Thirteen (Otherworld 13)

The corpse didn't move. It just stared blankly at the ceiling.

After at least ten seconds, we heard another whisper from the corpse. "Kimerion. I am Kimerion."

"Yeah?" Adam said, stepping forward. "You're no demi-demon if you can't move that body."

"Weak," the voice rasped. "I got too close to de Rais and Balaam's demons found me. Haven't been able to contact you."

That part was true--Kimerion had been out of contact for days.

"Lucifer," Kimerion said. "De Rais needs to summon Lucifer. His only chance."

I sighed. "We know that."

"Like your grandsire, you have no patience," the demi-demon hissed. "Yes, de Rais has long wished to summon Lucifer. That wish is now an obsession. He is desperate. He thinks he knows the key. He no longer waits and plots to obtain it."

"And that key is . . . ?"

"The blood of Lucifer."

"Hope," I said. "He thinks her blood will open the lines of communication with Lucifer. Let Giles offer his allegiance. Cut a deal."

"No deal. No allegiance. A threat."

"What?"

Adam answered. "He'll threaten to kill Hope and her baby."

"Threatening a lord demon? Is he cr

azy?"

"I believe we've already established that," Cassandra said, coming up behind me.

"But that won't work. Lucifer may take an interest in his children, but not enough to save her."

"Lucifer is diff--" Kimerion began.

A long, exhaled hiss of breath. Roni's eyes closed.

HOPE

Karl was prowling. From one side of the bed to the other, into the hall, down the hall, up the hall, back to the bedroom, pacing like a caged lion. Or caged wolf, Hope supposed she should say.

She could stop him. Tell him he was making her dizzy and keeping her from getting some rest. But she was enjoying watching him pace. He was wearing only sweatpants and the sight was very nice indeed, muscles rippling under scarred skin. It was not a sight she got to see outside the bedroom--he was too self-conscious about those scars.

He paced back into the room and stopped at the foot of the bed.

"You should be sleeping."

"Mmm. Later. Not tired yet."

Hope gave him a once-over. He chuckled and bent forward, hands on the end of the bed. "I could help with that," he said.

"You could . . ."

"I will."

He crawled across the bed and tugged down the sheet over her, his hand sliding down her thigh. She considered the offer. Not sex, sadly. That had gotten unwieldy a couple of weeks ago, and they'd switched to backup plans. Karl's backup plan was nice. Very nice. However . . .