It would have given Templeton an army, a terrible army.
Templeton had beaten him into unconsciousness again andagain, but he had not broken. He would not condemn his brothers—Ashtoreth, mostparticularly—to this kind of hell, not again. Even now he could feel Ashcalling to him in frustration, worry and fear, but Asmodeus blocked him.
Gabriel caught the image of it from his mind and shesuddenly knew how he had gotten the other, older marks on his back.
In spite of herself, as tough as she thought she was, asmany horrors as she had seen in her career, tears stung her eyes once again.
“Dear god,” she whispered.
So many of them.
You know him? Asmodeus asked, his lambent eyesshadowed, dimmed. Templeton?
She nodded grimly as she eased him down. I’ve beeninvestigating him for years. I know he’s dirty, he’s swindled thousands ofpeople and he’s used less subtle means of persuasion to convince companies tosell to him. I just couldn’t prove it.
A significant glance around at the mercenaries hidden in theshadows was enough.
When I bring him down, it’s going to make Enron look likea walk in the park. But every time I’ve gotten close, witnesses have changedtheir testimony, disappeared, or died.
She suddenly went a little cold and looked at Asmodeus.Something inside her cried out in rejection at the very idea of it. Asmodeusmust have sensed her fear.
No, my angel. Daemonae do not kill without reason. Ido not kill without reason. Were I to get my hands on Templeton, I would besorely tempted to mete out the harshest form of judgment but even then I wouldnot kill in cold blood. I had nothing to do with those losses.
Asmodeus… She caressed his shoulder in apology, waryof the lash marks. Is there anything I can do?
No. He averted his gaze.
She caught his thoughts anyway, just an inkling of what hewould not ask, and she looked at him steadily as a glimmer of understandingwent through her.
That pride of his was so much a part of him.
Asmodeus, she said, quietly but firmly.
He swore softly, vehemently, under his breath in a languageshe could not understand but the meaning was clear enough.
She swatted his shoulder lightly, impatiently. Stop that.
In surprise, Asmodeus looked at her, a little startled ather action.
What do you need? she asked, insistent.
He shook his head, his eyes locked on hers almostpleadingly.
Gabriel stared him down, waited patiently. She had all thetime in the world—it wasn’t as if they were going anywhere.
It’s too soon, Asmodeus said almost desperately.
It was too soon and in more than one way. Asmodeus wouldhave given her more time to get used to him, to the idea of what they were toeach other. Each time he took from her…
There was no choice. There was too much she needed to knowif he continued to feed from her. It wrenched his heart but choice had beenleft behind the moment Templeton had summoned him from the other plane.
Asmodeus took a long, slow breath.
My angel, Gabriel. His throat tightened. There issomething you should know if you would do this. Each time I feed on you, what Igive you in the venom…it changes you. It helps your body give me the sustenanceI need, yes, but it also binds us more closely. It takes what is there betweenus and it binds you to me. It is no sacrifice on my part. Not ever. Notknowing what he now knew. His heart wrenched as he laid a hand on her belly. Italso prepares you in other ways.
An odd emotion slipped through Gabriel at the implicationsof that gesture, a sweet yearning she had thought past.
Once she had thought she could have it all but then one dayshe realized time had slipped by her. She had begun to realize that, though shehadn’t been looking, time for a husband, a home, a family, had finally run out.
The pain of that knowledge whispered through her, old andfamiliar, but she put it aside, there was no time for it now. Or for the softglimmer of hope that it seemed he suddenly offered.
But not now? she asked. Not right this moment?
For Gabriel there had never been any question, not afterwhat she had just guessed, and certainly not after what she had just watched.Not after seeing his courage, his strength. How he had to suffer it. For hersake. And for his.
How could she do any less? It had always been her way to dowhat needed to be done. It was who she was.
And, to be honest, she craved it.
She wanted it, wanted to feel him feed from her. She achedfor the delicious pleasure of his mouth on her throat, of his teeth as theysank once more into her skin, with a desire that was very nearly sexual. Thevery thought had her going hot. He took, yes, and she gave. Willingly. Sheloved the feel of his strong arms around her, the feel of his long, hard bodyagainst hers.
Asmodeus watched as her lips curved, as her chin lifted.There was challenge in those brilliant blue eyes. Challenge, and, with thattilt of her head, acceptance and an offer he could not deny. Nor, in truth, didhe want to.
With a sigh and a grudging smile, Asmodeus drew her againsthim once more, both reluctant and eager. In that last it seemed he wasn’t aloneas her lush body molded against his, the feel of it immensely satisfying as herarms went around him, held him close. It was a deep and abiding pleasure towrap his arms around her, to cradle her against him while her legs tangled withhis. She curled one arm around his neck, laid the other hand lightly on hischest. Warmth moved through him as she drew him closer as well.
Rolling so she was beneath him, he lowered his head to herthroat and breathed in the sweet scent of her. He grazed his fangs over herdelicate skin with growing anticipation. He let her feel them pressed againsther throbbing pulse. She shivered a little with pleasure and a
