The Spider Queen

by Emma Slate

I smiled at Herron, showing her my needle teeth.

  She looked at me for three seconds and then her eyes rolled back into her head. Dad caught her before she hit the floor.

  “Couch?” he suggested, lifting her into his arms.

  “Yeah,” I said with a sigh. “Well, she took it better than I expected.”

  “You might want to put the glamour back up,” he suggested with a laugh.

  My glamour snapped back into place, and then I unwrapped another hamburger.

  “I still can’t believe you call a human your best friend and you trusted her enough with your true identity.”

  “She surprisingly took it all in stride,” I admitted. “Even after I told her about Lucifer and the pearls.”

  “Herron?” he called out, not taking his eyes off me.

  A moment passed, followed by, “Yeah, Thane?”

  “You want to tell her, or should I?”

  “You should tell her.”

  “Tell me what?” I asked.

  My best friend got up off the couch and came into the kitchen. She glanced at me, realized I looked like my normal self, and inhaled a deep breath.

  “You know about the families that serve the Guardian,” he stated.

  I nodded.

  “Herron belongs to the Darcy line,” he said.

  “The Irish family of witches?” I asked.

  “Yes.”

  “She doesn’t possess any magical abilities,” Thane went on. “When the mage concealed your identity, we knew you’d need someone in the world looking out for you because we couldn’t. So he ensured that Herron would be able to find you and befriend you.”

  I looked at Herron. “So our friendship was orchestrated?” My throat was thick with emotion.

  Herron glanced at Thane but then back to me. “Stella—”

  I held up my hand to silence her. “Just give me a moment.”

  She stared at the counter, her face a mix of emotions.

  “Why couldn’t you tell me?” I asked. There was no anger, not even hurt in my tone. Only curiosity. “Even after I came clean with you about my true identity, why didn’t you tell me about yours?”

  “I wasn’t allowed. I was spelled into silence.”

  “You were my only friend,” I said quietly. “Thank you, Herron.”

  She blinked.

  “For everything. Your friendship has meant the world to me.”

  “I don’t get it.”

  “Get what?”

  “You’re not mad at me?” she asked. “You’re not mad at him?” She gestured to Dad whose face was carefully blank.

  “Mad? My parents ensured I was being cared for even though they couldn’t be the ones to do it. And you have been by my side since we found each other. How much of an ass would I be to question your loyalty?”

  “Even though it was a set up?” Her voice was whisper thin.

  “Was it all a lie?” I cocked my head to the side. “Was I a burden? Was I a terrible person? Did you secretly hate me?”

  “No.”

  “Then I don’t care, Herron. It doesn’t matter.”

  “Are you sure?”

  I nodded and with a grin said, “I showed you my devil self and all you did was faint. I expected more screaming.”

  She launched herself at me. I braced for her to feel my wings, but her arms went around me like I didn’t even have them.

  I hugged her back just as fiercely. I looked at my father as I held on to my dearest friend.

  Thank you, Dad, I mouthed.

  His smile was wide, and I swore I saw his dark black eyes glisten with tears. You’re welcome, my daughter.

  Epilogue

  Five months later

  * * *

  I sat at the bar of The Rex Hotel, nursing a glass of wine. I smiled at the handsome bartender and watched as his eyes turned glassy.

  Whoops. Too much monster mojo.

  I lessened the glamour and released my hold on him.

  “How’s the wine?” he asked as he straightened his bowtie.

  “The best Valpolicella I’ve ever had,” I told him honestly.

  He grinned and then moved away to help another customer.

  It had been five months since I’d transformed into a devil. Five months of figuring out how to use my devil fire, learning to fly, and keeping the glamour in place so as to not scare the crap out of humans.

  I spent time with my parents and was there the moment my little brother connected mentally to my mother.

  I went to Aloysius and eased his people’s burdens. It turned out I didn’t need eight months with them at all. Apparently, my change had only enhanced my empath powers.

  When I felt like I finally had a handle on my emotions where Lucifer was concerned, I mentally asked Jax to deliver a message.

  Nervous trepidation raced through my veins.

  “This was a stupid idea,” I muttered.

  “Did you say something?” the bartender asked.

  I shook my head. “Talking to myself.”

  Why did I think Lucifer would come? Just because I asked?

  I continued to sip on my glass of wine, my eyes glued to the ornate clock. When my glass was nearly empty, I swallowed a lump of defeat.

  He wasn’t coming.

  I reached for my purse with the intention of throwing down some bills and then calling Herron so I could curl up on her couch and wallow in misery.

  The air crackled with tension, and I felt the hairs on the back of my neck rise.

  “Stella,” he said. His voice was cool, dispassionate.

  It was his tell. I knew that’s when Lucifer felt the most.

  I swiveled slowly so I could mentally prepare. But no matter how much time I gave myself, I could never stop the hitch in my breath when I caught him in all his magnificence.

  His glamour was in place—I now knew that when he’d come to me all those months ago—he’d been showing me a vision appealing to the eye. Meant to capture, ensnare.

