Free The Demon's Song by Kendra Leigh Castle Page B

really, really predictable.”
    Phenex shook his head. “Dumbasses. Justin’s been king for what, like two thousand
     years? Maybe he’s just lucky and only winds up with stupid enemies, but you’ve got
     to wonder whether they take into account the fact that he is what he is because he’s
     insanely tough to kill. How many are there this time? How long before we can take
     them out?”
    Gadreel’s brow furrowed ever so slightly. “That’s the bad news. Sofia’s would-be assassin
     seems to be a low-level operative who’s been deliberately kept in the dark about anything
     important. Could be just a few. Could be quite a few. This time, my money’s on the
     latter. Especially because the one who got at her friend,” he said with a nod in Sofia’s
     direction, “was no young thing. A strong, thousand-year-old vampire doesn’t hook up
     with a bunch of inept fledglings. Whoever is behind this is coming from a position
     of strength. And I’ll be honest, Justin is coming up short on names of possibilities.”
    “Hellfire,” Phenex muttered. “I know where this is going.”
    “You and me both.” Gadreel popped a piece of bacon in his mouth and dropped a wink
     at Sofia. “No rest for the wicked.”
    She didn’t know what they meant, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to. What she did know
     was bad enough. Sofia hadn’t missed Gadreel’s small mention of Sara, though, and she
     latched onto it with fervor.
    “You said it was an old vampire who attacked Sara, but that she wasn’t a fatality.
     Have you seen her, then? Is she going to be all right?” she asked Gadreel.
    “Mmm,” he agreed, his tone disinterested. “For a vampire.”
    Sofia nearly choked on the bite of bacon she’d just taken. “ What? ”
    Gadreel gave her a long-suffering look as he watched her try not to aspirate tiny
     pieces of fried pork.
    “Please, it’s hardly shocking. Your friend was bitten and nearly drained. It’s not
     like there are a lot of options at that point. She’s fine. A little pissed off over
     the whole thing, but fine. I expect she’ll be able to come back above once the current
     mess is taken care of, and then you can shout at her or beg her to bite you or whatever
     it is you had in mind.” His eyes brightened with sudden interest. “In fact, if you
     do decide to let her bite you, please let me know so I can watch.”
    Sofia glared at him as she got the coughing under control, though at this point his
     lack of empathy didn’t surprise her. On some level, she’d known this was the most
     likely outcome for Sara. She’d watched the looks between Justin and the one who’d
     taken Sara away—Amir, she thought his name was. Still, knowing that one of her best
     friends was now a blood-drinking immortal was a lot to take in on top of everything
     else. She’s not dead , Sofia told herself. She’s alive—I think vampirism qualifies—and she’s safe. That’s all that matters right
     this second .
    Phenex was watching her closely, and when he spoke, the melody of his voice was soothing.
    “You’ll see her. Maybe not a lot, but you’ll see her. At least she’s walking and talking.
     There was only one other option, and it wasn’t a good one.”
    She looked at him and nodded. He was right, even if she didn’t like it. The best idea
     for the time being, she decided, was to take things one step at a time.
    “It could be worse,” Gadreel interjected. “There are so many other things that could
     have gotten her. A vampire is cake . We get chased by things you won’t even see in horror movies. They’re that disgusting.”
     He seemed obscenely proud of the fact, Sofia thought. And then his look turned sly
     and speculative, making her dread whatever was coming next. He seemed to like being
     the center of attention. Whatever it took.
    “Phenex told you about all that, right? What we do? Why we’re slumming it up here
     instead of ruling the fiery expanses of the underworld? That’s what