32 MEAT AND GREET #2
Then, he crossed the room and threw open the clouded glass of one large window, clearing out the cobwebs covering it until the sticky filaments coated his claws. Climbing onto the sill, he formed his wings and then dove out into space, spreading the leathery expanses to catch the air.
He banked sharply right—toward the boundary that was breached.
Time to greet his guest.
When he arrived at the ward tower a short while later, he had to admit he was surprised by what he found. Dismissing the souls surrounding his unlikely visitor, he flared his wings and landed lightly, tail swaying behind him.
He crossed his arms and lifted a brow. “I have to say, this is unexpected.”
Raum stood in his half-demon form, his leathery skin covered in black scales.
He carried a nondescript sack at one side.
His scaled chest appeared to be covered in blood, which was vaguely interesting.
His glossy wings were folded behind him, and his bright golden eyes peered at Murmur with obvious distrust.
Murmur didn’t blame him for that. It was only natural to be wary after being trussed up like a turkey and injected with venom. If Raum hadn’t wanted that, though, he shouldn’t have trespassed in the first place.
“Have you come for another dose?” Murmur mocked, flicking his tail in Raum’s direction. “I’m told my venom can be quite the party drug.”
Raum’s upper lip curled off his fangs. “I brought a peace offering,” he said flatly, hefting the bag in his hand.
Murmur peered at it. It looked heavy, and … was that blood staining the fabric? He transferred his gaze back to Raum, frowning. “Is that what I think it is?”
“Knowing you, probably.”
Murmur waited for an explanation.
Raum’s jaw shifted like whatever he was about to say already grated at his pride, and Murmur felt his mood improving.
“I know you had a deal with Bel, and I fucked it up by trespassing on your territory.”
“And trying to steal from me,” Murmur reminded him.
Raum nodded with a sour look. “My brothers and I …” He ground his teeth before continuing. “We hope to continue our agreement.”
“Even after you violated it and tried to steal from me.”
“Hence the peace offering.”
“A head in a bag?” Murmur looked at the sack. “Not the worst gift I’ve received, but its worth depends on whose head it is.”
Raum tossed the bag, and it rolled lopsidedly to Murmur’s feet.
Eyeing Raum suspiciously, Murmur crouched. With careful claws, he parted the drawstring of the bag and peered inside. He saw curly blond hair stained with blood, and a light-skinned face, contorted in a grotesque expression.
He stood again. “Who is that?”
“Raphael.”
Murmur stared at Raum. Then he stared at the head in the bag. Then he stared at Raum again. “Raphael. As in …”
“As in the archangel Raphael.”
Murmur didn’t even try to hide his shock. His eyes bugged and his mouth dropped open. “How did you get the archangel Raphael’s head in a bag?”
“Sunshine chopped it off.”
“Sunshine … ?” Understanding dawned. “The angel who busted your ass out of my dungeons.”
Raum nodded, his brow lifting. His intent was clear. He wanted Murmur aware of what this angel was capable of so he’d think twice about going after her. Interesting.
“Raphael is going to regenerate from that head,” Raum said.
“Trust me, it’s the largest piece left of him.
When he does, you can keep him contained and drain his blood.
You’ll have an unlimited, renewable source of angel blood to do whatever you want with.
You can sell it, use it on your enemies, use it in necromancy, whatever.
That head is a potentially never-ending source of wealth and power. ”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why Raphael? What’d he do to you?”
Raum’s lip curled again. “What hasn’t he done?”
“I want to hear how he’s personally slighted you, so I understand what you gain from this.”
“Who says I have anything to gain? Maybe I just want to give you a peace offering.”
“Don’t insult my intelligence. Your offering is also a convenience to you, or you wouldn’t be here. I want to know what it is.”
Raum let out an impatient growl. “Raphael wiped my memories. He also cursed Asmodeus, as I’m sure you know.
He threatened to kill me and someone I care about.
