by Bella Klaus
“It’s a little briny,” I murmured.
He tutted. “Surely a newly single woman looking to broaden her horizons can tolerate a bit of salt.”
My insides froze, and my gaze flicked from the white crystals on the martini glass to the fire dancing in Lucifer’s eyes. He was flirting with me again, and I wasn’t sure how to respond. I took another sip of the drink, trying to work out how to tell him I wasn’t interested.
“Your pussy looks ravishing.”
The alcoholic beverage burned a path of fire down my windpipe. “What?”
Lucifer gave me a gentle whack on the back and pointed to the other side of the room, where Dami wrapped her arms around Macavity’s massive head.
“Hellcats are notoriously good companions,” he murmured. “Rare, too. When did you form your contract?”
I shook my head. “Neither of us knows.”
A silver-haired woman pushed her way through the crowd up to us, looking like a blow-up doll in a bodycon dress two sizes too small. She was thin, nearly as tall as me, but with an exaggerated bust and hips that had to be magically enhanced.
Her lips puckered like she’d sucked a lemon. “Who are you?”
My eyes narrowed. “The hostess of this party. And you?”
Her gaze swept up and down my outfit, and she tossed her head. “Ellora of the Noble House of Vandamir.”
“Is that supposed to mean something to me?” I said.
She flashed her fangs.
I gulped. This was the first vampire I’d met since King Valentine.
Lucifer rolled his eyes. “Ellora is my client.”
“Ellora is your date,” she hissed. “I sold my soul to become the Queen of Hell, and you haven’t yet delivered.”
His smile froze. “Excuse me for a moment.”
My brows rose, and I stood back, watching Lucifer wrap his arm around the young woman and march her to the other side of the room. As he turned to face her, his features morphed into a mask of disdain.
I set down my drink, wondering if brokering deals was part of being a demon. Since so many people ended up in Hell, what was the point of giving them an incentive?
Movement out of the corner of my eye caught my attention. Dami stood at the other side of the room, waving me over. Queen Mera and King Valentine were still with her, each of them offering me warm smiles. I strode across the room, replaced my martini with a red cocktail, and took a sip. It was sweet and fruity and more to my liking.
Queen Mera stepped forward and wrapped her arms around my middle. “It’s wonderful to see you back in the world of the living.”
I hugged back. “Thanks for the care package. The food and water disguised as bonbons was a brilliant idea.”
She broke the hug and swept her gaze around the penthouse. “Is this all yours?”
“Part of my agreement for helping Hades with a project.”
“He’s even given her a black credit card,” added Dami. “No limit to how much she can spend!”
“Very generous,” said Queen Mera, who now fixed me with questioning eyes. “What are you going to do with your life, now that you’re free?”
I sucked in a deep breath. Just before the Devil’s Ball, Hades had spoken about wanting an eternity with me. Now, he was so focused on his wife that I feared we had no future. “There’s the University of Logris,” I replied. “Hades arranged a consultation with the Dean. Maybe they can identify the gaps in my education and work out what I need to do to qualify for a place. Did you go?”
She shook her head with a sad smile. “My magic didn’t set in until recently, so after graduating from the academy, I worked as an intern at Valentine’s property company.”
My eyes went wide. “That’s how you met?”
She chuckled. “It’s like something out of a romance book.”
King Valentine turned from the man he was talking to and placed an arm around his wife’s back. “I would describe our story more like a supernatural thriller.”
“There were some sweet moments.” She patted his chest, offering him a dazzling smile.
I glanced around the room, looking for signs of Hades. It wasn’t like I’d invited him to the housewarming, but I’d have expected him to make an appearance by now, even if it was to say something sarcastic.
Queen Mera looped her arm through mine and walked me around the room, introducing me to prominent people within the Supernatural World. We drank chocolate martinis, chocolate margaritas, and iced coffee infused with a chocolate liqueur.
