“It’s worse than that. I found her in bed with Esther. The snake has turned white again, and she’s as limp as a wet noodle. And Lilith is unresponsive. I think that broken heart might have killed her.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Lilith wasn’t dead, but she sure as hell wished she was. Esther lay lifeless beside her, and Percival sat on her pillow, his breathing quick and shallow. Deirdre had come in looking for her, but she couldn’t even muster the will to acknowledge her presence. Was she being dramatic? Maybe. But what was the point of existing anymore?
She had screwed up yet again, and this time, she’d lost everything because of it. Turning Spencer was supposed to fix things. In her mind, they would be together forever, and Esther would be saved. Now, she’d lost the man she loved and her familiar. Percival wouldn’t be far behind either.
What had she been thinking? Lilith, Queen of the Night, didn’t deserve love. She was meant to be alone. That fact should have been clear when she got kicked out of Eden, but no. She had refused to see it that way. She’d listened to her friends, let them convince her a soulmate existed for her, and she’d given him her whole heart. Because he was her soulmate. And now he was gone.
Fate was a cold-hearted bitch.
Her front door opened again, and footsteps sounded in the hall. No doubt Deirdre had called in reinforcements, but Lilith’s pain couldn’t be healed with a girls’ night in. No amount of wine-laced blood and Sex and the City would make her feel better.
“Lilith?” Fear threaded through Spencer’s voice, and he quickened his steps. “Oh, gods, Lilith. No.”
He sank onto the bed and rested his hand on her stomach. “Esther. Percival? Oh, Lilith, I’m so sorry.”
“We brought him back to you, hon.” Venus’s voice sounded from across the room.
Leaning down, he pressed his lips to her forehead, and a tear splashed onto her cheek as he pulled away. “I didn’t mean a word of what I said. I was startled and confused, and you were right. I was so hungry I couldn’t think straight.”
He trailed his fingers down her cheek, and she fluttered her lids open to find him gazing at her with so much emotion in his eyes that she nearly choked on a sob. Eve and Deirdre stood next to Venus at the foot of the bed.
“Oh, thank Lucifer, you’re still alive. I’m so, so sorry.” Concern etched lines into Spencer’s forehead, making her heart thump hard in her chest.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered over the thickness in her throat, and her friends quietly slipped out the door, leaving them alone.
“No. You have nothing to be sorry for. You did the right thing; I can see that now. When Deirdre came into the bar and said you were dead, I…” He clamped his mouth shut, and a tear slid down his cheek. “The thought of living the rest of eternity without you was unbearable. I would have done anything to bring you back. We belong together.”
She pushed to sitting and leaned her back against the headboard. “Do you really mean that?”
“I do. I saw Andrei shift. He told me how you bind a shifter’s animal until he has control of his bloodlust. I should have let you explain. I should have known you wouldn’t do anything to hurt me.”
“Never.”
“It’s just… My cousin lost his owl when he was turned, so I assumed…”
She cupped his cheek in her hand. “I will release him soon.”
“I love you, Lilith, with all my heart and soul.” He took her hand, cradling it in both of his. “Will you be mine?”
Pressure built in the back of her eyes, and her chest gave a squeeze. “I’m a package deal, you know. If you want to have and hold me as long as we both exist, you must be willing to hold Esther and Percival too.”
The crow cawed and hopped onto Spencer’s leg. He laughed and stroked a finger over his feathers. “I’ve grown fond of this little guy.”
Lilith scooped Esther into her hands. The snake wound around her wrist, responding to her touch, and her coloring turned to red, black, and yellow. “You said you hate snakes. Esther has been with me since the day I was exiled from Eden.”
He eyed Esther. “I was bitten as a kid and nearly died. Am I correct in assuming I’m impervious to venom now?”
“Even if you weren’t, Esther is harmless. I’m more venomous than she is.” She held the snake toward him, and he nodded before reaching for her.
He let out a nervous laugh. “I’m sorry for chucking you across the room earlier. I didn’t know who you were.” He held her loosely, and she flicked out her tongue, slithering up his arm and around the back of his shoulders.
Lilith’s smile widened, and her heart felt like a rabbit’s foot thumping against her breastbone. “She likes you.”
“I like her too. She’s part of you.” Esther spiraled her way down his other arm, returning to Lilith.
“Well, then.” She rose from the bed and placed her beneath the heat lamp. Closing her eyes, she reached out to connect with her familiar, and the bond formed immediately as if poor Esther hadn’t resided on Azrael’s doorstep for the past month. All was well.
