Page 24 of Run Like the Devil

“Just them?”

“No, not just them. There was a time when I worried about you seeing too much of me, but you’ve seen it all, now. There’s no reason to hide anything now. Clint hurt you, and I didn’t let that stand, either.”

I frowned as his words hit me, and when they made sense, my eyes widened. “That was you? I heard the place was leveled, that everyone there was slaughtered.”

“Tyrus called me to his place while you were still unconscious. You were so small and so hurt. He couldn’t leave you, but he knew I could handle the problem on my own. He only needed to show me you, and that was it. They screamed so loudly, like some choir signaling their guilt, but it didn’t matter. Their begging couldn’t sway me, nothing could. If I did that to them, I can assure you that Hubis will not get off easily. His reasons for putting you through that doesn’t change that he did, and they won’t save him. I have no issues with mercy, don’t break things just for fun or pleasure, but he forfeited any mercy I had with his own actions.” Yazmor reached toward me, moving slow as if giving me the chance to object.

I didn’t, though. In fact, I leaned in closer until his palm cupped my cheek and his bright violet eyes stared right into mine.

“You’ve seen what I truly am, what I’m capable of. I rarely see a reason to use my power, to unleash what I’m capable of, but for you? I will burn God and present the ashes to you as a gift.”

And that might be the sweetest thing I’d ever heard.

* * * *

Gorrin

Myers didn’t look all that thrilled to see me, but I didn’t care about that. He was a tool, as he’d always been. He was insufferable at times, but also capable of efficiency.

In short?

He had proven himself useful, not only to me but later to Loch. While I kept myself hidden from most of the Chasm—word traveled faster than I wanted it to around here—I knew Myers to be trustworthy.

He had no desire to rule himself, which meant he enjoyed remaining power adjacent. If he told anyone about my presence, it would only risk him and his position. He had no true loyalty to Loch or me, but his own self-interest aligned with ours, which was the most a person could ask for in the Chasm.

“This is our current footing.” Myers spread the papers over the large table in the office, the familiar sight of them causing an ache in my chest.

How long had I done this with him? How many times had we stood at this very table with information that looked just like this, reviewing how many souls we had gained and lost over the past week?

So many that we both fell back into the familiar motions without missing a single step.

Loch was still in charge. She was Lord here—not me. However, after hearing from Tyrus about what had happened with Hubis, I had found myself anxious. I’d heard she’d been fearful with Hale and Tyrus, which made me suspect my physical presence wouldn’t aid her at all.

Instead, all I could do was try to take over tasks for her, to ease her in whatever way I could. That meant handling the issues that came up so Myers could leave her be.

I didn’t mind the details—in fact, it gave me something to focus on beyond what Loch had suffered or what was still in store for us.

Hubis was dangerous, and not just because of his power. He saw the world in his own way and listened to no one. He was unmovable in his opinions—I had never once seen him change his mind or take the advice of anyone. He was single-minded in his focus when he had a task he felt needed to get done.

It meant should he realize what we planned, if he caught wind of any of it, we would all be in danger.

I couldn’t fight Loch on her desire to remove him, either. I couldn’t argue against it. Of course, there was a difference in thinking something should happen and believing it could happen.

“You’re distracted,” Myers said. “That’s unusual for you. It seems like time away has not done you any favors.”

“In case you haven’t noticed, I have a lot on my plate at the moment. Besides, trying to complete these tasks without being seen or having access to the power I had before makes it challenging.”

“Why not regain your old position?” he asked as if it were the obvious solution.

Which, no doubt to him, it was. To Myers, if I had ruled here for so long, why not take back that position?

Especially because I could see the strain in his face from dealing with Loch. He’d lived for a long time here, as a demon so unchanging, without showing any signs of the passing years. A few months of putting up with Loch and he seemed to have aged decades.

Loch’s ability to do that was endearing in a way it truly shouldn’t have been.

“That isn’t going to happen,” I said, trying not to snap at him over it. “I have no desire to take over again, and I wouldn’t harm Loch to achieve it.”

“She lacks the same attention to detail you have.”

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