“You aren’t better yet. You just think you are because I numbed the pain.” Lucifer placed a hand on his shoulder, keeping him seated. “Just focus on breathing for a minute.”
Lucifer didn’t actually know how ultrasound worked, but the name suggested the vibration of soundwaves. Sometimes when he’d been a cat, he’d perused books on medicine and physics, though his attention span for details a human brain could grasp had grown shorter the longer he’d remained a feline.
He supposed he didn’t actually know what he was doing, but he felt compelled to do something. He hummed a low note and projected that down his arm and into his fingers, urging the vibration into the man’s kidney and urethra. The stones rattled together and cracked. Lucifer concentrated on the flow of energy, transforming the pain into relief so that the valet wouldn’t suffer.
The man’s eyes were closed, and he breathed deeply. Lucifer hummed, the sound splintering the stones smaller and smaller. He pulverized the jagged edges until they were dust.
“Don’t move,” Lucifer said with the authority of someone who knew what he was talking about, though he doubted he did. He fetched the man a glass of water and made him drink.
“What’s your name?” Lucifer asked the valet.
“Peter.”
Lucifer shook his head, trying not to laugh at the irony of it. “Well, Peter, it looks like you’re going to need some assistance with your peter later because the worst isn’t over yet.”
The stuffy old man actually laughed.
Lucifer refilled the glass and handed it to the valet. “Do you have a friend who can help see you through the evening until you pass the rest of the stones?” Urinating sand wasn’t going to be a pleasant experience, but it was better than rocks.
“I will manage.” Peter bowed his head.
“Is this a frequent problem? Have you ever tried drinking a tonic made from apple cider vinegar, lemon, and bear grape?” That was what Baba would have recommended.
“I will try that.” Peter cleared his throat, frowning as he glanced away. “I am in your debt, Prince Lucifer.”
“It’s nothing, really. And please, call me Lucy.” Lucifer extended a hand and helped his patient up. “Prince Lucifer sounds like a devil.”
“As you wish, Prince Lucy.” Peter gripped Lucifer’s hand in his own. His brown eyes were full of earnestness. “I will forever remember this kindness you have shown me. I am your faithful servant to command.”
Lucifer bit his lip, considering those words. He needed an ally, especially if he was to steal that ruby for Baba. A servant who knew his way about the castle would be useful.
As much as Lucifer wanted it to be true that this man was in his debt and would do as he commanded, he doubted curing an ailing man’s kidney stones would trump his loyalty to his sovereigns. Especially when the favor Lucifer required might cost the man his life.
Lucifer bowed his head. “I will consider your offer and perhaps take you up on it another time.”
Had Baba foreseen this moment and known there was a chance of accomplishing her task because Lucifer would gain the allies he needed? Or perhaps it didn’t matter whether he had a chance or not; she needed health and youth so badly, she didn’t care what it cost Lucifer.
CHAPTER THREE
A Muse without Amusement
Once Lucifer was groomed and fully dressed, the valet allowed Abigail into the room. His breath caught in his throat at seeing her. She looked like a fairy princess with puff sleeves in a dress with a high waist. Her dress was cream with hints of pale green ribbon threaded throughout that one might have mistaken as vines rather than fabric. She wore her auburn hair in a cascade of curls in an old-fashioned style that reminded him of a period film she once had enjoyed watching.
“You look very grown up.” He placed a hand on his chest, all his joy and yearning for her feeling like it would spill out. “Turn around and let me see all of you.”
She twirled, laughing in delight. He caught her around the waist and pulled her close. Peter bowed and slipped out of the room.
She looped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. With his beard gone, he noticed how different her lips felt on his skin. She smoothed her fingers over his face.
“It’s dreadful, isn’t it? I hardly recognize myself.” He made a face. “I look like Felix.”
“You look enough like you that I can tell the difference.” She stared up into his face, her eyes full of tenderness. “I like you with and without a beard, but there’s something about your face like this . . . it’s almost . . . familiar.”
