by Sidney Ayers
“So how can I help you, creepy cloaked guy?” she crossed her arms and raised her chin. “If you’re trying to scare me, it’s not working.”
The cloaked figure raised its arms, its hands translucent. This thing took creepy to the extreme. She slid a gaze toward Rafe, who sat calm and still as a rock. Some bodyguard.
Pulling its hood down off its head, the apparition solidified in front of her. Sandy blond hair peeked from beneath the hood as greenish amber eyes sparked. His lips curved into a wide beaming smile, her father stood tall with arms opened wide to embrace her. What in the hell?
“Lucia, please. I missed you.”
The floating caped figure was her dad? No way! Like she was on a soap opera adequately named Demons of Our Lives.
No! No! No!
With a shake of her hand, a deep chuckle rumbled from her mouth. “Wait just a minute. You’re telling me that you’re a demon?”
“Lucy,” Rafe whispered, reaching for her arm.
She yanked it from his grasp. Pacing in front of the couch, she shook her head. She turned a sidelong glance toward Rafe. His jaw twitched and his silver eyes swirled gray. She’d noticed that expression before—when they talked about Larissa and her multiple personas. Frustration and hurt.
Ahh hell. Look what she’d done now.
“Sorry, but I don’t understand,” she mumbled, turning to face her dad. No longer translucent and now dressed in khaki chinos and his favorite blue check shirt, he stood there looking more regal than ever. “So you’re the one who made me this way?”
A wry smile spread across his face. “Quite an accomplishment, don’t you think?” His words, thickened by a deep Italian accent, danced in her ears. Accent? What else was he hiding?
“Fake accent, huh?”
Her dad blinked and his jaw clenched. He had the audacity to look affronted? “My accent is real.”
Of course. But she’d promised that she would let him speak, and she wasn’t one to renege on a promise. “That’s some trick.”
“I was born in Sumer but spent much of my life with the Etruscans. As the centuries change and humans evolved, so did my voice.”
Whoa! Dad was old. She shook her head. Don’t fall for his story, her mind screamed. “You’re always full of good explanations, aren’t ya?”
“Lucy…” Rafe’s silvery gaze sparked in warning.
She threw her hands up in exasperation. “What? I don’t have a right to be pissed?”
“You have every right, my dear.” Her father came to stand next to her and took her hand in his. “I’d feel the same if I were in your position.”
His touch was tender, just as it had been when she was a girl. His gaze pleaded, drawing her to him. She missed him so much, but now that he had returned under false pretenses, she didn’t know what to do. She took a deep breath.
With smooth efficiency, she pulled her hand from his. “I told Mom I’d let you explain. So explain.”
Her dad smiled. “Thank you, my little—”
Narrowing her eyes, she shook her head. “Don’t even…” She didn’t want to be called a little demon. Especially not now.
“Fair enough.” He turned his gaze to the empty couch. “Will you have a seat now?”
She had no choice. She ambled to the couch and took her time getting comfortable. She gripped the arm tight to prevent her hand from doing something she would later regret. “Better?”
Rafe scratched his stubble as he scrutinized the father and daughter powwow. Why was he here? To hell with this protection baloney. Why was their family reunion any of his concern?
She turned to face Rafe. “No offense, but why are you here?”
Shrugging, Rafe sank further into the chair, his hands balled into tight fists. “It concerns me.”
She gazed to father and demon and sighed. Both remained straight-faced and tight-lipped. Her words came out a little harsher than intended. “What the hell is going on?”
Her dad blew out a ragged breath and rubbed his temples. “I’m trying to find the right words.”
“Say what? That you’re a demon?” With bemused wonder, she scratched her head. “Easy as pie. ‘Lucy, I’m a demon.’ See?”
Her father let out a halfhearted chuckle. “I wish it was that simple.”
“Don’t tell me you’re an Infernati warrior and you’ve come to bring me back to Belial.”
Her dad’s amber eyes sparked. Not at her, but at Rafe. Daddy wasn’t the only one withholding information. “Belial?”
