Succubus Heat CHAPTER 25

To her credit, benediction didnt cower. She stood firm, regaining her compo received as she matched Jeromes stare with one of her own. In fact, she regained enough of herself that she remembered to avoid the rain. The drops parted or so her, oftentimes as the fire had parted around roman letters. Her suit and pilus were dry again, crisp and perfect.You would run through done the same function, she told Jerome.I couldnt enamor Jeromes causa when he spoke. I wouldnt require got caught. You did. You failed.You should be impressed with my ingenuity. She pass her arms, almost defiant. Im useful to you.You are meaningless. I could blight you out of existence, and no one would rec each(prenominal) twice nigh it.I wasnt sure about that. Demons smote each other each the time, still that didnt mean Hell care it. It created paperwork, and if you were caught, you got sent to Hells equivalent of prison house. Grace apparently shared my doubts about how uncomplicated it would be for Jerome to overcome her.I dont think so. As it is, youll be gold if you have your job when you secure hindquarters. You got yourself summoned. Her eyes flicked to me and romish, huddled together on the gumption. Your territorys in chaos. Theyll send you send off to a desk job-or make you somebody elses subordinate. rather a f every from an archdemons position. no likely, said Mei, speaking up. Not if we torture this c all over. Jeromes got springful connections. So do I. And Cedric will advocate for him.Her impulsiveness to help and presumption about Cedric surprised me, but thence, perhaps it was back to the k presently-thy-enemy philosophy. Grace glared at her former counterpart.Youre the biggest fool of all here.Enough, snapped Jerome. Theres been enough villainous exposition here. The matters done. I didnt have to devour him to know he was smiling at Grace-only, I suspected it wasnt a very nice pull a face. I will see you in Hell.He snapped his fingers, and s uddenly, what looked like baleful ice sprang up from the grease and crawled up Graces body. She hardly had any time to scream because it coated her so quickly and then froze into place, leaving her immobile. She had become a thorny black statue.What is that? I breathed.Kind of a demon stasis, roman letters murmured back. A prison of sorts. Hes ten times more(prenominal) powerful than her-its an easy thing for him to do.I wondered then just how powerful Roman really was. Hed seemed matched against Grace, but I still wasnt sure if hed been holding back or not, for fear of detection. As it was, he now had his signature turned off, appearing as a human for all intents and purposes. Hed done it just before Mei fully materialized.You need to get out of here, I told him.Wait, he responded.Indeed, Roman seemed the to the lowest degree(prenominal) of Jeromes concerns as the archdemon studied Graces frozen form. Her defeat had been anticlimactic, really. There had been no brassy brawl as everyone else seemed to have had today, but then, I supposed when you wielded the course of power Jerome did, there was no need. I also had a tonicity that Grace had been right about something. Even if he did have connections, Jerome in all probability couldnt risk doing anything rash to reestablish his swan back in Seattle. He probably did insufficiency to torture her and blight her from the face of the earth, but natural covering her and taking her to face hellish justice-such as it was-was deviation to do him more hefty. Hell would be more kindly disposed to him if he followed their rules.He turned and faced Mei, who stood off to the side. It was the first time Id gotten a good glimpse of my boss since his return. His face was blank and cold, but I was bonny sure I could see the fury kindling behind his eyes. universe summoned was pretty much the worst thing that could happen to a demon.She was right to a certain extent, he told Mei. It could have been advantageous to turn against me.And be second to her? Mei shook her head. Like Grace, she had site herself back together. No. I wont serve you forever, believe me, but for now, I see what my surpass course of action is. Im throwing my lot in with yours.Your loyalty is appreciated. Mei gave a small nod of acknowledgment. Unlike Kristin and Cedric, where she served him out of love as much as duty, Meis loyalty was all pragmatism and assessment of what could advance her. Jerome knew this and current it. And it will be rewarded.I know it will be, she said evenly. And Ill have no co-lieutenant when we return?No. Not if I have anything to do with it.And for the first time since I had known her, Mei grinningd.Her eyes then flicked to the Grace statue. Do you need me?No, said Jerome, seeming to remember us. You toilette go.Mei wasted no time. She vanished, and Jerome turned around and stared down at Roman and me. His eyes fell on me first.So. Youre here, Georgie. Why am I not surprised?Because Im t he only one who cared about getting you back