He wondered whether the part of her that remembered Coinneach, Emmet, and Niall also remembered him as a carefree young man without any facial hair.
“I suppose I can tolerate going without a beard, so long as you don’t kiss Felix accidentally thinking he’s me.” He kissed her fingers.
She laughed. “I’m not going to mix the two of you up. I’m not a child anymore.”
He drew her closer, wanting to believe it. “Then what are you?” He might have fueled his affinity in the bath to satiate his magic, but his spirit still felt restless, wanting only her.
She stood on tiptoe, lifting her chin to kiss him. He ducked his head down, his lips about to meet hers.
“Don’t you look like the dapper man of the hour?” an unexpected voice said from the door.
Abigail drew back.
A man dressed in silver and white glided through the door. A spiky crown made of quartz sat on the top of his silvery-blond hair. His smile was like that of an angel. There was a glamour about him, but it was so dense and decadent, Lucifer couldn’t see through it.
Lucifer had once tried to attack this man while he’d been a cat. The old Abigail hadn’t trusted him. In those days, Elric had been a prince of the Silver Court. Now he was far more important.
King Elric of the Raven Court strode forward, a hand extended. The moment Lucifer took hold of his hand, a jolt of power shot up his arm and tingled through him. Lucifer had the sudden urge to turn into a cat and run away. It was rare to come across a Fae with this much power, but the man was royalty. A high Fae as Baba sometimes called them.
Elric’s eyes shifted from silver to green.
Abigail’s tone was formal. “Might I present King Elric of the Raven Court, Husband of Queen Vega, Son of King Viridios of the Silver Court, Muse of . . . um. . . .” Abigail faltered. “I’m sorry. I forgot your other titles.”
“It’s fine, love. Your friend Lucy and I have already met.” Elric released Lucifer’s hand and patted Abigail on the back. His tone was conspiratorial. “Titles are for boring people. Remember what I said? No stress or worries tonight. If you forget anyone’s titles, simply make a joke of it and come up with whatever suits the moment. That’s what I do.”
Abigail giggled. Any distrust the old Abigail might have had for this Fae had disappeared with the burden of her past. Lucifer wasn’t certain that was for the best. Anyone with this much magic warranted wariness. He didn’t like that Abigail lived with so much danger in her life.
Lucifer had encountered enough Fae in the forest, both kind and dangerous, that he had never been one to label any as being all good or bad. Yet he now understood Baba’s reservations about a ball hosted by a Fae court. King Elric was an entirely different kind of Fae, with power unlike anything Lucifer had experienced before. Just being in his presence made his eyes water.
Breathing in the air around him rivaled drinking in the finest champagne. Lucifer was consumed by desire to paint a picture or compose a poem, though he had never practiced either skill in his life. He stared into Elric’s eyes, hypnotized as the irises changed to violet.
Abigail nudged Lucifer.
“What?” Lucifer asked.
Her eyebrows lifted expectantly. “King Elric was talking to you.”
Lucifer looked from Abigail’s exasperation to the king. “I beg your pardon. I wasn’t listening.” He’d been
thinking about weaving rainbows. It didn’t even make sense.
“Obviously!” She gave him a playful shove.
“It’s all right.” Elric smiled indulgently. “I have that effect on people when we first meet. Especially artists.”
Lucifer shook his head. “I’m not an artist.”
“Nonsense. I’ve never met a Red affinity who wasn’t some kind of artist. If you aren’t a painter, you’re probably a singer, a musician, or a dancer.” He leaned in, inhaling deeply as if he could smell the artistry wafting off Lucifer. “Don’t forget, I come from a long line of muses. I know such things.”
“Isn’t it wonderful?” Abigail asked. “You can find out what your hidden talent is.”
Lucifer shook his head. His brother was the one who had gotten all the artistic skills in the family.
“Could it be that you’re a poet? Perhaps a weaver?” Elric’s gaze flickered to the blanket Lucifer had laid on the bed.