“Uh oh,” Lucy whispered. Hopefully four hundred-plus years of demonic training would help him. But her dad’s hard glare said it all. Worry for Rafe raced through her.
Clenching his fists into tight balls, Rafe squirmed in his chair. “I’m surprised Lilith didn’t tell you.”
Dad scratched his chin and paced back and forth. “I haven’t summoned her yet.”
Her eyes widened. Summoned? “Amazing.”
“Pardon?” Her father’s brow jutted upward.
“I’m amazed anyone could summon her. She seems pretty”—bitchy—“hardheaded.”
Rafe coughed and shifted in the recliner. “That’s putting it mildly.”
Swiping a hand through his dark blond hair, her dad shrugged. “My sister wouldn’t dare defy me.”
“What are you?” she asked with a chuckle. “The Sexubi king?” And what did he mean by sister? She couldn’t bring her mind to even wrap around the thought. Cringing in horror, she wrinkled her nose. “Tell me it isn’t true.”
Her dad narrowed his gaze. “To answer your question…” He paused, his eyes narrowing to increase the dramatic effect. “Yes, I am.”
She didn’t know what was more shocking, the fact that her dad was the king of kink or that the sex addict formerly known as Mrs. Gunderson was her aunt.
One thing remained certain: this time she wouldn’t faint.
Chapter 17
Her head reeled as her dad relayed the whole sordid story. He’d come to Earth to “rejuvenate” himself. Sometimes sucking the energy from his subjects wasn’t enough, apparently. He met Victoria Jennings right after she graduated college. He’d been up front and honest and said he originally planned on using some of her energy, but he’d fallen in love with her instead.
They even got married in a Catholic church! There went her spontaneous combustion theory right out the window. Then again weren’t those who joined the Paladins blessed by angels?
Then came little Lucia in a baby carriage. What a shock that must have been, at least to her dad. Was she a miracle or an abomination? Hopefully neither. She wanted a normal life, not the life of a sex-starved succubus. Another reason to hate her dad.
“You were a blessing, my dear. I prayed that you never inherited my powers.” He shook his head. “No one deserves to live like that.” Could he read her mind too? Wouldn’t be a surprise. Time to test the waters.
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Shit on a shingle. Whittle me this. Whittle me that. Let’s carve a big black bat.
Since her dad hadn’t busted out in laughter, it was safe to assume he didn’t have the skill she despised.
Instead of laughing, her dad’s voice cracked as he continued the story. “My sister informed me that Lamia and those who severed were planning to take over the kingdom.” Taking a deep breath, he shook his head. “I had no choice.”
“I guess a kingdom is more important than family or your daughter’s graduation.” Not that it was as grand an affair as med school, but it was important to her. He knew it, too.
Rafe reached across from his chair and took her hand in his. Leaning in, he whispered, “Let your father explain.” His breath, hot against her ear, sent her pulse skyrocketing. In front of her undead dad, too? This man had her thoroughly enraptured. She didn’t care what he said. Rafe had control over her in a completely dangerous and exciting way.
“I’m not stopping him,” she mumbled. With a quick turn back to her dad, she crossed her arms. “Explain
yourself.”
Her dad’s eyes grew wide and beseeching. Typical charmer. “If I stayed, the kingdom would’ve been thrown into chaos. That chaos would have spread to Earth.”
He paced back and forth. “I always made sure you were protected. Your friend too.”
“Serah? You never seemed to care for her when we were growing up.”
“I wasn’t able to tap into her.” He sucked in a deep breath. “I have the power of suggestion. And nothing I suggested broke through.”
“So she has a built-in anti-demon device, huh?”
“She is the anti-demon device,” Rafe mumbled.
With a curious arch of her brow, she looked between the two men. “Umm, okay?”
“She had no marks and an innocent soul,” her dad said, swiping a hand over his graying goatee. “She was harmless. She’s taken care of you, Lucy. I’m very grateful.”
“Cool. I’ll let her know.” And now the question of the hour, because executioning minds wanted to know. “Why’d you come back?”
“Lamia’s prized minion showed her overly pretty face.”
Rafe sucked in a ragged breath. His eyes swirled with turmoil. “Amanda.”
