Call of the Siren by Rosalie Lario Page B

beneath Mammon he was.
    Thorne grinned and straightened from the doorway. “Belpheg wants to see you in his reception chamber.”
    With those words, he turned and left.
    Mammon let out a throaty growl, stifling the urge to rush after Thorne and detach his head from his body. When the time was right, he’d teach the hubrin demon his place. And he would delight in doing so.
    As Mammon rose from his chair, he thought back to that night two months ago, when Belpheg had rescued him. Ever the gracious host, the dark fae had brought him back to his castle and shared a meal with him before discussing the reason he’d brought him here.
    Belpheg sat back in his chair, placing some distance between his body and his nearly empty plate.“You’re probably wondering why I freed you.”
    “The thought had crossed my mind,” Mammon replied, the sustenance he’d wolfed down lending his voice some strength.
    Belpheg’s hands trembled, and he dropped his utensils onto his plate. “I want to offer you the opportunity to take down the Council.”
    Just the words he’d wanted to hear. Mammon broke into a slow grin and began to speak, but Belpheg cut him off. “That’s not even the best part. You see…it also comes with revenge on your rebellious sons.”
    Mammon shifted back in his seat. Now this was getting more interesting. “I’m listening.”
    Belpheg explained the requirements of the magic circle. “It necessitates the aid of twelve men, who will channel their strength into me. From there, destroying the Council will be an easy matter. I had almost everything I needed, but your sons murdered my twelfth before he could gain his full power.”
    A ribbon of excitement wound through Mammon’s chest. The plan that Belpheg had outlined seemed foolproof. Especially with Belpheg at the helm. Much as it grated to acknowledge it, Mammon knew of no other person who could equal Belpheg’s power. He’d gotten firsthand proof of that during Belpheg’s stunning rescue operation. To think, he’d simply waltzed in through the front door of the Council headquarters, paralyzing anyone who dared stand in his way. Those fools must have been out of their minds from the shock of it.
    Oh yes, Mammon would do well to partner with someone of Belpheg’s immense power. However, since it didn’t seem wise to show all his cards up front, he kept his tone nonchalant when he said, “And what do you suggest?”
    Belpheg returned his steady gaze. “I need another twelfth. I’d originally planned to use another incubus and perhaps bring you on to assist in controlling my twelve, but you see, there’s been a development recently.”
    When Mammon merely cocked a brow, Belpheg continued.
    “The Council has released a cure to the sex demon toxins. So I started to think.” Belpheg grinned. “How much more poetic would it be if I use you as my twelfth?”
    Mammon’s breath caught. He forced himself to stay relaxed, when he wanted to jump from the excitement of it all. This was more than he could have dared to imagine. With the powers Belpheg had mentioned coursing through his veins, Mammon would be unstoppable. Second to no one, other than perhaps Belpheg himself.
    He would be a king.
    “I believe I could be persuaded to join your cause,” Mammon said evenly.
    Belpheg chuckled, as if he found humor in Mammon’s words. The action caused momentary rage to rise up within Mammon, but he stifled it. He was wise enough to know not to bite the hand that fed him. Soon enough he’d have more than enough power…but for now, Belpheg held most of the control.
    “You mentioned my sons,” he said to Belpheg. “What do you intend to do with them?”
    “Ah, but that’s the best part.”
    When Belpheg’s hand trembled slightly, he slid it out of view beneath the table. Though his movement was casual, Mammon couldn’t help but notice it. Something was amiss there.
    “Their strength, the power you bred into them, can be used to make you stronger,” Belpheg