“That isn’t exactly true,” Lucifer said. He wasn’t the youngest. He was the oldest. But all those years as a cat hadn’t aged him. As Baba was often quick to point out, it hadn’t matured him mentally either. “Does this discussion require an audience? This seems like a private matter I should be discussing with Hattie, not all these people.”
Elric opened his mouth, about to reply, but Reginald spoke first.
“Come now. There’s no need to be ashamed. You have much to offer. A title and a belly full of fertility magic.” Reginald waggled his brows.
Mixcoatl sighed at the window, sounding forlorn. “It is true, then? These Red affinities can conceive children with more success?”
“Hush, my liege, we are but observers,” one of the princesses said.
Lucifer suspected the Fae prince was coming close to the realization that Izzy might have conceived his child, not someone else’s. He didn’t know what was more dangerous, that he had hurt Izzy and discarded her, not realizing her value as someone who could bear his heirs, or that he might want her back once he realized the child was truly his.
Lucifer sensed sorrow in the Fae prince, but it was difficult to breach the layers of magic to know whether it was like a child’s regret at dropping a lollipop in the dirt or Mixcoatl truly cared about anyone other than himself—and carrying on his lineage.
Reginald went on, oblivious to his sovereign’s distress. “And between us gentlemen, let’s not lie to each other and pretend it’s my daughter’s beauty that caught your eye.”
“Father!” Godric said.
“There’s only one thing that makes Hattie attractive. It’s the beauty of her fortune.” Reginald nodded approvingly. “There’s no need for secrecy. I give you my blessing to court my daughter. There would be no shame in such a match.” He looked Lucifer up and down. “Even if you are a bit rough around the edges and could use some . . . cultivation.”
“I’m not secretly courting your daughter,” Lucifer said. “I just danced with her because—well—it isn’t any of your business.” He didn’t want to tell these strangers about the spat between him and Abigail. “I was just enjoying our conversation. That’s all.”
“Come now. I know there have been secret letters coming from this court to my home. The servants tell me Godric has intercepted these letters and hid them from us.” Reginald thwacked his son on the back, a little too hard. “But we pay our servants well, and they keep an eye on our children. Our heirs aren’t able to keep secrets from us.”
“Those weren’t for Hattie,” Godric said quickly. “They were for me. They were—” He swallowed.
They were from Izzy. Lucifer understood Felix’s ban on Izzy and Godric writing each other letters now. Elric frowned at the young man, giving an imperceptible shake of his head.
Lucifer understood the path of brittle eggshells he was to walk on. “I believe those letters were from Abby, not me. To Godric. As a friend.”
“Oh? The friend with red hair you danced with earlier? The daughter of the Red Queen?” Reginald asked.
“She’s Queen Clarissa’s mother, not daughter,” one of Fae princesses said, making a face as she said the title.
Lucifer didn’t care for this Fae mocking Clarissa’s well-earned title simply because they didn’t think Witchkin deserved to rule.
“Oh? Well, that’s impressive,” Reginald said, nudging his son with an elbow. “And you managed to catch her eye? You danced with her for how many songs tonight?”
“Only because there wasn’t anyone else I cared to dance with.” Godric cleared his throat. “Abby and I are just friends. She’s already spoken for.”
Reginald choked on his wine. “That would be the sort of asinine thing my son would do, dance with a girl already engaged to another man. What did I tell you during our pep talk on strategy? You could have been dancing the night away with eligible young maidens.”
“I didn’t want to dance with those eligible maidens. I wanted to dance with Hattie and Abby.” Godric crossed his arms.
“Those Red affinity girls everyone says are fertile, that’s who you should have danced with.” Reginald nodded to Elric. “Like King Elric’s granddaughter Imani. She will make quite the catch.”
Elric shifted in his seat, his discomfort clear at his own family brought into this.
Godric’s voice rose, heat lacing his words for the first time that night. “If you had taken the time to listen to Miss Imani at dinner, you might have seen she has ideas about her own future other than being treated as chattel to be married off for the convenience of breeding—”
“Do not speak to your superiors in such a tone.” Reginald slapped his son across the face.
