Page 32 of Pride
Alice remembered Sara, or rather the clone of Wyatt’s ex fiancée who had appeared in Cardinal City about the same time Alice had arrived. In fact, it was Evan’s and Grace’s mating bond at this time that convinced the Sisterhood to lengthen Alice’s stay and further study the Lazarus family.
Parker dabbed his mouth with a napkin. “This is ridiculous. You come in here, spouting theological nonsense, expecting me to believe your organization has worth.”
Alice’s anger started to boil again. It wasn’t nonsense. The Sisterhood had many old manuscripts that noted the existence of Hell-mouths, portals into other dimensions where demons were rife and evil existed. They also had ancient records that stated those averse to sinning were attracted to such Hell-mouths like moths to a flame—especially those with their intelligence at a basic level like children, animals, and the mentally challenged. They saw things those tainted by pragmatic belief failed to see.
Parker was right on some level. Alice had never believed in Hell until recently. Until Sister Prudence had fed them information from the Syndicate. Until some replicates in Europe had escaped. Until the Vatican had warned them about demonic possession. They were sending a team of experts, including an exorcist, to the Sisterhood to debrief and train them on how to handle the increasing threat. Some of Alice’s sisters had seen demonic possession first hand.
They never lied—well, not to each other. Combined with Raven’s ominous psychic visions, Alice believed them. Something was coming, and it was evil. Worse than the Syndicate.
“It’s not impossible,” Alice said. “The scientific community has long postulated over the existence of alternate dimensions.”
“But Hell?” He barked out a laugh, deep and rich.
“Fuck you,” she growled. “You ignore this, and there will be—”
“What, Hell to pay?”
Alice’s fists clenched until her nails dug into her palms. He had no idea what he was talking about. This man’s stubborn pride would be the end of him.
“Alice,” he said, coming to a stand. He braced his hand on the table and leaned forward, probably in some kind of intimidation attempt. “I don’t have time for fairytales. We have real flesh and blood enemies here, on this earth, to contend with. I wanted the truth from you, and all I got was impractical stories. I think we’re done.”
Maybe he was right, and she was cold and detached, because the moment he dismissed her, the mission jerked to the forefront of her mind. She would not be dismissed. She’d tried diplomacy. She’d lulled him into a sense of complacency with this dinner, and now it was time for a demonstration of power.
Alice slowly came to a stand, meeting him eye to eye, her hand slowly moving to the small of her back, her eyes tracking options to defend herself. Across the table dividing them, she locked onto his silk tie. She leaned forward at the hip, matching his posture—one hand on the table, the other near her back—and then bared her teeth at him. “We’re done when I say we’re done.”
A deft flick of her finger on the wakizashi holster, and the hilt dropped into hand. In one swift motion, she unsheathed the blade, rotated, and punched Parker’s jaw with the hilt in her fist. His head snapped back. She vaulted over the table, knocking plates and glasses as he landed hard on his chair. She was on him in a blink, using his tie to pin his good hand back and wrapping it around his torso, securing him to the chair. He must have been stunned because he sat there motionless while she yanked on the tie and knotted it.Just enough length.When it was done, she kicked the table aside so she could stand before him, sword pointed at his neck.
If fury had a picture next to it in the dictionary, it would be Parker Lazarus’s face. A vein throbbed at his forehead, tendons protruded from his neck, and red mottled his tanned complexion. Eyes of molten gold glared at her, a glow she believed was linked to his new abilities. She expected him to turn beastly and break the hold the tie had on him—she had no doubt he had the strength.
He made little sounds as though trying to hold himself down, to restrain the wildness burning to get out. Alice frowned. Would he be so devastating if he unleashed? A quick memory of how he’d ripped through the Faithful at the Cathedral came to mind. He’d been a raw, masculine tornado of destruction. And he’d been holding back.
Steeling herself, she lifted her chin.
“I never really expected you to believe me, Parker. But I didn’t think you’d laugh in my face and throw away this opportunity.”
He stared at her, breathing hard, nostrils flaring—the lion about to charge.
“This isn’t exactly the way to forge an alliance, Alice,” he ground out.
“Yeah, well, it’s clear you think so little of us. Maybe it’s time to cut our losses.”
A lick of something sweet, heady, and musky entered the air. Alice’s body became both aroused and alarmed at the same time. Pheromones. The bastard was going to seduce her into capitulation. That was her plan!
“Turn it off,” she said, pressing the sword beneath his jaw.
He winced as it nicked skin, releasing a precious drop of imperious blood.
“I can’t,” he ground out.
“Turn it off!” she shouted.
“What do you think I’ve been trying to do all night?” he roared back.
Alice laughed. “No wonder you’ve been scowling at me. This must drive you insane.”
He looked away, cheeks reddening.
“Having me as a mate—the enemy, a dowdy nerdy assistant, a useless female assassin spinning fairytales about Hell. And every time I’m around, your body wants to mate with me. Is that what happens?” She leaned forward. “Do you want to fuck me like an animal? Throw me on this table and rut with me from behind?”
