“No, but let’s get this over with,” I muttered.
As soon as Lucifer opened the door, the room fell silent. There were more people than I’d expected on a Monday afternoon.
“Just breathe,” he whispered.
We stepped into the room, and I blinked twice when I saw the couple standing at the front of the room in tattered blue robes. They both stared at me.
“Your parents?” Lucifer asked quietly.
I nodded but said nothing. My father looked nothing like me, having hair so blond it appeared almost white and pale blue eyes. My mother looked exactly like me. It had been more than five years since I’d seen either of them. In that time, I’d only heard from them when they’d wanted me to send them extra money. I’d been renting their old trailer from them, and they’d often insisted they needed more that month. I had no idea how they divided up the money I sent them since they hadn’t lived together in years.
“Why are you here?” I asked my parents. It was rude, but I didn’t care.
“We’re here to rescue you,” my mom replied. She took a step toward me before hesitating. She looked unsure of what to do.
“Perhaps, we should begin,” Isadora Hunt suggested.
I didn’t recognize most of the council members present.
“Can you tell us what this is about first?” I asked.
“I’ve been very patient,” Lucifer added, placing a hand on my lower back. “Why did you request my presence at this meeting?”
“Would you have allowed Beatrice to come without you?” Isadora asked with an amused smile.
“No,” was Lucifer’s reply.
“Which is why we requested your presence,” A warlock added.
“Why do you need to see Beatrice?” Lucifer pushed.
Before a member of the council could respond, Beatrice’s mother shouted, “I won’t allow you to hold my daughter hostage in Hell!”
“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” I snapped.
Chapter 75
Lucifer
I had to bite back a grin. I already knew Beatrice wasn’t close to her parents. Still, I could understand why her parents might not like her living arrangements. Even bad parents were likely to cringe at the thought of their child residing in Hell.
“You need to watch your language,” a warlock near the front scolded. He seemed more amused than anything else, but it was likely expected that someone would censure Beatrice for her outburst.
“Sorry,” Beatrice replied before explaining, “My mother caught me off-guard. Is this meeting really about my relationship with Lucifer?”
“That is one of the reasons for this meeting,” the warlock replied.
“Where is your robe?” a witch with an annoying nasally voice asked disdainfully. “While you don’t attend many meetings, you know the rules.”
“She’s with me,” I replied in a cold voice.
The nasally witch clearly didn’t have the brains to know she should back off. “That doesn’t change the rules.”
“I believe it does,” someone shouted from the audience.
“It changes everything,” I replied softly. At first, silence met my declaration. No one could miss that I was making a claim on Beatrice. She certainly didn’t miss it if her nails digging into my hand were any indication.
“We should get this over with,” Beatrice stated, tugging my hand to guide me toward some open seats near the front.
“This should be interesting,” I muttered.
It wasn’t at all interesting. I was ready to doze off two hours into the meeting. Hearing Beatrice’s parents accuse me of kidnapping their daughter was interesting at first. They seemed genuinely concerned, and it was clear that at least her mom felt guilty about her lack of parenting skills. Beatrice’s father had been droning on about the many dangers in the demon realm for who knows how long. They needed to put a time limit on these speeches. I might hire Beatrice’s father as head torturer. Him yammering endlessly would be what I’d now see if locked in the nightmare room.
“I have a question,” Beatrice interrupted.
“It’s not your turn to speak yet,” a warlock snapped.
I stood and glared at him, allowing my fallen angel form to peek out. My eyes were nearly black when I spoke. “Watch your tone when speaking to Beatrice. I realize my agreement to attend your meeting may have given you the wrong impression. I’m tolerating you for Beatrice’s sake. Any insult to her will be treated the same as an insult to me and dealt with appropriately. You will not like the consequences if you push me.”
Beatrice was the only one brave enough to speak. “Can I ask my question now, or would you like to see Lucifer get really angry first?” There was no missing the amusement in her voice.
