Deal with the Devil

Temper's Warning

                                                                                    ~3 years later~

I sauntered over to Winnie’s office with two coffees and sat atop her paperwork-filled desk. “Well good morning princess of Heaven, how was your date?” I wagged my eyebrows at her and handed over the coffee, a double espresso shot over ice, just how we liked it. 

Winne had been on a ‘private job’ with Jace last night and I just knew that could only mean he was finally admitting to his longtime crush on my bestfriend. “Wren, for the last time it was not a date! We wrangled some rogue pixies and then grabbed pizza. Totally no biggie.” I could tell by the color in her cheeks that it was, in fact, a biggie. Part of me was grossed out by the thought of my BFF and my big brother, but with it being the three year anniversary of my ‘selling my soul’ and all that, I wanted to know that the two people I cared about most would have each other when I was gone.  “Alright, alright save the juicy details, I don’t wanna hear about Jaces’ kissing skills anyhow!” I teased. She smacked my arm with a playful smile and I rolled off her desk and towards my own. 

I found a new case file stacked haphazardly on my desk and internally groaned. Any case that began on a Monday was bound to be a pain in the ass. When you were a supernatural bounty hunter, life was hardly ever boring. Gabriel, another half-angel on the force, stalked over to my desk. I glanced up and down at his very tall 6’5” frame of golden muscle and clean cut face and signed. The good looks were always wasted on the angels.  “Good morning Wren, looks like we get to be partners on this case.” He winked at me. Ugh. Eye roll. Angels could be so arrogant. Especially the half-human kind. Being the only Unseelie Fae/Demon mutt on the force they never trusted me to take on a case alone, lest I give in to my ‘preternatural instincts’ and flip over to the dark side. Again, major eye roll. “Delightful.” I smiled up at golden boy 2.0 with my best fake grin. Jace had been begging me to give Gabe a chance for a year now but I had enough God complex in my house, I didn’t need it in my bed too. No, I needed a man who would recognize my inability to submit and would gladly become a plaything for me. 

The clearing of Gabe’s throat brought me back from my fantasies and I turned my attention back to the case file. A nest of Tempters in need of checking in the meatpacking district. Tempters are akin to the devil on your shoulder, playful and mischievous and usually damn attractive. I smiled at the thought of the female Tempters trying to sink their teeth into tall and painful handsome Gabriel. “Come on Gabe, looks like we’ve got our work cut out for us.” I smirked as I grabbed my jacket and headed for the car. Ten minutes into our trip to the west side I was convinced Gabe and the Tempters were cut from the same cloth. “Wren, if you give me a chance to take you out this weekend I promise you won’t regret it. Just dinner and a movie!” He begged. I thought of Jace and how it would probably get him off my back about my encounter with Abaddon. “Fine. You can pick me up Saturday night at 7pm, if there isn't a job.” I conceded. Maybe I’d let these demons have him after all. 

Arriving at a high-end apartment complex, I checked the report and headed up to the penthouse. Tempters were nothing if not flashy. A quick rap on the double door and I was greeted by a seriously tall, dark, and smoking hot demon. I could feel Gabe’s posture shift behind me and he immediately placed a hand on my shoulder. I checked my notes again quickly and glanced up at the clearly alpha male in front of me “So, you must be Dane. We are with the Legion and we are here about one of your nest members.” The tall demon leaned down to sniff my neck and whispered seductively,  “Are you sure you don't have Tempter blood in you little demon, you sure are built like one.” I smirked at the flirty comment because I knew if Gabriel had the wings of his ancestors they would be fully extended right now. We stepped inside the lavish penthouse to have a chat with the female tempter who had swayed a Congressman into some unsavory decisions as of late and was leading to trouble in the human world. A big no-no.

We were greeted by no less than eight demons, all exceptionally attractive. The room felt ominous and stiff, as it usually did in a den full of demons. For me this was natural, but I felt Gabe’s body go on high-alert and I knew his instincts weren’t wrong. This felt more like they were waiting for us. We took a seat on a plush couch across from who I presume was the female we were there to chat with. She had red hair that flowed over her shoulder in big waves and legs that made me understand why the Congressman was so enthralled in her snare. I felt Gabe gulp as he took her in, the demon's eyes never left his. “Hello, Nina is it?” I extended my arm out to greet her. She didn't bother taking my hand and so I smiled sweetly at Gabe and allowed him to do the talking. After a few flirty comments towards Gabe and sharp looks from me, the female agreed to move on to a new target and leave the poor Congressman to his own devices.

“Now, let's get to the real reason why you are here, shall we?” Nina quipped after abandoning the Congressman topic all together. Gabe and I exchanged a confused look, there had been no more information in the damned case file. Either this was a set-up or HQ at Legion was really beginning to slack. Gabe began to reach around his back for the short sword holstered there, designed to slay demons, but Dane shifted into view. He settled in next to Nina and licked her neck in a leisurely swipe. He settled his unnerving gaze on me but I met his eyes without wavering. Tempters may be annoying but they were no match for the demon that resided in me.

 “Dearest Wren, we were disappointed to see you brought a friend with you.” he teased and hardly spared Gabe a glance. Gabe immediately stood and grabbed me by the arm, ready to flee. “Oh Dean, if I had known your nest was recruiting I could have helped you hand out flyers in Hell. It's a shame you’d have to stoop to asking demi demons. I do appreciate the invite though.” I smiled sweetly.  He laughed at my retort but his smile never met his eyes. “There are whispers of your name in the realms, Wren. Your time is near and I’d like to call you a friend. If you decline my olive branch then I won't hesitate to participate in the bounty on your head, if it comes to that.” He licked his lips at me. I jutted out my lower lip in a mock pout, “Hmmm, unfortunately all my friendship slots are full Dane, but you’ll be my first phone call if one opens up.” I nodded up at Gabe that our work here was done and we could leave now.

 As we made a move towards the door the tempter female caught my wrist and hissed “He’s coming.” I snatched my arm away and looked at her in disgust. Who was coming? I hurried after Gabe but not before Dane licked his lips at me and whispered “He’s been waiting for you.” I slammed the penthouse door shut and shook off the chill in my bones. “What the Hell was that all about?” Gabe whirled on me. “I have no idea” I gulped and pushed down my breakfast that was threatening to come up. I didn't exactly have a day in mind of when my doomsday would arrive but I had suspected I’d have more than a few years, no one in Hell was in any kinda rush when it was eternal. And what was all this about a bounty? Why couldn't Abaddon just come drag me to Hell himself? I’d prefer that to sending his hellhounds for me.

I blew Gabe off and told him it was some trick they were playing to get the demon in me out. He was stupid enough to buy it, but at least he’s off my back. I didn’t bother going back to the office, I took the rest of the day to visit the less savory side of town. The supernatural world was etched into the very core of human existence but we were still unknown to them, hidden in plain sight. As I rounded the corner into a small psychic shop I rang the buzzer for the Madame to answer. The small latch on the door opened and she peered out at me, her eyes narrowed in suspicion and she slammed down the latch. I paused for a moment and listened to her series of locks both human and magic begin to click and she usher me in, quickly resealing them. The high fae turned on me rapidly “Wren, I see you have sought me out. So you’ve heard?”.