When the band played jazzy versions of contemporary songs even I could recognize, the three of us clinked glasses of crème de cacao served on ice. My lips quirked into a smle. Something told me that Mera might have an addition to chocolate.
Later, Lucifer drifted over with two shot glasses filled with liquid fire. “Flaming yohimbe?”
“Does it taste like chocolate?” I asked.
His brow furrowed. “Not unless you’d like me to enchant it with an extra burst of flavor.”
“No,” I said a little too quickly. “This will be perfect.”
His dark eyes twinkled. “Bottoms up.”
The thought of burning my face had me baulking at trying it out, so I watched him knock back the drink, flames and all. He parted his lips and exhaled a long, fiery sigh. “Yohimbe not your thing?”
“It looks painful.” I eyed the blue fire.
“Nonsense,” he said with a chuckle. “The flames are only light magic. All you’ll feel is a slight tingle as the liquid goes down.”
I narrowed my eyes, sure there was an innuendo in his words, but Lucifer just grinned.
“Um… Bottoms up?” I held up the drink.
He gave me an approving nod.
Sucking in a deep breath, I brought the glass to my lips, feeling the slight tingle of magic as the artificial flames licked at my skin. I knocked back its entire contents and sighed at the infusion of energizing magic.
“What is it?” I licked my lips.
“I can see why Hades lied and cheated to ensnare you,” he said with a wide grin. “It’s a potent magical beverage, which most people are too weak to tolerate.”
I stared down at the empty glass and frowned. “What would have happened if I didn’t have the power?”
Lucifer flicked his head to the other side of the room, where the silver-haired woman from earlier now danced on the table with her entire body appearing to be on fire. “Poor Ellora, sold her soul for the opportunity to ensnare a high-status husband.”
“Is she your…” Victim in a devil’s bargain sounded too harsh.
“Not even a one-night stand,” Lucifer said. “I’m extremely picky about the women with whom I consort.”
My chest tightened. Somewhere in those words was the implication that Hades was the opposite. The man was a complete mystery. And a liar. A wave of euphoria spread across my chest, warming my veins and heating the surface of my skin. I took another glance at my empty shot glass and frowned.
Life was too unpredictable to waste it ruminating over Hades. Maybe it was time for me to broaden my horizons.
The music changed to a slow number, and King Valentine pulled Queen Mera to his chest, and they swayed together to the music.
Lucifer turned to them with a wistful smile. “Soulmates. Isn’t it a beautiful thing?”
“How can you tell?” I asked.
“Understanding souls and seeing the bonds between them is part of the job. Your friends are incredibly lucky.” He flicked his gaze to where Dami was hugging a cat-sized Macavity to her chest. “Both of them.”
I stared into his dark eyes, wondering if he had a soulmate of his own. From his melancholy expression and the way he had sat miserably at the Devil’s Ball, plucking at a bunch of grapes, I got the impression his love story would be nonexistent or sad.
His gaze was curious, assessing, and he tilted his head to the side, seeming to examine my every expression. “What I don’t understand about you is why you’re
allowing something as trivial as lies to get in the middle of what could be a long and happy future in the Fifth.”
My jaw dropped. Why had I thought he had come to flirt? “Hades isn’t my soulmate.”
He tapped his temple. “My astute vision says otherwise.”
“Do soulmates have connections with others?” I asked.
His brows rose. “Lesser bonds with siblings, children, parents, occasionally with loyal vassals. Why do you ask?”
I shook my head. “He’s being a stubborn ass who won’t apologize.”
“Don’t tell me he’s screwing around on you already?” Lucifer said, his eyes solemn.
“No.” I pursed my lips. How much could I tell the leader of another Faction of Hell, especially when Samael was probably trying to recruit allies? “It’s complicated.”
The corners of his lips curled into a mischievous smile. “How would you like to prompt Hades to fall at your feet?”
“I already tried to do that yesterday, and it backfired.”
His eyes danced. “Someone as pure-hearted as you can’t best that slippery bastard without help.”
