Page 63 of Princess of Hell

“Your friends are taking a shower in my guest bath,” Lilith explained.

“Where’s the body?”

“I have a wine cellar. It’s better if he stays there until Razor sends a team to get him.”

Lilith ordered the food. I sat there, holding on to a beer. Caspian threw me looks from the other side of the room.

The doorbell rang.

“Can’t be the pizza or Razor’s team.” Lilith grabbed one of her swords from the wall.

I felt it, too—demonic energy. I took off my gloves, ready to fight.

“Ladies, relax,” said Caspian. “That’s my buddy. Carson. Lilith, you’ve met him.”

“Oh.” Lilith had a half-smile on her lips.

Caspian walked over to the door and opened it. Damn, Carson was huge. And when I say huge, I mean huge. Were his parents ice giants? He looked as if a hill grew legs and decided it was a good idea to walk around. He was tall, and his head was shaved, a strong contrast with his beard. His shoulders were so broad he needed to enter through Lilith’s double doors sideways.

“Hi, man. Good evening, ladies.” Carson had a British accent that I found funny because it didn’t match his looks at all.

“Carson, my best friend, please meet my fiancé, Silver.”

Carson bowed deeply. I had almost forgotten those rules of behavior since I left Hell.

“Your Highness,” he whispered.

“Umm, I’d be grateful if you could lose the Highness and just call me Silver. Some friends of mine don’t know who my Father is.”

Carson threw a wicked smile my way. “My lips are sealed, Silver.”

“I get it that you came to this dimension with Caspian. I’m so sorry for the inconvenience.”

Carson waved it off. “I enjoy it. The only thing I didn’t like was walking up to The Temple of The Fates. All those stairs.”

“Didn’t you guys take a dragon to get there?” I asked, remembering several times I did that walk myself.

“Well, no. Your fiancé was so eager to see you he wanted to have his warm-up over with.”

I had to snicker.

The doorbell rang again. This time it was our pizza.

Jacks, River, and Drae walked down the stairs smelling fresh. Introductions were made, and I noticed, to my surprise, that Caspian was way nicer when Carson was around. Lilith is a wonderful host.

“What have you found out?” Caspian asked Carson. “You can talk here. We’re with friends.”

“Okay. So, several illegal portals are opening and closing. Whoever is doing it must have the key. I don’t know who’s doing it, but someone from Hell is feeding shifters with Dragon Grass pills.”

Caspian looked severe. “It fucking makes sense now.”

“What makes sense?” Jacks and I asked at the same time.

“Someone is raising an army of mutations. Shifters are more human than Demon.” Caspian looked at the wolves and took a ship of his beer. “No offense.”

“None taken,” Drae replied.

“Normally, shifters couldn’t fight in Hell, only if they have enough of a substance from Hell in their blood. Someone is clouding their brains with Dragon Grass, making them receptive to orders and ready to fight in Hell. Dragon Grass also makes them stronger. Let’s put it this way. It enhances the Demon side of the shifter. The person doing it wants to build his army here, in secrecy, then wants to send it into Hell through illegal portals. This is where your necklace plays a role. I believe your necklace is an Angel Key. That’s what I believe.”

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