“That’s how you killed the halo-bearers in your kitchen.”
“Yes.” Feeling a little exposed now that he knew her secrets, Raini folded her arms. At least he wasn’t exhibiting any of the wariness that her lair members would for sure feel if they knew. “So, what false memory are you going to plant in my brain? What am I going to believe actually happened tonight? For the record, it doesn’t seem fair that I’ll forget the skeletons in your closet but you and your friend will remember mine.”
Hinges creaked as one of the heavy wooden doors were heaved open. A cluster of descendants strode inside, their steps faltering when they noticed Raini.
“What is she doing here?” one asked Maddox, though not unkindly.
“All will be revealed shortly,” Maddox told them. “Take a seat.” Turning back to Raini, he guided her to a stool near the wall on her left. “You should sit and conserve your energy. We’ll be meeting with your people next.”
Yeah, and that might not go so well. Jolene was particularly furious with him for not taking Raini straight to her. Jolene wasn’t happy with her either, since Raini—knowing the Prime would send Ciaran to retrieve her—refused to say where she was.
As the minutes went by, more and more people filed inside the cathedral. Some asked why Raini was present. Others simply cast her confused looks. All appeared uncomfortable with having an outsider there. Now that she knew the secrets they protected, she could completely understand.
Gunther and a slender brunette who had to be Celia entered last. She gave Raini a tentative smile, so Gunther must have given her the full story. Hector then closed the door and took up a position near Raini. The woman who often guarded her— who Raini heard another demon refer to as Carmen—stood opposite them.
Facing the people seated in the pews, Maddox planted his feet. “I’m sure you’ve all already heard by now that halo-bearers launched an attack at the club. I’m sure you’re also wondering why my anchor is here. I found her in the mausoleum about twenty minutes ago. Seems like a halo-bearer dumped her there, leaving her with Gunther, no doubt counting on her reaching out for help.”
“And, out of my mind with bloodlust, I tried to kill her,” admitted Gunther. Wincing, he shot Raini an apologetic look. “Sorry about that.”
“Will you be careful of the terminology you use around her?” one descendant complained at Gunther, scowling. He then turned to Maddox. “You cannot let her remember any of it.”
“On the contrary, Euan, I think it’s to our benefit that we allow her to remember,” said Maddox.
Surprise gripped Raini’s gut. The same emotion flashed on many faces.
Euan’s head jerked back. “What? How the hell could that be to our benefit?”
“You heard what Gunther said. He was out of his mind with bloodlust. Now he’s not.” Maddox’s brow inched up. “You haven’t wondered why that is?”
Silence fell, and people exchanged confused glances.
“Raini did something to him?” asked Hector, sparing her a quick look.
“She hit him with a low blast of psychic hellfire to knock him unconscious,” Maddox explained. “The blazing heat burned away the haze of bloodlust.”
“Burned it away?” asked the female sentinel.
Maddox nodded. “I don’t have to tell any of you just how deadly psychic hellfire is. Raini could have killed Gunther. She didn’t, despite his intention to kill her, because she knew he was one of us, and she knew something was wrong with him. You want me to repay her for that by removing the memories from her brain?”
Celia cleared her throat and offered Raini another tentative smile. “Thank you for not killing him. He told me he bit you. It would have been easy for you to take him out there and then, but you didn’t.”
“And while I’m sure we all appreciate that,” began Marcella, “it’s not a good reason to let her remember. Our secret—”
“I’ll keep yours if you keep mine,” Raini cut in, sweeping her gaze along the pews. “No one is all that fond of psychic hellfire for obvious reasons, so you can understand why I don’t advertise that I can use it. Very few people knew until tonight. If you agree to say nothing about it, I’ll agree to say nothing of your own secrets.”
Marcella’s expression was a pure challenge. “How do we know you’ll keep your word?”
“How do I know you’ll keep yours?” Raini shot back. “Let me ask another question. You’re all eager for me to have these memories yanked from my brain. Would any of you be so easy about having yours taken from you, especially if you’d given your word that you wouldn’t share what you didn’t ask to discover?”
“I say we take a vote,” Euan piped up, standing. “Those in favor of her having her mind wiped raise your hand.” He lifted his own, far too fucking pompous to live in her demon’s opinion.