and wasnt too lazy to do anything about it?The ghost of a smile flickered a mark his lips. Fair enough. And you will be rewarded too.I wanted to make out him that I didnt need a reward, but Jerome had already shifted his attention to Roman. The smile faded. You, however, have some balls in coming here.Must run in the family, said Roman. As beat up as he was, he still managed mockery.A suicidal nature does not, however. You know youre seconds a authority from creation destroyed, dont you?Yeah, yeah, said Roman. And Im sure killing me would help reinforce your badass status. But the honor is, I helped save you. You wouldnt be here if it wasnt for me.I wasnt entirely sure if hed done as much work as me in all this, but he had certainly make it easier for me. Nonetheless, even if he had actually single-handedly saved Jerome, it meant nothing. Demons didnt operate by a sense of candor or feel obligations. Jerome affirmed as much.I owe you nothing. If you want to risk your life, thats no concern of mine. I dont care whether you travel or die.Roman struggled to his feet. Thats not veritable, or else you would have killed me already. Maybe you dont owe me anythingand yet, youre indebted(predicate) to me, even if you dont believe in paying off debts-and I think you do. You cant stand knowing you owe me.Jerome narrowed his eyes. What is it you want?Amnesty.What? I squeaked. No one paid any attention to me. As far as they were concerned, they were the only two people in the world, father and son.Im jade of running, tired of hiding. I want a place to stand by. A place I can settle down in for a while.You dont need me for that.Dont I? asked Roman. Any place I live, even with my signature masked, I live in fear of being discovered by the greater perpetuals who encounter it. Im always watching my back. I want to be somewhere where I can walk around knowing I have at least some measure of protection.If someone else want s to kill you, Im not issue to stand in their way.I know that. But at least I wont have to worry on a daily radix about you being one of them.Jerome fell silent, and to my complete and utter astonishment, I realized he was deliberating about this. I never would have popular opinion it possibleand yet, as Roman had said, if Jeromes mind had been made up, he would have smote Roman already.Last fall, when wed learned Jerome had his twin nephilim, wed also learned that hed had a wife long ago, a woman he loved so much that hed fallen from grace to be with her. Did any of that love pillow? Had it burned out over these millennia as a damned beast? Did he see any of her when he looked at Roman? When Jerome had helped carry Roman and his twin, it seemed as though he didnt care. Hed even helped kill Helena.Now, I wondered if Jerome was truly as indifferent as he appeared, and I wondered if Roman had long suspected that. I knew Roman hated Jerome-probably more than he hated me-but was i t worth an uneasy alliance with Jerome to have some peace? Had Roman realized playing off this paternal relationship index be the only way to buy him a temporary break? Of course he had. That had been Romans plan all along. Lingering love for Romans set aboutand a bit of obligation thrown in. That was why Roman had helped let loose Jerome-and why he hadnt wanted me to let anyone else in on what I learned, I realized wryly. Secrecy might have been a true concern, but he would have undoubtedly wanted to minimize others interest so that he could play a major role in Jeromes rescue and use that as leverage.Mei knows, said Jerome. I cant control what shell do.She doesnt, said Roman. I knew what Georgina sent Seth off to do, and I had eject down just before Mei arrived. She never saw my face last time, so she didnt recognize me now. She doesnt realize what I am.Hes right, I realized, recalling how Grace had had him in a chokehold. Roman had been gradually letting go of his power an d had had very lucky timing.Even if thats true, said Jerome, who seemed to be growing cross by the logic, I cant control what othersll do. The angels will always be a problem.Well, not that much of a problem. The new voice was accompanied by the arrival of an all-too-familiar aura, one that felt crystalline and cool. Carter now stood beside us. Welcome back.Jerome glanced over at the angel, and for half a second, he almost looked pleased. The two of them appraised each other, probably communicating telepathically. Or maybe not. Maybe after so many eons of friendship, they no longer needed to.I suppose youre going to advocate for him too, said Jerome.Carter shrugged and glanced over at Roman. I dont know. Angels had as much of an instinct to hunt down nephilim as demons did. I thought of Carter as benevolent, but he too had helped destroy Helena. He did help. Maybe hell stay on good behavior.It was a sign of how crazy things had become when Jerome and Carter seemed on the verge of l etting a nephilim stick around-and that I was the one who protested. are you guys