Tears burned my eyes, and I quickly blinked them back. I couldn’t let Lucifer see that he’d gotten under my skin. Anger quickly rushed in to replace the fear. He’d threatened my sister. That was one step too far, even for the King of Hell.
“You’re really going to make me do this?” I asked with a bitter laugh. “Don’t you think it’s a bit pathetic? Having to force a girl to kiss you with threats?”
“Itwouldbe pathetic,” he said, lips curling, “if I actually had any inkling of desire for you. But you’re just a little toy. One I’m having a great deal of fun playing with.”
He grabbed my face and yanked me toward him. His lips crashed into mine. I screwed up my face and tried to pull back, but I was trapped there. The scent of ash filled my head.
“I can’t believe it,” a familiar voice growled from somewhere outside my field of vision. The melted chocolate tone of Az.
With a grunt, I yanked out of Lucifer’s grip and jumped to my feet. But Az was already out the door. My heart slowed to a stop.
Lucifer stared up at me with a smug smile, waiting for my next move.
Realization crashed over me. So this was what he’d planned. It had nothing to do with Lars and the vampires. He’d wanted Az to walk in on us kissing. So he could see Az’s reaction. And then mine. I was Sansa, not Mia. I shouldn’t care what Az saw.
Checkmate.
“You’re a monster,” I hissed at him.
And then I ran.
17
Fuck Lucifer. Fuck his game. I would not play it anymore. To Hell with it.
I threw open the door and stormed onto the sidewalk, my blazing hair a tornado around my head. Az was halfway down the block, striding forward with his hands tucked into his pockets. A cry of alarm got stuck in my throat like a rough boulder. There he was.
I cleared my throat. “Az!”
He stiffened. His hands fisted by his sides, and his steps didn’t slow.
Heart twisting, I jogged after him. “Az, wait. You have to hear me out. I know this sounds cliche, but thatliterallywasn’t what it looked like.”
He finally stopped and twisted toward me. Pain flickered in his eyes, so harsh and raw that it sliced through me like a knife. “I know what I saw. I thought he wouldn’t be able to get into your head the way he has, but I was wrong.”
I stepped toward him, crinkling my brows. “Get into my head? Trust me. That’s thefurthestthing from the truth.”
His gaze swept across me. “You’re saying he hasn’t been suggestive to you?”
“Suggestive?” I shrugged. “Sure. He’s suggested that if I don’t do what he wants, he’ll rip apart everything I know and love. With lots and lots of violence.”
The pain in his eyes vanished, replaced by the flames of vicious anger. His hands fisted, and when he spoke, his voice was low and dangerous. “He threatened you?”
“Very much so, Az. Why else would I have gone on a date with him? It definitely wasn’t because I want to spend any kind of time with him.”
He sighed. “I should have known. And the kiss?”
I pressed my lips together. “He forced it.”
Venomous anger bounced off his skin, transforming into swirling shadows. He strode toward me with a determined set to his jaw. When he finally reached me, he swept me up into his arms. I was crushed against his muscular chest. Relief loosened the tight grip that stress had on my body. I leaned against him, breathing him in. The fiery scent was so strong, I swore smoke filled my head.
“I see we’ve given up.” Lucifer strode up behind us with his arms clasped behind his back. “Time to wave your little white flag of defeat?”
Az pushed me behind him, squaring off against his King. The two demons glared at each other in the middle of the busy sidewalk while I held on to the back of Az’s shirt. I didn’t really like hiding, but...Az was the demon, not me.
“Sansa is mine. I’m claiming her.”
Lucifer laughed. “Of course you do. You must have a new thing for redheads. I hear Mia had quite the mane herself.”
