Bind the Soul by Annette Marie Page B

accusations of selfish greed at him, he’d replied, “You’ve already said it all, haven’t you? You have the whole story already. No need to consider the other side of it.” No one ever considered the other side. Ash’s deadly reputation as a spy and killer were because of Samael. Most of the daemon world hated him . . . and he couldn’t tell a single soul he’d never had a choice.
    From everything she’d seen of Ash, he feared neither pain nor death. There had to be some other chain that bound Ash to Samael’s commands. If she hadn’t known Ash’s sister to be dead for years, she would’ve wondered whether Samael was holding Ash’s family hostage. If Samael killed all draconians in their twenties, Ash wouldn’t have living parents.
    Something else was keeping Ash imprisoned. She needed to know what it was. If she were to free Ash from Samael once and for all, she had to have the whole story. How would she get close enough to interrogate Micah?
    She lifted her gaze to the influential, high-ranking Ra heir sitting across from her. He blinked at the sudden intensity of her stare.
    “Miysis,” she said sweetly, “are you busy tomorrow evening?”
    He hesitated before answering. “Yes.”
    She smiled. “You’re going to the Amity Gala . . . aren’t you?”
    His wary expression was the most beautiful sight she’d ever seen.
    . . .
    Fifteen minutes later, Miysis stalked out of the room in a swirl of bad temper. Piper stretched in her seat and smiled serenely at the ceiling.
    “Oh, you’re bad , Piper,” Lyre commented, one arm thrown over the back of his chair. The admiring note in his voice was obvious. “I can’t believe you told him Samael has the Sahar.”
    Guilt flitted through her but she shrugged it off. He would’ve found out sooner or later.
    “How else was I supposed to convince him to get me into the gala?” She tilted her head back to bring the incubus into view and pulled a face. “He didn’t think me saving him from the Gaians was worth a return favor.”
    “Well, we both know he was mostly just pretending to be their prisoner.”
    She scowled. “I suppose. But he didn’t have to be so grumpy about getting me into the gala.”
    “Can you blame him?” Lyre laughed. “Whoever he kicks out of his entourage to make room for you will be pissed. Not to mention the paperwork to get your name on the list.”
    She grinned. “But he’ll do it. He promised.”
    “Oh, he’ll keep his word.” The incubus smirked. “Though he’ll probably make things unpleasant for you.”
    “I don’t care if he makes me serve him drinks as long as I get inside.”
    His lips curved in a suggestive smile. “I’d let you serve me any day.”
    She rolled her eyes and sat up. “Are you ever going to stop doing that?”
    “No.”
    She frowned, seeing an opportunity to get the truth out there and no reason to wait—except for the awkwardness. And the small part of her that liked the naughty potential of allowing Lyre’s flirtations to continue.
    “Look, Lyre,” she said firmly, turning to face him. “I’m not going to sleep with you, okay? I’m never going to sleep with you. Daemons are off my radar entirely. You’re wasting your efforts on me.”
    He leaned back. “Piper, I’m not sitting here because I’m angling for a score. And don’t think I take it personally that you keep saying no—even though I know you want to say yes.”
    She ignored that last bit and scrunched her face. “You’re never going to stop?”
    “Nope.”
    “But—”
    “Can’t do it. Might as well ask me to stop breathing.”
    “You cannot compare your sex drive to breathing—”
    He rolled his eyes. “Piper, you’re so naïve sometimes.”
    “I am not.”
    “You are.” He lifted a finger. “Ash will always be a deadly predator, Miysis will always be a manipulative tyrant, and I will always crave sex with any moderately young, moderately attractive female I spot. It’s our natures.”
    She