“I need to get you out of here first.” He towered over me, his muscular body rippling beneath his fitted suit. “If Lucifer was the one who did this, I can’t risk him getting anywhere near you, even with your new scent. There will be a reason you’ve been hidden. And it won’t be a good one. I can guarantee you that.”
Chills swept along my bare arms. “And it’s why he wants to marry me.”
His gaze went dark. “Most likely.”
“I don’t want to leave.” Lifting my chin, I fisted my hands by my sides. “I want to stay and figure out what the hell is going on. None of this makes any sense. I have no powers. I don’t even have heightened smell or anything. I grew up in Tennessee with human parents and a human sister. I was born in a small town outside of Nashville. There are photos of me. If I’m a fallen angel, how could any of that be true?”
Az gave a hard shake of his head. “He’ll have done something. I don’t know what. But something. And he’s one of the few beings powerful enough in this world to have done it.”
“So let’s—”
“Hello, Asmodeus.” A dark voice slithered into my ears. My heart lurched into my throat, and my entire body went hot. An eerie, unsettling sensation raced down my spine. Sucking in a breath, I slowly spun on my feet to face the demon who had joined us on the sidewalk.
All I saw was death.
Dark, piercing eyes. Tense, cutting jawline. Vengeance and anger swirled around him like a storm cloud. Invisible, but it packed a punch all the same. Or maybe I was just imagining things.
“Lucifer,” Az said slowly, drifting toward his King so that his body blocked mine like a shield. “What are you doing here?”
A lazy smile lifted the corners of Lucifer’s full lips. “I might ask you the same thing. You rarely leave Hell’s Kitchen, particularly for a street like this. No fancy restaurants. No lounges. No luxury shops. I know how much you like shiny things and your little toys you like to play with.”
“I was taking a walk.” Az’s words were short and packed a punch.
Lucifer’s eyes drifted to me. “With?”
I cleared my throat. “Sansa.”
Shit. The name popped out before I could stop it, and I really wished I could turn back time and take it back. Why, oh why, did I give him the name of a freakingGame of Thronescharacter? Surely he would see through that.
Did Lucifer know aboutGame of Thrones?
He chuckled. “Nice to meet you, Sansa.” Then he sniffed. I tried to hold back my cringe. These demons and their weird sniffing thing. “Tell me. Have you ever been toInfernal?”
Az stiffened.
“Um.” I wet my lips, unsure of how to respond. Probably best to be as honest as possible so that the lies were easier to track. “Once or twice.”
“Good.” He nodded. “We have an opening there for a dancer. You have a nice figure and beautiful red hair. Quite unique, your look. I’d like you to come work for us.”
My brows shot to the top of my forehead.What the fuck?!“That’s…a great offer. But don’t you want to see me dance first?”
His smile stretched wide. “Sure. Why not? Come dance at the club for one night. If you’re terrible, you’re fired. Otherwise, you can stay as long as you’d like. How does that sound?”
“Erm, well, I don’t know. I—”
“Sansa,” he purred, stepping closer. Az stayed firmly between the two of us, but it felt like it hardly mattered. If Lucifer wanted to get to me, he could. I had no doubt about that. “You know who I am, don’t you? Every supernatural does. Don’t pretend you don’t all whisper about me behind my back.”
I swallowed hard. “Lucifer. The King of Hell.”
“That’s right.” A wicked smile curled his lips. “And no one says no to me, especially not a little wolf. You will come dance atInfernal. Tonight. If you’re good, the job is yours. And I will not take no for an answer.”
Well, shit. So much for Az’s plan to keep me as far away from Lucifer as possible. Of course, maybe this wasn’t such a bad thing. I’d been dying to step foot inside the club. I’d have a chance to find out more about what was going on. And…
Wincing, I glanced up at Az. I’d forgotten one very important thing. I couldn’t step foot inInfernal. Not without losing my soul. And I couldn’t say no to Lucifer, either. I had a feeling he’d make his displeasure very, very clear if I did. By ripping my spine from my body? Or tossing me into the Hudson River? That didn’t sound appealing, but neither did losing my soul.
I’d have to convince Az to destroy the contract. It was the only way.
I gave Lucifer a tense smile. “I guess I’m in.”
