Once inside the building,we discovered the nymphs had turned what Hawk said was a gymnasium into a retreat for humans and demons, consisting of tables, booths, and a bar. Behind the bar were bottles full of liquid. I couldn’t tell the color of that liquid as the bottles were all dark.
The bar was a simple piece of dark wood with stools and chairs set up before it. A male and female nymph fluttered behind, pulling down bottles and removing glasses from under the bar as they poured drinks.
Glowing candles were set out every few feet on top of the bar. From a door to the right of the bar, a nymph emerged with more bottles. Throughout the large room, the rest of the nymphs ran around half-naked and giggling as they fluttered from one lap to another.
Most of the demons inside the cavernous room didn’t fight for either side. Sometimes, I couldn’t decide if they irritated me or if I envied them more.
I couldn’t imagine what it must be like not to have to fight for something. However, Ilongedto one day possess such knowledge. If the cowards would choose a side, this might all end sooner. And they better choosemyside.
The room wasn’t full of neutral demons as a couple of craetons sat at the bar. One of them was a lower-level demon with a pig snout and floppy ears, while the other was an upper-level who stared at us with hostility simmering in his green eyes. His black hair hung around his shoulders and broad, handsome face.
When I spotted that familiar face, my fingers itched for my sword, but I wouldn’t pull it here. My demise would not come from the limbs of a calamut tree.
“Calabar,” Corson muttered when he spotted the upper-level demon at the bar.
“More like asshole,” I said.
Calabar was once on our side, but the coward flipped and joined Lucifer. He’d taken some of our fighters with him, along with the knowledge of our numbers and location. Kobal managed to get us out of the area before Lucifer attacked, but it was a close call.
“We can get him when he leaves the forest,” Magnus said.
“I think we’d have an easier time of getting the calamuts to tap dance,” Corson said.
I had to agree. “He’s too much of a coward to leave now that he’s seen us.”
“We’ll get him eventually, but for now—” Lix clapped his bony hands together as he surveyed the dancing tree nymphs with interest— “we havenymphsto please!”
Before anyone could respond, Lix jumped into the air and clicked his bony feet together. When he hit the ground, he grasped the hand of a passing tree nymph and spun her around. The tiny woman laughed, and her brown hair fanned out around her as she twirled.
“I could use a little tree nymph fun myself,” Caim said as he strolled past me. “We can stay for a few days, right?”
“No,” Corson and I said at the same time.
Caim didn’t acknowledge us as he focused on two tree nymphs who giggled coyly and blushed when he approached them. The nymph’s breasts were exposed, and the sheer material draped around their waists revealed everything beneath. They would have frozen to death if they stayed outside.
Raphael stepped forward to stand beside me. His jaw clenched as he watched his fallen brother settle into a booth with the two nymphs and drape his arms around them.
“It is not right,” Raphael grated through his teeth.
“Who are you to judge what is right or not?” I asked.
His violet eyes flicked to me before he focused on Caim again. “He is anangel.”
“He is afallenangel, a man, and he’s as imperfect as you or me. Seeking pleasure in the arms of another isn’t wrong.”
Raphael turned away and stalked out of the room.
“I think he should get laid,” Shax said.
It no longer surprised me to hear such a human term as “laid” come out of a demon’s mouth. “Don’t we all?”
Shax’s yellow eyes were bright with amusement when they met mine. “Damn right, we do.”
My gaze returned to where Raphael disappeared. I understood his frustration. I would love to ease my own sexual needs with one or more of the demons in this building, but the idea of being with someone other than Wrath doused my lust.
With a sigh, I made my way over to one of the booths in the building. My boots clicked off the brown floor as I walked. I studied the lines on the floor, but I couldn’t tell what they were as calamut leaves covered most of the ground. The nymphs danced around us while they stripped away what little clothing they wore.
They kissed each other, and occasionally one would straddle the lap of a nearby demon. They would ride them until the demon rose and carried them from the room or laid them down on the table and screwed them.