The pain that blossomed in the air was strong enough that Lucifer felt as though he was the one who had been slapped. Fire burned through Lucifer’s veins, making up for the shame and resignation in Godric’s. Lucifer leapt to his feet, ready to shove Reginald back, audience or not.
Elric stood before him in a flash, his hand on Lucifer’s chest. “This is a family matter, old chap. Allow the dukes to duke it out.” Elric was shorter than Lucifer, but he was strong. Probably he was using magic.
The Verde Court entourage milled around the library, reminding Lucifer of vultures.
“I apologize for my son’s impertinence.” Reginald tugged at his waistcoat. “It won’t happen again. He can wait outside.”
Godric backed away from his father.
“No,” Lucifer said firmly. He edged around Elric. The Fae king could have stopped him, but from the tilt of Elric’s head and curiosity in his eyes, perhaps he was more inquisitive than worried.
Lucifer placed an arm around Godric’s shoulder. He hesitated, uncertain he should make the bold statement he was about to when he didn’t know whether it was even true. “Godric is my friend. I wish him to stay.”
Godric’s mouth fell open. A grateful smile flashed across his face.
“You’ve only just met,” Reginald said in indignation. “How can you be friends?”
Lucifer didn’t have a good explanation for that. Not one that didn’t give Izzy away. Elric regarded them with interest. Surely he knew how they had met. Lucifer was the one who had sent Godric to fetch Vega and Clarissa.
Godric clapped a hand on Lucifer’s back. “This is my old buddy, Lucifer.”
Lucifer sat down. Tension eased away from Godric as he seated himself at Lucifer’s side.
Princess Malinalxochitl’s voice slithered, quiet and cold from where she stood at the window. “They’re both lying. They are covering up something.” She waved a hand at Lucifer. “This one reeks of sex and debauchery. You’d best search your daughter for signs to ascertain whether he had his way with her tonight.”
“This has nothing to do with Hattie!” Godric said. “Leave her out of this.”
“Ahem, my dear.” Mixcoatl turned to the Fae women adorned in feathery gowns. “We are but observers. It isn’t our way to interfere if they do not seek our assistance. Let Reggie sort this mess out on his own.”
“I will not be silenced!” the princess said. She waved her hand at Lucifer. “He is one of those depraved Red affinities.”
Suddenly everyone was speaking at once. Everyone except Lucifer who was busy shielding himself from the fury bouncing around the room.
“I see how it is. He’s an incubus whore; therefore, he cannot be trusted,” Mixcoatl said with cool disdain.
Lucifer suspected that was sarcasm, but he was too distracted to be certain.
“I will not stand for such debauchery. If you’ve touched my daughter, I expect you to do the honorable thing and marry her.” Reginald started to rise but was stopped by Elric.
“When would he ever have had the opportunity?” Godric asked. “He wasn’t alone with her. They met for the first time tonight.”
Elric made a placating gesture with his hands. “It was three dances. That is hardly debauchery.”
&nb
sp; The guests tittered among themselves, sounding like birds.
Princess Coyolxauhqui ogled Lucifer with the knowing of a powerful being. “He’s been with someone. At least one other this evening.” She inhaled deeply. “Perhaps more.”
Godric tilted his head to the side, an unspoken question in his eyes.
“None of your beeswax,” Lucifer said quietly.
Godric blushed.
“Well, you can’t blame our Lucy for being popular,” Elric said. “He is an incubus, full of sexual energy. And a Red affinity. I imagine every woman in the kingdom wants to bed him to sire her children. That doesn’t mean he’s touched your daughter.”
“Then what are the two of you hiding?” Princess Coyolxauhqui stalked toward him, circling them. “If this has nothing to do with a secret affair between him and Hattie, what are the two of you covering up?” Her eyes were yellow and reptilian, mesmerizing.
Prince Mixcoatl cleared his throat. “Perhaps it is time to remove the Tinaaltos and my court from the room and speak of this matter more privately.”
His voice sounded as though it came through water. Princess Coyolxauhqui smiled at Lucifer. Her eyes burned like twin stars.
