Page 13 of Beauty At Stake
Chapter Eight
Killian and I laleked directly to Star, thanks to that bond he kept bringing up. We appeared in a dark room, the only light coming through a crack in the curtains. Hell's sun shone through that slit, but it wasn't enough to drive away the darkness. It didn't matter. Kill and I had enhanced sight. It was easy enough to find Star, slumped in a chair facing the balcony. One arm draped over the armrest, a bottle dangling from his hand. Star’s shirtsleeves were rolled up. No letaq on either wrist. I glanced around the King's bedroom—massive, black, and a bit depressing—and located the letaq on the bedside table.
Well, that explained why he hadn't answered.
“Oh, come on,” Killian whined and kicked Star's foot, pushing it into the slash of sunlight. “Seriously, dude? You're pulling the Beast routine?”
Star jolted up and glared at us, the bottle falling from his grip to chug its contents onto the rug. “What the fuck are you doing here? And what is a beast routine?”
“You know, 'Beauty and the Beast?'” Kill waved his hand about as he strode forward. “Belle goes home and the Beast just withers away.” Kill rolled his eyes. “This is the alcohol equivalent of that. And it's already been done by Sever—far better, fromwhat I've heard. So, sober up, asshole. And suit up. We've got a mission.”
“What the fuck is happening right now?” Star looked at me for the answer.
“I'm sorry to invade your privacy.” I sent Killian a withering, shut-the-fuck-up look. “We tried scrying you.” I waved at his abandoned letaq. “But you didn't answer. It's important.”
“Of course it is.” Star stood up and ran a hand through his disheveled hair, smoothing the black locks back into place. That's all it took for him to become King again. “What calamity has struck now? Have the humans started rioting?”
“Nope, it's not humans,” Killian said.
“Can I handle this?” I growled.
“By all means.” Kill waved at Star, then went to the curtains and jerked them open to let in the light.
It may have been night in Thailand, but in the crown city of Hell, it was midday. Star squinted at the stretch of blue sky seen through the glass balcony doors.
“The vampire hunters we caught tonight have escaped,” I said.
Star jerked his stare back to me. “How is that my concern?”
“Can you ditch the smug attitude for ten fucking seconds?” Killian huffed.
“Killian!” I snarled.
“Fine!” he snarled back.
I closed my eyes, sought peace, thought of the unborn babies, and then opened my eyes. “Killian investigated using psychometry. He saw a Demon free the humans. He was covered, including his face, but Kill could tell he was male.”
“And then the guy disappeared with our prisoners in a rain of embers,” Killian said.
“Kill, you are terrible at keeping your trap shut,” I said.
Killian shrugged.
Star remained silent.
“Star?” I prompted.
Astaroth slid his stare toward Killian. “Isn't your job diplomatic?”
Killian had no poker face so his bafflement showed immediately. “And?”
“Diplomacy involves discretion.And tact.”
“Yeah, well they made an exception for me. On account of me being such a people person.” Killian bared his teeth.
“Damn it, Kill. You were the only one who got along with him. Can't you guys hug and make up?”
Both men looked horrified.
