I never thought about souls being a physical possession. Something to fight for.
“I still don’t understand what this has to do with me.”
His unblinking gaze meets mine.
“You have her soul.”
I jerk back.
Replay his words in my head. Open my mouth, close it, open it again.
“I’m sorry?”
“You have Camilla’s soul.”
I blink.
Take in a large breath.
Rub at the ache in my chest.
“And how would you know that?”
“Because your soul is tainted.”
“What does that even mean?” I ask, my voice rising.
He takes a step toward me with his hands out, like he’s trying to calm me.
“It means that someone’s touched your soul. It’s not pure.”
“How can someone just touch a soul?”
“Only a demon can cause such damage to a soul.”
“Damage?” I bark out. “What do you mean damage?”
He shakes his head. “That’s not what I meant. I just meant tainted. And it’s not necessarily a bad thing.”
“How is not a bad thing?” I squawk. “You just told me that I have the soul of your dead girlfriend and it’s ruined because you tried to take it?”
He closes his eyes, pinches the bridge of his nose.
“This isn’t going how I expected it to.”
I cross my arms over my chest.
“And just how exactly did you see this going? You thought you could just show me a portrait of myself and that everything would make sense?”
He sighs.
“I wanted to put your fear to rest.”
“And what fear is that?”
“That she’s not who I see when I look at you.”
I point a shaking finger to the paintings.
“How can you not? Even if you can see, or feel, that my soul is different. Everything I am is her. The only reason you didn’t kill me was because of our resemblance.”
He shakes his head.
“No,” he says reassuringly. “No. That’s what I’m trying to tell you.”
I look him in the eyes.
Speak softly when I say, “How can I believe you?”
He cups my cheek and my eyes flutter closed.
“Let me show you. Look. See what I see.”
I do.
“I’ve memorized every part of you. Every curve of your smile. Every way the light hits your eyes. The different laughs you have, when they’re genuine and when they’re fake.”
Even if I don’t want to admit it, he’s right.
The portrait of Camilla is cold. There’s no warmth to it, the background or her.
While mine is the opposite. Vibrant and full of color.
“Even the immortal have a hard time letting go of the dead.”
I look up at him.
“And have you?”
He nods slowly but assured.
“It just took me some time to realize it.”
I understand how that feels. The uncertainty about your own mental health.
“Then why were you so awful to me?” I ask quietly, trying to hold back the self-pity from my tone.
He caresses my face, soothing me before his words tear me apart once again.
“I was trying to keep from getting hurt.”
I snort at the idea.
“I wanted to save you from further suffering in this lifetime,” he continues.
There’s a twinge of jealousy that eats at my stomach at the comparison.
“And what changed your mind?”
“I decided to be selfish. Everything I’ve done was for the benefit of my father. But just this once, I wanted something for myself.”
“I’m not a possession.” Never again will I be something someone can play with, can push around.
“No,” he says with a smile. “You’re a gift. One I don’t know who gifted to me, but one I will not reject. I can make you happy, Calla, if you’ll only let me. I can give you whatever your heart desires. Whatever you ask for, it’s yours.”
There’s nothing else in this world I want. I have everything I prayed for. Thanks to Aunt Polly and my friends here in Diablo.
“And what is it that you want?”
“I’d like to stick around a little while longer, if you’ll let me.”
I laugh manically.
“This is your home, not mine.”
“There’s nothing here for me if you don’t want me to be.”
“And if I don’t?”
His smile falls and an eerie shadow falls over his face.
“Then I’ll leave. This was only meant to be a vacation.”
That’s exactly what Lily said.
“You’re not going to force yourself in my life? Tell me I don’t have a choice?”
“I only want to be what you ask of me.”
I blow out a chest full of air, an overwhelming feeling of power coursing through me.
Lily insinuated I might be in danger if I continue to pursue a relationship with this family. And Luke’s told me many times just how dangerous he is. I’ve seen him call upon a demonic creature to maim someone in front of me. And I’ve seen him shove his fist through someone’s chest and make a deal with a human.
He’s told me that I’m damaged and that it might be his fault.
Has tried to push me away many times.
But…I’ve never felt more at peace than I do with him. Even after what’s been said.
And I’m not sure if I’m ready to let that go. At least, not just yet. I want to do this one thing for me, even if it’ll ruin me in the end. It’s my turn to be selfish.
I step into Luke’s embrace, tuck my head into his chest, and wrap my arms around his waist. He immediately envelops my body, crushing me into him so tightly I can feel the shudder run through him. He presses his warm lips to the top of my head, keeping them there as if relieved.
I look at the portraits, at Camilla Blanch looking back at me. Her lips turned up and her eyes twinkling with that defiance Luke liked so much about her. An unfamiliar feeling begins to fester inside of me, bubbling to the surface until my fingers dig into Luke’s back to keep from shaking.
I hate her.
The bedroom door slams open.
Both of our necks snap toward the sound.