“By all means, ask your question,” a witch said with a shaky smile.
“How did you find out about me staying with Lucifer, Dad?” she asked her father.
“Everyone’s heard about it,” her father replied.
“Everyone with connections to the preternatural community has heard about it,” she added, and I suddenly saw what she was getting at. “You moved away to avoid dealing with other witches. You even refused to return when summoned to answer questions about Desmond. It seems unlikely you heard about this through the grapevine. Who told you?”
“I got an anonymous call,” her mom called out when her father said nothing.
“You have no clue who it was?” I asked.
“No,” her mom replied. “The number was blocked, and they didn’t give a name.”
“Were they male or female?” Beatrice asked.
“Female,” her mom replied.
“Are you aware that your son is currently on the loose with a demon who escaped from prison?” I asked.
“Why would Desmond be with a demon?” Beatrice’s mother asked. “He hates demons.”
“He’s also an opportunist who will use anyone to get what he wants,” Beatrice reminded her.
“How can you betray your own brother like this?” her father demanded.
“He might come after us,” her mother breathed out before looking around in a panic. “Oh, goddess! I have to get out of here. I have to hide.”
Chapter 76
Beatrice
I shook my head in disgust. Apparently, whatever concern my mother had for my safety wasn’t enough to risk her own. As for my father, his reaction was the hardest to swallow. He was actually accusing me of betraying Desmond. My brother had tried to kill me.
For a short time, while my mom had been telling the council about her concerns, I’d wondered if she’d changed, but this wasn’t some sappy movie where everyone lived happily ever after. My parents weren’t going to suddenly realize how much I meant to them and beg my forgiveness. I’d been a fool for thinking it was possible.
“And these are the people you want to listen to about my well-being?” I asked the council members. I didn’t give them a chance to reply before continuing. “Lucifer is just as dangerous as my parents claim. He’s a fallen angel and the Lord of Hell. He also cares about me and won’t abandon me while my brother might be trying to kill me.”
“How dare you defend Lucifer!” my father hissed. “You betray your family, yet you defend the devil?”
“Sit down,” Isadora Hunt snapped, just as Lucifer was about to get to his feet. “I’d like to hear from Beatrice. Then, we can hear from Lucifer, if he has anything to say on the matter.”
“Can we go now?” my mom asked nervously. “We need to get away from here. What if Desmond hears about this meeting and comes looking for us?”
“Sit down,” a warlock snapped at her before shaking his head and giving me a kind smile. “I’m sorry you have to deal with all of this.”
I didn’t like pity from others, so I ignored his. “Can we finish up here?” I asked.
“Of course,” the warlock replied. “Why are you staying in the demon realm?”
“My brother is on the loose again, and I’m wor
ried he’ll come after me,” I began. “Lucifer felt it would be safer if I stayed with him.” I decided not to give more details. They didn’t need to know more.
“Where has your brother been?” Isadora asked. “I mean, before his escape.”
I was certain they already knew the answer, but I decided to respond, anyway. “He was imprisoned in Hell.”
“Why?” Isadora pushed. “He’s alive and a warlock. While I agree his crimes were horrific, they didn’t fall under Lucifer’s jurisdiction.”
This was the tricky part. I didn’t want to lie to the Council of Witches, but I didn’t want to tell them what had happened either. “He was imprisoned for stealing Lucifer’s car.”
“Your brother stole Lucifer’s car?” a witch gasped. “Is he stupid?”
“He’s not stupid, but yes, he was imprisoned for stealing Lucifer’s car,” I replied.
“Only a fool would steal from Lucifer,” a warlock added.
Looking over, I found Lucifer’s lips twitching.
“Yes, it would be foolish to steal from Lucifer,” I agreed.
“Why would Lucifer offer you his protection,” Isadora asked. “Before you answer, let me save you some time. We’ve all heard the rumors of your involvement with Lucifer, but you’ve only recently met.”
