“You planned to usurp me with my daughter, who you previously told me was dead? How long have you been working against me?”
I hold out my hand, and Toth puts a dagger in my palm without me verbally needing to ask for it. As I hold the blade, ready to stab him in the side, he breaks.
“Wait, wait. I’ll tell you everything.”
“Go on.”
“The angel. It… it was a diversion.” I nudge his skin with the tip of the blade. “The day that angel fell. That was the start of it.”
I tilt my head at him. Lies. He was in on it before then.
“Where is Mara?”
“I don’t know, but they can’t be far from her. She… she knows about you.” That is the truth, and my heart sinks.
“I’m assuming you told her this?”
“And…” He swallows, shaking his head.
“And what? You fucking useless cunt!”
“She wants to take over Hell.”
“I’m sure your meddling treachery had nothing to do with this?”
“My lord–”
I smack him across the face and stand tall, turning to Toth.
“Toth, make sure he stays put. I’ll be back momentarily.”
I compose myself to the best of my ability. If I let my feelings get the best of me, I will kill him too soon. And I have a promise to fulfill.
Chapter twenty-six
Ofcoursehejustpopped away for an emergency without bringing me—figures. I lie on my bed, petting Doom. He seems to really like it in Hell, and I don’t blame him, I like it here too. Even more so since the air has been cleared between Lucifer and myself. I can’t deny that I’m disappointed that more hasn’t happened than a few soft touches and some obvious flirting.
But since he learned that he has another daughter, things have been hard. Is it wrong to say that it’s one of his traits I find the most endearing? He can be a real asshole, don’t get me wrong, but to know that there is a soft side of him reserved for his daughters—and for me.
I’m hoping that everything gets resolved soon, not just so that Lucifer has some peace of mind but so that this can really start to move forward.
Where is the leader of Hell who pushed me against the wall and fingered me so hard I saw stars? This time I wouldn’t be resistant, not even in the least. I’ve seen what Lucifer is working with, and I want it. I want all of him, and it’s hard to admit to myself when I still feel like a failure. I feel like I let Diana down. But I’m not an idiot. What the angels attempted the other day, that has to be why Diana came down here. To warn me that they would attempt to use me against Lucifer, maybe she even had the knowledge that I was his fated mate.
If only.
If only Beelzebub didn’t kill her. If she got that message to me, all of these years wouldn’t have been wasted, and she would still be here.
I roll over onto my side, scratching Doom’s chin as his purrs rumble over my fingertips.
“At least you love me, Doom,” I tell him, and he rubs his face against my hand. There’s a knock at my door, and before I can even say anything, Lucifer swings the door open. He looks… excited?
“I’ve got a present for you,” he announces with a smirk on his face. He looks down at Doom, who hisses and jumps off the bed, going over to his black cat tower to hide.
I smile at him. “Is that so? What is it?”
“Wouldn’t you rather be surprised?”
“Is it another dress? I wouldn’t turn down another dress.”
