by S Lawrence
“Do you not remember how you got here?” Wow, fucking low blow, even for Lucifer.
“She won’t surprise me this time.” Even I can hear the regret and resignation in his voice.
“We were all surprised. Not only by their actions but also by the amount of power He had given them. “ Luc looked at us both and then jerked his head toward the car. “Come, we need to figure out our next step.”
I climb on my bike and pull away. I’m at the office in what seems like mere moments. I had been so lost in thought muscle memory got me here. I walk up the cypress stairs, waiting on the porch. They pull up minutes later, giving me an idea of how fast I drove here.
No one speaks as we move through the outer offices and into our private space. Dagen stands as I walk through the door, and I widen my eyes, rolling them back. He arches one perfectly groomed eyebrow.
“So,” I start as soon as the door closes. “The one called Hope was with Grace. Nasty cunt for sure. Her power is her name, and she uses it like a hammer. She senses when someone has lost all of it. She wraps them in her power and gives them the greatest sense of hope, makes what they need or want available to them but twists it. Rips it away from them.”
Luc frowns but says nothing. Evander isn’t even listening. Dagen straightens at my words; he, at least, is a pissed as I am.
“Sent her back to them. I was able to force my way into her mind when she was focused on destroying a street musician. Hopefully, she will kill a few for us.” I smirk at the thought. “Another one showed up, but I was able to kill her with her own blade.”
I make it sound much easier than it was, and Luc raises a brow. I refuse to elaborate.
“I heard Seraphina’s threat,” Luc murmurs.
“I think we all did,” Dagen states. I shrug. Let that bitch come.
“It will be all out war now. They won’t bother to hide what they are doing.” I look at the King of Hell incredulously.
“When have they ever hidden? They leave this planet littered with bodies.”
He looks at me hard for a long minute then disappears. I understand.
It’s about to get much worse for the humans.
Twenty-Four
GRACE
The brightness of Heaven blinds me, as does my fury.
I spin to glare at my brother.
“I know you’re upset but I have to keep you safe.” I’m speechless.
I’ve been living with the Fallen for thousands of years, but now he wants to keep me safe? Now that I was seconds from being back with Evander? I see his hand outstretched in my mind and I grit my teeth.
I finally let the anger I had forced down at seeing him alive outside of Avalon burst forth.
“Did you know?” I grit out. The look on his face says everything. Of course he knew. “How long?”
He turns away, but not before I see the guilt.
“Are you fucking kidding me, Caliel?” Grabbing his arm, I spin him back. He lets me control him. “The whole time. Why?”
“Why, what? Why didn’t I tell you that Lucifer had brought your lover back to life? That he was a demon? The first Prince of Hell?” He stares at me waiting, but two can play that game. I stare right back. “It would have eaten away at you. Driven you mad.”
“Maybe but that should have been my choice.” I hate the hurt I hear.
“You can’t be together now. Please tell me you understand that.”
It’s my turn to look away. “Grace. You are an angel of Heaven, and he is Lucifer’s second in command, a high demon of Hell.” His voice is filled with sympathy.
“What does that even mean? We both know Hell isn’t what humans think.” It isn’t not what they think either. It’s a prison for the very worst of all kinds.
He comes to me, stopping just inches away. I don’t look at him. He waits, and finally I turn my head. “Must I give up everything?”
His arms come around me, and I let my forehead drop to his chest. A thousand years of tears start to pour from my body. Grief I was never allowed to feel over Evander’s death, worry for Lillian throughout her whole life, and now anger at being kept from the man I love, still.
“He might not be that man.” My brother’s quiet reply makes me realize I had been crying out loud.
I want to argue that Evander would never change but I’m different now. What if I’m too different for him to love the way he once did?
Pushing away from Caliel, I turn and walk slowly down the golden hallway I never thought to see again. Pausing at what was my door, I see everything is as I left it; I could have been away for only a few hours not hundreds of years.
All of my things are gleaming in the light, and I realize he’s not only kept them but also taken care of them, waiting for me to return. I turn my head, locking eyes with him. There I see how hard this has been on him.
I think of how lonely he must have been up here. This little home is far from anyone else, hidden away so people didn’t see and realize what we were. The thought makes me sad. So many secrets in Heaven, no wonder it all failed.
I shake my head in disappointment. Not in us or even the situation but in Him. I finally understand.
“Are you watching?” I whisper, sending the question out into the universe.
Of course, there is no reply, but I didn’t expect one. I step through the doorway and draw a deep breath.
“I… I need to be alone for a little while,” I call out as I turn to close the door. He stands on the other side and nods just once. I ignore the hurt on his face.
Crossing to my bed, I sink into the plushness of it, drawing in the smells of my old life. A life I know I can’t ever return to, one I don’t think I’d really want to. I’m no longer that bright and shiny girl. I no longer have the innocence that let me live here unworried about everything.
I no longer have faith.
Twenty-Five
LILLIAN
I am completely alone. Pulling my knees up, I look around the opulent bedroom, totally different than my own. I don’t know how to be here. I don’t know how to be, period.
