Page 5

Wren whimpers, stepping slightly behind me, and that seems to pull Lucifer straight out of his rage. “I’m sorry, Wren. I wouldneverhurt you, but considering you just met me, you have no reason to believe me.”

When his attention turns back to me, his face is sober. “Michael, as in the archangel Michael, previously known as Hercules. Asshole and all-around troublemaker. There’s no way he should’ve been able to leave Olympus, but clearly, the angels aren’t as secure as Seph led me to believe.”

“Your mother being an angel is the only thing that makes sense.” Lucifer directs this at Wren. “That means at least two angels have been earth-side in the last…however many years you’ve been alive.”

Wren giggles. “Technically, I’m not alive anymore, but Audrey and I would’ve been twenty-nine if we hadn’t died.”

Lucifer considers her for a moment. “Which means I met your mom thirty years ago. This is going to sound terrible, and I’m sorry, but that doesn’t even narrow things down as much as itshould. Also, if we’re being technical, you’re not actually dead.”

“She’s not?” I frown, trying to figure out how that’s possible.

“Obviously, her mortal side was killed by Michael, but she’s still very much alive. She—and her sister, I guess—are…” Lucifer snorts. “I have no idea what they are. Gods and humans together make a demigod. Two gods, another god. In the history of time, there’s never been a demigod and a god who had a child together. There’s no name for what you and your twin are. But dying earth-side sent you to the underworld, where your other powers should’ve kicked in.”

Wren scoffs. “Maybe for Audrey, but not for me. I can’t do half of what she can.”

“And what can she do?” he asks, sounding truly interested.

I hold up my hand when Wren goes to answer him. “Why don’t I just take you to meet her? I promised her I would return to her with her sister and some answers—answers that I think only you and their mom can answer. And I think I’m going to need some answers about how their souls were sent to the academy if they’re not actually dead.”

Lucifer’s eyes narrow. “Where did you say my other daughter—Audrey, was it—was?”

I flush as I mutter, “Earth-side.”

“With her other mates, isn’t that what you said? And she attended the academy, which means she’s a reaper. So would you like to explain to me why a reaper is earth-side if they’re not reaping?”

I shake my head slowly. “No, I don’t think I would like to at all. Surely, meeting your daughters is more important than why we were there in the first place, right?”

“Wraith, it seems there’s been a lot of shit going on that I haven’t been made aware of. I’m more than a little annoyed about it. It might be in your best interests to tell me what I want to know.” Lucifer’s eyes flash with hellfire again. “Being my friend won’t protect you from my wrath.”

“Damn. Audrey’s definitely his daughter,” Wren muses as she nods her head slowly. “Which means I am too. We really are the daughters of the devil.”

Lucifer nods at her without taking his eyes off me. “Yes, you are. Wraith?”

With a sigh, I fill him in on the entire story—starting from the moment Audreyappeared at the academy until now. Lucifer might be my friend, but he’s also a god, and I’m nothing more than his creation. I’ve seen him pissed before, and I don’t want to be on the other side of it if I don’t have to be.

Although, based on the look on his face when I finish, I still am.

“That’s…interesting,” Lucifer finally says, clenching his jaw. “We’ll be discussing this in more detail later, Wraith. Do you understand?”

“I understand. Can’t say I’m looking forward to it, but I understand.”

Wren’s eyes narrow on her dad. “You know he’s Audrey’s mate, right? You can’t hurt him. If you do, she’s going to be pissed. Since you’re the ruler of hell or the underworld or whatever, I’m sure you’re scary, but you haven’t seen my sister on the warpath before. Just something to keep in mind.”

“I’m sure I can deal with any blowback that might come from Wraith being punished.” Lucifer smirks, rolling his eyes, and I bite back a laugh.

Poor Lucifer. He has no idea what he’s getting himself into with Audrey. Wren’s the quieter twin. I don’t think things will be quite so chill when he meets my mate, but I knowhe can take care of himself. He might be a little surprised by his prodigy, though.

Even if she’s not completely herself right now, that’s not something to worry about right now.

It really does make sense that Audrey’s his daughter. The two of them are a lot alike—something that never would’ve crossed my mind because why would it? It explains her ability to use hellfire and probably the whole ripping a soul out of a living person’s body. I’ve never seen that before.

I can’t even do that, and I’m death incarnate.

There wasn’t time to bring it up before having to rush off so Wren could reap her first soul, but we will be talking about that when I see her next. She didn’t seem surprised by the power.

It makes me wonder if she already knew about it, and if she did, how?

If she’s been keeping things from me, I’m going to turn her hot little ass pink.