  And though the muscular form, the indigo eyes, the dark hair and fair skin appealed to me, it had been his heart that had eventually won me over.

  He could’ve shown up in his devil form, and I would’ve felt the same way.

  We stared at each other and I saw the mask fall. He looked at me with naked hunger, like he wanted to spread me out onto the bar and lick every inch of me.

  I wouldn’t have been opposed to the idea. Lust had never been our problem. But we had other things we needed to sort out first.

  “Get you something to drink, sir?” the bartender asked.

  Lucifer didn’t take his indigo eyes off me when he replied. “Lagavulin 16. Neat.” He paused. “Please.”

  My smile was wide.

  After the bartender set down the glass of scotch, Lucifer waved his hand. The bartender’s gaze slid over us and he frowned. Shaking his head, he moved away.

  “Now we can speak freely and no one will hear us. Or see us.” He raised his glass to his mouth and took a sip. “You look good, Stella.”

  “Which part of me?” I taunted. I fluttered my bat wings. I flashed my devil yellow eyes. My forked tongue snaked out to graze the back of his hand.

  His indigo eyes suddenly turned yellow but quickly went back to blue. “All of you. When did it happen?”

  “The transformation?”

  He nodded.

  “Hard to know. I left the island and went to Purgatory to see my parents. After I left them and came back here, it started. It happened quickly.”

  He set his glass down and moved his leg so one of his knees brushed mine. He was wearing a three-piece suit. In his glamour, he looked like a successful, sexy businessman.

  “Why did you wait so long to contact me?” he inquired. He reached out to brush a piece of hair behind my ear.

  I shivered at the contact. “I had to take care of some things first. I needed time with my parents. I needed to learn how to master glamour. Needed to learn how to fly.”

  “I could’ve taug
ht you all that.”

  “I wanted to do it myself.” I inched my chin higher. “And I wanted to make sure I really wanted you.”

  His eyes darkened. “Explain that to me.”

  “I wanted to give the lust time to die. I wanted to know if I felt something deeper for you.” My wine glass was empty, so I reached for his glass of scotch and took a sip. I held the peaty amber liquid on my tongue before swallowing.

  “And you summoned me here to tell me—what exactly?”

  My mouth quirked into a smile. “Summoned? I doubt anyone could summon you.”

  “You sent your gargoyle with a message,” he growled.

  “Only because you didn’t answer when I asked through our link.”

  “No, I didn’t,” he admitted.

  “Where did you go?” I asked. “After the…after.”

  “I went back to Hell. Licked my wounds. When that didn’t work, I got angry. Very angry.”

  My body froze. “What did you do, Lucifer?”

  “I went to Texas.”

  I blinked. “Texas? Because you were jonesing for some barbecue and a pair of cowboy boots?”

  “I was jonesing for some evil souls.” He smirked. “Caught a few big ones. Corrupt oil men who were responsible for some of the biggest oil spills in the eighties.”

  “Wait. You went after men who were already evil?”

  He nodded.

  “You mean, you didn’t corrupt anyone? Get someone to barter away their immortal soul?”

  Lucifer let out a breath. “Why do I need to do that? There’s enough evil out there, I don’t need to corrupt anyone.”

  “But—but then why did you barter with my father? Why did you want me?”

  “Your father isn’t the only one with a future-telling priestess, Stella.”

  I shook my head. “I don’t—”

  “There are prophecies with endless possible outcomes, right? You know that. Long ago, my soothsayer told me I would find a woman who could ease the loneliness within me. Who would not only alleviate my burdens, but also share them. My true counterpart would choose to heal when I would choose to harm, and would love me regardless of my nature.” He paused. “When Poppy was dead on the bank of the River Styx and Thane begged for help, I went. I felt you even then. I knew you were the woman my soothsayer foretold.”

  “And in true Lucifer fashion, you demanded instead of asked. You bartered and manipulated.”

  “You don’t sound angry.”

  I grinned. “Because I understand you.” I took another sip of scotch before setting the glass down. “We cancel each other out, huh?”

  He nodded and placed his hand on my knee.

  “So let’s make a deal,” I said.

  “A deal?”

  “Yes. That’s your MO, isn’t it? You like making deals?”

  “You make me sound like a game show host.” He laughed. “Are you sure you want to make a deal with the devil?”

  “I’m pretty confident we’ll both come out winners in the end.”

  “I’m all ears.”

  “I won’t be happy living in Hell,” I said.

  “Why not?”

  “The Tree of Life. It’s powerful. And I know its memories. I know Eve’s lust for knowledge. I know Adam’s anguish at being kicked out of Eden. I feel your hurt there, too. It’s too much for me.”

  He nodded, his face solemn. “All right. Where do you propose we live?”

  “A place where immorality and redemption converge. A place with the potential for havoc and healing.”

  “Does such a place exist?” he asked, a grin tugging at his lips.

  “Sin City, Lucifer.”

  He let out a crack of laughter. “You want to live in Las Vegas?”