Lily is standing in the doorway, looking bewildered. But when she sees us embracing, her smile takes up her whole face.
“Does this mean I get to call you sister?”
“What is it?” Luke snaps.
The smile falls.
“Bad news.”
“What is it, Lilith?”
“I might have made a mistake. But don’t freak out!” She holds her hands up in defense. “The local authorities may have found Sasha’s body.”
Luke growls. I tense up.
“Get out.”
She blows us a kiss and heads toward the door, turns on her heels for a final word. “I totally support this.”
Luke points at the door.
“Out.”
The door shuts firmly behind her.
Luke sighs heavily, like it came from the pit of his soul.
Luke invites me over for breakfast the next morning.
By invites me over, I mean he wakes me up in my room with a gentle shake and a glass of orange juice. I want to say I’m surprised, but I’m not. I knew the second I stepped into his arms after he revealed his feelings to me, there’d be no going back.
I have this strange urge to prettify myself. To pat my hair and rub the sleep out of my eyes. But considering he’s seen me drugged with my dress around my waist, I’d say he’s already seen my bad side.
Instead, he prompts me to get dressed and I leave a sticky note on my bedroom door in case my aunt wakes up.
Once in the car, Luke holds my hand the entire, short, drive up to the manor. His smile never leaves his face, even when we get out of th
e car.
Alcott has produced a beautiful spread of all breakfast foods across the dining room table. Lily is already sitting in the center with a plate filled high. Her red hair is unkempt and her eyes are barely open.
“You’re lucky Alcott cooked or else I’d kill you myself.”
Luke pats the top of his sister’s head and I see her smile before it disappears. “Good morning, sister.”
With her mouth full, she says, “Morning, Calla.”
I take a seat across from her. “Morning.”
Like the king of the castle he thinks he is, Luke takes a seat at the head of the table. Lily rolls her eyes at her brother, who is sitting more than three chairs down from us.
“Why did you wake us up at this ghastly hour?”
Looking out at the two of us, Luke smiles.
“I wanted to have a nice, quiet morning with two of my favorite people.”
Lily snorts.
“We’re your only people.”
He doesn’t even seem bothered. “Lily, I’m grateful for you pushing me toward Calla and never listening to anything I say. Calla, thank you for not calling the authorities on my sister.”
Luke Hale is trying to joke. And I find more humor in that than his actual words.
“It’s not too late,” I say, “all things considered.”
My eyes shoot to Lily, who’s busy gulping down freshly squeezed juice. “Yeah, okay, we get it. I messed up. My bad.”
“I thought you were the one who said this was supposed to be a no-killing type of vacation.”
She purses her lips at her brother.
“I said I was sorry. What more do you want from me?”
This is the first honest exchange I’ve witnessed between the siblings. They’re able to speak openly about their pasts and their realities without the concern of anyone overhearing them.
Their personalities are only emphasized: Lily is still the princess she’s always been and Luke her reluctant guardian.
Despite the bickering, Luke appears truly happy sitting and observing us. There isn’t an ounce of worry on his face, and for once, it doesn’t look like he’s carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
“I do believe I’m going to hold this over your head forever.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Lily. Your brother and I aren’t…” I trail off, not knowing where to go with it.
“Not what?” She raises her brow.
This time it’s my turn to clear my throat. “I’m still figuring it out.”
A low rumble comes from the end of the table, but Luke doesn’t respond.
Lily gives a curt nod. “I always knew I liked you. Make him work for it. Make him beg for it. He did blow you off, after all.”
“Lily,” he says warningly.
She shrugs a shoulder. “And you say I never listen to you.”
“The only one who’s going to be begging is—”
Luke pushes back from the table and makes the most predatory sound I’ve ever heard. In a matter of a blink of an eye, Luke’s hand is wrapped around a man’s throat, a knife shoved into his chest.
“Lucifer’s balls, that hurt,” the intruder growls.
Luke’s face doesn’t drop at the realization of who the intruder is, just remains primal. “I thought I said don’t come back here.”
I’m baffled at the sight of Officer Valencia standing in the middle of the kitchen, clutching his bleeding chest. I would probably be more confused if I weren’t so focused on Luke’s face.
He’s frightening in this form. A visible shadow crosses over his face and I almost don’t recognize him. Every feature is harder, sharper, and entirely focused on the man in front of him.
This is Luke Hale.
The demon people are afraid of.
He’s breathtaking. Like a wild animal hunting its prey. Terrifying, knowing I wouldn’t want to be on the other end of that look, but fascinating knowing this is him in his natural habitat.
The demon officer glances down at the knife still in his chest.
“Are you done?”
Luke drops the knife to the floor and blood splatters across the tiles. “Explain.”
This is the first time the officer seems to notice me standing here. His dark eyes glance over to me while he dabs his shirt with a napkin.
“Hello, human girl,” he says to me, amused.
