Devil's Paw (Imp Book 4) by Debra Dunbar Read Free Book Online Page A

took a deep breath. Might as well get this over with. Breaking the seal on the card, I read the contents, which drove the smile right from my face.
    “He’s tired of my delays and insists on an immediate answer.” What I didn’t say was that Ahriman intended to pick off my household one at a time until I responded. I got the feeling “no” would not be considered an adequate response.
    Dar shrugged. “So do it. I don’t get why you’re hesitating on this one.”
    Because Gregory would fucking kill me. And I had an odd dread over the prospect of anything to do with Ahriman. I’d never met him, but that demon had one hell of a ruthless reputation. My mind whirred. I could bring my household here, but there were nearly twenty. There was no way I could keep control over that many demons, and I’d be held accountable for all their actions. Plus, nothing would stop Ahriman from sending over a stream of hit men, as Haagenti had done, to kill them on this side of the gates. I couldn’t protect them all.
    I ran a finger down the skin parchment. It was a good offer. He’d even agreed to allow me to return here occasionally and visit the humans, so long as I returned when requested and satisfied the terms of the contract. Wasn’t this part of being responsible? Being the Iblis? I had to put the needs of my household above my own selfish desires.
    I took a breath and signed the card, burning my sigil into the parchment with my energy. At least he didn’t expect me to present myself for another two months. That would give me enough time to make arrangements and hopefully figure out some way to explain this to Gregory—if I ever did explain it to him. Perhaps it would be best to just keep this little contract a secret.
    “Thanks, Dar.” I handed the card back. “And thanks for all your help in getting Nyalla here.” I reached out and gave him a quick hug. He pulled back, yanking a chunk of my hair with a force that brought tears to my eyes.
    “What the fuck, Mal? Are you treating me like one of your humans now?”
    “Sorry. Fuck off, asshole. There, how’s that? Better?”
    “Much better,” Dar said over his shoulder as he made his way to the rental car he’d already dented. He protested, but I got the feeling that deep down inside, he kind of liked the hug.
    Brothers. Family. I thought of Dar and Leethu, of all the demons I had a strange affection for. I thought of Wyatt, of Amber and Nyalla, of Michelle and Candy. And I thought of that darned angel. They were all my family; mine. In spite of the earlier drama, the less than ideal situation with Nyalla, that I’d nearly gotten killed by some psychotic rebel angel, that I’d just signed a deal with Ahriman, in spite of all that, I felt …happy.

~4~
    I was overcome with a sense of déjà vu as the angel plopped a human head on my dining room table.
    “This better not take long,” I warned him. I should have been used to these unplanned visits by now, and normally I was thrilled to see him, but today’s appearance was especially inconvenient. Wyatt and I had stayed up into the wee hours of the morning watching movies and introducing Nyalla to earth culture and cuisine. He’d left just a few moments ago to pick up Amber from the airport, giving me precious little time to get ready for his party tonight.
    “It’s important.” He motioned to the head.
    It didn’t look very important. The last time he’d shown up with a head at my door, he’d insisted it was a demon, only to retract his statement later, telling me it was a human who had been cryogenically frozen. Everyone makes mistakes — everyone except angels, that is. Gregory admitting to an error was fishy enough. This head on my table only confirmed my doubts.
    “And there’s a Ruling Council meeting tomorrow. I’ll pick you up early in the morning.”
    His announcement distracted me from my perusal of the slightly decomposed head. I’d had little sleep last night, curled up with Wyatt on the