Kobal tossed his flaming body aside, lettingit fall to the floor as if it were no more than a mosquito he’dswatted from the air. “Look at her again, and I’ll burn you all tothe ground,” he snarled at the others. Their mouths gaped open astheir eyes remained locked on the burning body of their fallencompanion.
Whatever interest any of the men had beenshowing toward me vanished in a heartbeat. They all glanced at mebefore focusing on Lilitu once more. The amusement and lust hadvanished from Lilitu’s gaze. Now the pupils of her eyes had becomepinpricks as they focused on Kobal with murderous intent.
CHAPTER 39
Kobal
“That wasmyservant!” Lilitu spat.
“You have others,” I replied calmly, though Iwas tempted to engulf this place in flames, grab River, and dragher from here. I wanted to kiss her as badly as I wanted tothrottle her. She’d walked herself straight into the hands of ourenemies.
Lilitu had broken off from some of the othercanagh demons over a thousand years ago. She’d enslaved some ofthem with her powerful, ancient blood before aligning herself withLucifer after I’d climbed from her bed, never to return. Now all Icould hope was to get River out of here without Lilitu poisoningher with her words and actions, but I knew she wouldn’t leave herfriends without a fight.
“I’ll have you begging at my feet!” Lilituyelled.
“Let’s not become delusional about this.Simply give us the men and woman you took earlier and no one elsehas to die.”
“I’ll tear her to pieces,” Lilitu vowed.
I bared my fangs at her as beneath my fleshthe hounds surged toward my fingers. They also recognized River astheirs, and any threat toward her was one they’d gladly take down.Lilitu’s eyes darted toward my arms as the marks pulsed with lifeand fire danced over my fingers. As soon as we were out of thisbuilding, I would destroy everything within it.
I gave a pointed look at the hounds beforefocusing on her again. “Whowilltear whom to pieces?”
Lilitu smiled seductively as she pushed asideher fury to fall back on who she innately was, a seductress.
“Come now, Kobal, we had a lot of fun before.We can have it again.” She moved forward, gliding across the floorso smoothly it seemed her feet didn’t touch the boards. Riverstiffened behind me. “You would like to watchmewith the girl, no?”
“No. Bring our people to us or I am going tostart torchingeveryone of yourservants. I’m out of patience, Lilitu.”
“You harm another one of my servants, and Iwill feast on her until she’s nothing but a shriveled husk.”
“Lilitu,” I growled.
She stopped five feet away from me and thrustout her hip. “We were good once—”
“Once!” I barked. “And I never returned. Yourlure is not as powerful as you believe it to be.”
Shocked murmurs from the canaghs followed mystatement. To this group, she was their queen, their most powerful,and the words I’d uttered were the ultimate insult to her.Allreturned once they weresatisfied by a canagh demon; once was never enough. It was believedtheir drugging kiss would forever ensnare someone, making them outof their mind with lust and unable to think of anything else astheir bodies fed the canaghs need for sexual energy while theywasted away to nothing.
I’d made sure not to kiss Lilitu the night wewere together. It had been playing with fire to risk lying withher, but after all the talk of the canagh, and especially Lilituherself, I’d been determined to try my hand at her. I’d beenyounger and dumber then, fresh off a lost battle to Lucifer anddetermined to conquer something. It had been a rash decision and aforgettable experience.
“Bring them to me, especiallyher,” Lilitu commanded the other canaghs as shepointed a finger at River. “Now!”
Around me, the canaghs shifted and shuffledtheir feet as they glanced between me and Lilitu. They were loversnot fighters, but this group of canaghs were also caught up bytheir need for her blood and the power she held over them. Lilituwas exceptionally strong due to the sexual energy she’d drainedfrom countless demons and humans over her many years, but she wasno match for me. If she came at me, she would die. Her followersknew this, but they would do as she commanded and their numbers faroutweighed ours.
“This does not have to be a battle,” Corsonsaid from the doorway.
“You are trying to take our prizes from us,”Lilitu replied. “I will not allow it.” Then her gaze latched ontoRiver, blazing with animosity as she poked the tip of a fang withher tongue. “She will also not be leaving. They both came to us.They areoursnow.”
“You have no chance against me,” I toldher.
“We outnumber you.”
“Youare thefirst one I’m coming for.” No fear showed in her eyes, but herhands slid back to her side and the seductive pose she’d takenvanished. “Your servants may outnumber us, but they will have noqueen to follow by the time I’m done with you.”
Her fangs sliced one of her ruby lips. Thetrickle of blood flowing forth caused all the other canagh demonsto undulate as their hands trailed lasciviously over their bodies.They all fed like she did on one’s sexuality, but each of herservants also received a single drop of her blood a year. A dropthat imbued them with the same amount of energy as feasting on thesexuality of five demons. A drop that kept them hooked on her foranother year and eager to do her every bidding.
Behind her, I saw Hawk begin to stir. Helifted his head to look around before grabbing Erin and shaking herarm. She blinked up at him, and he rested his finger against hislips in a shushing gesture. He pointed to the two other men withthem. Erin nodded and turned to wake one of the men as Hawk pulledhis gun free and aimed it at Lilitu. He met my eyes over Lilitu’sshoulder and I gave a small nod.
