“We can use Salem as neutral ground,” I suggested.
“Why Salem?” Lucifer asked. “Because your mom’s there?”
Loki waved his hands. “No, she’s got a point. It’s a known protected territory. Even if there’s a disagreement among the others, the witches will have jurisdiction.”
I wrinkled my nose and looked up at my dad. “Will her shop fit everyone?”
“Don’t worry about that,” he said. “I’ve got someone who can make the necessary adjustments.”
Lucifer smiled eagerly. “Now all we need to do is set the appointment and make the calls.”
So it was a week later I watched beings straight out of myth walk into my mother’s occult shop. As he’d promised, Loki had someone expand the basement and set up a huge meeting table. My mom, using an old grimoire that Lucifer had apparently given her, helped direct her coven in setting up anti-violence wards around the room. According to her, they would prevent both physical and magical attacks, which was cool as hell.
“Maybe now that your father’s magic has settled, you can start learning mine,” she said.
I hugged her. “Yes, please!”
There were a handful of spells I knew, but as she’d insinuated, controlling my chaos had taken priority growing up. It wouldn’t solve all my problems, which was why I wanted to give some time and effort to learning the craft. Anything she could teach me might come in handy, or even save someone’s life, one day.
A thin, grey-skinned man with long black hair walked through the door, a bubbly woman with curly auburn hair clinging to his arm—Hades and Persephone. They looked so much like the depictions on the vase in Lucifer's house that it was hard to mistake them for anyone else.
“That’s Hades and Persephone.”
I gasped and spun to find Belial standing behind me. A smile flickered across his face before returning to the bored expression he’d had when Lucifer introduced us a few minutes ago. I smiled back anyway, trying to be friendly. “Oh, yeah, them I recognized. Do you know this guy?”
A large bronze-toned man wearing a loincloth and decorated with bright Mesoamerican jewelry walked in behind them. “That’s Yum Kaax, Mayan god of the wild. Basically wild plants, wild animals; anything that hasn’t been tamed by man.” His grey eyes met mine briefly. “Doesn’t sound that impressive out loud, but he’s pretty powerful.”
I nodded to the stairs, where a beautiful, dark-skinned woman with glowing white eyes descended, her hair wrapped in a scarf that matched her elegant red and purple dress. “Her?”
“The Yoruban goddess of wind and lightning, Oya,” he said. “Her husband is Sàngó, a thunder god. I don’t think he’ll be here, though.”
Loki walked in at that moment with a very tall woman on his arm, and I instantly knew who she was. Beauty on one half, death the other. My half-sister made an intimidating figure in the room, which hushed on her entrance. Hela approached me, and I hoped then our father told her not to reveal anything.
“My father has spoken highly of you, Alexis, daughter of Miranda.” Her voice was deep and commanding, but her tone gentle. “If your ability has garnered his attention, then Valhalla shall truly shine should they gain you among their ranks.”
I almost forgot all of my words at her compliment until she subtly winked at me. “I’m honored, Lady Hela.”
Lucifer came down the steps and stood beside me, a comforting hand on my back, and Belial retreated to his seat beside Michael near the end of the table. A young girl with olive skin came in wearing hunting leathers, brown hair pulled into a simple braided ponytail. There was a tingle of recognition in the back of my mind, but before I could ask Lucifer who she was, a crow followed behind her. It transformed midair into a beautiful woman with long, dark hair. I knew The Morrígan, if not by sight, by reputation; she was a powerful Irish war goddess and was said to be one of the Fey.
Finally, my mother descended behind two blonde men, one with bouncing curls and a dancer’s figure and the other with short hair and built like a tank. A tank who was aiming for me.
“Shit, what’s Nathan doing here?”
Lucifer’s fingers fisted in the back of my shirt. “You know him?”
I leaned in closer. “I ran into him a couple weeks ago while I was out.”
”What?” he hissed.
“Yeah, he told me about a letter he left me at the shop. One that apparently you forgot to pass on?”
“He asked you to dinner,” Lucifer growled.
I snickered, then straightened quickly as the giant stopped in front of me. “Hi, Nathan.”
“I’m glad you remember, Lexi” he said with a smile. “You seemed distracted the last time we met. I’m happy to see you well.”
“I’m happy to see you were careful after you left.” I fought back a smile. “Skill or luck?”