Lucy reached over and took his hand in hers. Surprisingly enough, he didn’t pull away.
“Leticia, Lily, Linda, and Laurel, to name a few more.” Glancing over at Rafe and her, her dad shook his head.
With a quick jerk, they pulled their hands away. Rafe turned to the window, and she swiped a hunk of hair from her cheek. So much for consolation.
Dad cleared his throat. “She thought she’d be sneaky and use a different name this time, but Lilith was on the ball—as always.”
Good ole Lilith. “Great disguise, by the way,” she said with a snicker. “Gives new meaning to ‘don’t judge a book by its cover.’”
“My sister is a mistress of disguise.”
“Among other talents, I’m sure.” And why was the sex demon formerly known by five other names targeting her dad and her? It had to do with more than just Lamia. “What’s so bad about Larissa taking Joshua off my hands?”
Her dad flashed a sidelong glance at Rafe. “Yes, Joshua Carlson wasn’t the best man for you, but even so, to move in on another succubus’s mate is against Sexubi code. Then again, Lamia makes her own code.”
“Lamia sounds like a real winner.” And hopefully she wouldn’t have to meet her.
“I can handle Lamia.” Rafe clenched his fist. “I have before.”
Her dad crossed his arms. “Yet here she keeps coming back for more.”
Maybe she was a masochist? Lucy turned the conversation back to Josh’s fiancée. “So how does Larissa fit in?”
“Miss Newell, as she was known when I first lay with her, was one of Lamia’s human servants. The enchanting aura of her sensuality enraptured me.” Her father snorted. “I took her virginity.”
Rafe sucked in a hard breath, teeth clenching as her dad revealed all the dirty details. “Go on.”
“She told me she’d been with men. She lied. I might need sex to survive, but I swore as king to never take someone’s innocence.”
“She told me something completely different,” Rafe mumbled.
“Amanda claimed to love me.” Her father shook his head. “But it was a trap set up by Lamia. When her human form died, Lamia made her one of hers.” Her father turned to lock gazes with Rafe. “I’m sorry you never knew, Deleon.”
“People like keeping me in the dark. I’m sure it was done with good reason.”
“She wanted to become one of Lamia’s minions… completely.” Her father’s gaze grew apologetic. “She knew she wasn’t supposed to touch you, yet she did anyway. She knew exactly what would happen.”
“How comforting.”
Rafe’s voice, so hollow, tore at her heart. She wanted to wrap her arms around him and give him a hug. He needed to know someone cared and wanted to comfort him. Unfortunately, that time wasn’t now. It was time to change the course of the conversation.
Thankfully, her dad went on to explain how he returned to Limbo, never wanting to step foot on Earth again. However, he grew weak and needy.
Then came her mother and those same turbulent emotions. As that clichéd line goes: The rest is history.
“So, the reason Larissa is here isn’t Lamia, at all. It’s all you. The woman was jealous of your mom and you. She wants to destroy you.”
The joke was on her. Joshua Carlson and Lucy Gregory were doomed long before hot-legs Larissa Harding entered the picture. She couldn’t help but smirk.
“Poor Larissa,” she said with a pout.
Both her dad’s and Rafe’s brows jutted up with bemusement. “Huh?” Rafe asked.
“Josh and I were already on our way out. Her plan was for nothing.”
“Perhaps.” Her dad’s gaze grew serious. “Perhaps not.”
“What else does she want?”
“Your mother and you dead.” Wow, Lucy couldn’t have said it more succinctly.
Shaking his head, Rafe ground his teeth. “I can’t believe it. Am I that foolish?”
“No, Deleon. You still have human emotions. I have been around for two millennia and still I was duped.” Her dad’s eyes swirled like two fathomless amber pools. “I am more foolish than you.”
“Fools or no fools,” Lucy said, pulling herself from the couch. She placed her hands on her hips and glared like something reminiscent of a gunfight out of an old western movie. John Wayne had nothing on her—or so she hoped. “We have a demon infestation to stop.”
Her dad’s eyes sparked. “I love your pluck, but this won’t be easy. No fun and games like you see in the movies. No stunt person to fall back on. It’s real, and it’ll be deadly.”
