shield, testing its location. He got no more than a few feet before he came to a sudden stop, as if he’d walked into an invisible wall. Reaching his hand out, he pressed into the unseen barrier.

Taeg stepped up beside him. “Go for it, bro. I’ve got your back.”

Wielding the sword with both hands, Ronin lifted it over his head and stabbed it into the shield. It penetrated with a tearing sound. He sliced the sword downward in a long arc, then slid the hand with the sword through the rip.

“Hot damn,” Dagan said. “It’s working.”

Taeg grinned. “I love this fucking sword.”

“Come on, Amara.” Ronin turned and held his hand out to her, waiting until she’d taken it before angling the rest of his body through the tear. She followed close behind him.

Although they stood mere steps from where they were before, the space inside the shield had a strange, enclosed feel to it. Almost like they were on the inside of one of those snow globes humans loved to collect.

Keegan, Taeg, and Dagan followed them through the invisible hole.

“So the rest of the shield is still in place?” Maya asked. She didn’t wait for an answer but instead walked to a spot several feet from where Ronin had sliced the hole and pressed forward. Her hand bounced back. “Guess so.”

“This is surreal,” Dagan said.

“Tell me about it.” Taeg motioned to Maya, who stood a few feet away and kept pushing against the barrier. “Come on, slayer, you don’t want to miss the party.”

Maya shrugged and started toward them, then tried to slide through the invisible rip. She bounced back, and frowned. “I could have sworn it was right here.” She readjusted her position and tried again. “I can’t find it.”

“Weird.” Taeg reached for her, but he couldn’t break through the barrier. “Amara, how did you get past this thing when you stayed here?”

“It always let me out before with no problem,” she said.

They all joined in to try to find the hole, but to no avail.

Taeg looked at Ronin. “Do you think the rip closes after a period of time?”

“Good question.” Scowling, Ronin lifted the sword and tore another hole through the barrier. But this time, Maya got no more than her foot inside before it sealed shut again, expelling her with a slight
pop
. She staggered backward and almost fell, but Bram caught her.

“What the hell?” Taeg said.

Ronin made another hole, but once again Maya didn’t get more than a few inches inside before her body was rejected. His heart thrumming, Ronin turned to survey the area. Something wasn’t right here. Asmodeus must know they were here.

Lina scratched her head. “Maybe if you try leaping into it.”

That turned out to be no better. Maya bounced backward like she’d thrown herself onto a sideways trampoline. Luckily, Reiver caught her before her head hit the ground.

“Stupid...fucking...piece-of-shit shield,” Lina muttered, clearly put out by their inability to enter.

Beside Ronin, Amara watched with growing dejection on her face as they continued trying to get the rest of their crew in. Finally, she threw her hands up. “It’s no use, guys. It’s Asmodeus. He must have placed some sort of reinforcement spell on the shield.”

“Then why did it let some of us through?” Keegan asked.

“Good question.” Ronin knew the answer was probably not a good one.

From the other side of the shield, Maya said, “It’s a trap. It’s gotta be.”

“It could be anything,” Keegan said.

Ronin’s brothers appeared as bewildered as he was. “What the hell do we do now?”

“Push forward,” Keegan said. “It’s the only thing we can do.”

Oh, hell. He had a really bad feeling about this. But Keegan was right—they had to continue.

He’d at least feel better about this whole thing if they could count on Keegan’s ability to breathe fire, a gift he’d inherited from his dragon-shifter mother. But it was a spotty power that he had no real control over.

“We’ll be back, slayer.” Taeg lifted his hand to the barrier.

“This sucks.” Maya placed her hand into the same spot.

“It’ll be fine.” Taeg attempted an easygoing smile. “We’ll be back down before you know it.”

“You’d better. Be careful in there.”

Ronin lifted the sword. “Don’t worry. We have Excalibur. I’d say that gives us pretty good odds against whatever we’re going to face in there.” He hoped. Because the last thing he wanted to do was gamble with Amara’s life.

He pulled her to him. “You’ve got those weapons?”

She nodded, patting the dagger he’d strapped to her stomach. “Got the knives in my boots, too.”

He read the discomfort on her face. Unlike Maya, who was more accustomed to using a knife than to putting on makeup, Amara had never wielded a weapon before. He’d attempted a lesson earlier, but there hadn’t been enough time for her to get comfortable with the notion of using one.

“Don’t take them out unless you absolutely have to. Stay close behind me at all times.”

Fear flickered on her face. “I will.”

Lina called out from behind him. “Xand—Ronin!”

He looked at her. “Yes?”

For a moment, Lina appeared uncertain, but then she set her jaw. “Be careful.”

“I will. I’m coming back this time. Promise.”

She nodded, and Ronin turned to his brothers. “Ready?”

Keegan, Taeg, and Dagan pulled out their daggers.

“Let’s go get this fuck,” Taeg said.

§

The turreted exterior of the townhouse towered above Amara. Absolutely terrifying. Her heart raced and a massive surge of adrenaline made her mouth go dry. She had dreamt about returning to this place every single night since she’d left it.