Godric nudged Lucifer in the gut. “Don’t make eye contact.”
Lucifer tore his gaze away and blinked to clear his head. He didn’t know how to take the attention off Izzy, who was the one who had the most to lose. If her former lover found out she was here, he might murder her and steal their child. Or force her back into the keeping of his court.
Lucifer didn’t want Hattie to suffer either. There was only one possible solution, though he hated to do so. He was going to have to misdirect them by using his magic on poor Godric.
“I’m very sorry to do this to you,” Lucifer said softly before adding loud enough for everyone to hear. “We’re going to have to come clean and tell them all the truth.”
Godric shook his head, his eyes going wide. Before he could respond, Lucifer kissed Godric on the mouth.
“Oh my,” Elric said. “That wasn’t what I was expecting.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Taking One for the Team
Lucifer felt no attraction for Godric, but he kissed him with the amount of passion he would have reserved for a lover.
A startled cry of protest escaped Godric before he relaxed into Lucifer’s embrace. Lucifer only used a small amount of incubus magic. He loathed himself for using another person this way. It wasn’t as if Godric had given his consent and had agreed to be a pawn in this game between Fae courts.
Lucifer was careful with his magic. He didn’t want to enthrall Godric as he had accidentally done to Kelsie. But he needed to do so enough to convince Reginald Tinaalto and his sovereign, Prince Mixcoatl, that this was the big secret they were hiding.
Lucifer pretended he was kissing Abigail, but there was no way to not think about Godric’s rough stubble against his chin. Godric leaned against him, whether it was because he understood Lucifer’s plan, or the incubus magic made him do so.
For his part, Godric did an excellent job pretending. His fingers kneaded into Lucifer’s shoulder. Touch magic percolated inside Lucifer, unexpectedly revving up to greet Godric. He had no idea his magic—or his body—would respond to another man.
Lucifer drew back. Godric’s eyes were half closed, dreamy and content.
“Wow,” Godric said.
Lucifer’s guilt deepened for using Godric that way. He hoped he hadn’t solved Izzy’s problem only to ruin Godric’s life. Abby had chastised him for using his magic on her without asking her permission first, Lucifer feared he’d done it again, and this time, the damage might not be able to be undone.
Godric flung an arm across Lucifer’s shoulder. He grinned. “Excuse me for not coming clean about the matter sooner and saving you all from worry earlier. This is my secret lover, Lucifer Thatch. We didn’t meet tonight, as you guessed. We’ve known each other for quite some time but have been forced to keep our affairs secret.”
Reginald’s face was pale. His wine glass had spilled onto the rug in a crimson puddle. He hadn’t noticed.
“Oh dear,” Elric said. “I had no idea. Well, this is awkward after our earlier conversation.” He waved his hand at the puddle, the wine tilting back into the glass and floating onto the end table. “Shall we celebrate this happy union with champagne?” Elric smiled hopefully.
Lucifer couldn’t tell whether Elric knew the kiss was a farce. It seemed like he would have been more upset on Abigail’s behalf if he did think Lucifer had taken Godric as a lover.
“Everyone out,” Prince Mixcoatl said, his voice quiet but commanding. The whispers ceased.
Lucifer rose, but the prince shook his head. “Not you.” Mixcoatl waved his hands at the courtiers.
Reluctantly Lucifer sat. The princesses exchanged amused smiles and glided out of the library, leading their guests away. Lucifer breathed a little easier without the crush of guests watching his every move.
Out of the corner of his eye, Lucifer caught the sight of a snake slithering from behind his loveseat toward the window. A condor perched on a marble bust in the corner. When he tried to look directly at them, they remained invisible. The court may have exited, but they left their spies in the room.
Elric’s strained smile remained fixed in place. “In light of this new information, shall we forget this little business about matchmaking and accusations of debauchery on females?” He laughed like it was a joke.
Reginald sputtered, but no words came from his lips. Lucifer enjoyed seeing the man squirm after his display of bigotry, though he did worry how this might affect Godric.