Grace has always been my constant, my mother in every aspect but one. She’s gone. Safe. I sigh at my own selfishness; she’s finally away from them, finally in place where she can’t be hurt, and I’m worried about being alone.
I hear deep voices and stiffen. Lucifer had come earlier, telling me about Grace, wanting to reassure me, but he left as soon as my first tear tumbled from my eye.
The ruler of Hell afraid of a girl crying, it’s almost enough to make me laugh. Almost.
No one else has come to the room that the one named Dagen brought me to right after Torryn had left. He had suggested that I rest. Although his suggestion sounded more like a command.
They haven’t said anything about Torryn. I’m assuming that he is fine since Grace is but still. Forcing myself to stop chewing at my lip, I try to understand why I’m so drawn to the man.
An image of him pops into my head. Shirtless. Heat pools low in my belly. I’ve never seen him without a shirt so I’m being stupid, but in my imagination, the tattoos at his neck and on his arms continue over his chest and abdomen, intricate designs in bold colors.
My fingers curl into my palms, itching to touch those bright colors and the warmth beneath them.
I grin, my lips pressed against my knees. I’ve never even kissed anyone. What in the world do I think I’d do with him? I mean I know what, I’ve watched videos on my phone and heard the others talking about their time with human men, but still.
Footsteps stop right outside the room, and I strain my ears, listening. Nothing happens as seconds then minutes tick by. I shriek when there is suddenly a booming knock. The door flies open and Torryn is there, eyes darting around the room, looking for danger.
My face heats, and I bury it against my legs, hoping to hide my flaming cheeks. I sounded like a child, a frightened child. I grew up in a house of sadistic murderers and I scream at a knock. I want to disappear.
&nb
sp; “Are you.. “ I stop him before he can finish.
“The noise just surprised me.” I roll my eyes at myself. His mouth forms a small circle, and he nods over and over. “I don’t normally scream like that. I’m not scared easily. Usually.” The last is a mere mumble.
“Of course not.” He steps one step inside the room. Taking it in, he frowns. “I guess I’ve not been in here in years. Fancy.”
That one word speaks volumes about what he thinks of the fancy stuff in here. It makes me smile. He smiles back, shifting on his feet. Oh my goodness, he’s nervous. This gorgeous demon, a Prince of Hell, no less, is nervous.
“Did you want something?” Whose voice is that? I cringe at the huskiness I hear.
His eyes lock on mine, and he swallows. My eyes widen at the possibilities.
“Umm, food.” My brows draw down when he says nothing else for a moment. “I mean, I wondered if you might like something to eat?”
Boldly, I let my eyes drift over him, wondering if my imagination had been right. Some scenes from those movies pop into my mind. When I finally look at his face, it’s a tiny bit pink, but his eyes are filled with hunger. It takes my breath and terrifies me at the same time.
“I’m starving.”
Bold move, Lillian. Especially since I’ve never even kissed another person. Male or female. I might have kissed my real mom when I was a baby but I don’t remember. What is it like, I wonder? I understand there are different kinds.
“Lillian?” My name snaps me out of my musing, and I focus on him. He’s standing closer and watching me intently.
I’ve missed something.
“Sorry. I was just thinking about something.” My eyebrows raise as I wait for him to say whatever it was again.
“I said there’s food down in the kitchen, if you want to come with me.” Boy, do I.
I bite my lip to keep from laughing at my own brazen thought and just nod. He narrows his gaze for a moment. But I step closer and look up innocently, causing him to shake his head.
“You’re playing with fire, little girl.” He murmurs the words at my ear and heat envelopes me, making a fine sheen of sweat break out of my skin.
Does he mean it to be a warning or a deterrent? If so, he’ll be disappointed in the reaction it causes. I think I’ve been cold my entire life, which is why I love the oppressive heat of the New Orleans summers. Now I have a tiny glimpse of what it would be like to be wrapped in his heat, letting it wash over and through me, filling every part of me. I stumble a step at the last thought, and his hand closes over my upper arm steadying me.
I feel branded where his fingers touch my skin, and it takes all my brain to force my feet to keep moving. I’m thankful when we finally reach the kitchen. The one called Dagen is there and he looks up, eyes bouncing between us before his eyebrow arches.
Torryn releases me, and I feel cold almost instantly. “She’s hungry.” He practically growls it before spinning away and stomping out. Staring after him, I feel confused.
“Man, you’ve got him wound up tight.” I jerk my head around and look at the other man. Demon.
“What do you mean?” He looks at me hard, studying me, and finds whatever he needs.
“Sit.” He waves at the table and I walk over, pulling a chair out. I sit stiffly as I watch him grab all kinds of food, piling it on a huge tray.
He says nothing as he gets everything together, and my nerves stretch to the breaking point. Finally he set the tray in the middle of the table and lifting a plate and a glass, he places them before me. Pulling the chair beside me out, he sits with his legs sprawled wide, one in front of me the other behind.
I tense. Trapped. “Eat.” He says the word as he leans forward near me. “Eat and I’ll explain a little.”
I look over and up at his face. He’s beautiful. Full lips, caramel skin, and dark eyes.
