Kingdom of Lies (Imp Series Book 7) Read Online Free PDF Page A

this two-month thing you’ve got to do?”
    I really didn’t care. Knowing Gabriel, it was probably something mind-crushingly boring, like meditating on Mars. Poking my nose into his business annoyed him, though, so I did it every chance I could.
    “Nothing you need to know about,” he snapped.
    “Well, it’s something I need to know about,” Gregory drawled. “Especially if you’re asking me to handle both Aaru as well as the significant issues here for two whole months.”
    I snorted. Two months were nothing to an angel. It was like Gabe asking him to watch the teakettle while he ran down the end of the driveway to grab the mail. I remembered my conversation with Gareth, the negotiations that always occurred whenever demons did business. Angels weren’t so different.
    “This is a significant favor you’re asking,” I told Gabe. “You’re going to owe me big time for this one.”
    The younger angel stared at me, mouth open. It wasn’t an attractive look for him. “I’m not asking you to do anything. There’s been no discussion of you doing me a favor at all in this conversation.”
    I pointed at Gregory. “Having him gone is going to seriously cramp my style. I need him. He’s integral to my business operations. You can’t just pop down here and poach my angel without offering anything in return.”
    “In spite of what my Cockroach wants or doesn’t want, I won’t even consider your request until you tell me what is so important that it takes you away from your divine responsibilities.”
    I almost snorted again. Gregory had happily handed off those divine responsibilities hot-potato style to spend more time with me. He was such a controlling, hypocritical jerk—which were all qualities I loved in him.
    Gabe turned an interesting shade of red. “Forget I asked. Stay here. Sin with your infernal lover. Eat crustacean chips and drink brown water while I clean up the mess you made up in Aaru.”
    Unfortunately, Gabriel vanished with a pop right after delivering his insult. I’d hoped for yet another episode of angelic sibling WrestleMania.
    “Wanna hit me instead?” I offered. Being a participant in a fight was often more fun than watching one, especially with Gregory. Fights with him quickly turned into sex—which I liked even more than brawling.
    “Nope.” Gregory didn’t seem very angry. In fact, the expression on his face was downright smug. “I know what he’s doing; I just want to make sure he’s too busy to continue doing it.”
    “What’s he doing?” All right, angels weren’t the only ones who loved gossip.
    “Hunting down a traitor. Gabe takes these things rather personally.”
    “He’s going to kill this traitor?” That didn’t seem like the Gabriel I knew.
    “Oh no. Just take his wings. We’ll catch up with him eventually. There’s no need for my brother to ditch his job and go tearing around in search of revenge. He’s got work to do.”
    I smiled and reached out to caress Gregory’s arm. Ah, my beautiful hypocrite. “I’ll say he’s got work to do. If he’s stealing Rafi from me, he’s gonna have to pick up the slack and do a few things for me too.”
    My angel smiled, capturing my hand in his. “You must be hard up if you’re recruiting angels. You’ve got a huge household, plus Nils and your human and werewolf pals. Give Gabe a break.”
    “Damn straight I’m hard up. Nils is useless unless I’m asking him to throw himself on a bomb. I’ve got hardly any demons left in my household after the elf wars, and Dar is on some kind of permanent vacation, ensnared by one of your angels.” I glared, as if it were all his fault that my brother was mooning over one of his enforcers.
    “You don’t approve of Asta?”
    “It’s not that. I need him right now. Besides, I was going to hook him up with Gabriel.”
    “You must really hate your brother.”
    Yeah, he was much better off with that one in Chicago. Who would I get to pair up with Gregory’s pompous