“You look pretty comfy there,” Zach teased. “I wouldn’t want to ruin this romantic moment between you and—did you call him Princess?”
“If you don’t want to kiss me, then I’m happy to replace you with Princess,” Drew told him archly.
Zach laughed, then heaved Princess off Drew. “My turn,” he told the urco, and then he was pulling Drew up off the floor and into a fierce hug.
The feeling of Zach’s powerful arms enveloping him was such a welcome relief after all that had happened. Drew clung to him, his face buried against Zach’s chest, just breathing him in. Then he sneezed because Zach’s clothes were dusty.
Zach laughed and pulled away to look down at him. His hand cupped Drew’s cheek, and his thumb traced over his split lip, and his other hand reached up to brush gently over the lump on his forehead. “What have you done to yourself?” he asked.
“It’s nothing serious. I’m fine,” Drew assured him. “Fuck, I missed you.” He pushed up and crushed their lips together, kissing Zach needily. Zach was just as eager, immediately deepening the kiss and sliding his tongue against Drew’s, not even caring that the urco had recently licked it.Suddenly, everything felt like it was going to be alright. They were together again, and whatever they faced, they’d face together.
“Now that we’ve had a show, perhaps we should get down to business?” Lucifer said, breaking into the bubble Drew and Zach had drawn around themselves.
Reluctantly breaking apart, Drew slipped his hand into Zach’s, and they crossed back to join everyone else. He was shocked to see Kensington was also here, as well as two other people he didn’t know.
“Causing trouble as usual, I see,” Kensington drawled, but pulled Drew into a crushing hug. “Don’t you ever scare me like that again,” he whispered.
Drew hugged him back, so grateful to see him. “What are you all doing here?” he asked.
“Yes, that’s what I’d like to know as well,” Lucifer announced. He climbed the three steps to the top of the dais and sat on the throne in the centre. It was carved from the same cream stone as the walls, but it had been polished until it shone like marble. Runes and other patterns circled the legs and ran up the side. There was a plump cushion, and the back was also padded, upholstered in the same crimson fabric as the armchair in his study. “Why don’t we start with introductions?”
Again, it wasn’t a request.
Kensington stepped forward and bowed his head in deference. “I am Grand Master Bartholemew Kensington of the Nightingale Collective, My Lord.” He gestured at the others. “Alastair Cavendish and Marcus Tremblay are my colleagues, and this is—”
“Zachariel,” Lucifer interrupted. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance after all these years.”
Zach stiffened a little and pulled Drew closer to his side. “Lucifer.”
Orias glared at Zach. “Your insolence will not be tolerated here.”
Zach looked at Lucifer, who raised a brow and waited. He was clearly amused. Finally, Zach gave in and bit out, “My Lord.”
“Such a motley crew,” Lucifer said as he looked down at the group, eyes lingering on Princess. “What brings you before me today?”
“We came to assist my protégé in returning to our realm,” Kensington explained. “We respectfully ask that you allow us to collect Mr. Phillips and grant us safe passage back to Earth.”
“And is that all?” he asked. He waved a hand at them all. “The collective power between you all could be seen by some as a hostile act.”
“We have no ill intent towards you or your realm, My Lord,” Kensington assured him. “The only reason we came here was to retrieve Mr. Phillips. The power between us was necessary to ensure we could create a portal back, that is all. This is not an act of aggression towards you or your kin.”
“You’re saying that if I allow you to leave with Drew Phillips, that will be the end of it? You’ll return to Earth, demanding nothing more from me?”
Zach made a small sound of protest, but Kensington shot him a warning look. “That is correct.”
“I see,” Lucifer mused, eyes lingering on Drew and Zach. “I believe I can find it within my heart to allow Drew Phillips to leave with you. I have enjoyed speaking with him, and I won’t even demand anything from you in return.” His lips twitched. “After all, I’m notevil.”
“And his familiar?” Kensington added. “You’ll allow Leila to accompany us?”
Lucifer raised a brow. “It amuses me you think I have the power to keep a familiar separated from its magic user.”
“I only wish to avoid miscommunications, so I want to have all our cards on the table,” Kensington said.
“And are these all your cards, Bartholemew Kensington?” Lucifer asked. He glanced knowingly back at Drew and Zach. “You don’t have an ace up your sleeve by any chance?”
Drew frowned. He figured Lucifer was referring to Andras, but he wasn’t sure yet why Kensington wasn’t including him in his negotiations.
“We came for Drew and Leila,” Kensington confirmed. “They are the only ones I’m asking you to release.”
