Page 68 of Indecent

Daniel teasingly gave Ashmedai his controller after that, telling Chaol he’d have better luck against the sin eater, who growled playfully at the insult but agreed to play. And it was true, Ashmedai’s claws made it a little more difficult for him to hit the right buttons.

They took turns after that. Valac was the most skilled, after Daniel, because Julian made him play the most.

Daniel lost track of time. They switched from coffee to beer as the day wore on, though he didn’t drink enough to ever get a buzz. That might be one of the few drawbacks of being a demon—alcohol didn’t affect him the same way now. He lamented the easy buzzes of his past, but he couldn’t deny that he preferred his present. Being back on Earth, immortal and powerful and with Chaol by his side, was infinitely preferable to the loneliness and uncertainty of his life before.

Daniel and Valac were in the middle of a heated race when the sound of the bedroom door opening caught their attention. Valac paused the game immediately, and they all turned.

Julian, shirtless and wearing a pair of plaid pajama pants, paused beside the foot of the stairs and took them all in. He had a pillow crease on his cheek, and his blond hair stuck up on the same side.

“A behemoth, a sin eater, a kalmach, and a harbinger are playing video games in my living room,” Julian said. “If you’d told me that a year ago, it would’ve been too weird to even laugh at.”

“Did we wake you, my jewel?” Valac asked.

“No, no—well, yeah, kind of. It’s okay, though. I slept hard, so it’s fine. I’m not up much earlier than normal. Coffee, anyone?”

“No, we’ve moved on to other things now,” Daniel replied, raising his beer bottle.

“Ah, of course. More coffee for me, then.”

It wasn’t long after Julian sat down beside Valac with a steaming mug that Ashmedai’s phone buzzed on the coffee table. It was his turn now, and he paused the game at once, thrusting the controller at Daniel and picking up his phone.

“It’s Nic-las,” he said, standing. “He wants to join us. I will get him.”

“Great. Tell him there’s coffee left,” Julian said, snuggled against Valac’s side like a vine against an oak.

Ashmedai inclined his head, sweeping from the room. The television was too bright for him to disappear here. A few moments later, he returned with Nicolas in tow, wearing a pair of soft, black joggers and a gray T-shirt.

“Morning, everyone,” Nicolas said, passing behind the couch where Daniel and Chaol sat. He dropped a kiss to the top of Daniel’s head. “Hey, little brother. What’s with the party?”

“I just couldn’t sleep,” Daniel said. “There’s coffee. Did Ash tell you?”

“He did. I’m headed to it now.”

When Nicolas returned, settling beside Ashmedai with his own mug, he said, “Couldn’t sleep, huh?”

“No. The others tell me that’s normal for a demon, but I was feeling restless. The party was inadvertent. Chaol had never played a video game.”

“Can’t have that,” Nicolas remarked, giving Chaol an easy smile.

“That’s what I thought! You want a turn?”

“Maybe after coffee. I don’t want to embarrass myself.”

Daniel grinned, opening his mouth to reply, when a sudden boom broke the silence.

Cold slithered down Daniel’s spine at the sound. He looked at Chaol and saw his dread reflected back at him in Chaol’s night dark eyes. He stood, the kernel igniting in his chest.

Chaol stood with him, grabbing his arm. “It could be Menadel.”

“Or it could be Ramiel,” Daniel said, realizing they’d made a grave mistake. Menadel had warded the Rink but not anyone’s homes. And here were four powerful demons gathered under one roof. If Ramiel could track powerful auras, they’d laid out a feast for him right here without even realizing it.

He moved toward the door, heart pounding. They had to know. Couldn’t be taken by surprise. But before he reached the door, it blew inward, slamming into him and throwing him back against the stairs.

“Danny!” someone shouted.

It was as though Ramiel had an inner glow. Looking at him hurt Daniel’s eyes—or maybe it was because he was haloed in sunlight. He stepped into the foyer, wearing the same white, gauzy clothing as the last time they’d seen each other. His golden gaze swept the room, looking from demon to demon.

“Yes, you will all do nicely.”