Free Demon of Vengeance: Chronicles of the Fallen, Book 4 by Brenda Huber Page B

polished, onyx great hall for starting this whole damned war to begin with. A primal need to punish leaped up inside him, thirsting for blood. He pushed it back down, ruthless and determined.
    Dropping his boots to the floor with a loud thud, Sebastian leaned forward once more and clasped his hands between his knees. “Let’s cut to the chase. I’m running out of time and so are you. So let me tell you what I know .” He put special emphasis on the last two words so that she understood he was serious, and that there would be no more evasions, no more half truths.
    “I know you are descended from a line of Holy Guardians charged with protecting the Sword of Kathnesh. Given your profession, your love of antiquities, and your dedication to learning the fine details of the places and people you study…” He paused, offering her a ruthless smile. “Yes, I know what Google is, Professor—you have an impressive reputation, by the way—I’m assuming you also know the history, The Prophesy, pertaining to that sword. How the Sword of Kathnesh, the one weapon prophesied to be capable of taking Lucifer’s head, along with the Arc Stone, the Scrolls of Prévnar, under the control of the Chosen One will be powerful enough to overthrow Lucifer.
    “I’m also guessing that you know if that happens, the world as you know it will be overrun with demons bent on the destruction of Earth and the enslavement and, ultimately, the complete annihilation of mankind. I also know you’re now looking for a way to recover the sword because the last Guardian lost it.”
    As he’d recited the Prophesy to her, she’d lost what little color she’d regained. But, at his last accusation about the former Guardian, anger glittered in her emerald eyes and color rushed back to her cheeks. “It wasn’t like he had a moment of forgetfulness and misplaced the damned thing.”
    The instant the words passed her lips, her expression registered her shock. She clamped her mouth shut, but it was too late.
    Sebastian cocked his head and let one corner of his mouth lift. Gotcha. “Out with it. You’ve already given yourself away.”
    “Who are you?” she asked, subdued.
    “I already told you, I’m Sebastian.”
    “No. I mean who are you.”
    He rolled the dice. She might as well know exactly what she was dealing with. “I am the Demon of Vengeance.”
    He watched the blood drain from her face once more and her eyes widen. Shit. Was she going to get sick again?
    “Vengeance,” she whispered. She drew a deep, shuddering breath, and pressed, “As in ‘Death comes on the wings of Vengeance’?”
    Another tiny spike of energy.
    What the hell is she?
    Judging by her expression, his reputation had preceded him. He hadn’t heard that phrase in centuries. He’d starred as the boogeyman in many a native culture. Still, that she knew the phrase surprised him a bit.
    That was all right though. It would save time.
    “You saw me. You saw the wings. You know what I can do. Kind of stupid to deny what I am now,” he added.
    Would she finally come clean about what she was?
    He watched as she looked to the door, then to the window.
    A stronger shot of power pulsed from her for a moment before withering away.
    Hoping for a way out, princess?
    Finally her attention returned to him. Her lips set in a mulish line.
    Apparently no easy admissions would be had here today.
    Yet again, she displayed a complete lack of trust. His instincts roared inside him. Over the course of the last several days, as he’d tended her and nursed her back to health, Sebastian had reached the conclusion that she was the one for him, the woman he was set to claim as his mate. The connection he felt to her was just too strong to ignore, too powerful to deny. Did she not feel the connection? She sure as hell wasn’t acting like it. And it was driving him crazy.
    Still, he sought to reassure her. “You, of all people, have no reason to fear me.”
    “Sure I don’t,” she hissed.