Another kick to the shin. An icy glare. A deep, disappointed sigh.
For fuck’s sake.
Clearing his throat, Gabriel looked at Rogozin again and said, “An original demon has manifested here—a succubus. It appears she’s working with a group of dark mages called the Keepers of the Dark Flame to permanently destroy the hell gates.”
“An original succubus?” Rogozin asked.
“Theoriginal succubus.” Gabriel took another sip of vodka, forcing himself not to grimace. “She and the mages are responsible for a number of ritual murders in the city—humanmurders—committed so they might harness the death energy that allows the succubus to grow more powerful and maintain her position outside of hell.”
“To what end?” he asked.
“We believe the group intends on creating a permanent, unrestricted passageway between our realms, allowing demons to bypass the laws of the Shadow Accords and manifest here at will. Ultimately, they’re plotting to overthrow the established supernatural communities and claim the earthly realm as their domain.”
“Demons. Never satisfied with station in life.” Rogozin blew out a breath, then reached for the bottle of vodka and topped off all of their glasses, filling his own nearly to the rim. “Unrestricted demon highway… Bad for business.Mybusiness.”
“Some of them are likely already here,” Gabriel said. Careful not to reveal Jacinda’s name—or their relationship—or that fact that she was in that very manor at that very moment—he said, “One of our associates familiar with succubus lore told us that such demons often initiate sexual encounters with humans in order to breed demon-human hybrids.”
Rogozin nodded. “I’ve heard of such practices, but I’ve not met any of these hybrids personally.”
“You may not have realized it if youhadmet one,” Gabriel continued. “These hybrids can allegedly pass between our realm and hell at will, and can exist here as is, no human vessels required. To most of us, they’d appear human—an advantage that allows them to hide in plain sight.”
“Hide from what?” Rogozin asked. “What is advantage, exactly?”
“Are you familiar with the term ‘sleeper cell?’”
Rogozin’s face paled. “You think hybrids here are just… just waiting for call to arms?”
“I think it’s entirely possible given what we know about the demon behind all of this.”
“The succubus,” he said. “She is commander?”
“That’s what we thought initially, but no. Looks like she’s just following orders.”
Rogozin closed his eyes and sighed heavily through his nose. He seemed to be collecting his thoughts. Weighing his options.
When he glanced up at Gabriel again, his face was even more grim than before. “Azerius. That is why you called me here. You believe he is behind plot.”
Gabriel nodded. “Apparently, the prospect of a thousand-year banishment in hell isn’t sitting well with him. He wants out.”
“And you are certain your succubus is working for him? Working to bring him here?”
“Certain? No,” Gabriel said. “But it’s averystrong possibility—one we must give serious consideration.”
“Our source on that particular matter was unreliable at best,” Dorian said, “but also in no position to lie about it.”
“Was?” Rogozin asked. “Source is… past tense? Who?”
Gabriel looked at Dorian, who nodded for him to continue.
“Renault Duchanes,” Gabriel said.
Rogozin arched an eyebrow. “You found vampire traitor?”
“We captured him from a warehouse in New Jersey where he’d been working to amass a supernatural army of sorts,” Gabriel said. “We’d hoped to learn more about his plans and their connection to the demonic plot, but he was killed by the succubus just this morning.”
He relayed the story of Viansa’s hit-and-run, then filled him in about what they’d discovered at the warehouse, once again leaving Jacinda’s identity out of it.
“Duchanes ain’t the only one playing Dr. Frankenstein, either,” Cole said when Gabriel had finished up. “One of my guys checked in earlier. They’re still tracking grays in the woods all over the region. Got some new reports of shifters gone missing—all males, all from further upstate and into Vermont.”
