“Of course he’s scared. He doesn’t want me to get hurt.”

“That’s not what I meant. He’s scared he couldn’t satisfy you the way a demon could.”

“That's bullshit. Just because you're an incubus you interpret everyone else with your own disgusting flaws. And maybe your mind-blowing arrogance clouds your judgment. You just met him, and you already think you know everything about him, based on a two-minute conversation? And I didn’t even get to the part about how you lied about the executions.”

“My judgment is clouded?” Ice tinged his voice. “That's a bit rich coming from someone whose defining characteristic is chronic wrongness, mixed with a staggering dose of condescension. You and your insecure boyfriend are so preoccupied by evil that you’ve entirely overlooked all the Brotherhood’s transgressions.”

He was a genius at mixing truth with lies, and right about then she was seriously sick of his shit. “I wasn’t wrong about a high demon coming into the bar, but you ignored me, because you think you know everything.”

“It’s hard for me to value the opinion of a staggering hypocrite. You belong to an organization that believes in their own superiority over others, that uses torture as a tactic. You are completely blind to your own faults. But, of course, knowing how you were as a child that’s not surprising. A superiority complex is in your nature.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” She shook her head. He was trying to distract her. “Never mind. The point is, demons thrive on control over humans. Just look at what Bileth did to me. The Brotherhood have their faults, but we don’t hurt people just for enjoyment. We’re not sadists. We act strategically. If some people get hurt, that’s unfortunate, but we don’t take pleasure in it.”

“Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

Angry heat warmed her cheeks. “We don’t take away people’s free will and force ourselves on others. That’s a demon thing, because you are abominations. Even if you compel yourself to be nice most of the time, the facade will crack eventually. You can’t help forcing your will onto others. You’re corrupted.” A part of her needed it to be true—needed the monsters to be real, for the lines between good and evil to be clear. But the other part of her despised the words coming out of her own mouth. She’d called him an “abomination,” and “corrupted,” echoing Mason’s favorite insults.

He flinched. For a moment, his features looked so human that she almost forgot what he really was, but in the next instant his pale irises darkened into a fierce, animal glare. Silvery light swirled off him, and his true demonic form emerged.

Chapter 18

His cold magic crackled in the air, the power washing through her in waves. The dreadful ghost of dark wings rose up behind Caine, beating the air with a freezing wind. The temperature dropped by at least ten degrees, and Rosalind shivered. Apparently, she’d hit a nerve.