Belpheg returned his steady gaze. “I need another twelfth. I’d originally planned to use another incubus and perhaps bring you on to assist in controlling my twelve, but you see, there’s been a development recently.”
When Mammon merely cocked a brow, Belpheg continued.
“The Council has released a cure to the sex demon toxins. So I started to think.” Belpheg grinned. “How much more poetic would it be if I use you as my twelfth?”
Mammon’s breath caught. He forced himself to stay relaxed, when he wanted to jump from the excitement of it all. This was more than he could have dared to imagine. With the powers Belpheg had mentioned coursing through his veins, Mammon would be unstoppable. Second to no one, other than perhaps Belpheg himself.
He would be a king.
“I believe I could be persuaded to join your cause,” Mammon said evenly.
Belpheg chuckled, as if he found humor in Mammon’s words. The action caused momentary rage to rise up within Mammon, but he stifled it. He was wise enough to know not to bite the hand that fed him. Soon enough he’d have more than enough power…but for now, Belpheg held most of the control.
“You mentioned my sons,” he said to Belpheg. “What do you intend to do with them?”
“Ah, but that’s the best part.”
When Belpheg’s hand trembled slightly, he slid it out of view beneath the table. Though his movement was casual, Mammon couldn’t help but notice it. Something was amiss there.
“Their strength, the power you bred into them, can be used to make you stronger,” Belpheg continued. “You can absorb their abilities, use them to garner some of your needed powers. Once you’ve amassed the required twelve, I will be ready to proceed. And the Council won’t stand a chance.”
Oh, yes. This was too good. Mammon rubbed his chin and let out a chuckle.
“So, by giving their lives, they will allow us to wipe out the Council and rule over all? Seems like a worthy sacrifice to me. Especially since it’s not mine.”
Belpheg cocked one brow. “My proposal is that you head my twelve. Guide them into battle when we move to destroy the Council. Are these terms acceptable to you?”
Mammon pretended to ponder the question for one long moment. Finally he nodded. “Yes.”
“Then I have your agreement that you will aid me?” Belpheg leaned forward to offer his hand.
Glancing at Belpheg’s outstretched hand, Mammon hesitated. Though the dark fae’s gesture was casual, something about it set off warning bells in his head. He knew it was just a handshake, but somehow it felt like taking Belpheg’s hand would be tantamount to sealing his own fate.
Yet in the end, the deal was too sweet for him to pass up. He clasped his hand in Belpheg’s.
A spark of electricity shot from Belpheg’s arm to his, momentarily clenching his muscles tight. Before Mammon could question it, the current was gone.
Belpheg released his grip and sat back in his chair. He gave Mammon a slow grin. “And so it begins.”
True to his word, Belpheg had proceeded to accumulate the life essences of powerful Otherworlders via his succubi and pass it onto Mammon. The problem was that the success ratio for transference of powers along with the life essences was rather low, perhaps one in a hundred. He’d managed to amass three new powers, which never ceased to amaze him, but he still had nine to go, and Belpheg seemed to be growing impatient. Mammon didn’t miss that his body was shaking more and more recently as well.
He’s growing weaker.
Perhaps that would be of some advantage. But until he figured out how, he would play the obedient second-in-charge. He would come when Belpheg summoned him. He would wait to go after his sons until Belpheg was ready.
However, there was no mistake about it. Mammon would bow to no one.
Not even Belpheg.
Chapter Six
After driving aimlessly for an hour, Dagan finally headed home. He drove his baby—a steel gray BMW 6 Series convertible—into his building’s parking garage and left it with the valet, then took the elevator up to the apartment he shared with Ronin and Amara. Usually driving around in his car cleared his mind, but not today. He couldn’t get Lina out of his head.
What the hell had happened to her in her past? Instinctively, he knew it wasn’t good. He also knew she wasn’t going to willingly share it.
She’d been married—with a baby and everything, damn it—and she hadn’t told anyone.
How could he keep this from Ronin?
Yet how could he possibly tell him?
Aw fuck, he’d known it was a bad idea to stop by and see Lina, even though he had been in the neighborhood. But he hadn’t been able to stop himself. After the events of last night, he’d been concerned. Not like Ronin had the market cornered on worrying about her or anything. And now, for his trouble, he had another freaking secret to keep.