“Oh, that reminds me. He was supposed to call me last night.” Cass unclipped her cell from her belt and flipped it open. She punched in some numbers and held the device to her ear. “Hal? It’s Cass. Any chance you’ve got the 4-1-1 on that address I gave you?” Another beaming grin stretched her mouth. “I knew you’d be able to deliver. You’re the freaking bomb, dude. Okay, lay it on me.” There was a brief silence on Cass’s end as she listened to whatever Hal was saying. Her eyes slowly inching wider, she stared at Sam. Whatever information Hal was imparting must have been a doozy. Finally she nodded and thanked Hal before issuing a goodbye and hanging up.
“Well?” Sam and Nikki demanded in unison.
“Hal was able to pinpoint the coordinates.”
“So we gathered,” Sam said impatiently. “Who is the soul?”
“Aster Batticus.”
He frowned. “The demon king’s former handler? Why the hell would Pricilla be interested in him?”
Cass slipped her phone back in place. “Good question.”
A subtle cough intruded from Marabella and he, Cass and Nikki glanced in her direction. “What is a handler?”
“It’s another term for master,” he replied.
Marabella’s eyebrows winged upward. “The demon king had a master? I wouldn’t have thought anyone with that high of a title would be ruled by anyone but himself.”
“Marcus Bahltair hasn’t always been king,” Cass explained. “For that matter, there hasn’t always been a governing body in the demon realm. Marcus saw the need to organize his fellow associates into some semblance of an orderly society, so he formed the council and they crowned him king in deference to his station.”
A frown crinkled Marabella’s forehead. “What station did he have if he wasn’t yet king?”
“He’s the only immortal demon in existence,” Nikki said as she reached around Marabella for one of the mugs. “Aster branded him with that one-of-a-kind seal, supposedly out of gratitude for Marcus’s lifetime of devoted servitude.” A snort fell from her while she poured the coffee. “Hard to believe that arrogant playboy was ever devoted to anyone but himself.”
Sam scratched his jaw. “I still don’t understand why Pricilla charged me to fetch Aster.”
“I’ve got news for you. Apparently she hasn’t given up on her quest to grab him. According to Hal, Pricilla’s been making discreet inquiries with some of the reapers—presumably in hopes of finding one with the security clearance to be able to make the trip to that section of the Wards.”
“Now she’s trying to do deals with reapers?” He plowed a hand through his hair. “What the bloody fuck?”
“Try being the operative word,” Cass pointed out. “Regardless, it confirms our prior suspicions about her wanting to do this outside the radar of the council, since she isn’t attempting to acquire another demon soul collector as your replacement.”
He exchanged a long look with Cass, easily reading in her gaze that she was as suspicious of Pricilla’s motives as he was. Whatever Pris’s ultimate plan for Aster was, it couldn’t be good. Not with as sneaky and conniving as she was being. Hell, she was always sneaky and conniving, but this took it to a whole new extreme.
Cass chewed her lip. “There’s only one option here. We have to get to Aster before Pricilla does.”
“Why? She’s not going to be able to go anywhere near him.”
“We don’t know that, Sam.” Obvious worry brewed in Cass’s eyes. “If she wants him bad enough—and it sure as hell sounds like it—she’ll find a way. You know how ruthless Pricilla is. Look at the lengths she went to in seizing your contract.”
Cass would get no argument from him there. “Fine. You’re right. But you’re missing one glaring obstacle. We can’t get anywhere near Aster.”
Cass rolled her lips together and averted her gaze. “Maybe not yet, but we could change that.”
“How?” He tossed up his arms. “By me miraculously growing my seal back and busting into the Death Wards?” He huffed a sarcastic laugh.
Cass shuffled her feet. “Err…in a matter of speaking, yes, that’s exactly how we’re going to do it.”
Her no-nonsense tone earned his incredulous stare. She must have smoked some whacky tobacky before popping over here. It was the only explanation for her sudden loss of sanity. “How the hell do you propose that happening?”
“You can be rebranded. I came across that information when I originally investigated how to break your seal, but I didn’t figure we’d have to go that route, so that’s why I didn’t say anything.”
Her startling pronouncement elicited conflicting pangs of dread and excitement in his belly. To regain his soul-collector seal—a status he alternately coveted and despised—was a heady and horrible prospect. “I’m not going to indenture myself to that motherfucking council, Cass. I don’t care how badly you want me to go after Aster. It’s not damn well gonna happen.”
“I’m not suggesting you go through the council.”
“Uh, then how exactly will he be rebranded?” Nikki interjected.
“Technically, all he needs is the spell and sanction of a witch.” Cass’s gaze drifted in Marabella’s direction.
Everyone was deathly silent for an interminable moment. Then all hell broke loose as he, Marabella and Nikki started yelling at Cass at the same time.
Cass winced and held up a hand. “Please, I only have one set of eardrums.” She pointed at Sam. “You get seniority in this discussion since it’s your ass being branded, so go.”
“I’m not doing it.”
Cass’s finger veered toward Marabella. “Your turn.”
Sam growled. “Did you not hear me, damn it? I’m. Not. Doing. It.” He bit each syllable through clenched teeth.
“Your response is shelved for the time being until all parties involved have spoken.” Cass offered Marabella a look that bordered on pleading. “What do you think of this plan?”
“She thinks it’s stupid and insane. Just like I do.”
Cass sighed. “Sam, you’ve had your turn. Don’t make me give you a time-out in the corner.” She gave Marabella an encouraging pat on the shoulder. “You have the floor. Go ahead and voice whatever questions or concerns you have.”
“I’m a white witch. I—I can’t have a demon for a familiar,” Marabella stuttered, her eyes wide as saucers.
“Don’t forget the half-angel part,” he muttered. “No doubt having me chained to your side would get you kicked out of the Angel-of-the-Month club.”
Cass shot him an exasperated scowl. “I’m not kidding about that time-out.” She returned her scrutiny to Marabella. “Is there a law about you not having a demon familiar?”
“Actually, yes.”
Cass’s face fell. “Damn, you white witches are real sticklers for convention.” She chewed on her thumbnail before releasing a determined exhale. “Look, I understand where you’re coming from. But sometimes rules are meant to be broken. Especially when there’s a potential disaster waiting to detonate if Pricilla sinks her claws into Aster. Who knows what the ripple effect could be of whatever she has up her sleeve? It could potentially impact everyone.”
Marabella’s face went pale as she clutched the counter behind her. “D-do you think it could be as sinister as that?”
He growled beneath his breath. “Cass is only making assumptions. She doesn’t know anything.”
“You’re right. I don’t. But it’s safe to assume the worst when it comes to Pricilla. We’d be foolish not to.”
Marabella stared at the wood floor beneath her feet for an interminable, silent moment. She swallowed and lifted her gaze to him. A barely discernable tremble quivered her lips before she shifted her attention to Cass. “What would I have to do?”