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LILITH

My footsteps echoed in the corridor as Drystan and I walked toward my office. I knew what needed to happen, the calls I had to make, but I didn’t have to like it. Those horsemen had thus far let me down, and it was time to take matters into my own hands. I hated getting my hands dirty.

Okay, lies. I loved meddling. I just preferred utilizing others to do the heavy lifting for me.

“Lilypad, you look tense. What’s the matter?”

Drystan ran his fingers over the chain connecting us before he finally reached my wrist. I fought a shiver of desire, not wanting to let him know he’d elicited a response so easily.

“I think we need to reinstate the Council.”

He sneered. “Does that mean I’m going to have to tolerate more of my brethren running around?”

I rolled my eyes. “I don’t know what it is you have against Jensen and Finbar.”

“They dare to believe their Shadow Court holds a candle to the realm of nightmares.”

I gave our chain a tug. “It’s not your realm anymore, pet. You belong to me now.”

“It will always be my realm. An exiled king is still a king,” he muttered, pouting.

“You were never crowned, darling. You’re a prince at best, a fugitive at worst. The Wild Hunt considers you an enemy for a reason.”

“Not a legitimate one.”

“Does it really matter?”

“Not to them,” he said with a shudder and a haunted look in his eyes.

He’d only spoken about the horrors he’d experienced at their hands once, the night he’d come to me to strike a deal. My protection in exchange for his loyalty and servitude. Since then, I’d hidden him in plain sight, the chain between us muting his power and making him impossible for The Hunt to find. I was the only thing standing between him and annihilation. Sort of like Merri and this fucking apocalypse.

The migraine I’d only just managed to stave off came roaring back, and I whimpered, lifting a hand so I could squeeze the bridge of my nose.

“Dearest,” he murmured, his concern evident. Crombie wore his mask of petulant prince so perfectly no one but me knew the truth. He was far kinder and more compassionate than anyone would ever suspect.

“It’s just a headache. I will be fine.”

“Come, let’s get behind closed doors, and I will take care of you.”

I let out a disbelieving laugh. “How exactly will you do that?”

A waggle of his eyebrows piqued my interest. An orgasm just might do the trick, at least temporarily. I had a sneaking suspicion this headache had a great deal more to do with the state of the world rather than a lack of endorphins.

“Well, you can certainly try,” I murmured, allowing him to pull me into his body as he pushed open my office door.

The light was off, so the room was bathed in darkness when he pressed me up against the wall, mouth feverishly working the length of my neck.

“Mmm, that’s a nice start, pet, but you know there’s a better use for that tongue.”

He let out a dark chuckle before nipping my collarbone. “I’m working up to it. Patience isn’t your strong suit.”

If we’d been in a scene, I would have punished him for that reply, but there were times I loved it when he took control. Even craved it, perhaps, though they were few and far between.

Just as my Drystan cupped one large palm between my thighs, the lights blazed to life, followed by a voice that sent ice through my veins.

“Oops, sorry. Did I interrupt?”

My eyes snapped over Drystan’s shoulder to my desk, where none other than the Prince of Darkness sat. He was playfully perched atop it, a wicked smile curling his lips.

“You’ve looked better, Lilith. I must say, you’re honestly looking a little tired. Aren’t you getting your beauty sleep?”

My belly churned with unease as Drystan turned around to face the only creature I truly feared. Lucifer Morningstar had once been my everything until the day he cast me aside. That was when I learned the truth of what had been between us. He’d never loved me. I was simply a means to an end. A demon created by his promises of eternal love and power but used for something far different. My link to Adam’s second wife. Eve.

“What are you doing here, Lucifer? We had a deal.” I crossed my arms, if only to hide the trembling in my fingers.

“A deal? That’s not how I remember it. If I recall correctly, you stole something from me and ran off into the night. I simply chose not to give chase... wife. ”

Drystan visibly flinched before reaching for the chain between us and tugging with a strength I had never seen from him.

“Drystan, no!” I shouted, terror crystalizing within me as the delicate golden links broke.

Power rushed through the room, the scent of ozone filling the air, electricity crackling around us.

“What did you do?” In one foolish move, he’d just thrown away the only thing protecting him from The Wild Hunt’s pursuit. As soon as they caught wind of his return, they’d come for him.

Lucifer laughed and clapped his hands.

“I suggest you choose your next words with care,” Drystan snarled. “She is mine.”

“Oh, this is delicious,” Lucifer crooned. “Look at you and your little boyfriend. Good for you, darling. I wasn’t faithful either, in case you were curious.”

“We were never married,” I ground out, losing what little hold I still had on my temper.

He waved a hand. “Practicalities. We would have been if such a thing existed in those days.”

Drystan was vibrating with barely contained fury, and I could feel his power coiling around the room like a gathering storm. The more power he used, the easier it would be for his enemies to find him. I had to put an end to this before everything I’d worked so hard for fell apart in a single fell swoop.

“Lucifer, enough with this nonsense. Why are you here?”

“Very well. If you insist on foregoing the pleasantries, we can get straight to business.” He sighed and playfully rolled his eyes before pinning me with his gaze once more. This time there was no cruel smirk on his lips, just the promise of violence. “If you want to leave this room alive, you will tell me everything there is to know about one Meredith Deveraux.”