“You think a mere dagger could have killedme?” Lucifer asked. “Oh, you ignorant human. It would take a lot more than that to dispense with me.”
“You’re not even powerful enough to be a chapter head of the Collective, let alone a Grand Master,” Kensington said, sounding confused. “Even if youhadmanaged to kill Lucifer, you would have been killed by the first demon who challenged you!”
“That’s what you think,” Tremblay retorted. “I would have ruled over this realm, becoming more powerful than any of you!”
Lucifer shocked them all by beginning to laugh. He almost doubled over, he was laughing so hard. When he finally composed himself, he wiped a tear from his cheek and said, “Oh, I can’t believe you honestly thought that would work! You’re not just stupid, you’re delusional!”
“Your hubris will be the end of you,” Tremblay warned.
All mirth disappeared from Lucifer’s face, and he stepped in close to Tremblay. “I’m not the one who will meet his end today.” Then he jabbed his hand toward Tremblay’s chest.
If Drew hadn’t been watching with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have believed it possible. Lucifer’s hand seemed tosink intoTremblay’s chest, and then with a jab, he pulled it free. Clasped in his fist was Tremblay’s heart. The man jerked once and then fell to the floor like a puppet with its strings cut.
Lucifer watched with disinterest as Tremblay hit the ground, then he stepped over the corpse and offered the dripping heart to the urco. Princesslicked at the heart, wagged his tail, and then took it from Lucifer’s hand delicately. He then lay down on the floor and began to chew on his treat.
“Is anyone else here planning on challenging me?” Lucifer asked mildly.
“Uh, no,” Kensington said. “I believe we all just want to go home.”
Lucifer nodded. “I believe I also want you all to go home.” He looked at Drew. “You still want to take Andras with you?”
Drew smiled. “Yes, please.” After a beat, he added, “And the urco.”
“What?” Kensington exclaimed.
“Princess has bonded with Andras,” Drew explained. “It wouldn’t be fair to just dump him somewhere alone.”
Kensington was shaking his head. “Absolutely not!”
“What’s with the name?” Zach asked.
“Uh, that’s my fault,” Andras admitted. “I may, in a fit of pique, have called him Princess Fluffykins McGee, and now he won’t answer to anything else.”
“Of course you did,” Zach said fondly, rolling his eyes.
“Drew, we cannot take a hellhound back to Earth!” Kensington told him.
“He’s not dangerous!” Drew insisted.
“He’s eating a human heart!”
“That he wasgiven. He didn’t kill that dude.”
“Drew.”
“Kensington,” Drew said stubbornly.
“I can glamour him,” Andras said, tentatively interrupting the stare-off. “No one will know he’s a hellhound. And I’ll keep him under control. I promise, he won’t hurt anyone.”
“Promises meannothingwhen he’s standing over the body of a child!” Kensington argued.
“He wouldn’t harm a child,” Drew said. “I swear.”
“No,” Kensington said, crossing hisarms. “I forbid it.”
“Kensington,please.” Drew gave him the biggest puppy dog eyes he could muster. “He’s all alone.”
“He’s a ferocious urco. He’ll be fine.”
