Page 111 of Spit

Arlo had never seen Legion so angry, and being a demon of wrath, he knew what anger looked like all too well.

Legion had grown cold. His angular features were carved out of ice, and his eyes narrowed in concentration as if he were imagining all the ways he could hurt someone.

Arlo scratched the inside of his wrist, feeling the scars that his human form hid. He could shapeshift as well as any demon, but his true form, the one shaped by hell and his injuries, could not heal the wounds he carried. No matter what form he wore, Arlo knew his scars were there.

Lexi had not shied away from his scars.

Time was running out.

She was human. Though less than most.

Mars and Quinn could likely withstand a certain degree of torture.

But Lexi...

Arlo didn’t want to think about it.

The two demons reached the rec room, opening the vault-like door. The hinges were silent despite the thick iron, a sign of diligent maintenance.

Legion gestured for Arlo to enter first.

Katalina Dubois was attached to the wall in shackles, her head dropped forward until her now stringy strawberry blonde hair hung down, covering her face.

Arlo couldn’t gauge Legion’s emotions; the bond between them was blocked as Legion shielded himself from revealing anything at all.

As he studied their captive, Legion put his hands in his pockets, affecting a casual stance.

Arlo hung back. He had never had a relationship with Katalina or any of Legion’s coven. Legion liked to play savor, he liked rescuing people, and the witches had been another one of his pet projects.

Arlo theorized that Legion felt he hadn’t been able to save the seven when Nova ripped them all apart to punish him. Hence, Legion was on a one-man mission to rectify his mistakes by proxy.

Arlo understood, but he didn’t like it.

Katalina had been one such project. After her appearance on human television, broadcast outside of the walls, she had been one of the pleasure seekers that Camio had kept in his mansion. A slave to Gluttony and whatever drug or fuck she could get her hands on. When Camio passed, his estate was left in ruins. All of his humans became homeless in a blink.

Legion had seen potential in her. She had a small amount of magic—enough to be at risk from poachers.

Legion would never have expected Katalina to betray him. Until an hour before, Legion had still believed Camio to be dead and, before that, a loyal facet of the seven.

Legion cleared his throat to get Katalina’s attention. She lifted her head, her eyes glazed and red. She had been pulled straight from her bed when Legion gave the order, and judging by the expression on her face, she knew exactly why.

“It was you,” Legion stated, and there was no question in his voice. “I brought you into my home. I clothed you. Protected you. I kept you safe. Why, Katalina?”

Katalina flew her head back and laughed; it was a barking sound. Cruel. Her shackles snapped when she tried to move her wrists, but she didn’t flinch. “You gave me scraps. You only gave me shelter because I had magic.”

Legion’s eyes narrowed. “I paid you a salary for your spell work. When Camio died, you claimed you would die if you didn’t have a demonic patron in the city. That you had too many debts. All this time, you were spying on me? Betraying me?”

“Hurts more because I made moon eyes at you and hurt your pride?” Katalina snorted, flicking her hair away from her face. “Camio was right about you. He told me all I had to do was act like a besotted little lamb in need of a hero. So muchpride.”

“Why?” Arlo stepped forward, sensing that Legion was one moment away from snapping her neck.

Katalina flicked a glance at Legion before turning to Arlo. “It wasn’t about you. Not for me. Camio promised me an ‘in’with Beezelbub if I helped him. He is one of the deities that my coven worships.”

“Beezlebub has covens that worship him?” Legion slanted a look at Arlo, his brow quirked. “How novel.”

Katalina ignored him. “I knew Alexis before she came here. In a way. Her mother spent time with our coven in Shreveport when she was at college. Marie-Anne Boudaire was able to summon our King.”

Arlo didn’t like where this was headed. “What does that have to do with anything?” Arlo growled, feeling his skin boil and shift as his wrath form threatened to break free. “Tell us where you took Lexi. Tell us where Camio is keeping Mars and Quinn. Tell us, and we won’t kill you.”

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