Lucifer didn’t like this Fae examining the blanket he’d made to capture Abigail’s soul. He’d used it once as a net in the underworld and would need to use it again when it was time to put her soul in her body. Lucifer edged into Elric’s line of sight to block his view of the blanket.
Elric unfolded a piece of parchment from his pocket. “Here is the schedule for the evening. Your brother has taken the liberty of drawing it up for you.”
Abigail laughed. “That sounds like Felix! He loves schedules.”
“I made sure you have a seat next to Abby at dinner. Despite what everyone else says about the need for diplomacy and the reasons they would have you here to show you off, I know the real reason—the only reason—you came to attend our ball.” Elric’s gaze flickered to Abigail, his smile reminding Lucifer of an indulgent father.
Abigail beamed. She hugged Lucifer around the waist as though he were her special doll that she couldn’t be separated from for a moment.
“Among the activities Felix has appointed on your schedule, tomorrow before you leave, you are to have breakfast with your sisters and brother. And I suppose your cousin might attend too.”
“My sisters? You mean Odette and Priscilla?” Lucifer rarely thought about the family he hadn’t seen since he was a child. He had met Odette briefly when he’d battled with the Raven Queen, and once when Clarissa had brought her to Baba’s hut, but he hadn’t known Priscilla was still alive until recently when he’d learned she was Felix’s familiar. All these people were strangers. He didn’t know if he wanted to meet them or not.
Abigail slipped her hand into his. “Izzy is your cousin. Did you know? Distantly of course. I bet if you have a baby it will look just like hers, cute and fat with messy black hair.” She tugged at his ponytail.
“You look as if I’ve just delivered your death sentence.” Elric studied Lucifer, concern in his eyes. “You do wish to have breakfast with your family, do you not?”
“I, um, that would be nice,” Lucifer said. “Wait, no, I can’t. I have to leave before dawn. Baba said.” She hadn’t specified which time, this one or hers. He suspected he should return before it was morning here, in any case.
If he didn’t, she would give him some kind of consequence without fail.
“Oh bother. That is terrible news. No reunion for the Thatch clan after all.” Elric tapped his chin. “No matter. I’ll switch some seats around at the feast tonight to ensure you get to sit with family. My lovely wife wanted all her Red affinities to be spread out to show you off better, but spending time with family is more important than guests. Wouldn’t you say?”
“All ‘her’ Red affinities?” Lucifer noticed Elric’s wording, mirroring that of the bath attendants. “You say it like Vega thinks she owns us.”
Abigail rolled her eyes. “She does.”
Elric laughed. “Come now, my darling wife isn’t that bad.”
Lucifer didn’t know how he felt about any of this.
“You can spend some time alone before the ball begins, but you must come when the valet fetches you for the ball.”
Good. That meant there would be time to evaluate her soul.
Elric wagged a stern finger at Abigail. “You can’t keep him all to yourself for the entire evening. We have people Lucy needs to meet tonight, important families.” He turned to Lucifer. “You must meet your allies—families and members of courts who have aligned themselves with the new Raven Court and those interested in the new Red Court. Many of these families are harboring secret Red affinities like yourself.”
He held up a card with a loop of string attached to it. “Do not lose this dance card. I’ve ensured a spot for you to dance with Abigail every other dance, and I’ve filled other spots with the names of eligible young women in the land who will be coming of age tonight.”
Lucifer shook his head. “I have no interest meeting other eligible ladies. I just want—”
“The dancing itself is just for show. What truly matters is that you make an introduction of yourself to each of these rich and powerful families. It would be impolite if you allowed Abigail to monopolize you, especially since she hasn’t even come of age yet, and she isn’t supposed to be courted at all. Therefore, you will show yourself off and dance with your new allies. The two of you can dance as much as you want together after the magic show Vega puts on to show off her army of Red affinities, but before that, everything must be formal.”
Lucifer was starting to feel overwhelmed by all these rules to remember. He looked to Abigail. “I don’t know how to dance.”
“Yes, you can. We’ve danced before. In the forest.” Her brow furrowed.