Not dreams. Nightmares. And she had to say, the reality of it was far more frightening. Every instinct she possessed urged her to flee.

Asmodeus was up to something. Still, as Keegan had said, what were their options? This had to end tonight.

Keegan’s voice sounded out, barely more than a whisper. “Is there a back entrance?”

“He would expect that to be the first place you’d go,” Amara said. “We should enter through the front.”

Keegan nodded and surveyed the building, then pointed up. “There, the third level balcony. Where does that lead?”

“Directly into his main chamber. He spends most of his time there.”

“Good. I’ll approach from there, see if I can catch him off guard. The rest of you go in from the front. If I don’t find him, I’ll make my way down to you. If you don’t see me after five minutes, come up and search for me.”

“Okay,” Ronin said.

Amara recited to Keegan the layout of the room, noting where Asmodeus most often sat in his main chamber. If he was on the third floor, odds were he was at his huge table.

“Got it.”

Dagan moved right next to Keegan. “Take me with you. If he’s on the third level, you’ll need some help fighting him off until everyone else makes it up there.”

“He’s right,” Ronin said. “And you should both be careful.”

“Okay.” With a brace of his shoulders, Keegan sprouted his long, leathery dragon wings from his shoulders.

“Whoa,” Amara breathed.

Ronin’s mouth curved into a brief smile. “I forgot you’d never seen them before.”

“No. I sure haven’t.” They were pretty spectacular, too. So different from Ronin’s, but beautiful in their own way.

Dagan stepped in front of Keegan and presented his back to him. Keegan slid his arms under Dagan’s armpits and propelled them both into the air.

Ronin, Taeg, and Amara crept along the building single-file, trying to avoid being seen on the off chance that Asmodeus didn’t yet know they were here. The street was so quiet, and even though she could see from the windows that there were lights on inside, the townhouse gave off a vibe like it was empty. Amara led the way, Ronin and then Taeg behind her. She skirted the delicate iron railing and climbed the steps to the front door.

Ronin nodded to Amara and, steeling herself for what lay inside, she tried the knob. It was locked.

“Do you have a key?” he whispered.

“No. Gofrey always opened the door for me.”

Ronin shrugged and closed his fingers over the knob, squeezing hard. The metal crushed under his fingertips with surprising ease. Amara held her breath as he inched it open, but no alarm sounded. Made sense. Since he had such a superior shield surrounding the entire block of his home, Asmodeus probably wouldn’t think he needed anything else.

They entered the empty foyer. Straight ahead of them was the curved staircase. Beside that, a long hallway led to the rear of the townhouse, where the kitchen, living, and dining rooms were located.

Something swished along the marble floor of the staircase up on the second level, right out of their view. Amara practically shot out of her skin.

Ronin’s fingers tightened on the sword, but then Keegan and Dagan stepped into sight, their daggers also at the ready. Keegan spotted them and relaxed. He rolled his eyes toward the upper levels and shrugged.

Amara waited until they were in front of him before whispering, “Nothing up there?”

“His room was empty,” Keegan said. “We didn’t spot a soul on our way down.”

“What about Solara?” she asked, half afraid to hear the answer. “The second level bedrooms?”

“We haven’t checked any of the bedrooms yet.” Keegan motioned toward the back of the townhouse. “Let’s do this floor first.”

Since she knew the layout, she led the way down the hall, though Ronin insisted on riding her ass the whole way. The passed the living room and dining room. Both were empty. Then into the kitchen. It appeared clean and deserted, like it hadn’t been used in days.

Keegan came to a halt beside the back entrance and scratched his head. “Could he have somehow escaped?”

“Wait. Do you feel that?” Beside her, Ronin tensed. “There are demons here.”

Several seconds later, the feeling hit— the low, pulsing energy that indicated demons were about.

Taeg frowned. “Feels like they’re coming from below us.”

Oh, hell. “The basement.” She’d almost forgotten about it since it was so rarely used.

The throb of energy swelled to a low hum. Amara lifted the dagger Ronin had given her right before the door leading from the basement into the kitchen crashed open. An assortment of demons streamed out. They came too quickly for her to count how many there were, but there had to be at least a dozen of them.

“Behind me,” Ronin yelled, shoving her back right as a vestag demon attacked them. She stifled a shriek when Ronin’s sword sliced through the vestag’s hand, spraying a steady stream of blood across her face. The acrid stench of the davanor demon who battled Dagan assaulted her nose, making her choke on her breath. For all the time she’d lived with Asmodeus, she’d never been in the thick of a battle. This was so out of her element, and every instinct she possessed urged to her get the hell out of here. But she couldn’t leave Ronin. She
wouldn’t
.

A lone boarg demon charged past the roadblock Ronin and his brothers had set up to protect her. This time Amara couldn’t stop her scream as he lumbered toward her, his piglike snout sniffing around as if he inhaled her fragrance. He grinned, his two long tusks curving out under his lip. She shrunk back when his ham-hock hands closed around her and wiggled out of his grasp.

“Amara!” Ronin whirled to help her, but two demons jumped him, dropping him to the ground.