back. “There,” she said. “My legs were spread. You like it?”
Howling, the minion’s face contorted, mouth dropped wide and gaping as he launched at her. They needed to keep a minion alive to question, so when she dipped under him and shoved the blade into his stomach, she knew he’d be down for the count but not out.
The minion hit the floor, twitching and making tiny, squealing noises as the silver infected him. She whipped around, spotting the deadhead near the exit to a lower ramp. Taking off after him, she spared a quick glance over her shoulder.
Julian had Baal on his back, throwing punch after punch. From what she could see, barely any of Baal’s face was recognizable. Maybe they wouldn’t need the minion after all.
“Hey,” she called out. “Where do you think you’re going?”
The deadhead rounded the ramp. She picked up speed, springing over the cement riser. Hitting the deadhead on the back, they crashed into the pavement.
Quickly, Lily rolled the deadhead under her. Straddling his hips, she raised her blade. “You shouldn’t bite and run off. It’s rude.”
The deadhead snapped at her again.
“What the hell is it with you and biting?” She brought down her hand, shoving the blade into his chest this time. “Man, I better not start foaming at the mouth.”
Popping onto her feet, she hurried back to where the minion and the brawling fallen angels were. She wondered if she would have to get some kind of shot after tonight.
Julian currently had Baal in a headlock. Good for him. Blood ran like rivers down Baal’s sneering face as he was thrust to his knees. Grabbing the minion by his hair, Lily forced him to sit up. Her eyes locked with Julian’s for a moment, and he winked. Only his lip was split. Otherwise his face looked like it normally did: perfect.
“So, do we keep both of them?” she asked, bringing the sharp edge of her blade to the minion’s throat. “They can be useful.”
“That’s up to you, sweetheart.” Julian tightened his arm around Baal’s neck. “But this one isn’t leaving here.”
“Lily,” Baal grunted, “I have something to tell you.”
Every cell in her body demanded that she run over there and kick him in the junk, but she ignored him. Looking down at her captive, she pressed the blade in. “Who is the Nephilim feeding names to the Fallen?”
“What?” the minion wheezed, clutching the wound in his stomach.
“You heard me. Don’t make me ask you again.” She dug her fingers into his hair, yanking his head back. “The second time won’t be as nice.”
“Lily, look at me,” Baal commanded.
“Shut up,” Julian said.
The minion made another pitiful rasping sound. “I’d rather have…you cut off my head than go against him.”
“Who? Go against who?” she demanded.
Baal laughed. “He’s not going to tell you anything.”
“Shut up,” Lily said, turning back to the minion. “We can make this hard or harder. Cooperate with me and that’s the difference between a painful death and a really painful death.”
It took quite a bit of convincing, and by the time the minion had started to talk, his throat looked like hamburger meat, and she’d lost count of how many times Julian had hit Baal.
“Okay. Okay,” the minion gasped. Little bubbles of blood frothed on his lips. Thank God he was starting to talk, because it was really grossing her out. “I don’t know who the Nephilim is. Wait! Wait.” He gasped, staring up at her with transparent eyes. “All I know is that he’s arrogant. He’s been…he’s been meeting with other minions, passing the info along. He ends up killing half the minions after they deliver the information.”
Lily’s eyes met Julian’s. Excitement bubbled in her. They were getting somewhere. “At least now we know it’s a guy.”
Julian arched a brow. “We knew that.”
“Party pooper,” she muttered, turning back to the minion. “What else do you know?”
“You stupid, fucking minion,” Baal growled.
“I’m growing weary of your mouth.” Julian sounded bored. “Keep it up, and I will rip out your tongue.”
“But not before I beg for her forgiveness?” asked Baal. He spat out a mouthful of blood. “Right?”
“So this Nephilim has been killing half of his contacts?” When the minion didn’t answer, she shook him. He was fading. The poison of the silver blade was doing its job slowly but surely. “Answer me!”
“Yes,” he gasped. “He thinks he’s…better than us, but the stupid shit doesn’t realize he’s turned.” A raspy, guttural laugh rose up through the minion. “All I’ve heard is that it’s a personal thing.”
All of this sounded like it could be Micah, except the personal thing. Arrogance was Micah’s middle name. “Details?”
The minion laughed again. “Don’t know any, but…that pisshead over there probably knows, goddamn Fallen.”
No honor among evil creatures of the damned. She almost laughed. “Who are the contacts running the information back to?”
There was pause, and the minion shuddered. “Asmodeus.”
“Christ,” Lily muttered. This was worse than she had originally thought.
“That’s all I know,” the minion said. “Now finish it.”
She’d never really tortured a minion for information before. Julian had dealt with the last one. She sent him a questioning look. He nodded.
“All right then, good night.” She slammed the blade through the minion’s chest. There was a gasp, and then he was no more.
“How’s the arm?” Julian asked.
She waved dismissively at the bite marks on her forearm. “I’ll live.”
“Why don’t you come over here and let me kiss it?” Baal suggested with a leer.
Wiping her hands on her pants, she slowly approached the two creatures. Eagerness crept over Baal’s face. His tongue darted out through his bloodied lips. Without stopping, she ignored Julian’s curious gaze and kicked Baal between the legs.
“Damn it!” Baal roared, doubling over as far as Julian allowed.
Julian chuckled. “That’s my girl.”
Lily knelt in front of Baal, careful to stay out of his grasp. “I think next time I’ll use my blade down there.”
Baal laughed harshly. “Then how will we be able to consummate our relationship?”
Bile rose in her throat. “You’re sick.”
“And your skin feels like Heaven when I mark it.”
She didn’t have a chance to react. Julian spun Baal around and coldcocked him in the face. Julian’s face contorted in rage as he pulled Baal up by his shirt and slammed him back down. This went on until she stepped forward, placing a hand on Julian.
“That’s enough,” she said quietly. “I know he can prove that it’s Micah betraying us.”
“He’s not going to tell you anything. Baal is Asmodeus’s little bitch now.” He flipped Baal back around, clasping his arms behind his back. “Believe it or not, but he is loyal to Asmodeus. I am curious as to how that happened.”
“Oh, you know how Asmodeus is. He asks for one goddamned favor and you’re stuck with him. He got me about four years ago. Haven’t quit him yet,” Baal said, as if they were discussing the weather and he wasn’t bleeding all over the place. “You’d know how that is, Julian. Huh?”
Julian stiffened.
Grinning, Baal looked up at Lily. “But I…have something even better to tell you.”
“If you can’t tell me who’s been betraying the Sanctuary, then you have nothing I want to hear.”
Baal laughed. “You’re so naive. It’s sexy.”
Her hands curled into fists. “Tell me who is betraying the Sanctuary. Is it Micah?”
“Micah?” Baal tried to stand, but Julian pressed on his back more. “I don’t know who the fuck that is, and I