“What do you suggest?”
Lucifer took my hand and led me to the impromptu dance floor. His arm slipped around my hand, and he pulled our bodies close for a slow dance.
I tilted up my head to meet his laughing eyes. “What are you doing?”
He stretched out an arm and materialized a smartphone. “Taking a selfie.”
Over the next few minutes, Lucifer took pictures of us and uploaded them to his Supernatural Media profile, assuring me that Hades would see them—or at least one of his spies would. He glided across the little dance floor, twirling me, dipping me, making me feel as giddy as a goat, all the while posting images of us having fun.
When the music changed, we went to the bar and shared what appeared to be a strawberry milkshake but was laden with vodka. Lucifer took a photo of us with our heads together, sucking from straws.
As he dangled a cherry between my parted lips, a laugh erupted from his chest. “Look lively, he’s sent his number one henchman.”
I turned to find Captain Caria standing by the ice sculpture with another tall woman with black hair and even sterner features. Both of them were in armor and both of them looked thoroughly annoyed.
“Time to amp up the bait,” Lucifer said.
My surroundings blurred, and everyone in the party appeared to be standing beside a doppelgänger. I blinked over and over, trying to clear my double vision, but it only made my head spin. The buzz running through my veins had reached maximum velocity, making me feel ready for take off. I placed a hand on someone’s arm to hold myself steady.
“How is this going to get Hades to apologize again?” I said, forcing my words not to slur.
“Leave it to me.” Lucifer wrapped an arm around my waist and whispered into my ear. “Giggle as though I’ve just told you that I’m taking you to your room for a slow, hard fuck.”
“What?” I said with a nervous laugh.
“Well done,” he murmured. “That was almost convincing. Now place your hand on my chest.”
I slipped my fingers beneath the fabric of his jacket, giving him a pat over the heart.
“Excellent,” he said in a deep voice that echoed across my skull. “Captain Caria just tried to walk over, but her companion pulled her back.”
“Oh.” My stomach churned. “I think I’ve had too much to drink.”
Lucifer wrapped an arm around the small of my back and guided me toward the stairs. “I have just what you need.”
My feet dragged as they ascended the steps, but his strong arms kept me upright. “Where are we going?”
“Your bedroom, of course.” He glanced over his shoulder and chuckled.
I staggered forward, cursing myself for having drunk so much. It had probably been all those chocolate-based cocktails and that flaming drink which were churning in my stomach, but I just needed to expel that foul liquid and clear my head in case I threw up all over Lucifer.
A large hand swept down my waist, giving my ass a gentle pat. “By the time I’ve finished with you, you’ll be wondering why you ever pined for Hades.”
My stomach clenched.
Shit.
I tried to wriggle out from his grip, but he was bigger, stronger, and a hundred times more sober. Somehow, I’d just lowered my guard and stumbled into his trap.
“Hades,” I hissed. “If you’re listening in on this conversation, come over, now. Lucifer’s taking me to my bedroom, and I don’t think he’s bluffing.”
Chapter Nine
I must have blacked out because the next thing I knew, I was on my knees, vomiting into a toilet bowl, with a large hand rubbing gentle circles on my back and another holding my hair away from the mess. My insides would have writhed with mortification if they weren’t too busy spasming.
“You really are the most ridiculous creature,” a familiar voice said with fond exasperation. “Did you really think this housewarming could take place without my permission?”
“Hades,” I replied with a splutter. “What are you doing—” Another convulsion seized my diaphragm, and chocolate-colored liquid surged into the bowl.
“That Fire Queen is a terrible influence,” he muttered. “I’m going to have to vet your associates.”
Bile burned the back of my throat, cutting off my words, and I groaned with a mix of discomfort and disgrace. Hades stayed at my side, helping me through the ordeal with soft words and promises that I would feel better once I’d expelled all the toxins.
