Aunt Stella and Aunt Anita bid their farewells and retreated to gather our forces in the wake of Eloise’s dismissal from our family. We needed to ensure every single ally we could gather was ready for battle. The stronger we became, the less blood would be shed.
Dayna’s house stretched upward. The front door opened, and a red carpet flicked out in greeting.
“What did we do to deserve the VIP treatment?” I wondered as I willed my stupid wings beneath my skin.
Dayna glanced up at the windows as the shutters rolled down before flicking back up. “Not sure. He’s been in a surly mood since we arrived. I think he misses the old location.”
The gargoyles carved into the corners shifted and glared at us. One even stuck out its tongue. Charming. A shiver worked its way down my spine.
“The house is sentient?” Abbadon muttered as we entered. The presence of whatever lurked inside skimmed my flesh. Tasting, testing, and deciding my welcome.
“Yes.”
“Interesting, and a little weird. Even for a Roberts.” Abaddon gasped and was flung out of the door, his ass sliding across the grass. We turned to stare at the dumbstruck angel. “That was rude,” he snapped, leaping to his feet.
“What was rude was passing judgement on my house without getting to know him first,” Dayna pointed out. “If we all took your title at face value, no one would speak to you.”
“Point taken,” he snarled as he stalked up the steps and hit an invisible wall.
Hudson snorted. “You upset the house.”
Abbadon rubbed his nose, his eyes watering. “Why isn’t he allowing me in?”
“You need to apologize,” Dayna drawled. “Have some manners.”
Abbadon took a step back, and for a beat, I thought he was going to retreat back to Heaven or wherever he hung out when he wasn’t delivering vague threats and random facts.
His throat bobbed. The angel of death didn’t do apologies, so I wasn’t about to miss this.
“I don’t need an audience,” he muttered as none of us moved. He rolled his eyes. “I apologize for my rude words. You are clearly an intelligent being with morals and high standards that I crossed. It won’t happen again.”
The house didn’t budge.
Lucifer materialized next to Abaddon and scanned him from head to toe. “What are you doing, brother? We agreed to meet inside the house.”
Lucifer jerked his head over his shoulder at Summer Grove House and quirked a brow at me. “I see the reviews are living up to their reputation.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. Hell had heard I ran a brothel, and there was no recovering from that. “It’s not intentional,” I muttered. “But this is why we’re meeting at Dayna’s house.”
My uncle nodded and strode over the threshold without issue.
“Seriously?” my father snapped. “The devil is allowed in?”
A rumble of amusement swirled around us, and Hudson and Sebastian chuckled.
Lucifer folded his arms and pressed his lips together. “The house isn’t weighing up past sins, Abbadon. It simply wants you to be cordial and respectful. Whatever you said pissed it off. I suggest you leave your judgment for the pearly gates.”
“That's not my job.”
An unseen force dragged Abbadon into the house. A vine broke free from the wall and slapped his butt on the way in.
“You are on probation,” Dayna informed him. “One more disparaging word, and you’ll be barred for life.”
Hudson’s hand curled around my hip as we followed Dayna and Sophia into the dining room. “You okay?” he whispered against my ear.
“I would have been better if we hadn’t been interrupted by a suddenly present father. But it is what it is.”
He jerked me to the side and let everyone pass. His fingers curled around my chin, tipping my head to hold my eyes hostage. “We need to steal the moments. Waiting for the calm in a storm that will never happen is a recipe for losing each other.”
