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He nodded, frowning. “So I saw. You know as daemons we don’t involve ourselves with the god-touched, yes?”
“If you mean Belial’s lecture number three thousand and fifty-two on daemonic non-involvement with lesser species,” he raised an eyebrow, and she flipped her hair and shrugged her shoulders, “I might have slept through most of that presentation.”
“To recap his ofttimes lengthy diatribe, we follow the rules of non-engagement with other non-human species as part of a peace treaty agreed on millennia ago.”
“Right, but the god-touched are human,” she replied. “Mostly.”
He chuckled. “So are we. Mostly. It’s that extra part that matters per the interspecies peace accords.”
Nadir sauntered around the glen, still aware of the charged atmosphere, but it didn’t have the same impact on her now that her lust asset was well-sated.
“Remind me why we care about other non-human species?” she asked. “I mean, corporates are usually god-touched, and they hire summoners to use daemons for their power struggles. How does that not break the accords?”
“It maintains the accords because the summoners are human intermediaries with the daemons and the god-touched, separately. Each species is afforded direct contact with humans, but no longer with each other. It allows us all to feed upon humans without warring over territory.”
“Well then, I’m fine. Or I should say, my Summoner,Meri, is fine.”
Azimuth’s expression hardened. Was that the sound of his teeth grinding?
“That persona is a thin veil, which, when pierced, would hang responsibility for breaking the peace accords squarely on your shoulders. You’d openly invite retribution from any who felt infringed.”
“I can’t imagine how my talking with Erin infringes upon anyone.” Nadir hung her hands on her hips in frustration.
“Talking is one thing, but I have the impression you wish to aid her.” He arched a brow. “Have I misread the situation?”
She squirmed under his pointed regard. “I want to be emotionally supportive of her. Erin’s lost, just like I was once.”
“I don’t doubt your intentions. You just need to understand there are consequences of altering the power dynamic amongst non-humans.”
“I understand, Az. Trust me. I’ll be careful and keep my distance.”
Relief washed over his tense features. “Good, that’s all I’m asking.”
“I hear you.” She moved in close to him, wrapping her arms around his slim, muscular frame and resting her head on his shoulder. “I think I’m just looking for something to preoccupy me from thinking too hard about Belial’s sancre.”
He reciprocated her hug, running adept fingers down her back. “If you’re looking for distractions…”
Nadir’s laughter echoed through the glen. “I think that’s enough distraction for today. I’d better go back to my house and resume hunting down leads on daemon hordes. Or those organ-missing human kills. Or maybe I’ll just cozy up with a good book.”
“Is that something you do often?” His grin melted her, and Nadir had to shake her head lest she be overcome with lust again.
“Yes, as a matter of fact, there’s nothing better than a relaxing, distracting read about werewolves taking over the city or vampires hiding away in the bowels of the sewers, waiting for an opportune chance to strike an unsuspecting human.”
“I wouldn’t define those ascozystories,” he chuckled, his chin-length, silvered hair swinging back and forth as he shook his head.
“To each their own.”
“I’ll leave you to it, then. Personally, I have a scintillating tome on daemonic chemistry from the second age awaiting me at the den. Ping me if you need anything.”
“I’ve got you loud and clear. Thanks for steering me in the right direction.”
Azimuth nodded and then ported away.
Nadir took a deep breath, casting her gaze around the glen. The undeniable energy of the god-touched was still present.
“And despite knowing I should drop my curiosity, I just don’t want to leave Erin without support,” Nadir whispered. “What’s the harm if no one finds out?”
Sniffing the night air, Nadir took off at a jog in the direction Erin had gone, which was back toward the city.