“Time matters little when you’ve found the right woman,” Lucifer replied for me. “I will do anything to protect Beatrice.”
I heard several sighs from the audience. It seemed I wasn’t the only one affected by his words. I felt warm all over. I also felt pretty badass. The Angel of Darkness had told a room full of snooty witches that I was the woman for him. My magic flared, reaching out to him. I sucked in a sharp breath when his power responded to mine. It barely reached out and glided along mine before he reined it back in. That brief touch left my body throbbing with lust.
“You expect us to believe you could love someone like Beatrice?” my dad demanded.
My mom gasped.
I clutched Lucifer’s hand tightly and met his eyes. With a shake of my head, I tried to tell him I didn’t want him to defend me to my dad. I knew he was angry, felt his rage sliding along my body. With a frustrated growl, he nodded his understanding. I wasn’t convinced I’d stopped him from going after my father, but he wouldn’t go after him now—assuming my father didn’t say anything else to rouse Lucifer’s temper.
“Can we finish up here without any more insults from the father of the year?” I asked.
“Yes,” a warlock added. “I think that would be best.” His attention moved to my dad. “As for you, I would recommend you be careful making your way to your car tonight.”
“Was that a threat?” my dad foolishly demanded.
“It was a good piece of advice,” Lucifer added quietly. “Bad things happen to people who piss me off. You’re still breathing because your daughter doesn’t want you dead. That could easily change.”
Surprisingly, my dad looked more defiant than afraid. As long as he kept his mouth shut so we could finish up and leave, I didn’t care what reaction he had to the threat of Lucifer coming after him.
“I think we’ve proven that Beatrice isn’t being held against her will,” Isadora concluded. “Her relationship with Lucifer doesn’t violate any council rules. Now, we need to discuss the matter of Desmond LaCroix. Do you have any idea where he might be?”
“I’ve had the cottage he hid at before searched,” Lucifer began. “We found a hidden area that we didn’t know about before. It appears to have been used recently but abandoned. Beatrice has been trying to think of other places he might be hiding, but she hasn’t come up with anything yet. When we find him, he’ll be dealt with.”
“This is a witch matter,” Isadora told him with no fear.
I liked her. She was a tough witch who didn’t always conform to societal norms.
“Don’t even think about telling them I’m yours so this is your concern,” I warned him. “No macho posturing that will delay me escaping this meeting.”
He chuckled at my reaction, even though everyone in the room had to have heard me. I’d given an order to Lucifer. This would be the talk of the witch community as soon as the meeting let out.
“Fine,” he agreed. “I’ll just point out that I don’t take orders from the Council of Witches. There is only one witch who has any say in how I deal with Desmond LaCroix.”
That should have been the end of it, but council meetings were never that simple. We spent the next hour listening to the council discuss my brother. They even took comments from the audience, and it was boring. I thought Lucifer’s patience was impressive—that is, until I noticed he was sleeping.
“We can go now,” I told him, giving his shoulder a swat.
“I was certain they’d bore us to death,” Lucifer grumbled as he got to his feet. “Are you sure you don’t want me to take care of your father? It would be my pleasure.”
I shook my head and replied, “He’s not worth it. We’d just end up having to come back here for another council meeting to answer questions about whatever you did to him.”
Lucifer sighed. “I suppose you’re right. Let’s quickly make our escape.”
Naturally, it wasn’t that simple.
Chapter 77
Lucifer
I’d have never guessed that a young witch would hinder our escape. At first, she hurried past us in the corridor, but she quickly doubled back.
“Oh. My. Goddess! I know who you are!” she screeched. “You’re Beatrice LaCroix.”
She was around Beatrice’s height, short for a witch, with a delicate frame, long blonde hair, and pale blue eyes. There was something vaguely familiar about her, but I was certain we’d never met.
“Yes, I am,” Beatrice replied in a guarded tone as if worried the young witch was going to say something awful to her.
