Absolute Surrender by Georgia Lyn Hunter

chest constricted. Breathing became difficult when stinging pain caused other parts of his body to follow in a mind-numbing cramp.
    His cravings were growing worse. He wanted, needed a human soul to ease his pain. He never understood why light filled that weak race, while demons, so strong and powerful, were plagued with darkness. And then there were those Otium demons trying to walk the line between both. They were a disgrace to his species, preferring to live like mortals. But they would all fall, one by one, like the traitorous insects they were. Their dark souls would succumb to the temptation, eventually.
    The door to his chamber opened. He snarled, barely managing to hold himself back from killing the unfortunate person. He hoped it was either Bael with a soul, or Lazaar with news.
    He tempered his scowl when he saw who it was.
    His sire, the Sin of Greed, strolled inside, his expression calm, his eyes bland in a parchment-pale face. Long brown hair looped into a tail flowed past his hips.
    The fact the Sins weren’t tempted to take a soul made him hate his sire more. Of course, they weren’t. Not when souls were sent to them in Hell to satisfy their depraved needs.
    “This is a surprise.” He forced a smile, concealing his contempt. “A visit from the Sin.”
    “Boy, you don’t want to take that tone with me,” Greed said coolly, ambling around the room.
    Boy ?Andras’s jaw compressed at the word. He fisted his hands to keep from wrapping them around the decrepit fool’s neck. But he didn’t dare take on his sire. Greed would kill him without remorse.
    Besides, he had far bigger plans.
    A flick of his hand and Greed turned off the Wall Of Screams. His gaze fell on the broken shards of mirror on the floor. His tone implacable, he said, “I sent for you.”
    “I’m busy. I have work to do. An army to train.”
    “Would this work have anything to do with breaking the Ancients ’ laws that keep the balance in place?” Greed stopped strolling and fixed unflinching eyes on him.
    Andras dismissed the comment with a wave of his hand. “I have no idea what you speak of. I merely prepare my army for war.”
    “Yes, the very war which will occur by the rift that opened into the mortal realm. You have no idea of what you dabble in, boy. Fix it. Close the rift and get those demoniis back to the Dark Strata.”
    Andras stared at his father, flames licking across his skin as he fought to keep his temper in check. The old goat had repudiated him as heir to inherit the sin greed, because he took the soul of a protected mortal. And because of that one foolish mistake, his father chose his fuckhead-loser brother, Lazaar, to inherit.
    No matter. He had better things to look forward to. His sire would regret his choice soon enough. The tension eased from his body at the thought, the flames dwindling.
    Greed’s demeanor didn’t change. His black eyes remained pinned on him. “You show much restraint. Good. A’Damiel bound you to this realm for your transgressions . You just had to go after a protected mortal...” Greed shook his head. “I saved your life only as a favor to your dead mother. She was my favorite. But break out of here and you will die. There will be no rebirth for you. Nor will I intervene again.” Delivering his warning, Greed flashed out of the chamber.
    Bastard!
    Like he cared about rebirth. The same damn cycle, over and over again. The same thing all demons went through if killed on another realm. The only way to end it was by iron or for those flaming Guardians to get hold of them. But once they turned demonii , then there was no rebirth for them. Just Purgatory.
    Why had he given into impulse and taken that soul?
    Andras’s teeth snapped down hard and a molar shattered. He cursed again at his fate. Grabbing the chair nearest him, he sent it crashing into the wall, the splintering sounds soothing to his ears.
    His sire’s threat meant nothing to him. He could taste his success, the freedom of