“Zac?”
She nods. “I’m glad you are here. I need an update on where we are at with Lawrence and Tartarus.”
My eyes are glued to her. I’m terrified if I look away, she will disappear. Only now do I recognize the hole her absence had left in my life. I’ve known her for such a short amount of time, yet she’d burrowed her way under my skin.
“Why are you here?” I ask.
She snaps her gaze on me. “Am I not welcome?”
“Of course, but you have several safe places to hide in.”
She glances down and bites her lip. “They judge me for my decisions, question my morality, my existence; I knew you wouldn’t determine my worthiness by my past actions. I tried with Archan, and if the man that holds my heart doesn’t believe me, how can I expect my friends to? You can think past your emotions, see the logic of my being here.” She lifts her head and holds my gaze. “I feel safe here with you.”
The irony of considering yourself safe with the devil isn’t lost on me. She’s giving me a gift. Friendship and trust. I clear my throat before I get sappy. “Let’s get you some clean clothes, then we can discuss raising Hell,” I state just as my phone vibrates in my pocket for the thirtieth time.
She fists her hands. “Lawrence is about to get a lesson in a woman’s anger, because Hell has no fury like a woman who sacrificed herself. The stars will have nothing on us when we descend upon him.”
She’s a bloodthirsty creature and I love her all the more for it. I blink. I love her. Not get into your panties kind of love, but friendship with someone who pushes back on my bullshit, a woman that calls me out when I’m wrong and doesn’t cower from me because of who I am. I understand completely why Archan would kill for her.
She waves her hand in front of my face and snaps her fingers. “Earth to Ant?”
“Lucifer,” I correct. “Ant is a persona for those that don’t know me.”
She blinks. “Luci?”
I scowl. “Lulu?” she tries again.
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “CiCi?”
“Definitely not,” I growl.
She grins. “Lulu it is then.”
I glance at the ceiling and re-evaluate how I feel. Yup, still love her. “Do you want to clean up whilst I get you a new set of clothes?”
She groans. “Gods yes, do you know they don’t have showers in Heaven? The power of the almighty and he can’t install modern piping.”
I chuckle. “We should probably let everyone know where you are.”
She glances at me over her shoulder as she strides towards the bathroom. “After my shower, I need to be fresh and fully focused before I face Archan again. He also needs to be ready to beg me for forgiveness on his fucking knees before I let his mouth anywhere near me. That sounded wrong. No, wait, it still works,” she mumbles before the door glides closed.
I glance at the ceiling and fight the urge to stand in the bathroom to ensure she doesn’t evaporate with the steam.
“I can hear you thinking out there, Lulu,” she shouts. “How about I sing to assure you I’m still here?”
My lips quirk as she starts a terrible rendition of “Burn” by Ellie Goulding and it’s the sweetest sound I have ever heard.
9
Chapter Nine
Natia
A Taurus gives two choices: take it or leave it.
Donned in new butter soft black leather pants and a fitted pale blue tank, I pace the rug in front of the fire in Lucifer’s apartment and complete my braid. My limbs tremble with anticipation as I wait for their arrival. I’m terrified of Duncan’s reaction. I’m not sure my heart could take it if he pushes me away. I’m ignoring the hurt within my soul from Archan’s rejection.
The door swings wide open and Lucifer strides in, his face taut with tension. He avoids my gaze as he gestures for whomever is outside to come in. Seconds pass. I swallow the lump in my throat and resist the urge to teleport my ass to some deep dark corner of the world. I’m done hiding from difficult situations. The fact is, I made my decision and they have to respect it.
