My brows shot up. Man, I wished I had some popcorn.
“And here I thought you two were the more level-headed ones of the bunch,” I couldn’t help but say.
Priyanka whirled toward me and snorted. “Mia, not a single one of these demons is level-headed. Maybe we should come up with the goddamn plan ourselves.”
“Sure,” I said, hopping off my stool. “You grab the marker. I’ll snag the map. We can make the plan in your room and lock the door so they can’t interrupt us with their squabbling. Ramona, you should come along as well.”
The demons jumped to their feet and held up their hands. Objections peppered the air. Bael and Stolas grabbed one end of the whiteboard each and hauled it back to its feet. Valac was the only one who didn’t move. He stayed on his spot in the corner, watching with piercing eyes.
“We’ll behave, okay?” Caim said insistently when I tried to swipe the map from the broken whiteboard. He danced away when Pri lunged for the marker. “They’re using Morax against us. Don’t block us out of this, Mia. That’s not fair.”
My heart squeezed at the look on his face, and I retreated. “Fine.”
Priyanka and I retook our seats, exchanging knowing smiles with Ramona. We’d actually managed to shut them the hell up. Hopefully, it would last long enough to make this plan.
Unfortunately, we didn’t come up with much. Time flew by as we brainstormed ideas, and the sun slowly set outside the floor-to-ceiling windows. Orange hues splashed onto the stone, transforming the floor into burning embers. As the sky darkened, a full moon glow joined the sky. The day was gone, and all we had was a flimsy, half-baked plan.
“We’ll take to the streets tonight,” Phenex said firmly. “Our only option is to go on the hunt. Lucifer will be distracted by Mia. Should give us enough time to rip out their hearts if we find them.”
What did it say about me that the most bothersome thing about this conversation was the Lucifer bit? I was getting too comfortable with the whole heart rippy thing.
“Well, I’m glad this torturous date will be a positive development for you,” I said with a laugh.
Inside, my whole body felt like it wanted to shrivel up and die. The brighter the moon grew, the closer I got to my date with the King of Hell. I’d thought about feigning sickness but soon realized that wouldn’t work. Wolves don’t really get sick like humans do. I couldn’t even have some sort of fake accident. My job wasn’t an excuse. I had no family nearby. None of the excuses I’d conjured would work.
So, the date would go on. At least it meant I could help the Legion.
If I couldn’t go with them to rip a supernatural serial killer’s heart out, at least I could do the next best thing. Fake date a demon. Hey, I was a pro at that by now.
16
The knock on the door was the sound of my death knell. Or maybe I was just being dramatic. As I wrung my hands by my sides, Valac vanished from the living room, leaving me to face my cruel fate alone. Coward.
Priyanka had leant me a casual pink dress for the evening after I opted out of purchasing something specifically for a date with a demon king. I refused to do anything that Lucifer would consider actual effort. It might make him angry, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
Steeling myself, I opened the door. Lucifer stood on the threshold in a fitted black suit. His silver hair hung past his ears, matching the gleam in his eye. The essence of death pulsed around him, dark and electric. His gaze swept across me, and he smiled. Disgust roiled through me.
“Darling, you look exquisite,” he purred.
I really didn’t like this darling thing.
“Thanks. You look okay, too.” Actually, he looked terrifying, even in the suit. How did he walk down the city streets without freaking out every human he passed? He was impossibly tall and brimming with pure horror. Couldn’t they see that he wasclearlyan immortal being who wanted to consume their souls?
Of course, it was New York. There were a lot of strange sights in this city. Maybe they thought he was aWitcherfan doing a demented cosplay. I could believe that if I didn’t know the truth about him.
He was a wolf, blending in with the sheep.
And I was one of the fucking sheep.
“Come along.” He held out an arm and winked. I didn’t take it. “I know a lovely little place you’ll enjoy.”
I rolled my eyes, but went along. There wasn’t anything else I could do at this point.
That ‘lovely little place’ turned out to be the Waverley Inn. The very place Az had taken me one on of our fake dates. Lars, the vampire mob boss, had seen us there together. He’d come over to the table to get a sniff of me and wax poetic about how good I must taste.
It wasexactlyas creepy as it sounds.
And now this whole thing made a little more sense. This wasn’t a date. It was a trap. Lucifer was dragging me in front of every supernatural who had met Mia McNally, hoping to catch me out. It was all part of his stupid infernal game.
