This little hate group had blown up my car, and almost me with it. Of course the demon would be here, protecting what he saw as his property.

Samael gave me a dark look that warned me we’d be talking about me hanging up on him later. I ignored him.

Asmodeus landed next to us, his red hair gleaming in the sunlight. He reached down and pulled the belt off Bob. Bob groaned but didn’t struggle when Asmodeus threw the belt to me.

“Thanks.”

I was holding something that was once worn by a god. By Thor. If I thought about that too hard, I’d lose my mind.

The belt wasn’t anything special. There was no gold to be found, no silver etching, no priceless gems. It was brown, woven, and could’ve been any old leather belt except for the power that radiated from it.

Misty let out a purr and I jumped. The dagger had been silent for a while now. If it liked the belt, it was a pretty good sign that I needed to give it back to the fae as soon as possible.

I folded the belt up and shoved it in my back pocket. Asmodeus hauled Bob to his feet. Bob swayed and the demon met my eyes.

“Where to?”

“The Mage Council.”

Samael shook his head. “That is a mistake if you’re planning to interrogate them.”

“They’re human, Samael. Like it or not, but they fall under the Council’s jurisdiction. And I’d like to clear my name.”

He studied my face. “Fine. I will, however, notify Albert that while the interrogations may take place in his territory, his people are not permitted to be involved.”

I shook my head. “Is that your idea of compromise?”

He shrugged and looked at Asmodeus. The demon took to the air, hauling Bob toward the Council.

Samael had brought a few other demons with him. Bael, Mammon, and Sitri were moving around the sides of the community center, blocking off any other exits.

Samael stroked his hand down my hair and I glanced at him. “Thanks for coming.”

He merely nodded and we walked toward the entrance and into the hall where the hate group had gathered.

There must’ve only been twenty or so humans sitting in a circle on plastic white chairs, and a few of them leapt to their feet as we walked in.

One of them looked at me, looked at the demon next to me, and turned to run. Vas had already moved inside from the other exit, and he raised one eyebrow as the guy desperately swung his arm.

“Alive,” I called out. “We need them alive.”

For now.

Vas shook his head at me. Then he snapped a fist into the guy’s solar plexus and the guy hit the ground, gasping like a fish on land.