The little witch threw her arms around Beatrice’s shoulders and hugged her. “Thank you so much!”
Beatrice awkwardly patted her back and asked, “What are you thanking me for?”
When the witch pulled away, she seemed embarrassed. Blushing, she began, “Sorry. When I get excited, I react without thinking. You don’t have any idea who I am, so you can’t possibly know why I’m thanking you. I’m Jolie Dupree. You helped save my sister’s life.”
“You’re Julia’s sister,” Beatrice remarked.
That explained why the witch seemed familiar. I knew Julia Dupree, though not well. I was also acquainted with several other Dupree family members. Their family was heavily involved with the witch affinity tests and bonding ceremonies. Two of Jolie’s older siblings had broken from that tradition. Her brother, Trevor, was a lawyer, and her sister, Julia, was co-owner of Bliss.
“Yes, and I can’t tell you how grateful I am to you,” Jolie replied, hugging Beatrice again.
I had to bite back a grin. My poor witch didn’t know how to handle the overly affectionate girl. When Jolie finally released Beatrice, her attention focused on me.
“And you’re Lucifer,” she said in awe.
“Yes, I am,” I replied. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Jolie.”
“Your aura is nothing like I thought it would be,” she remarked as her hand hovered in the air. She quickly caught herself. “Sorry. I shouldn’t touch someone’s aura without permission. I know it’s rude.”
Some witches possessed the ability to see and even touch the auras of others. Most called it a curse, rather than a gift, because the auras of others often negatively affected the witches. The darkest part of a person’s aura could easily taint the witch who touched it. Poor Jolie would end up angry and bitter because of her ability. It was amazing that she still seemed so bright and happy.
“You should avoid touching an aura like mine,” I advised.
“Why?” Jolie asked.
“I’m a fallen angel,” I replied.
“She already knows that,” Beatrice told me.
“You think that, if I touch your aura, it will frighten
me,” Jolie concluded.
“Or damage you,” I added.
Jolie laughed at my explanation. It was not the reaction I’d expected. “I’ve touched auras darker than yours,” she told me when I looked at her like she was crazy. I suspected she might be a little crazy.
“His aura isn’t nearly as dark as he thinks it is, right?” Beatrice asked. “He doesn’t want me touching his magic because he’s afraid it will scare me off, but I don’t think he’s nearly as bad as he believes.”
Jolie shrugged. “Good and bad are difficult to define since circumstances often lead people to do things others might view as bad. His aura is mostly dark, but it’s got sparkly spots, almost like there’s glitter in it.”
“Glitter?” I asked incredulously. I didn’t like the idea of having a sparkly aura. That sounded as bad as being told my spirit animal was a pink unicorn.
“You don’t like having a pretty, sparkly aura?” Beatrice teased.
“Not at all,” I replied.
Jolie giggled again. “It’s not too sparkly, but it is pretty.”
Great! I had a pretty aura. Every fallen angel wanted to have a pretty aura.
“Are you going to do an affinity test with Lucifer?” Jolie asked Beatrice.
“He’s not a witch,” Beatrice pointed out.
“My dad would do it,” Jolie assured us. “I’d love to watch that, but the room will be full of witches and warlocks. They’ll be turning witches away.”
“We don’t plan to have an affinity test,” I told Jolie.
Her face fell. “That’s too bad. I assumed you were a couple because I saw the imprint of your magic on Beatrice’s aura. That usually only happens with a couple.”
“I have an imprint of Lucifer’s magic on my aura?” Beatrice asked, looking down at her forearm as if she could see it for herself. “Is it sparkly?”
“Yes,” Jolie replied. “I wonder if other fallen angels also have sparkly auras. Maybe regular angels have them, too. I’ve only met Rainer and Xavier Vigil. Neither of them has a sparkly aura. I’ll have to meet more angels.”
“That’s a bad idea,” I warned.
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