I slumped forward, my head resting on the toilet seat. All the while, he continued to hold my hair without uttering a word of admonishment or disgust. When my stomach finally stopped trying to punish me, he brought me a glass of something fizzy and citrusy.
“What’s that?” I rasped.
“Fizzy lemon water, to settle your stomach.” He gave the glass a little shake, reinvigorating the bubbles.
My nostrils filled with the acidic scent aggravating my sore throat. “Are you sure it will work?”
Hades lowered himself to the floor, meeting my eyes with an amused smile. “After an entire evening of drinking strange cocktails, you have the gall to ask me about the efficacy of a tried-and-tested supernatural medicine?”
I sat back on my ass and sniffed. “You’re the least trustworthy person I know.”
His smile widened. “What do you call staying at your side while you hurl your guts? Devotion or deception?”
I snatched the glass from his fingers, cringing as he roared with laughter. As I downed the drink, he continued rubbing gentle circles on my back.
“You are an endless source of amusement,” he said, his eyes shining with affection. “One night of freedom, and you fell into the clutches of the worst predator.”
“Are you talking about yourself?” I said between gulps. “Because I see no one else in this bathroom.”
His eyes narrowed. “This is the thanks I get for saving you from a lascivious reprobate?”
“Were you watching his Supernatural profile?” I asked.
Hades took my empty glass and tossed it over his shoulder, letting it vanish into the ether. “I had you under surveillance the moment your Hellcat made that ridiculous post,” he said. “Do you know how many unworthy idiots my doormen had to turn away?”
I paused, examining his features and waiting for the punchline. When he didn’t elaborate, I asked, “What are you talking about?”
“The entire building is surrounded by security demons. I also stationed dozens of them at your door and deactivated your enchanted mirror. Only those on my list of approved guests were allowed entrance tonight.” Hades rose to his feet and offered me a hand.
I drew back, my mind making rapid calculations. “If you controlled all the guests, why did you allow a lascivious reprobate like Lucifer?”
Hades’ features stilled, and the hand he stretched toward me fell by his side.
&n
bsp; My eyes narrowed. “You sent him here?”
“What makes you think that?” he said.
“Because it’s the kind of devious maneuver you’d make to avoid apologizing for being such a liar. What was the plan?” I snapped. “Get Lucifer to act like a lecherous villain, so you could swoop in at the last minute and rescue me from his clutches?”
Hades scowled. “If you hadn’t binged on chocolate cocktails—”
“You’re ridiculous.” I scrambled to my feet. “Just when I think you could have a shred of decency, I discover that Lucifer was a set-up. Did you know I answered the door to him in my underwear?”
His nostrils flared and the ring around his irises turned to flame. “He didn’t tell me that.”
“Well, I thought it was you at the door but it was Lucifer, and he got a long look at my lingerie.”
“Which set?” Hades rasped.
“Why does that even matter?” I gave him a shove in the chest, but he didn’t stumble backward as I’d hoped.
Instead, he wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me into his side. “Perhaps my attempt at a romantic gesture was convoluted. Next time, I’ll do better.”
I rolled my eyes. “How about next time, you send an apology through our bond?”
Hades stared down at me for several moments, not speaking, his features not betraying a single emotion. Part of me wondered if he was considering what I’d said. Maybe he would finally explain why he had lied to me this entire time and then promise to do better, but the skeptical part of me thought the silence was for dramatic effect.
“Words are so easy to blurt and have little meaning,” he said. “Why are they so important to you?”
My brows drew together, and I leaned back, looking him full in the face. “How else will I know you’re sorry if you don’t say it?”
He mirrored my frown, seeming genuinely confused. “Why don’t I show you something that proves my esteem?”
“What?”
His grip around my waist tightened, and the world turned upside down. I blinked, and we appeared on a high rooftop, overlooking London. A cool breeze blew across the vast space, cooling my fevered skin. My breath caught—not at the magnificent view, but at the greenhouse standing to our side.