She wasn’t ignorant. She knew it wouldn’t be all roses. After she locked fists with Belial and experienced the stench of brimstone and Atomic Fireballs, she’d learned that lesson. “I’m not a kid anymore. I can take care of myself. Rafe will help me.”
She angled a beseeching gaze toward Rafe. “Right?”
“Your father is right.” His gaze pleaded back, like two giant puppy dogs wading in silver pools. Ugh! For only just meeting her, he knew her too well.
“But you promised,” she urged. “I’m the one who opened the chest, and I’m the one who needs to get us out of this mess. I feel responsible.”
“I’m responsible,” her dad interjected. “I should’ve brought you back to Limbo with me. I knew you had powers.”
“The only powers I have are a good roundhouse kick and some serious kung fu knowledge.”
Her dad raked a hand through his graying hair. “No, you have another ability.”
“I do?” Her mind reeled as she thought long and hard. Then it hit like a ton of bricks. “Latin? Why Latin?”
“I spent time with the Etruscans and eventually the Romans. My language abilities passed to you.”
“Gee thanks, Dad. So it’s your fault the nuns at St. Mary’s hated me.”
“That and they may have sensed the demon in you. Holy people are attuned like that.”
She put her foot down. “I’ll stop Belial, with or without your help.” She turned to Rafe. “Well?”
“It’s up to your father.”
Way to pass the buck, Rafe. “Dad? You know I won’t take no for an answer.”
He threw his hands up in defeat. “Fine.” His gaze narrowed with seriousness as he stared out the window. “But be careful. A storm is brewing.”
She looked in the same direction. Thick black clouds churned and roiled in the distance. Heavy gusts of winds sent snow drifts flying across the yard. Craning her gaze toward the driveway, she groaned. Gerardo’s car, which was clean when they first arrived, already had at least six inches of snow piled on it. What in the hell?
Rafe rose from his perch. “They’re preparing for the solstice.” Pulling out his fancy pocket watch, he grumbled. “We have an hour.”
“I don’t like this, but I know my daughter.
” Her dad’s lips curved into a wan smile. “Lucy won’t give up until she gets what she wants.”
She wouldn’t argue that. She’d always been determined. Beauty school, Luscious Locks… saving the world. “Thanks, Dad.” She turned to Rafe. “Ready to go?” Her eyes sparked as she loped to the door, leaving him no chance to refuse.
Chapter 18
Justin Timberlake’s serenade pounded in Lucy’s ears as soon as she plopped her ass down in the car seat. She made a quick mental note: Change ringtone.
Fumbling inside the abysmal handbag for the offending contraption, she groaned. “Stupid bag could swallow my whole…” she mumbled as she flipped up the receiver. “Hello.”
“Hey girl,” Serah’s voice crinkled in her ear.
“What’s up?”
“It’s snowing like mad here,” came through in bits of static. “Stay… work. Okay?”
“So you’re staying at work?”
“Until… clears.”
“Hold on a sec.” Placing her hand over the receiver, she turned to Rafe. “Serah says it’s too bad for her to drive here in the weather.”
“I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”
She took her hand away from the receiver. “Rafe says that’s not safe.”
“Driving back to your house isn’t exactly safe either, is it?” Serah said in a moment of good reception.
“Good point. What if we sent Squeaky to protect her?”
“Squeaky?” Serah said with a bemused chuckle. “You want to send a chimpanzee to protect me?”
“Squeaky seems connected to her,” Rafe mumbled. “He’s a god after all.”
“Cool, then it’s settled.” She turned her attention back to the phone. “Squeaky will be there in about an hour.”
“You’re serious?”
“There’s more to Squeaky that meets the eye, Serah.”
“Other than his three-foot furry body?”
“A lot more,” she said, her voice firm. “He’ll be there in an hour. Okay?”
“Umm, okay. I have some old gangster movies buried in here somewhere. No Chimpfellas though.” Serah said then paused. “A customer just came in. Oh… a hottie too! Talk later.” With that, the phone went dead.
