I turn and fall into step with Caspian, my black skirt flowing around my thighs and I want it off as soon as possible.. “You look good in a suit,” I whisper.
He chuckles and tugs at the collar of his loosely buttoned shirt. “Don’t get used to it, Songbird. I hate these things. Doubt I’ll even make the intern cut,” he adds with a wink.
I grin at him. “I wouldn’t be so sure. And I think suits are sexy. You should definitely remove your coat and roll up your sleeves at some point.” I slide into the elevator and stand next to him, Alaric on my other side. “In fact, you might as well just take the damn thing off. Both of you.”
My guys laugh and make room for Dove and Annastasia.
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” Alaric chuckles.
I grin at him. “Oh, you have no idea.”
“I think I do.” He smirks at me.
Caspian tenses slightly at my side, but he doesn’t look as if he wants to murder Alaric like he did a few days ago. I mean he still looks like he could chop off certain parts of him. Maybe hunting demons will bring the two of them closer. I can only hope.
The VP presses for the first floor and a momentary silence drifts between us. I use the moment to go over the mission. First, we need to find the level five demon. Find and kill it. Alright, bring it back to hell if indeed possible. The fact that it’s killed over a hundred humans really makes me want to do the former. An eye for an eye. But death would be giving the demon mercy. It makes sense they should rot in the pits of Hell for eternity. It’s where creatures like them belong.
My pulse spikes at the thought of capturing a level five demon. Not only that, it’s from the Feeder family but far more powerful, which means more points. However, capturing this one won’t be easy. Level fives are ruthless, powerful, and this one is the head of one of New York’s most successful corporations. It’s a little funny, now that I think about it. Aurelia did always say that businessmen were soul-sucking demons who suck the life out of others. I just never realised how accurate that definition was until now.
The doors slide open with a resounding ping, and a shudder runs down the length of my spine. Well… it’s time to face these demonic businessmen. And women. Because when I step out into an open-planned office, which the VP explains is the finance department, there are females sitting amongst the males, all blending into a sea of bland suits. The thrum of fingers typing away on keyboards and photocopiers and printers hard at work punctuate the quiet chatter that circulates between them. Nobody pays us any attention as the VP guides us through the department.
While Dove jots down notes in her book, appearing to take everything in, I drown out the woman’s voice and search the floor for demons.
“There’s too many,” Caspian mutters in my ear. “But the level five will stand out. Even humans can sense something wrong about them. Wolves can taste it in the air, feel it in our souls.”
I turn my eyes to Caspian. He is the son of a level five demon and ever since I met him, all those years ago, I felt Caspian in my soul. It was a dull beat that’s slowly turned into an inferno that I never want to escape.
I nod, pulling my eyes away and scanning the figures slouched over their desks. I highly doubt the CEO will be sitting here. It’s most likely somewhere at the top of the building. Once we find and capture it, every demon spawned from it will also be returned to Hell. It’s a win-win, really.
“…show you each of the departments.” The VP’s voice carries back to me. “Unfortunately, I will be unable to give you a tour of the top floor because we have several executive meetings taking place throughout the day, but don’t worry, there’s plenty to see.” She stops a small woman in a pinstriped navy suit from walking past. “Ah! Karen. I wonder if you could talk to our intern applicants about—“
Her voice fades into the background again, and we’re taken to another department. I exchange a knowing glance with my team. Of course the top floor would be off limits: that’s where the level five demon is. Now, how do we get there? We hadn’t expected the VP to be the one to give to the tour. We also hadn’t expected there to be so many demons hiding amongst the humans. Either the humans are oblivious to their existence or they couldn’t care less. Both make absolutely no sense to me.
As soon as we’re shown to the HR office three departments later, Caspian touches my arm.
“Songbird Alert,” he whispers, nodding to the double doors at the end of the other room, where a green exit sign hangs above it.
‘Songbird Alert’ is the code we came up with—or rather, I reluctantly agreed to—when any of us sensed the target. Alaric found it hilarious when Caspian explained why he calls me Songbird. Jackasses. Anyway, the demon must be close by. A tendril of unease mixed with excitement trickles into me. I slowly reach into my dress pockets and wrap my fingers around the silver square. To the untrained eye, it’s exactly that, but the moment I press the button on the front, it transforms into a huge dagger infused with magic.
I scan the floor. This department is much quieter compared to the others, with only a few occupied desks dotted around the room. This time