He lied to Sunshine and betrayed her. He knows where we’re hiding on Earth, and he knows that Sunshine’s loyalties to Heaven are …
divided. I need him gone, but it’s too risky to kill him. ”
“So you want him permanently incapacitated.”
He nodded. “Sunshine was once held prisoner in Hell as a blood source, exactly like this. Raphael knew what happened to her and did nothing.” A rare smile curved Raum’s lips. “I’m just giving him a taste of his own medicine. It’s only fair.”
Now that was the kind of justice Murmur could get behind.
His thoughts raced as he fought to assimilate this new information.
Raum had some kind of traitor-to-the-Realm angel on his side who was willing to bust him out of dungeons and chop off the heads of archangels.
That made him a formidable enemy. Especially because Belial called him brother.
It was in Murmur’s best interest to keep things amicable.
But the slight against him could not go ignored or it would make him look weak.
“Do you have plans to make a second attempt to steal my book?” he asked.
Raum’s mouth tightened. “I was bound by a contract. I had no choice.”
That was a deflection if Murmur had ever seen one. “If your angel wanted to come back and try again, would you accompany her?”
“Yes.”
Well, at least he was honest.
“I’ll make you a deal, crow. In exchange for your generous offering”—Murmur nudged the head with his foot—“I’ll forgive your trespass … this time. My agreement with Belial will hold. But the moment you cross into my territory to steal from me again, all bets are off.”
Raum nodded.
“I will consider a second trespass an act of war. I don’t start fights I can’t win.
I will do everything in my power to make sure you and your brothers are defeated, whether by me, Lucifer, or an army of angels I conveniently point in your direction.
Remember, I’m not the one who’s been breaking rules. ”
Raum’s expression was murderous, but he didn’t argue.
“Tell your angel friend to remember that before she tries to steal from me again. And tell Belial he still owes me two favors.”
“I’ll accept your terms on one condition.”
Murmur cocked a brow. Raum wasn’t in a position to make demands.
“Raphael can’t go free. If you take him, you have to be prepared to keep him indefinitely.”
Murmur allowed his affront to show. It was highly offensive to suggest he wasn’t capable of holding onto a prisoner.
Raum cocked a brow. “Sunshine busted me out of your dungeon without too much trouble, so forgive me if I’m a little skeptical.”
Murmur’s tail flicked with irritation. “I have so many complex plans in motion, your mind would splinter if you tried to comprehend the magnitude of them. Your presence in my domain was an inconvenience I did not have the time nor energy to deal with.
“Once I got the information I needed from you, I planned to let you rot in that dungeon until someone came to claim you. Be grateful your angel didn’t make you wait long.
But never believe I don’t know every single thing that goes on in my territory.
If I’d wanted to keep you as my prisoner, nothing in this world could have broken you free. You escaped because I let you.”
The two demons glared at each other, Murmur’s tail flicking, Raum’s claws flexing.
Finally, the crow nodded. “You have a deal.”
“I’m the one who gets to agree,” Murmur said haughtily. “Not you. You presented the deal, and it’s my choice whether or not to accept.”
Raum just looked at him.
“Which I do,” Murmur added after making him wait a moment longer. “Shall we swear in blood?”
They cut their palms and spoke the vow, and that was it. With a single nod of farewell, Raum shifted into his enormous demon form, spread his four wings, and took to the red sky, leaving Murmur behind with his prize.
He crouched and picked up Raphael’s head by the hair, lifting it to his eye level.
“Do you think he’ll regret making that deal with me after what I’m about to do?” Murmur asked the head. “I made him swear not to trespass on my territory, but he never made me swear not to trespass on his.”
Raphael’s contorted features gave no response, of course.
“Come now,” he told his new friend, rising to his feet. “Let’s get you situated in your new home. I’ll chain you up nice and tight once you regrow a new body.”
Murmur’s blood stirred with unhealthy anticipation, and he allowed a perverse smile to twist his lips. “I think we’re going to get along very well.”