Dark Union (The Descent Series) by SM Reine Page B

to argue. The cat scoffed. I would be forced to take his presence on Earth as a statement of war. Not that I fear him, of course, but my children are much more sensitive. You understand.
    “Then what do you propose?” Nukha’il asked.
    The Reno territory, and all that is above and below, has belonged to demons since humans founded settlements there. Let us attend to the city.

    Elise cut them off with a slice of her hand. “Yeah, Reno has been under infernal control for years, but without any supervision. The Night Hag slept on it for decades. Anyone could have opened the angelic city. Demons had their chance—they messed it up.”
    And you would do better?

    “Yes,” she said. “Because I’m the person who most wants to keep the gates closed.”
    Nukha’il rolled his shoulders, like his invisible wings were bothering him. “There’s truth to that. What of a compromise?”
    Compromising is for the weak-minded, said the demon.
    It was barely an insult, as far as Elise was concerned, but Nukha’il went rigid with fury. He strode forward and seized the cat from the ground. “Your choice of forms is a mistake, demon. I could break you.” His voice was calm, but his entire body shivered with fury.
    The cat hissed and struggled in his grip, lashing its body wildly. It sank its teeth into his wrist and rabbit kicked against his arm. It was a pure feline reaction, but the demon’s response was equally poor. The night turned black around Elise. Her skin burned, like magma poured down the neck of her shirt.
    She shoved through the thickened air to grab Nukha’il’s arm. Laying her hand on him burned through the glove, but she dug her fingers in and didn’t let go. “You know the rules of negotiation,” she said. “You can’t assault him. It’s immediate relinquishment of rights.”
    His muscles quivered. “You heard what he said.”
    The cat continued to thrash, but a chuckle like melted butter rolled over them. To be honest, I find this entire subject puerile. Regardless of what decision you two attempt to negotiate, I will supervise the gates. I cannot abide such a thing on Earth without watching them.
    “And neither can we,” Nukha’il said.
    “I can’t stop either of you,” she said in a level voice. “But if you’re going to be in my territory, I will be the one in charge.”
    The angel and the demon remained locked in deadly anger for a moment before the tension dropped a fraction. Nukha’il’s hand opened. The cat landed, walked a few feet away, and began licking its fur vigorously as though it had never been touched.
    Nukha’il smoothed his jacket down. “You suggest cooperation.”
    No. There was no way in hell she would cooperate with anyone over the gates—not angels, not demons, not her own goddamn mother. But if there was one thing Elise had learned from her time dealing with the otherworld, it was that they didn’t give two shits what she wanted. Negotiation was a matter of who lied the best. The real issues would be worked out at the end of a blade.
    “I know the demons in Reno,” Elise said. “They can help me with the gates.”
    A kopis? Cooperate with demons? It sounded like the idea amused the cat. What would James think of that?
    She stiffened, but quelled her paranoid urge to reach out to her aspis. Everyone knew they were a team. Mentioning him wasn’t necessarily a threat.
    But, knowing demons, it probably was.
    “So you will lead the infernal forces in Reno. We can send an angelic delegate to supervise.” Nukha’il bobbed his head. “They won’t like it, but it could do.”
    The cat washed its face with a paw. Do what you will. It turned those black eyes on Elise, and there was far too much intelligence in them to look properly feline. When the summits began long ago, we met out of a desperate need—a need to stop the war between Heaven and Hell, a need to protect humanity from our battles. I sat with Metaraon and Teleklos, king of Sparta, and had the first civil