Gloria fell to the ground. Dead. Lucifer was still surveying me, and there was something alien behind his eyes. Kill me now, and he didn’t have to worry about the prophecy. But then he’d miss out on my power and the leverage he currently had over Samael.
We both stared at each other. The room seemed to collectively hold its breath. Behind him, Pischiel had turned gray. I wanted to tell him to get his shit together—if Lucifer looked at him right now, he’d have no doubt that his heir was playing the kind of games Lucifer would have to kill him for.
I kept my face carefully blank as he stepped closer.
“You’re incredibly lucky,” he hissed, and the hair on the back of my neck stood up. “You’re lucky I need you to attend the dinner for our guests tonight. And that they would notice if you were recently maimed.” I shuddered at that, and he smiled. “You will laugh, and flirt, and make Nacheran believe that you will one day support Pischiel as he rules this realm. Or I will forget I need your power. And granddaughter?” he leaned forward, until his breath was hot on the side of my ear as he lowered his voice.
“I would never kill you quickly.”
With that warning, he glanced at his guards. “My granddaughter is to remain in her room from now on. She may leave only when escorted,afterI have given permission.”
Lucifer turned and prowled out of the room.
15
DANICA
Istudied Nacheran as he ate at the other end of the table. The demon was quiet, his expression inscrutable as Hera talked inanely at him on his left. The concubine was wearing Samael’s mom’s bracelet again.Mybracelet.
One more thing to do. I’d take it off her wrist even if it meant I had to cut off her hand.
“You’ve met my granddaughter?” Lucifer asked Nacheran, his voice almost jovial. It made bile claw its way up my throat.
Nacheran nodded, his eyes hard. “My information was that your granddaughter was bonded to Samael himself, Your Majesty.”
“Incorrect,” Lucifer said, the smile still on his face, although his eyes were filled with warning. “She was targeted by our enemies because they learned she was my family. Thankfully, our people were able to rescue her. Isn’t that right, Danica?”
He’d ordered me to wear a dress with long sleeves, along with a pair of gloves. The gloves were hot and stuffy, but I didn’t risk pissing him off tonight. He wanted to make sure Nacheran didn’t spot the golden mark that told everyone I was already bonded.
I forced a grin, glancing at Lucifer as if he really was a sweet old grandpa. “Of course. And I’ve never been happier.”
Nacheran didn’t look convinced. I had to sell this, at least in the short term, or Lucifer may just lose his patience. I reached for Pischiel’s hand and clasped it.
“You’ll have to come to our bonding ceremony,” I told Nacheran.
I was the only one who noticed the way Pischiel tensed in surprise, but he immediately grinned at Nacheran. “I’ve been considering taking a hunting trip before I’m a bonded man,” he said. “I’ll keep you updated.”
Nacheran’s eyes met mine. I smiled at him. He looked disconcerted. I’d sold it. My hand tightened around Pischiel’s and I let go, reaching for my water goblet. Hopefully, no one noticed my hand shaking.
The meal seemed to take an eternity. Fourteen courses in total, one after another, and I beamed through all of them. By the time Lucifer got to his feet, waving his hand as he encouraged Nacheran’s men to carry on without him, my head pounded with a vicious headache.
As soon as Lucifer left, I got to my feet.
“I think I’ll turn in too.” I dropped a kiss to Pischiel’s forehead. “Goodnight, gentlemen.”
For now.
As soon as I got back to my rooms, I dismissed the maids and grabbed the charm Gloria had given me for Kyla. There were more guards out tonight, and I tiptoed down to her cell, placing the charm between the bars in one corner, deep in the shadows.
She lifted her lip, showing sharp fangs, but didn’t move from where she was lying.
“This should help,” I whispered. “Open your mind to your Alpha, Kyla.”
A growl ripped through her throat, and I turned, walking past Keigan’s cell.
Our eyes met. He opened his mouth. I kept walking. My heart hurt even thinking about him, thinking about how he’d been part of that lab, how he’d worked for the people who’d killed my mom and then actively covered up her murder.
I returned to my room, took off the gloves, and paced, waiting for the meal to wind down. Finally, what had to be an hour later, I heard voices as a few of Nacheran’s men made their way down the hall and past my door.
