“Good, because I want you to like me. I cocked it up so bad when we first met, then you turned out to be so cool and you murdered my whole family for me. No one has ever done that for me before. I mean, if anyone else exploded my whole family, they’d be executed for it because they aren’t Lucifer’s kid, but it meant so much to me that you did it. Please forgive me?”
I was babbling and probably cocking this apology up too. I really shouldn’t have done it after drinking psychedelic swamp ass, but feelings were hard for me and I’d probably fuck this up sober too.
“I don’t know if you’ll remember this when you’re sober. I’m a writer, but I’m big on actions. You never left my side andlooked out for me when my wings were fragile and you didn’t have to do that. You switched to saying the most perfect, panty dropping, book boyfriend shit when I was feeling insecure. You were forgiven before you even asked.”
I should come up with something swoony to say to that, but I was nodding off and slowly slipping off this couch.
Yup, I was passing out.
Ididn’t know if Kujo would remember his drunken apology when he woke up, but I knew he meant it. I knew what fake apologies felt like. My ex did them all the time and just kept doing the same thing. Kujo had been different since his family came for him and I just reacted and stepped in. It was someone I could like.
He was currently passed out on his face again and once again, I asked because that couldn’t be comfortable.
“He’s going to wake up sore with a crick in his neck, but he’s going to punch someone if we try to move him,” Celix said.
“Kujo doesn’t drink much because of the shenanigans that happen, but he usually ends up in that position after.”
“This isn’t a usual drunken stupor. He won’t sleep that long and when he wakes up, his third eye will be open. If he’s going to hit someone, he won’t be in that position long.”
I still felt bad about it. He was sleeping like, directly on his face. I believed them that he might take a swing at me, but I was fast. I could move out of the way.
Except when I tried to move him, he didn’t try to assault me at all. The next thing I knew, he had his arms wrapped around my waist and his head resting in my lap. He looked younger and more peaceful like this. I could sit like this until he woke up.
I realized Celix and Nero were staring at me like I just grew a dick out of my forehead.
“What?”
“Kujo doesn’t hug or dothat.He’s a one and done. We’ve had more than one of his conquests get messy at the pub. They said he makes sure his women are satisfied and then he leaves. No afterglow and no cuddling after and he never sleeps with the same woman more than once. Several asked us to put in a word for a repeat performance,” Celix said.
“I probably shouldn’t tell you this while he’s sleeping off his high. He’d probably throat punch me andyoumight. Kujo should really be the one to say this, but Iknowhim. Helikesyou and you might be the first person he’s ever cared about like this before. I get vibes sometimes you sort of feel the same. I’m just asking whether you do or don’t, please have a care with his feelings, even if he was a little indelicate with yours when your life blew up.”
I looked down at Kujo. I wasn’t lying when I said he’d been amazing since my wings came out. I briefly woke up in the middle of the night and he didn’t know I was watching him. He was trying to keep himself awake and alert in case someone broke in. I was going to say something to get him to let go and get some rest when he finally nodded off. After Satan was druggedand the Furies attacked on his front lawn, I knew whatever security he had was stepped up and we were safe to sleep.
Not everyone was good with words and talking about feelings, but I didn’t think they needed to be if their actions spoke louder. And when he needed to, Kujo sometimes dropped the most panty melting sentences I could think of. Nero and Celix would be there if I wanted to talk feelings. Kujo would keep me on my toes while being a rock.
So, yeah, maybe I was starting to care for him too. I started playing with his hair. He shuddered, and I felt him relax even further.
“I don’t need to tell you what this means,” Lilith said.
“Uh, I think you’re gonna have to.”
“Someone in Hell killed Kir or passed his location to the angels for clout because they want to go home. We didn’t have the same alarm system we do now when a Cambion comes into their magic and as far as I know, Heaven didn’t have one for Nephilim. You all give off a magical signature, but the mortal realm is vast.
“You have to be looking or have magic to scan for it to see it. Even if the angels are looking, they might find more than one Nephilim and they don’t always immediately go down and deal with it. They wouldn’t have knownthatNephilim was Lucifer’s son unless they were told.”
“I guessed it was someone in Hell and I already know I’m in danger until we figure out who is responsible.”
“Yes, but you’ve collected two demons who angels aren’t immune to, one who canseethrough angel magic, and you publicly claimed a third who could call the largest populations of demons to his side. Kir could have been killed to get at Lucifer or myself, or they could have just murdered him because Lucifer was eventually going to cede the throne to him and Kir would have made everyone equal.”
“Well, I want that too. Not the throne part, but this whole hierarchy thing is stupid.”
“And now that I’ve met you, I’m sure you can do it. Just in averydifferent way than my son would have.”
“As, I guess, the representative of the largest population of demons, the three of us are going to be an advantage with the demons and most of the angels won’t like it.”
“Not all of them. I know Lucifer. All he’ll care about is that they are good for you. Satan doesn’t care, but he’s also a serial monogamist, so he’d never do anything like what you’re doing. Abaddon would probably just high five you and if you want tips for managing multiple lovers from an angel, you’re going to want to do brunch with him.”
I hadn’t spent much time with Abaddon, but I could appreciate he’d rather spend his time fucking and napping instead of dealing with his brothers. I just wished he didn’t beast out when triggered because I had a feeling he could get answers out of his brothers.
