Lucifer lifted his hands in a shrug. “Not sure. We went our separate ways when we reached Earth, and he’s been laying low like I have. For the past year or so, I’ve been trying to gather intel on Abaddon’s movements and plans so I could plan my own attack to take back my throne without getting forced back into chains.”
I nodded along, taking it all in. “So, where did I fit into all this?”
“You didn’t,” he laughed. I fought back the heat that tried to invade my chest at the enchanting sound. “You, Alexis Sutton, caught me off-guard. The first time we met, I thought you might be an assassin or some kind of challenger. Someone sent by Abaddon to take me back.”
It was my turn to laugh. “So last night, when you said you’d considered I might be a succubus, you were serious?” I grinned and shook my head. “A succubus assassin. That’s fantastic. Now I have a Halloween costume this year.”
Lucifer snorted. “I really got lucky when you walked into my shop that day, though. Since you had no clue how to mask your overwhelming aura, your presence, it had a tendency to mask everyone else’s around you. It gave me the cover I needed while I figured things out.”
I froze, and his face fell when he realized what he’d just said. A rushing sound filled my ears and the pressure in my head returned as I stood slowly. He opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off.
“You didwhat?” I asked, my voice dangerously low. “Are you saying you were using me this whole time? Was this all an act to get me to keep working there so you could hide?”
“No.” He rose, holding his hands out. “It may have started that way, but—fuck, Lexi, I don’t know what this is, but it’s real and it means something to me.”
My arms were shaking with how tightly I clenched my fists, my fire trying to take hold while I fought it back. “For your own safety, you should leave now.”
He took a step closer and reached for me. “Don’t worry, Lexi. You can’t kill me.”
I lifted my chin and narrowed my eyes. “How long would it take you to put yourself back together if I accidentally exploded you and scattered your molecules to the four corners of the world?”
“Okay.” He pulled back, holding his hands up in surrender. Guilt speared me as his eyebrows drew together, and my head felt like it was about to rip in half. “I’ll go. But I want you to have this. It’ll offer some extra protection.”
He pulled something out of his pocket and set it on the table. It was some kind of necklace with a huge pendant, a dark orange stone with a bronze dragon curled around it. It looked like a carnelian gem, like the necklace and bracelet my mom had made me, but there was more power in this one—a crackle of energy like static hovering just above its surface.
“I don’t need your fancy magic trinkets.”
“You have more need of it than I do,” he said as he walked to the door. “It’ll shield your aura.”
“Then maybe you can use it asyournew fucking shield,” I snarled, “because I quit.”
He didn’t look back, just nodded and shut the door behind him. Behind me, Sophie’s door opened and she poked her head out, but she didn’t come to comfort me. I wasn’t sure I could handle it.
My life was coming apart, and no amount of movies or talking or even baking were going to help this time.
Chapter 19
Lucifer
Anger was a good word to describe what I currently felt. Not at Lexi, though. At myself. Opening my stupid fucking mouth when I didn’t need to. After hearing she might stay despite everything, telling her my depressing story hadn’t even phased me. Then I’d shoved my fucking foot in my mouth.
Since I’d known her, Lexi had the unique ability to make me say stupid things. The very first thing I’d said to her was the whole damn bakery slogan. Just spoke without thinking, which wasn’t ideal for a man of my charming reputation. That should’ve been my first red flag.
At least she hadn’t forced the amulet back on me. I felt better knowing she had it, even if she wouldn’t wear it. Maybe I could tell Loki about it, see if he could get through to her. She might be more pissed at me than him now, and I couldn’t blame her.
I used her.
I knew what I was doing from the start, but when I first made the decision, I didn’t think I’d give a shit if she found out. Well, surprise! Turns out, I did. I’d been honest when I told her whatever we had meant something. But it was all wrong. I should’ve fucking known better.
The devil didn’t love.
My feet stopped moving and I looked up. I’d walked to my bakery. I frowned, not consciously having made the decision to go there. All the shits I used to give abandoned me. I used a negligible amount of magic and waved my hand at the front door, plastering a sign across the windows.
Closed Until Further Notice.
Not that I cared at that point if anyone showed up for me. I teleported back to my house, cursing my fucking popping ears. Pacing amped up my agitation. Everywhere I looked was another place she’d been. Her scent permeated my entire house. I popped to the roof, letting the morning sun beat down on me.
Inexplicable rage boiled under my human skin. I was ready to storm the gates of Hell now. March straight there and slaughter anything that came for me. Pain ripped through my chest the way I wanted to rip through Abaddon’s face.