“That wasn’t real dancing. It was just pretend.” He’d thought of her like a child and made up steps to entertain her. Those were just games.
“Truly? You can’t dance?” Elric squawked, losing some of his noble dignity. “Another detail someone neglected to tell me.” Elric pointed to Abigail. “Fetch your dance instructor. Tell her it is an emergency.”
Abigail’s eyes went wide. She lifted the hem of her skirts and ran out.
“Never danced before, you say,” Elric muttered under his breath. “Truly, you Thatches never cease to amaze me.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know I needed to be able to dance,” Lucifer said, hating how he sounded like a dolt. He’d been more concerned about mastering the spells Baba had made him practice. Dancing had been the last skill on his mind.
“You needn’t fret. This isn’t anything we can’t handle. Just remember, you need to enter separate from Abby. You are to be announced. She won’t be introduced because she’s a member of the household, and she hasn’t formally come of age.” Elric patted him on the shoulder, his smile reassuring. “Our little Abby will help you. She knows all the rules. Whether she follows them or not . . . is a different matter.”
Lucifer remembered what the valet had said about Abigail’s matchmaking attempts. “Is she that mischievous?”
“And then some!” Elric grinned. “I’ve grown quite fond of her. She’s more approachable than the old Abigail. She worries less too.”
Lucifer’s eyes narrowed. Of course Elric would say such a thing. Abigail hadn’t trusted him after her time in the Faerie Realm. She hadn’t wanted him to interfere in Clarissa’s wedding to Felix—or any other matter of her life.
Most of the names on the dance card were unfamiliar save for Abigail’s and Imani’s. Lucifer had liked Clarissa’s former student, Imani, during the times she’d stayed with Abigail during school vacations.
Lucifer’s shoulders hunched forward at the long list of strangers he would need to dance with. Had he been a cat, he would have hidden under a chair. “I’m afraid I’m ignorant of all these formalities. Can’t I just watch?” He hated admitting all his weaknesses to this man who was practically a stranger, but Elric’s warmth was so earnest, Lucifer found himself confessing more than he intended.
Another reason to guard himself in a house full of such powerful magic.
“Very well. Simply come and observe. Enjoy yourself. You look tense. Are you certain you don’t want an art lesson of some kind to help you unwind?” Elric stepped in closer, adjusting Lucifer’s collar.
“I’m not tense. I’m fine.” Lucifer forced himself to remain still and unclench his fists.
“What’s this? A special treasure?” Elric reached through the fabric of Lucifer’s cravat as though it were simply made of air and lifted the amulet from his chest. “How curious. I sense magic. What kind of adornment is this?”
“Don’t.” Lucifer stepped back, slapping Elric’s fingers away. He flattened a hand over the amulet, keeping it close to his chest. The amulet disappeared under the brocade waistcoat and layers of white cravat as it left Elric’s grasp.
Lucifer’s heart slammed against his rib cage, the little bottle bouncing under his palm.
“Whatever is the matter?” Elric asked, his eyes going wide with what might have been hurt. “You act as though I’ve just molested you.”
“Nothing. I just don’t want you touching my belongings.” Lucifer withdrew another step.
“I see,” Elric said. “A man with a mystery. I shall leave you with your secrets, then. So long as this isn’t a weapon intended to injure one of my guests.” Elric’s eyes narrowed. “It isn’t a weapon, is it?”
“No.” Lucifer shifted uncomfortably. “I didn’t bring any weapons with me.” He wasn’t certain if he should have admitted that or not.
Elric circled around him, his eyes shifting from blue to black. “Except for your magic of course.”
Lucifer didn’t trust this stranger. He didn’t want him to know what he was planning, especially if he was like Clarissa and didn’t want Lucifer to give Abigail her soul or memories back. He’d known Clarissa had worried the soul might be atrophied and too old—and the procedure of replanting a soul was dangerous—but he’d learned how strongly she opposed his plan when she’d convinced Izzy to steal Baba’s books from him.
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