Page 107 of Demon's Desire

Lucifer’s captors’ grips slackened, and he broke free, stumbling forward.

The air grew tense. Onyx pulled Nico close. He never dreamed Luc would give away such an advantage. Fuck, he may have changed after all.

“You could be lying,” Valac countered. “Without the collar, you might attack. Maybe giving Onyx’s power back still leaves you with enough to rebuild.”

Luc clenched his teeth, his lip curling. “I’m not lying. How can I ever prove it’s the truth if I’m not given the chance?”

“You’ve had an awful lot of chances,” Ren pointed out. Fuck, she was fierce. Onyx liked her more each time he saw her.

Luc glared at her. “I won’t attack. I’ll give the remainder of the stolen magic back, and I will never be able to re-steal it. This will end here and now.”

Nico huffed. “How can we be sure you won’t go back onyour word?”

Luc turned toward Onyx’s mate, and a growl ripped from Onyx’s throat.

“To steal my brothers’ magic, I had to be close to them. And I don’t mean in proximity. You can’t take magic with a spell. Magic is part of who we are, our essence. To even touch their magic, I had to be held within their hearts. I don’t harbor any delusions that I’ll ever be that close to them, or anyone, ever again.”

Heavy silence fell on the courtyard. The raw devastation in Luc’s words scraped over Onyx’s skin and sent shivers coursing through him.

Luc’s admission was heartbreaking, and the fact that his loss was self-inflicted came as no comfort.

Ash pulled Valac to his feet. “Undo the collar and let him give our magic back. You want guaranteed freedom? This is the only way to do it without tempting your own execution.”

Valac ran a hand through his hair. “Fine.” He gestured to his supporters, who removed the collar.

Luc ran a hand over his neck, his eyes fluttering closed. “Step forward.”

Ash and Dante did so without hesitation.

Onyx gripped Nico tight. No longer able to hold his protective instincts back, he encased his mate in protective fire. No one seemed to notice, all eyes on Lucifer.

Luc raised his hands in front of him. Above the right, a ball of orange power appeared, and above the other, a ball of black shimmering power. Ash and Dante’s essences. Both demons stood stock still, fixated on the glowing orbs.

With a murmur too quiet to hear, Luc sent the power forth, magic shooting toward its owners like lost dogs racing home.

Ash and Dante gasped as their magic collided with their chests. Luc fell to his knees, panting as if in pain. Ash staggeredto the side, gasping. Dante caught him and they held each other tight.

No one else in the courtyard moved a muscle.

Dante sputtered, the sound turning into a strangled laugh. “It’s back. My power. Fucking hell, Luc, you’re not a total liar after all.”

30

NICO

Ash and Dante embraced,and Onyx’s desire to join them flared through the bond into Nico’s chest.

“Go,” Nico whispered in his ear.

Onyx shook his head. “We aren’t in the clear yet. Stay ready.”

Nico was primed for action, but they seemed past the worst. Onyx’s hope surrounding his relationship with his brother was blinding. Nico had experienced nothing like it. His demon was so vulnerable, so scared of the thing he wanted most in the world.

No matter what happened, Nico would get Onyx through this. He’d protect his heart and take care of him.

“Can we agree to part on neutral terms?” Lucifer asked Valac.

The big, white-winged demon scowled. “I’m satisfied we can’t be reimprisoned, and I’ll hold no ill will toward Onyx, Ash, and Dante, but I will never be neutral toward you.”