And he’d be hunted byevery faction.
His voice trailed off, and Lucifer leaned closer. Just that simple move was pure threat. Keigan glanced up at him and the remaining color drained from his face.
“At first, there was nothing to be done. HFE had covered their tracks. At least, until you stole the Dagger of Truth and found a lead. By then I’d gotten to know you. I knew your sister had been born in that lab. And even knowing that you could be my ruin, I couldn’t kill you. You were getting too close when you questioned the lesser demon, and especially once you prepared to question Vercan. Both of them had to die. But I could never shoot you.”
Somehow I’d forgotten that before Keigan was a Discipulus Mage, he’d done his time on the streets as well. And he was known for his skill with a crossbow.
I’d continually wondered why I hadn’t been killed while the only leads I’d ever had were shot with rowan. It had made no sense not to kill me when I was getting close.
Unless you were someone I trusted, and you had a guilty enough conscience that you wanted to keep me alive.
“You told me you needed to stay in the council to drive out the sickness within it. You were willing to let Samaeldieso you could ‘do some good.’ Was any of it the truth?”
“Yes. It’s… complicated, Dani. Just as I became your friend, I also wanted to make the council better.”
“Don’t call me Dani.”
I wanted to scream, cry, and vomit, all at the same time. Keigan must’ve seen it on my face, because he closed his eyes briefly, forcing them open when Lucifer removed his hand from my hair and stepped back.
I fell onto my ass, gazing past him to where Garadiel stood.
“See?” Lucifer’s smile was sharp. “This is the human you have risked my displeasure for.”
I ignored that, and Lucifer tutted. “Look at me while I’m talking to you, granddaughter.”
I ignored him some more. Looked like I still had some defiance left after all. Lucifer laughed, but the rage was obvious beneath it. Then he was pulling me to my feet and shoving me at Garadiel.
“Follow.”
I didn’t look at Keigan again. With no other choice, I followed Lucifer through the castle, noting the way the guards stood at attention. Word had gotten around that the boss was up. There would be no drinking, gambling, or whoring tonight.
I had a pretty good feeling Lucifer knew every single thing that went on in his palace. If he allowed the guards such liberties, it was because it benefited him in some way.
Lucifer led us through the throne room and my gaze slid to the wall above his throne. The gold letters shifted and blurred.
Lucifer continued walking toward the narrow door to the left of his throne. I’d wondered where the door led, and I shivered at the thought of what could be behind it. At my back, Garadiel was a threatening presence. There would be no escape.
Lucifer opened the door. Garadiel poked me in the back, and I threw him a dirty look. With a deep, steadying breath, I followed Lucifer inside.
10
DANICA
Idon’t know what I’d expected, but this wasn’t it.
Behind me, Garadiel went still, but Lucifer didn’t seem to notice as he stalked across the empty room and to the glass case which displayed the scroll.
“Come, granddaughter,” Lucifer said. “Come and meet your fate.”
It was always drama with this guy.
Garadiel poked me in the back again, and I managed to restrain myself from snarling at him. Lucifer obviously wanted to put on a show, so I followed him over to the glass case, leaning over it.
“It’s in demonish. I can’t read it.”
“Your lack of education is an insult.”
Blah blah blah.
