He nodded, though the lie cut deep. Everything was not okay. Not even close.
But it was damn well going to be.
19
A Losing Battle
Closing the door and leaving Lily behind to call her sister, Mist strode purposefully back to the kitchen to find the others. Their conversation fell silent when he approached.
“Did Bel tell you?” Eva said. “My dad has a friend named Sunshine who’s a real, live, heavenly angel, and she’s going to look in the Empyrean library for him for information on your brands. He’s going to call as soon as he hears back.”
Mist went still. “How long?”
“A week, maybe. It’s a big library, and she has to be sneaky since she’s not technically allowed to give information to Grigori.”
His momentary elation died swiftly. The escape he had sought… he was so close. So close, and yet so far. “Thank you,” he said, hating those two words and yet not knowing how else to express himself.
“Of course. I knew we’d be able to find something.”
He dragged his gaze from her hopeful smile and looked at Belial. “Could we speak in private?”
Belial’s eyes narrowed, but he nodded.
“But I need another martini,” Meph complained.
“Make it your damn self.” Bel stalked down the hall toward his bedroom, gesturing for Mist to follow.
They entered the largest bedroom of the apartment with a king-size bed and floor-to-ceiling windows. Sheer curtains billowed in the silent hum of the air-conditioning. Though he had more possessions than Mist, Belial’s bedroom was nearly as spotless, save for the rumpled blankets and clothes hanging out of the top dresser drawer.
Belial closed the door, stabbed his fingertip with a claw that grew from his other hand, and then pressed the bloodied tip in the seal on the door to activate it.
No one would be able to break that seal. Just the scent of Belial’s powerful blood was enough to make Mist’s head spin.
Bel crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. “What?”
“I need you to make me a promise.”
“No.”
Mist clenched his jaw. “Listen first. Please,” he bit out. “It’s important.”
Belial’s brow lifted at the use of ‘please,’ and he waved a hand for Mist to continue.
“Paimon has increased the power of the summoning. Already, I can’t fight the compulsion to return for much longer.”
“So I’ll seal you in prison wards, and you won’t be going anywhere. You heard Eva. In a week we might have answers.”
“I don’t have that long.”
Belial’s eyes narrowed. “What are you saying?”
“I’m going back now.”
“Why the fuck would you do that?”
“I don’t have a week. I don’t think I’d last longer than three days, and I can’t risk it anyway. Lily is in danger. If there’s even the slightest chance—”
“What are you saying? Spell it out clearly.”
