Page 15 of Run Like the Devil

I tugged softly at my shirt, sighing as I looked down at my outfit. I’d fucked off with the whole dressing-up thing. I’d tried it a time or two, but as it turned out, a fancy set of clothes didn’t change who I was. It didn’t make me smarter or stronger or better able to handle all the shit that got thrown at me.

So instead of forcing myself into clothes that didn’t suit me, I’d told myself— ‘self—fuck that nonsense.’

It left me in a baggy T-shirt knotted at one side and a pair of boyfriend jeans that hung loose on my hips, leaving a strip of skin between the two items. I might not look like a ruler in hell, but I did look like myself, and I was far more comfortable than I would have been in something else.

That counted for something, didn’t it?

When I finally arrived at the meeting place, I found myself the last to arrive of the Lords. In addition to the four of us, Myers was already there, as was Kota. Hale and Yazmor hadn’t brought anyone, but they usually didn’t, so it didn’t surprise me.

I forced myself forward and to the open seat, ignoring everyone else. For once, they did the same to me. Even Yazmor stayed quiet, not chiming in with any smart-ass comments.

And fuck, but I missed that. It made me feel alone, even when I knew I wasn’t. We’d discussed this beforehand, had gone over how we needed to act in a certain way to prevent Hubis from raising an eyebrow.

Normally, the Demon Lords wouldn’t give a fuck about one another. They never had before. If we suddenly acted all buddy-buddy, it would make Hubis suspicious and, worse, might even have him placing some of the blame on their shoulders.

I had made the choices that led us here. I’d wanted to save Jay and had gone there. I’d faced off against Azael. Even if I hadn’t been the one to actually kill him, if I hadn’t gone, he’d never have died.

So even if the others wanted to bear some of that responsibility, I couldn’t allow that. Instead, I kept my gaze forward as I sat in the uncomfortable chair and waited.

Of course Hubis would be late. Then again, the last time the meeting had been unexpected, only announced when he’d arrived. This time we knew about it.

It took another long, tense few minutes before the archway lit up. Just seeing that made me want to rush forward, to go through that. Was that something instinctual or was it just me that felt that way?

I had a feeling that plan wouldn’t do much for me, though, so I stayed put. A shadow appeared in the doorway, indistinct at first, but slowly taking form until a person I didn’t recognize walked through and into the room.

Large wings told me it was the angel Gorrin had said would come. It took me back to Azael, to the memory of him as he’d snapped that woman’s neck, his glee as he’d hurt me.

My immediate response was balanced against the memory of Gorrin, of the way he’d touched me so gently. As much as I wanted to hate all angels, to see them as the cruelty of Azael, Gorrin reminded me that wasn’t fair.

It was like blaming all humans for how shitty Gunnar and I were.

So I tried to hold back that immediate dislike.

The angel peered around the room in a quick sweep. Checking for danger? It reminded me of what Gorrin had told me, that there was no way to attack Hubis here. Clearly, he had his guard up, especially after Azael’s death. Having someone’s right-hand man die would put anyone on edge, even if they didn’t particularly care for them.

If someone killed Myers, I might breathe a little easier as the nagging and stress in my life went down, but I’d also know to watch my back.

After another moment, Hubis stepped through the doorway, and just the sight of him made me tense.

He appeared the same, like a grunge band reject, but his eyes held a sharpness they hadn’t before. Well, other than when he’d made the meeting room a blizzard last time.

He looked around the room, but his gaze didn’t stop on Yazmor, Hale or Tyrus. Instead, he passed by them as though they were invisible to him, like they were nothing but furniture in the room.

The reason was clear when his gaze stopped right on me.

And boy was that a lot of hatred in his eyes. It wasn’t hatred like an enemy, but more like a pest. It was the look I’d given to cockroaches when I’d seen them at night after turning on the light in one of the many filthy apartments I’d lived in back before I’d died.

I didn’t flinch under that look, though—I refused to give him that satisfaction. I needed to walk the line between accepting whatever he wanted to do without looking weak. I had to appear worthy to hold the position of Demon Lord, strong enough to keep the order here, but not so strong or difficult to make him think I’d stand against him.

Of course, I’d juggled men’s egos my whole fucking life, so doing it again now wasn’t anything new for me.

Hubis said nothing as he went to his seat, the angel taking a spot behind him like a feathery guard dog.

No one spoke at first. Then again, what were we supposed to say?

This was the equivalent of Mom coming into the room to scold us all, and it would have been stupid for us to say shit. Never admit to anything.

I’d learned my lesson on that one after apologizing for things the other person hadn’t even realized had happened.

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