“You were hugging that fucking ratty old leather jacket of his and listening to eighties hair bands.”
Crap. I woke up hugging the jacket, and she was right, my eyes were puffy this morning. I inwardly cringed. I only let myself hold it…I winced, sniff it, once a year. I’d tried several times to throw the beat-up old jacket away, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. The only reason it hadn’t disintegrated completely from age was because I’d gone to great lengths to care and protect the centuries-old leather. “I’m fine, Urs,” I said again, giving her another wide smile.
“It’s December 10th.”
My smile fell. “I know what date it is.”
“And so does Lucifer.” She shook her head. “This whole thing couldn’t come at a worse time for you.”
You could say that, since it was the anniversary of my world shattering into a million pieces. “I’ve got it under control. Promise.” And maybe if I told myself that over and over, it would eventually be true.
Ursula growled under her breath. “Why the hell is Lucifer making you do this?”
I wish I knew, but nothing I said had changed his mind. He’d insisted he wanted me, one of his best warriors, and Lothar, his best tracker, on the job. I got the feeling there was more to it, but as always, Lucifer only divulged what he deemed necessary. He always had his reasons, and I was usually fine with that—when I wasn’t on the receiving end of his mysterious ways. “Luci would never intentionally hurt me,” I said, parroting what he’d said to me earlier. “I know whatever his reasons, they’re good ones.”
Urs muttered under her breath.
We were still in Lucifer’s quadrant, which meant we had to travel on foot to put space between us and his quarters. No one could open a gateway close to Luci, it was a safeguard that had been in place for centuries, and as we rounded the final corner and the meeting point came into view, my heart danced a freaking jig.
Taking a deep, fortifying breath, I dumped my pack on the ground and leaned against the stone wall to wait.
“He better not be late,” Urs said, tightening her vibrant red ponytail, then leaning against the wall beside me.
“He won’t be.” Lothar was always punctual.
Light flared across from us right on cue, and a gateway flashed open. I straightened, waiting for Lothar to step through. He was standing on the other side, in the clubhouse parking lot. He turned and said something to someone before they came into view.
Asher.
The wolf shifter he was fucking. Well, I assumed they were fucking. They spent a lot of time together, what else could they be doing? She grinned at him, and he pulled her in for one of his wonderful tight hugs.
My throat tightened and breath hissed through my teeth as feelings that I’d repeatedly stabbed to death gasped and fought, struggling for air.
“Keep the knives sheathed,” Ursula muttered.
My fingers were curled around the hilt of my knife, the grip punishing. I hadn’t even realized I’d reached for it. I didn’t know what was going on, but my control was slipping more every time I saw him. Urs was right, I needed to get my shit together, and I needed to do it fast. Quickly releasing the hilt, I shook out my hands.
Asher stepped back, and Lothar turned to the gateway and walked through.
“Hey,” he said when he saw us. “Am I late?”
“Yes,” Urs said at the same time I said, “We just got here.”
The gate closed behind him as he frowned. “What’s up, Urs? You just here to see us off, or are you coming as well?”
“I’m tagging along for a couple days, then I have somewhere I have to be. Why? Disappointed?”
His frown deepened. “Why would I be?” He hooked a thumb under the strap of his own pack.
Why would he be, indeed.
“I need to drop this meat off to Kurgan first, then we can head out.” He lifted a huge black trash bag. “So we got a game plan?” he asked me. “Any luck with Poe or Tarrant?”
“They’re not talking, no matter how many times I peeled off their skin.” I took a shirt from my pack and tossed it to him. “Beelzebub’s stench is all over that.”
Lothar grabbed it and scented it. His eyes glowed, turning distant.
“Anything?”