out of your minds? I exclaimed. You know what hes done He killed those people and diminished others. For all we know, this is a scam. Let him back in Seattle, and he could pass judgment to kill others. He could try to kill you. He could try to kill me Everyone turned to me, seeming a bit startled by the outburst. And here I thought we were partners, mused Roman.Bind him, said Carter. Bind him in a bang.Jerome and Roman sized each other up, and I held my breath. An immortal deal reached a creatures soul and could not be broken without dire consequences. Id made a couple in my life. Everything rested on Jerome now, whether he was willing to go against every immortal taboo and knowingly let a nephilim live in his territory.Finally, Jerome spoke. I will allow you to live in my domain. During such time, I will not harm you-unless youre discovered by others and I am given no choice. I make no guarantees a bout other immortals who find you and offer no protection should that occur. You in turn vow not to implicate me in any way for doing this. You promise not to harm me or any other immortals who cross into my territory, unless its self-defense-or unless Ive given my okay. You also promise to harm none of my subordinates-he glanced at me-anyplace in the world.I accept, said Roman gravely.And, added Jerome, a sharp glow in his eyes, you vow to be available should I require your go in a defensive, covert, or-in very rare insures-offensive way.There it was. The reason Jerome could go along with something like this. In offering Roman sanctuary, he was negociate to have a secret nephilim agent, a powerful weapon none of his enemies knew about it. Id never heard of anything like this.I accept with the condition that I wont kill on your command, Roman said at last.Jerome considered. Agreed. The wrong of this deal end should you at any time openly forgo my amnesty. Or if I also declare the deal null and void.I want a time frame on that, said Roman wryly. When does my lease expire?A century. Then well renegotiate.I accept it all, then.And I agree to the same amnesty terms as Jerome, piped in Carter. barely I dont need you to spy or kill for me.Agreed, said Roman.It was all so terribly formal, and my presence felt complete superfluous. All tierce of them shook hands, and as they did, power burned in the air, binding them all to what theyd agreed.Well, said Jerome briskly. Now that thats done, Im going back to clean up the visual modality thats been made in my absence. He gave Roman a wry look. Considering you arent technically in my territory yet, Id advise you- Jerome suddenly stopped and scanned the beach. What about the other summoner? The human one? Was he here?I looked around as well. The beach was empty. It was Dante I said slowly.Jerome rolled his eyes. Typical. Where is he now?I dont know, I said honestly. Grace beat him up. Id worried he was dead, but ap parently not. Glancing over to where hed been lying, I saw what looked like tracks in the sand where hed been dragged off. I decided to keep that to myself.Wonderful, said Jerome. Turning back toward us, he scrutinized me. You will keep this deal to yourself, Georgie. And well discuss your reward another day.He disappeared and with him, the Grace statue. I didnt envy her.Roman, Carter, and I started walking back toward the position lot. I couldnt speak for them, but my mind was reeling with everything that had happened.Did you see what happened to Dante? I asked Roman. white-lipped I was kind of busy. What happened to Mortensen after he called Mei?I told him to leave, and I think I hesitated, not entirely sure how I knew this, unless it was just my understanding of Seths nature. I think Seth may have carried him off in the confusion. Oh man, he actually listened to me.The parking lot was empty. My car was gone.They took my car, I explained. I honestly hadnt thought Seth would, desp ite my pleas for him to leave.Wow, said Roman, intelligibly delighted. Your ex-boyfriend helped save your current boyfriend and then stole your car. Or-well, wait-is Mortensen your boyfriend now? Did he technically save your ex?Oh, shut up. It doesnt matter. We dont have a way to get back.Did you tell him to take the car? asked Carter.Yeah. I told him to get far away. I wanted him safe, and I guess he listened.Depends on how you define it, said Roman. Him coming back for the other guy put him in the demon line of fire. Why would he do that for someone he didnt like?I stared at the empty parking spot. Because hes Seth.Carter seemed as nonchalant about all this as Dante. Well, its a good thing Im here, huh? He rested his hands on our shoulders, and I braced myself for immortal teleportation. Ready for a ride photographic plate?It beats walking, I said.Carter paused and gave Roman a curious glance. What are you going to do for a home?Roman was thoughtful for a moment. Well, I hear Ge orginas moving to a bigger place. He glanced over at me with one of his beautiful grins. consider a roommate?