Page 109 of Demon's Desire

“Surprised you haven’t disappeared into thin air,” Ash sneered. Seemed Nico wasn’t the only one with eyes on the Devil.

Lucifer flicked his wrist dismissively. “I wanted to see if you still plan on imprisoning me.”

Nico’s chest tightened as Onyx’s attention returned to his brother, the bond going haywire as a storm of emotion raged within him.

Ash crossed his arms and considered Lucifer. “Maybe we should. I don’t trust you and probably never will. You can’t tell me that you planned to give our magic back when you first followed us to Shearwater Landing.”

“I didn’t,” Luc agreed, matter-of-fact. “I came to scope you out since my plan to release everyone from Hell was set and ready. I was never dragging you back down there, you know.”

Onyx made a sound of disbelief, echoed by Ash and Dante.

“Accuse me of lying if you want. I can’t stop you. All I can do is tell the truth and trust that one day, it will become clear.”

“All you can do?” Ash stomped closer. “You tried to kill Harper. And Ollie.”

“I got derailed,” Luc admitted as if attempted murder was a minor distraction. “I’m not saying I’m good. Fuck knows I’m not perfect. I wasn’t planning to give you your power back even after freeing everyone. My plans were still…calculated.”

“And now?” Onyx’s voice rang out, soft but unwavering.

Luc’s face darkened. “Now… Realizing your mates were real changed everything. What I did to Ollie changed everything.”

Regret lined his face and hollowed his words. Nico could believe his remorse was genuine, but he was a master deceiver.

Lucifer continued, “I’m not pretending I’m flawless or that I haven’t fucked up. But I want to do better. If you don’t imprison me, that’s my aim.”

Onyx, Dante, and Ash shared a look, and Onyx’s hope blinded Nico. His mate’s desire to see Luc redeemed was so fierce, it was agony, but his skepticism was almost as strong.

Onyx approached Luc like he was a wild animal. “What are you proposing, a truce?”

“Yes, and more. If anyone is willing to let me, I want to make amends.”

“No.” Dante shook his head, and Ash clapped him on the back in support. “A truce is all we’ll consider. We aren’t letting you back into our lives. I will never forgive you for what you did to Ollie.”

Luc’s red eyes dimmed. “Again, that’s fair. I won’t push it.”

The Devil was the picture of conciliatory. It was hard to imagine this was the same being who’d done so much harm.

That, Nico supposed, was the danger.

“But we’re agreeing to a truce?” Onyx turned to Ash and Dante, lines straining around his eyes as they shone with hope.

The other two remained guarded. Ash stroked his chin. “We can manage a truce. Lucifer is no longer more powerful than any of us individually. He’ll never get his paws on ourmagic again, and I suppose giving our power back is a fair trade for sparing him from indefinite solitary confinement.”

Dante rumbled in agreement. “Everyone hates him. He isn’t a threat when he has no one to use.”

Everyone but Nico seemed to miss Lucifer’s pained wince. Did he really care that everyone hated him? What did he expect?

“I’m not holding my breath to see if you dobetter.” Ash curled his lip at the Devil. “Leave us and our mates alone, and there won’t be any problems.”

“Fine. I’ll take my leave.” Luc bowed like someone out of another era, a shaking hand clenched at his side. He faced Onyx. “I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you, brother. I owe you for not allowing me to leave you behind.”

“Luc.” Onyx sounded strangled.

“I’ll be here if you want me. I’ll respect everyone’s wishes for space, but I’m not leaving. You’re not alone.” Then, Luc disappeared.

Onyx blinked and wiped his eyes. Ash and Dante’s gaze pinged back and forth between him and the place Luc had been.

“Fuck, this is better than TV,” the demon with the gray wings said without a shred of shame.