I wipe the stray tear that falls from my eye. Damn, this man was going to make me an emotional wreck.
Gramps is the first to pull me into a hug. “Congratulations, Natia.” He side eyes Archan. “Hurt her, and a thousand gods will not save you.”
Archan smiles. “I’m pretty sure Natia will take care of me herself.”
Gramps releases me. “Damn right, she’s a Waterford. I raised her to be fierce.”
Uncle Charlie wraps me up in a quick hug and steps away. “Immortality looks good on you, kiddo.”
I roll my eyes as the gang all crowd around. “I guess this is it then?” I muse. “This is what a peaceful life looks like?”
“I got the barbecue going out back,” Jed says, swinging his thumb over his shoulder.
“The house has been decorated,” Emi adds. “But you can change anything you want.”
“I’m sure it will be lovely,” I say, smiling at her as she links her arm through Aaden’s.
“Apart from the master bed,” she says, glancing at Lucifer.
Lucifer smirks. “That’s my wedding gift.”
I quirk a brow and glance at Archan and Lucifer as they share a conspiratorial look. Oh great, the devil picked my bed.
Zee pulls me into a hug next. With my mortal body and soul gone, the ties that bound us no longer exist and we are both lighter for it. “Congrats, Natia, I’m the backup plan right - in case things with Mr Dark and Depraved don’t work out?”
“Hey, I’m the backup plan,” Jed shouts as he tugs me out of Zee’s arms. “Remember those naugthy seductive sandwiches?”
I snort a laugh and pull out of Jed’s arms only to be wrapped up in Duncan’s embrace. “How are you doing?” I wrap my arms around him.
“I’m okay. Marsha sends her apologies, she had a prior engagement.”
I pull back to gaze into his chocolate brown eyes. He’s not okay. Not really. His eyes tighten as he looks away from me. “I will fix this,” I vow before letting him go.
He presses his lips together and joins the gang as they walk towards the house, chatting about wedding plans and the feast they have waiting out back. Archan and I trail after them. “Hungry?” he asks.
“Ravenous,” I confess in a husky voice.
“We’ll be with you shortly,” he shouts and then teleports us to a bedroom, which is dominated by a familiar bed. He releases me and skims his hands over the footboard and oddly carved wooden plank suspended further up. My eyes widen as I realise it’s the one from Lucifer’s castle.
“Strip, Natia,” Archan commands as he loosens his tie and looks me over with heat banked in his depths. “Time for you to find out how a god treats his goddess in the bedroom.”
* * *
Lucifer
“Leaving already?” Zac shouts as I stand from the bench in the garden.
“The happy couple will be hours, and I have shit to do.”
He tilts his head and frowns. “Never a dull moment in the devil’s day.”
“Dull, I would settle for,” I mumble as I teleport into Hell. I stalk down to the dungeon of my castle, past the guards who stand to attention and through the many wards as I delve into the deepest part of my castle.
“Back already, Lucifer? Did you miss me?” she trills through the bars.
I stop and fold my arms, glancing at the crazy bitch. “Tell me where it is and I will release you.”
The Duchess unfolds herself from the uncomfortable tiny cot and strolls towards the edge of the cell.
She licks her lips. “But I’m having so much fun. Why would I tell you where anything is? I’m exactly where I want to be, and in a prime position to take what is mine.”
“And what’s that?”
“Your throne.”
Joke’s on her. She can take my throne, the responsibility, the endless drain of power—she can have it all. But in return I need back what she stole from me. My soul.
