Azagoth: A Demonica Novella (1001 Dark Nights) Read Online Free PDF Page A

or flight? Hate or fear? The stubborn glint in her eyes told him that meek acceptance wouldn’t be an option. Good. He didn’t want a doormat for a mate, either.
    She lifted her chin and looked down her nose at him in that infuriating way most angels did. As if he was so beneath them, what with his own realm, servants, and more influence than most archangels could claim.
    “I was hoping we’d have time to get to know each other,” she said crisply, “but I’ll deal. Touch me without my consent, however, and you’ll lose an arm.”
    So, fight over flight. And probably a touch of hate. He liked her spirit. She needed to work on her threats, however.
    “Never threaten someone with losing a limb when you can go gorier. Try this next time: Touch me without my consent and I’ll gut you with my teeth and then strangle you with your own intestines.” He imagined her saying that, and his pants grew uncomfortably tight. “See how much better that sounds?”
    She glared. “If you’ll give me paper and a pen, I’ll take notes.”
    He was starting to like this chick.
    “I’m assuming the angels have sealed the portal behind you so you can’t leave unless I expel you?” At her clipped nod, he waved for her to follow him. “Come on. I’ll show you to our room.” He led her to the grand double doors at the rear of his office, and with a mere thought, they whispered open.
    Lilliana stood in the doorway, gaping at his bedroom-slash-playroom. “Oh. My. Gaudy,” she breathed. “Please tell me I can redecorate.”
    Zhubaal had warned him that females didn’t appreciate man-cave decor. Or torture-room decor. Turned out he was right. “Sure. But nothing nautical. Or American Southwest.”
    She didn’t miss a beat. “I was thinking more along the lines of screw-you minimalist. First thing that goes is the spanking bench.”
    Damn, he was liking her more and more. Too bad he’d have to break her little haloed heart.
    “No furniture goes until you’ve tried it first. But the rest...meh.” He gestured to the walls covered in rich tapestries, priceless artwork by famous human and demon painters, and giant mirrors framed in pure gold. “The color scheme was popular a thousand years ago. It’s time for an update, I suppose.”
    She sniffed haughtily, which was such an angel thing to do, and stalked inside. And wow, nice ass. Perfectly packaged in the satin dress, it was a little less full than he liked, but there was still plenty of padding in that heart-shaped bottom. He could picture her bent over the spanking bench as he gripped her hips and thrust against her, her skin flushed with ecstasy and pink from sensual lashes.
    “The bed can stay,” she announced.
    Of course it could. It was big enough to sleep six, which meant she could put a lot of space between them. She could try, anyway.
    “The bathroom is through the doorway to your right,” he said. “The hallway straight ahead leads to a kitchen, dining room, and TV room. I get pretty much every TV station in the world.”
    She frowned. “How?”
    “Same way Heaven gets it. Demon technicians can warp and tune any manmade signal into something usable down here.” He gestured to a huge oak cabinet. “The wardrobe on the left is yours. There are clothes already inside. I’ll leave you to it.”
    She turned to him, that ridiculous gown sweeping across the floor. “Where are you going?”
    “I have a job to do. Places to go, people to kill, and those demon souls don’t admit themselves into Sheoul-gra, you know.” He started toward the door. “Join me after you change, and I’ll show you around your new home.”
    “Wait.” She started after him, but as he swung back around to her, she checked up like she’d hit a wall, as if realizing that being alone would be better than being with him. “What about my powers?”
    “What about them?”
    “I have none.” She hugged herself, no doubt feeling naked and exposed without them. “How am I supposed to