“It’s a true waste of fertility, if these Red affinities are as special as they claim to be.” Mixcoatl eyed Lucifer dispassionately. “Funny how that is. A year ago I didn’t even know there were Witchkin out there who possessed such . . . useful powers.”
Lucifer wasn’t trying to read the man, but he couldn’t help hearing regret play a sad note in the Fae’s heart. Lucifer suspected that meant Mixcoatl knew what Izzy was.
Mixcoatl waved a hand at Lucifer and Godric. “I suppose we could make the two of you some sort of bargain. You could be permitted to keep Godric as a lover, so long as you marry his sister and sire heirs.”
“I think not,” Reginald said. “I should disown my son for this.”
“Silence,” Mixcoatl said. “Godric’s lust for this . . . creature cannot be helped. He’s smitten, and he’s powerless against it.” He didn’t speak the words with disdain so much as fascination. “But if it’s true what Queen Vega says, a Witchkin with an affinity like yours could solve all of the Fae fertility problems. You could marry a Fae queen or anyone else you desire. You could have my wife. Or any of my sisters. Or my mother.”
“It seems a little bit presumptuous of you to speak for your wife,” Lucifer said. “Or any other lady not present.”
Mixcoatl frowned. “I think you fail to understand how desperately we wish to conceive a child. It’s been over five hundred years for most Fae.”
Had he been gazing at Elric, Lucifer might have assumed he was referring to him, but he wasn’t looking to the other Fae in the room with jealousy. His smile was taunting, hinting at what he wasn’t saying out loud.
Lucifer’s blood ran cold. Mixcoatl knew what Izzy was. He might not have before, but he did now. Surely he knew she was here. Godric’s shoulder pressed into Lucifer’s, rigid with anger.
“Most Fae, but not all.” Elric placed a hand on his heart. “I’ve sired multiple children by Red affinities.”
Mixcoatl’s yellow eyes intensified as he gazed at Lucifer. “Have you given much thought to your own fortune and your future? You won’t be Baba Nata’s apprentice forever.”
Lucifer forced himself to look away. He didn’t like that this stranger knew so much about him. He wondered whether he’d been making inquiries of people before the party.
“You could
join my court and serve as a courtier,” Mixcoatl said. “You could bed as many Fae women as you wish. You would be gifted with jewels and riches beyond your wildest imaginings.”
Bile rose in Lucifer’s throat. “You have no idea how insulting that proposal is. I don’t want to be your court’s gigolo, my sole purpose to propagate your family.”
“Who knows. Perhaps you already have without knowing it.” Mixcoatl raised a knowing eyebrow.
Lucifer thought of Gertrude and the electrical explosion earlier. He hoped that hadn’t resulted in a child. He’d never given much thought to his own fertility—except Baba’s warning to have a care not to get Abigail pregnant unless he wanted to raise her and a baby.
“Witchkin can be so impractical,” Elric said placatingly. “But I’ve found it a rewarding and enriching experience working with them. And I like to think they’ve found it equally rewarding working with me. Perhaps something can be worked out at a future time with Lucifer or someone else.”
Lucifer doubted that. “I have something else in mind for my life.”
“Have you? And what is that? Serving as midwife?” Mixcoatl’s eyes narrowed.
Lucifer didn’t want to admit what he really wanted from this life to this man. He didn’t tell him how he wanted to live with Abigail and have a chance at happiness with her. Beyond that he didn’t care. It mattered little if he lived in a little cottage like Baba’s or a castle. So long as he didn’t have to go to parties.
Lucifer liked healing and helping people, though he had never considered what he might do with these skills after his apprenticeship was over. Whatever would make Abigail happiest.
Only, now that this new Abigail didn’t want to be his old Abigail, he felt less certain about his hopes and dreams coming true.
Godric shifted uncomfortably. Lucifer realized why. Mixcoatl knew Lucifer assisted Baba in healing and midwifery. That meant he must have known—or at least suspected—that he had delivered Izzy’s baby.
After all that guile, he hadn’t even managed to trick this Fae. He’d even kissed Godric for nothing and probably ruined his relationship with his father.
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