“Go now. Enjoy your day,” he ordered. A sparkle entered his eyes, making the blue more vibrant. “And give my best to Raziel.”
For his own private reasons, Lucifer seemed to enjoy the fact that she, his handpicked daemon, was in love with an angel, and he with her. She suspected it was because they were breaking a cardinal rule about mixing species.
“Good day, my liege.” She shifted to go.
“Dina.”
She turned back.
“Thank you, my dear. I don’t say it often enough for all your years of loyalty. But know that you are my favorite.”
The sincerity in his voice made her smile. “Only because I am the image of Mother, Luc.”
“You have her sass, too.”
“Is it my fault you allow us to be free-thinkers?” she quipped.
All kidding disappeared, and he said, “Have a care, yes? It would pain me if anything were to happen to you.”
A chill caused the hair on her neck to stand on end.
“A premonition, my liege?”
“I don’t know. Something.” He stood and crossed to her. “I’d hug you, but you are more human than daemon these days. I shouldn’t like to burn you.”
She laughed and wrapped her arms around his waist. “You worry too much. What is a little heat among family?”
He chuckled and brushed the quickest of kisses on the crown of her head.
“Be well, dearest,” he said.
She waited until she was at the study door before calling over her shoulder, “Oh, and for the record, only a minor sting. I must be more daemon than you think.”
9
Luc watched Dinathial exit with an indulgent smile. He hadn’t lied. She was certainly his favorite. Her brother Thamiel was his second, but only because his bodyguard was more dour than not. The stern-faced daemon gave him indigestion with his dire predictions. If Luc were ever party to the creation of another, he’d be sure to infuse a jovial disposition.
He considered what Dinathial had said about Nadia.
Luc would bet his last business that Nadia didn’t know she had celestial blood, much less a mixture of other species. Protecting her here, in their complex, wasn’t as easy as Dina seemed to believe. Yes, this was neutral ground, but because Nadia was more than a mere angel, daemon, or even a highly frowned-upon nephilim, she was at great risk.
He tried to focus on the reports in hand, but his mind continually wandered back to the morning’s events. His desire to spend a few easy hours in her company was thwarted by her guest and by Nadia’s own debilitating hangover. She’d slept well past the time he’d allotted himself to start his day.
Yet here he was, distracted.
The nagging restlessness and inability to concentrate weren’t normal for him. Once again, he was overcome with the need to see her. His craving was great, and the simple, innocent touches earlier weren’t enough to satisfy him. With determination and considerable anticipation, Luc strode into his closet and found his swim trunks.
He had a pool party to attend.
“My liege?”
“Yes, Thamiel, what is it?”
“Salvokos Morto is here, sir.”
Luc swore.
“Give me two minutes, then send him into my office.”