Suddenly everything makes sense. The secretive conversations between him and the Hales, why he bowed his head in respect after my interrogation, and why I had a bad feeling about him in the first place.
Luke glares at the demon. “Don’t speak to her.”
The officer doesn’t even raise a brow.
“You Hales really do get everything you want, don’t you?”
Now it’s my turn to raise a brow. “Excuse me?”
Officer Valencia pulls back his lips in a distasteful grimace. “Quite astonishing, truly. How did you do this?”
Luke rolls his eyes. “This isn’t my doing.”
Officer Valencia turns to Lily. “Yours?”
She shrugs a shoulder. “I could never have dreamt up something this good.”
“Fascinating,” he responds genuinely. “Your father?”
Luke snorts and takes a sip of his juice. “You’re kidding, right?”
The officer drops the wad of napkins onto the table. “Cynic as always.”
Luke faces the man with a blank expression. “Why are you here?”
“I’m answering a distress call.”
“Does it look like someone sent a distress call from this house?”
A small hand raises from the other side of the table. “That was me.”
All of the heads turn to Lily. “Explain.”
She rolls her eyes at her brother’s tone. “Well, while you were trying to make out in your closet”—the officer seems amused—“I was trying to figure out what to do with the body. Since Val here is apparently a law enforcement officer, I figured I’d give him a call.”
Luke sighs long and heavy. “And?”
The officer steps forward. “The cops are still searching for answers. No idea who to search for or where to turn next. I will say, the fingers were a nice touch.”
Lily shrugs while I grimace. “That was all Calla.”
My face heats up. “Oh, no, no, no, don’t put that on me.”
“That right?” The officer glares at me and frowns. “So, you are the murderer I pegged you to be.”
He’s belittling me. His lack of concern proves that I’m no threat, but the high praise from Lily must give me enough credit for him to give a second look.
I take in a deep breath and prepare to back talk a demon.
“I’m not a murderer, and I’m here because they want me to be.”
He crosses his arms over his chest. “You like being a pet, then? Do you get off on this? All you girls these days, you think you want the big and bad until it comes time to submit and then you back down and—”
“Stop.”
“What?” The officer shrugs a shoulder. “I love a pet just as much as the next demon, but—”
“Watch your tone, Valak,” Lily interrupts, “you’re talking to the future queen.”
“Queen?” He snorts. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Luke growls, honest to God growls, at the man. “Don’t continue if you like your tongue in your mouth.”
“Your father will never—”
“My father has no say here.”
“Luke, Your Royal Highness, think about—”
“We’ve spent a long time together, Valak, but I will kill you.” He says it as a matter of fact. “If you tell anyone outside of this house that she’s here, I’ll send you straight back to Hell.”
“Okay.” Lily steps between them. “I called Val because he’s the best tracker I’ve ever met, not to have him killed. Val, don’t mess with Calla. I have no problem sending you back to Hell but I really would miss that pretty face.”
/> I take pride in the fact that I have their backing. It’s also the heaviest burden because I have no doubt that they would kill for me. In fact, Lily has.
“I don’t want to cause trouble,” I say quietly.
“Stay,” Luke snaps.
“I’m here because I like who they are, not because I care what they are. I don’t care if you’re here about Sasha or about the—”
I trail off.
No one seems to notice I don’t finish.
“There’s something else,” the demon continues, “a private matter.”
“It’ll have to wait,” Luke says. “We’re late.”
I glance at the clock on the stove. It’s almost time to leave for school.
“Luke—”
“Does it affect anyone in the room?” he asks.
The demon rolls his eyes. “Technically, yes.”
“Immediately?”
Valak grounds his teeth. “Uncertain.”
“Then it can wait. You’ve already ruined my morning; I won’t have you ruining my day.”
Alcott is at the door with our backpacks in hand. “I took the liberty of packing some of the food to go.”
Looking at the table, I realize it’s empty. I didn’t even hear him clean up.
“Amour,” Luke says and reaches out for my hand. I take it.
The three of us are heading toward the front of the house when the demon says, “Penses-y, Luke.”
Luke squeezes my hand and says, “I don’t have to.”
What it is he doesn’t have to do, I’m unsure.
Later, Luke insists that Lily walk me home after school.
“So, do you want to fill me in on who this Valak is?” I ask Lily as we head back toward the manor and my apartment.
“Ohhh, so now you want to talk to me?” she asks sarcastically.
I roll my eyes. “Lily, you didn’t tell me something normal like you’re secretly a drug user. You told me you’re a murderer, and not even human at that.”
She doesn’t reply immediately. “Fine, I guess I can see how that might be somewhat disturbing for someone in your situation.”
“Yeah,” I say, “thanks.”
She smiles up at me. “Truce?”
“Lily, it’s always going to be a truce between us.”
“Wow,” she says, “is this what it’s like to have a best friend? Because I’ve never experienced this kind of happiness before.”
The Devil's Heir Page 24