Succubus Revealed Read Free Page A

name.
    You are the world, Letha . . . he had told me drowsily.
    He hadn’t even remembered saying it, let alone where he’d heard it. Don’t know, he’d told me, when I questioned him about it later. Greek myths, I guess. The River Lethe, where the dead go to wash away the memories from their souls . . . to forget the past. . . .
    “That’s a pretty name,” said Cody.
    I shrugged noncommittally. “The point is, I never told it to Seth. But somehow, he knew it. He couldn’t remember anything about it, though. Where he heard it.”
    “He must have heard it from you,” said Hugh, ever practical.
    “I never told him. I’d remember if I had.”
    “Well, with all the other immortals traipsing through here, I’m sure it came up from one of them. He probably overheard it.” Peter frowned. “Don’t you have an award with your name on it? Maybe he saw that.”
    “I don’t really leave my ‘Best Succubus’ award lying around,” I pointed out.
    “Well, you should,” said Hugh.
    I eyed Carter carefully. “You’re being awfully quiet.”
    He paused in drinking from the wine box. “I’m busy.”
    “Did you tell Seth my name? You’ve called me it before.” Carter, despite being an angel, seemed to have a genuine affection for us damned souls. And like an elementary school boy, he often thought the best way of showing that affection was by picking on us. Calling me Letha—when he knew I hated it—and other pet names was one such tactic he used.
    Carter shook his head. “Sorry to disappoint you, Daughter of Lilith, but I never told him. You know me: model of discretion.” There was a slurping sound as he neared the wine’s end.
    “Then how did Seth find out?” I demanded. “How’d he know the name? Someone must have told him.”
    Jerome sighed loudly. “Georgie, this conversation is even more ridiculous than the one about your job. You already got your answer: either you or someone else slipped up and doesn’t remember. Why does everything have to be so dramatic for you? Are you just looking for something to be unhappy about?”
    He had a point. And honestly, I didn’t know why this had bugged me so much for so long. Everyone was right. There was no mystery here, nothing earth-shattering. Seth had overheard my name somewhere, end of story. There was no reason for me to overreact or assume the worst—only a tiny, nagging voice in my head that refused to forget about that night.
    “It’s just weird,” I said lamely.
    Jerome rolled his eyes. “If you want something to worry about, then I’ll give you something.”
    All thoughts of Seth and names flew out of my head. Everyone at the table (except Carter, who was still slurping) froze and stared at Jerome. When my boss said he had something for you to worry about, there was a strong possibility it meant something fiery and terrifying. Hugh looked startled by this proclamation too, which was a bad sign. He usually knew about hellish mandates before Jerome did.
    “What’s going on?” I asked.
    “I had a drink with Nanette the other night,” he growled. Nanette was Portland’s archdemoness. “Bad enough she still won’t let me forget the summoning. She was also going off on some bullshit about how her people were more competent than mine.”
    I glanced briefly at my friends. We weren’t exactly model employees of Hell, so there was a very good chance that Nanette was right. Not that any of us would tell Jerome that.
    “So,” he continued, “when I denied it, she demanded we step up and prove what superior Hellish minions we are.”
    “How?” asked Hugh, looking mildly interested. “With a soul pledge drive?”
    “Don’t be ridiculous,” said Jerome.
    “Then with what?” I asked.
    Jerome gave us a tight-lipped smile. “With bowling.”

Chapter 2
     
    I t took me a moment to really comprehend that in thirty seconds, the conversation had gone from a deeply seriously mystery about my love life to bowling for demonic bragging rights.