There was no time to think about that. I raced to the door and peeked out in time to see Lilith pinned to a wall, eyes wide with fear, and my dad holding her there with an invisible force. His energy pulsed chaotically, something about the image it created unsettling.
“You’ve been fucking things up in this world for far too long and gotten away with it.” He twitched his hand and Lilith whimpered. “If it wouldn’t put Lexi and half the continent in danger, I would love nothing more than to see just what you can survive. God knows you can’t die, but you still feel pain, right?”
The instant he released her, she vanished, but her terrified expression was stamped into my memory. I stepped out of my room and Loki spun on his heel, shoulders sagging. In relief or regret, I wasn’t sure, but I’d seen enough. And he knew it.
“Dad.” I hated how my voice cracked, how my eyes watered when I asked my question. Because I already knew the answer was going to hurt. “Have you been Sophie the whole time?”
Chapter 18
Lucifer
It took everything in me to leave her there. I wanted nothing more than to be with Lexi as she recovered, but if I couldn’t trust her father to watch over her, then I was fucked. Plus, Loki was right, much as I hated to admit it. I had to think of the bigger picture—something I’d always struggled with in the past. Not that I was a complete hothead, but curbing my more impulsive nature was proving a bit more difficult than I’d imagined.
Especially with this woman.
I walked from Lexi’s apartment, giving myself time to clear my head as I dialed Miranda’s number. Part of me was dreading the casualty report. The covens had some talented healers, but not many witches packed enough offensive power to go up against demons.
“Sam?” Miranda’s voice was concerned, but not panicked, which I took as a good sign. “Where are you? Are you okay?”
Surprised, I blinked down at the phone. I’d expected to be bombarded with questions about Lexi, so I pointedly ignored the twist in my chest that she’d asked about me. Damn, I was going fucking soft. “Um, yes, I’m fine. I just wanted to let you know that Lexi is safe in her apartment and Loki is with her.”
“Did something happen?” she asked.
“You could say that. She’s unconscious now, but Loki thinks she just needs to heal.” I glanced up, spotting the bakery further down the road. “Can you gather the covens and meet me at the bakery? Or, anyone who isn’t seriously injured, anyway.”
She paused, and the silence felt heavy. “There are a lot of injuries, and at least half a dozen that we’re not sure… Well, yes, I’ll gather those we can spare. If you’re asking, it must be important. If you have any supernatural healers around, they’re welcome to lend a hand here.”
I didn’t bother explaining in the texts I sent to Izumi and Apollo, simply stating we were to meet there as soon as possible. This attack was on me for my lack of preparation. It was obvious that it was only a matter of time, but I’d misjudged just how much time we actually had. There was no more time to fuck around.
A little over an hour later, my shop was packed, the entire space buzzing with the various energies each person gave off—witches, gods, demigods, a couple shifters, Belial, and… whatever the hell Cale was. From behind the counter, I looked around at the anxious, tired faces standing shoulder to shoulder, crammed in uncomfortably but without complaint. Apollo lingered nearby, likely drawing the same conclusion I was.
“It might not be a bad idea to link the shop to the meeting room in Salem,” I whispered to him.
He nodded slowly. “I’ll work something out later.”
My thoughts swung back to Lexi as I got everyone’s attention. Her absence from this meeting left the room feeling hollow, despite the clear evidence to the contrary. Bracing myself for the answer, I asked for a casualty and damage report.
Beside Apollo, Izumi saluted. “Among our allies, there are no deaths, eight in critical condition, twenty-one with minor to moderate injuries. Among the humans, no reported deaths, but there was severe property damage to the marina and several blocks between the waterfront and the Boston Common. It looks like the attack was relatively contained to the downtown area.”
Apollo frowned and rubbed his chin. “No deaths? It’s almost like it was meant to be a distraction rather than an all-out assault.”
“Is it a coincidence this happened just before we started the warding spell?” Miranda asked from her position between the other two coven leaders.
I shook my head. “No, I don’t think so, but right now I lack proof.”
Taking my hint, she let it drop. It was all too convenient, Lilith showing up when she did, knowing exactly where we were even though all my reports said she’d never left the safe house. And I hadn’t felt her arrive. It was possible she’d been spying on us for weeks right under my nose. The idea that Loki might’ve been right after all grated on my nerves.
In all of my conversations with her, there was never even a hint of a lie or an exaggeration. That should have been my first clue. Lilith, even when telling her version of the truth, always threw in little white lies for effect. Just like the lesser demons walking around in the sun, she’d been able to hide her presence and fucking lie to me this whole time.
So Abaddon’s new craftsman is a very real threat. Fantastic.
A few voices lifted above the cacophony that’d started, everyone theorizing about the attack and the purpose behind delaying the wards. I couldn’t blame them; I wanted answers, too. I held my hand up, signaling for quiet, and they trailed off. It was a little weird dealing with this without Loki here, since he was responsible for most of them joining in the first place, but they all knew they were here for me.
Near the back of the crowd stood a burly man that nearly matched Nathan’s build. Dark auburn curls were woven into thick braids on his head and face alike, the ends capped with gold. I got his attention with a nod.
“Hephaestus, how are the new weapons coming? It looks like we’re out of time.”
The blacksmith god grunted and crossed his arms. “They’re mostly finished. I should have them all complete in a couple days’ time. Not quite as powerful as your Archangel blade, but they’re close enough for what we need: killing powerful enemies.”
