Christina Bauer [Bauer - Acca

Brighton, MA 02135

www.monsterhousebooks.com

ISBN 9781943858286

Copyright 2018 by Monster House Books LLC

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Christina Bauer is a non-linear thinker who came up with ARMAGEDDON and then went back and wrote some earlier books. This is why you'll see ARMAGEDDON (Book 8) and the Offspring series available before LINCOLN (Book 2) and THE BRUTAL TIME (Book 7). We've told her to stop this practice, but she keeps giving us lewd hand gestures in response. Apologies in advance for any inconvenience.

For All Those Who Kick Ass, Take Names,

and Read Books

I haul ass across a tenement rooftop. The sky threatens rain, but what else is new? This is Purgatory, after all. Land of blech. On the next building over, Desmond the klepto demon scrambles his lizard-like butt off as he attempts to escape. Attempts being the key word in that sentence.

At every step, my fianc Prince Lincoln keeps a steady pace by my side. A warm sense of happiness seeps through my chest.

Were demon hunting together again. At last.

Ahead of us, Desmond leaps onto another rooftop. This part of town is cramped and deserted, so he can easily scramble around without freaking out the general populace. Desmonds a lanky dude with green skin, a flat nose, and an enchanted book in his possession that he just snatched from me when I exited my limo.

What a douche.

Anger pulses through my bloodstream. Desmond stole the Rixa Codexa small book of evidence thats hugely important.

I want it back like now.

I force my breathing to slow. Even though the book is crucial, I need to be patient. Plus, the chase is all part of the fun, right? And hell knows I havent had any demon-fighting fun in ages.

Speaking of which, whats the rush to grab Desmond anyway? Its not like he stands a chance against both Lincoln and me.

From the corner of my eye, I give my guy a quick once-over. Hmm. Someone looks mighty spicy in his new black body armor.

Maybe if I let Lincoln run ahead a little, I can get a quick peek at his butt.

I take care to pant excessively while slowing my pace across the uneven shingles. Sure, its unlikely that Id actually be tired at this point. Like every native of Purgatory, Im a quasi-demon. That means Im mostly human with a little bit of demon DNA. Its what gives me a kick-ass tail as well as powers across two of the seven deadly sins, namely lust and wrath. My lust side grants me a pretty face, curves that stop traffic, and auburn hair that looks amazing without any product. Thanks to my inner wrath demon, I can fight like hell and run full out for days.

Even so, sometimes a girl just needs to slow down and check out her fiancs butt, so thats what I do right now. Carpe assem.

Lincoln runs ahead of me. For the record, I know what youre up to.

Sure, its called conserving energy. Why should we kill ourselves to catch Desmond?

Ah, then this is only about the klepto demon? Lincoln leaps super-high over some kind of ancient television aerial. From this angle, its a mighty lovely sight. Not my glutes?

Im so shnagged.

Fine. I like the view.

Were hunting a demon, Myla. Theres no missing the smile in his voice. Lincoln loves it when Im sassy.

Hey, I can multitask.

More smiling-voice-ness. Ive noticed.

Heres the deal. Six months ago, I was the baddest-ass warrior in Purgatorys Arena. Then, I got transformed into a supernatural called the great scala, which means that Im the only being who can permanently move souls to Heaven or Hell. Trouble is, if Im hurt, its a showstopper for the spirit world. Long story short, until a Scala Heir is named, I have to be a responsible demigoddess. That means working behind a desk instead of killing things. It sucks. Hard.

I concede your multitasking skills. Lincoln makes another mouthwatering leap. Youve got two minutes to dawdle.

Whoa.

Did you just say dawdle? I put on a tone of mock-outrage. What are you, eighty?

Ill pass along your critique to my royal tutors.

Like theyll listen. I snap my fingers. Hey, Ive got an idea. How about you watch some television? Or any, really. Thatll help you sound like youre from this century.

Last time I checked, resembling a young human wasnt one of my life goals, and youre not changing the subject. One minute of dawdle time remains. He places extra-emphasis on the word dawdle, the cheeky monkey.

Eh, bite me.

No comment. He looks back over his shoulder and winks. When the situation calls for it, Lincoln does love to use his teeth, and not in a bad way. At all.

After that, my guy goes quiet, so I return to ogling mode. Lincoln is tall and broad-shouldered with strong bone structure and messy brown hair. Hes twentya year older than mewhich some say is too young for us to get hitched. Whatever. I cant wait for our wedding. Plus, Lincolns a kind of demon hunter called a thrax. His people are part angel, obsessed with tradition, and live deep under the Earths surface. Lincolns their high prince. More importantly, hes whip-smart, honest, noble almost to a fault, and a great kisser. Now that were engaged, weve been working up to bigger things than kissing. It involves a lot less body armor and tons more skin.

Mmmmm, a partially naked Lincoln is a beautiful sight.

Times up, says Lincoln.

Boo.

Honestly, we have to hustle. We need that codex.

Okay, Lincoln has a point. The Rixa Codex is where weve been storing up evidence for a trial against Acca, a House of thrax asswipes who need to be brought down. Once we get that book back from Desmondand use it to record our last interview for the thrax courtthen well finally have enough proof to officially tear Acca apart. And after what those freaks put me through last month, I really want to destroy them. I mean, who enters into a secret pact with none other than Armageddon, the King of Hell?

Acca, thats who.

Lincoln and I almost died cleaning up that particular mess. In fact, Lady Adair of Acca did end up dead. She might have been a bit of a bitch, but still. The whole situation isnt something we can let slide.

I pick up the pace so Im running shoulder-to-shoulder with Lincoln once more. For the record, you spoil all my fun.

Huh. Lincoln glances in my direction while arching his brows ever so slightly. I know for a fact that Im your main source of fun.

I stick my tongue out at him. Hes totally right.

Lincoln laughs, which is a rich and rolling sound that makes everything in Purgatory seem a little less crappy. Together we leap toward another rooftop and land in perfect sync. A few pigeons flap off. When Desmond sees us closing in, he pulls a vial from his pocket, downs the contents, and picks up his pace. For a demon who has to waddle-walk everywhere, that guy sure starts hustling. The vial probably contained a velocity potion.

That said, even if Desmond can go extra fast, Im not worried that hell actually escape. While most full-blooded demons fall into the not-too-bright category, Desmond brings