I frowned. “Right now? I’m making a mental SWOT analysis.”
“Swot?”
“Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Spoiler alert: I’m the threat.”
He heaved a sigh. “You’re going to end up dead.”
“Aw,” I said. “It’s nice that you care.”
He scowled. In spite of everything, we’d become something that—if it wasn’t for the fact that he was Lucifer’s protégé—could almost be consideredfriends.
“You end up dead, and I’ll be losing my head directly after,” he snapped, but there was no real heat in it. “You take too many stupid risks, and if you’re not careful, your bondmate won’t have anyone left to come for.”
“Pull yourself together, Pischiel. I know what I’m doing.” I hoped. I gave him a long look, still half-convinced he would sell me out. “Just remember: Snitches get stitches.”
He rolled his eyes and I turned, walking back into the throne room, where I almost collided with Garadiel. I gritted my teeth, attempting to dodge around him, and he moved to the side, blocking me once more.
I scowled at him. “Can I fucking help you?”
“I would be honored if you would dance with me, your royal highness.”
I opened my mouth to tell him exactly what I thought of him, but I could feel Lucifer’s eyes on me.
“Sure,” I ground out, taking his hand. “I’dloveto.”
“You have been causing problems,” he murmured as soon as we began the dance. Thanks to Gloria’s little mind-rape, I could still remember the steps as if I’d done it a hundred times before. Because in the life she’d created for me, I had.
“I may have to dance with you, but I don’t talk to narcs.”
“Narcs?”
“You told Lucifer I had my memories back, you piece of shit.”
A muscle ticked in his jaw. The guy was built like a rock—larger even than Samael and Bael. The bigger they are, the harder they fall.
“I did not.”
I snorted. “You expect me to believe that?”
“You’re desperate, your royal highness. And while I’m sure you have many redeeming qualities, none of them are even distantly related tosubtlety. I had three guards come to me and report that you seemed to be acting strangely. I advised all of them not to say anything. Someone else must have told his majesty that you were suddenly yourself. I was merely on duty that night.”
I sniffed. “Fine.” I leaned close as if I was murmuring something flirtatious in his ear. “Have you seen the light and decided to join us?”
“No. I asked you to dance because I have a message for you.”
“A message from who?”
He ignored that. “Your father is alive.”
“I’m aware.”
He angled his head. “You don’t care.”
“My father left my mother to raise me. He told her just how much danger she was in, and then he left. I don’t feel the need to chat to him about my hopes and dreams.” Even if hehadbeen tortured when he returned to his father…
That muscle twitched again, this time further up in his cheek.
“If you speak to him… I will consider what you proposed.”
