“Lucifer has been attempting to sway Nacheran.”
I let out a low growl. The region Nacheran ruled was large enough to be a threat to Lucifer if he decided to turn his allegiance elsewhere. His people were highly trained and lethal when armed. And I’d been attempting to negotiate with him for decades.
“We need to offer him something. Tell him he can have more land when I take the throne.”
Asmodeus nodded, and I got to my feet. “Is that all?”
“For now.” His gaze scanned my face. It was almost noon, and Asmodeus knew what I would do now. I’d attempt to find Danica in her dreams, as I did each hour.
“Keep me updated,” I said, stalking to the balcony, where I launched myself into the air and up to my penthouse.
I lay down in the guest room, forcing my mind to go blank as I closed my eyes.
And this time… I found her.
Elation and hope warred within me, no matter how much I warned myself away from both.
“Danica?”
She turned, and I fought the urge to take her into my arms, to slam my mouth down on hers. To just… hold her. She was wearing a black gown, along with some of the jewels that had been passed down to my family. It hurt me to see them. Not because she was wearing them, but because I could imagine my mother gifting them to her.
“You’ve never looked more beautiful.”
The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them, and my little witch blushed charmingly. My stomach sank.MyDanica would have swept her gaze over my body, made a lewd comment, and stalked toward me, her mind on sex.
“Uh, thank you.” She frowned, glancing around. “How did I get here? Am I in your dreams? Or are you in mine?”
“I am visiting your dreams.”
Fear flashed across her face, and I held up my hands. Obviously, she’d been warned of dream visitors. Lucifer would do anything he could to make sure I couldn’t talk to my bondmate. Couldn’t remind her of what we shared.
“I mean you no harm.”
“Then why are you here?”
“I am a… friend. A friend you have forgotten.”
“Why would I forget my friends?”
I gave her a steady look. “I have a feeling you’ve forgotten many things recently. You may also have some memories which don’t make sense.”
She tucked a loose piece of hair behind her ear. “Perhaps.”
I would make her trust me if it killed me.
“There’s a chance I can help you with some of those memories. Would you like that?”
The wariness in her eyes killed me. But my brave little witch stared steadily at me while she considered it.
Finally, she angled her head in a way that told me she was not at all convinced, but she would at least listen. “What is your name?”
I had no doubt Lucifer and his people had poisoned her against me. “I believe I’ll keep that to myself for now.”
She narrowed her eyes at me, and the expression was so familiar on her face, it was all I could do not to fall to my knees in front of her. To beg her to remember me.
That would simply frighten her.
I didn’t know how to behave with this version of my little witch. The version Lucifer had created. Oh, he would have enjoyed turning my warrioress into this meek shade of herself.