  I nodded. “But I want to be able to travel the world with you. Doing what we both do.”

  “What else?” He leaned forward, hanging on my every word.

  “I want you to make peace with my parents. They’ve extended an invitation.” I bit my lip. “My dad wants to get in one good punch.”

  “Stella—”

  “Mom, too.”

  “Well, if it’s for family peace…” His eyes flashed in humor. “Anything else?”

  “You won’t stop me from going to other realms and aiding creatures who might need me. You won’t stop me from helping humans. You won’t stop my friendship with Jax. As in you won’t turn him into gravel. That extends to all gargoyles. They’re my people, too. And maybe, most importantly of all”—I stared him in his glowing indigo eyes—“you won’t punish me for choosing my freedom.”

  We peered at one another until he said, “All right. I can give you all those things. Even the last one.”

  “What do you want in exchange?” I asked.

  His hand went to the back of my neck, dragging me closer to him. “You. By my side. Of your own free will. For all eternity.”

  “My own free will?”

  Lucifer nodded.

  I exhaled a shaky breath and whispered, “Eternity is a long time. What if you get sick of me?”

  “I won’t.”

  “What if I get sick of you?”

  He smiled devilishly. “You won’t.”

  “I guess there’s nothing else to really talk about, is there?”

  “Nope.”

  “Should we seal this devil’s bargain with a kiss?”

  He growled. “I had other plans on how to seal the deal, Stella.”

  “Well, what are you waiting for?”

  Lucifer cradled my cheeks in his hands and stared deep into my eyes. “I’m not waiting for anything. Not anymore.”

  Then his mouth was on mine. My fingers sank into his hair, dragging him closer as lust coursed through my veins.

  We stumbled out of the bar into an elevator. He took me to the penthouse suite where we clambered for one another; our lips fused together, our hearts beating in sync.

  After, when the rays of dawn peeked through the curtains, he curled his wings around us, sheltering me in his strong, protective embrace.

  My eyes were drifting shut as Lucifer’s fingers drew lazy circles on my skin. “Are you happy, starlight?”

  I smiled, even though he couldn’t see me, and brushed a kiss across his wrist. “Yes.”

  “No regrets?”

  “None.”

  His lips replaced his fingers as he kissed his way down my body. He rolled me onto my back and loomed over me, his massive and powerful wings extended. Lucifer dragged his tongue across the inside of my thigh and then moved to the heat of me, worshiping me with his perfect sinful mouth.

  “Say it, Stella,” he commanded.

  I moaned.

  “Say. It.”

  “You first,” I begged.

  He lifted his head from my body to gaze at me with languid eyes. “I love you.”

  I smiled. “Prove it.”

  Lucifer dove back between my legs and licked me until I came.

  “I love you, too,” I whispered, my throat raw from crying my pleasure.

  “I know.” He pressed a kiss to my thigh and chuckled.

  We were silent for so long, I wondered if he’d fallen asleep. But then he stirred next to me, his warm breath teasing my skin.

  “Lucifer?” I asked.

  “Hmm?”

  I sat up so I could look into his eyes, my hand reaching out to stroke his cheek. He took my palm and placed it on the rapid beating of his heart.

  “Are you tired?” he asked.

  “No.” I swirled my fingers over his chest.

  “Do you want to talk?”

  “No.” My hand slid down.

  His devil eyes flashed yellow. “Do you want to make me scream your name?”

  It was my turn to kiss my way down his body. I looked up at him and grinned. “Yes.”

  “Well? You have free will, don’t you?”

  I took him into my mouth and made him moan in rapture. And I sucked and teased until his hands tangled in my hair, and he was shu
ddering through his release.

  Sliding up his body, I rested my chin on his breastbone and grinned.

  “You look pretty pleased with yourself,” he panted.

  “I’m feeling pretty pleased with myself. Not going to lie.”

  His laughter shook the walls of the penthouse suite, and I vowed to hear that sound every day for the rest of my very long, immortal life. Because there was nothing I wouldn’t do to banish the darkness from his eyes, at least for a moment.

  It was the perfect beginning to our eternity.

  Thank You!

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  SINS Series

  Flynn sat in the chair next to the couch that faced me. Leaning forward, he stared into his drink. Finally, he lifted his blue eyes to me.

  “Your brother has gotten himself into some trouble.”

  “What kind of trouble?”

  “Three-hundred thousand dollars worth of trouble.”

  I inhaled sharply. That was a lot. “He owes you money?” I guessed.

  “Aye.”

  “How? Were you in business together?”

  “No.”

  “Then I don’t understand. How can he owe you that kind of money?”

  “It’s not important.”

  “It’s not? It’s not like you guys had a friendly bet on a football game. This is serious money.”

  He sighed. “Finish your drink.”

  “But I don’t want—”

  “Finish it,” he commanded, his voice low.

  I did as bid, setting the empty glass down on the table. We’d never gotten around to dinner, and a warm ball of liquor resided deep in my belly.