“I think we should be friends.” I say it as I smile. He smiles back, and I look away, grabbing food and putting it on my plate. He says nothing until it is heaping with things.
“What do you know about your purpose and the prophecy?” His words are whispered close to my ear, and I glance up into his face that is bent close to me.
His smile is wicked as he leans back when I respond, “What prophecy?”
Twenty-Six
TORRYN
I stop myself from racing back into that kitchen and throwing her over my shoulder. She’s starving. Does she even understand what her husky words do to me?
No. Of course she doesn’t. Her innocence bleeds from her every pore. She wouldn’t know what to do with my hunger. I would terrify her with my needs. Pivoting, I stomp away from the kitchen, leaving Dagen to deal with her.
My powers fluctuate as I think of her leaning into my heat, the shiver that made her body tremble when my hand wrapped around her arm. I grind my teeth at the image of my handprint on her pale skin, my heat turning the flesh beneath it a rosy pink color. Marking her.
I like that idea too much. Her wearing my mark. My demon side relishes the idea of everyone knowing she belongs to me. My other, more angelic side knows she doesn’t belong to me or anyone. But she could choose you, the demon whispers. Tempting me. It is what he does, what he is -- temptation.
Although I think in her, he has met his match. She looked so frightened when I opened that bedroom door, sitting there in the middle of that huge bed, innocent of how she looked with her cheeks flushed. It took every ounce of my will power not to throw her back and begin a slow exploration of her.
I laugh at the thought. Who am I kidding, slow? Right. It would be frenzied from start to finish. So lost in my imaginings, I almost run headlong into Luc and Evander.
The first says nothing just smirks.
“Stay out of my head,” I grumble.
“Oh, but it has been so entertaining lately.” His voice is filled with laughter. I pause and stare at him for a moment. I’ve never heard that from him. Evander is looking at him with something close to relief.
I leave my concerns behind just for a minute and really consider the pressure he has been under since the day this all started. The day he chose to leave his home, his Father, and become the thing that stood between humanity and the Fallen. Then he took on our entire existence, bringing us back to fight a never-ending war, all the while keeping the truth from us.
He had always known he would have to tell us at some point. He risked our hatred to give us a semblance of peace for as long as he could.
I glance at Boss, and he nods, seeing the understanding that’s flared into life on my face.
“Fine. Look all you want but don’t say I didn’t warn you.” I purposely start thinking of some freaky shit.
“Dude.” He makes a face and I laugh. It is loud and booming, and soon they both join in. When we finally stop, he continues, “So what do you plan to tell her?”
We’ve made it to Evander’s and my office, and I close the door, leaning back on it. Shaking my head, I shrug. “I have no idea. I know we need to tell her something. Everything.”
Walking forward, I stop then throw myself in one of the overstuffed chairs Caliel left here. Letting my head fall back and my eyes close, I draw a long suffering breath. Silence follows, only interrupted by the sounds of them moving into the other chairs.
“Any ideas?” I don’t bother opening my eyes. I can imagine them looking at each other then back at me. “Oh, come on.”
“Well,” Evander starts then pauses. “You could tell her everything. The whole prophecy but…” I slit one eye open and look at him.
“But?”
“It could scare her away.” He looks to his left.
“She does seem fragile,” Luc murmurs in agreement.
“Fragile.” My anger flares to life. How dare they?! “Fragile. She fucking lived with our enemies almost her entire life. Has scars crisscrossing her body from them. And you two think she’s fragile?” My voice has risen right along with my anger and the temperature.
Some p
apers on our desks have started to smolder, drawing their eyes. The log in the fireplace bursts into flames.
“Torryn.” A warning. “We didn’t mean she wasn’t, I mean, isn’t strong. Of course she is. What I meant was she has had to deal with a lot of shit in a very short period of time. Just as you have. Maybe she needs a little time before she is told everything.”
I open my mouth to reply then close it, repeating the action a couple more times before nodding. What can I say? They are right; another shock could be more than she can take.
“What do you mean, save the world?!” Her shriek rings out from down the long hallway, and I flinch the instant before I come to my feet.
“Dagen.” Our three voices blend, all filled with worry and aggravation.
I’m racing down the hall at top speed to stop him from telling her any more when a bright light flashes in front of me, just inside the kitchen. Another cry echoes out to me, this one is quieter and more from the shock of Luc appearing before her. I hope.
I slow just before I burst through the arched doorway, trying to appear as if I wasn’t terrified of what he’s told her already.
“When were you going to tell me?” Her voice is full of accusation, and her eyes are filled with heat. They lock onto me, looking right past Luc. In them, I see a hint of hurt.
Twenty-Seven
LILLIAN
Dagen disappeared the same moment Lucifer appeared. A sense of betrayal lances through my heart and soul. I lock eyes with the one I thought I could trust. He doesn’t look away from my accusation.
“Lillian.” I drag my gaze away from his bright azure one and focus on the King of Hell. “We were just talking about how to tell you about the prophecy and your role in it. I had told Torryn to wait until I felt you were ready.”
I look at my demon for confirmation, but he doesn’t move. That tells me all I need to know. His boss is trying to take the blame.