Page 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

Nana Pratt clutched her imaginary pearls. “Lucifer is coming here? To Bluebeard’s Castle?”

“Lucifer is coming to dinner,” I confirmed. “If you’d rather stay out of sight, I understand.”

“We’re naturally out of sight,” Ray said.

Nana Pratt shuddered. “I don’t think I could bear to be in the same room with the devil himself.”

“Well, the devil is scheduled to arrive promptly at seven, so make yourself scarce if the idea freaks you out.”

“What if he’s coming here to torture and kill you?” Nana Pratt asked. “What if I’m the one to find you?”

“Okay, let’s dial down the anxiety from a ten to a moderate five.” If the elderly ghost could breathe, she’d be hyperventilating by now. “I don’t think that’s his plan.”

“You don’t think he intends to kill you?” Ray asked. “That seems out of character for him.”

“I don’t think he intends to kill me tonight. No promises about tomorrow.”

“Then why allow him on the property at all?” Nana Pratt asked. “You have wards and booby traps. You can protect yourself from him.”

“It’s an opportunity to dig deeper and unearth his real plan. Inviting him to dinner in my home will hopefully put him at ease and make him think I’m naive enough to believe his spiel.”

Nana Pratt folded her arms in a huff. “Well, I won’t be cooking for him. That’s a boundary I refuse to cross.”

“I would never ask you to do that. I’ll cook.”

Nana Pratt shuddered. “One bite and he’ll think you’re trying to kill him, then he’ll retaliate.”

“You think I should order out?”

Ray nodded. “Cheesesteak hoagies. I bet he hasn’t tasted one of those where he lives.”

“Not a bad idea, Ray. Lull him into a false sense of security with regional delicacies.”

Nana Pratt gasped. “You can’t be serious. You can’t serve cheesesteak hoagies to the ruler of hell.”

I pivoted to face her. “Why not? They’re sinfully delicious.”

Ray laughed. “Good one.”

Nana Pratt wasn’t amused. Huffing and puffing, she fled from the room.

“What does Kane think of all this?” Ray asked.

“I’ll let you know in about five minutes when I tell him.”

Ray’s eyes bugged out of his head.

“Relax, Ray. I’m kidding. Kane and I made this decision together.”

Together. The word had a nice ring to it.

Kane arrived at six-thirty, looking especially dapper in a suit I hadn’t seen before.

“You dressed for the occasion,” I said, greeting him with a kiss.

“Lucifer’s suits are always nice. I want mine to be nicer. ”

I squeezed his hand. “Let’s not get competitive. We’re trying to charm information out of him, remember?”

Kane’s face hardened. “I can’t believe we’re doing this. Josephine would’ve chained me to the wall if she’d known.”

I dusted off the shoulders of his jacket. “Let’s be honest, she’d dress you in bubble wrap if she thought she could get away with it.”

Kane blew out a nervous breath. “I’m beginning to rethink our plan. What if this was his intention all along? Get us alone, without our defenses.”

“We have built-in defenses if we need them.” An image shimmered behind him as the ward activated. “If you’ve changed your mind, though, tell me now. I’ll go outside and deliver the disappointing news personally.”

Kane froze. “He’s here?”

“At the gate.” I straightened his tie. “I can tell him to leave. The ward is up.”

Kane strode to the window and peered outside. “He’s shorter than I remember.”

“It’s been a long time. He’s also standing far away.”

“I know how perspective works, thank you.”

“If you want to run, I’ll go upstairs and pack a bag right now.”

He seemed to mull over my offer. “No. I don’t want to look over my shoulder for the rest of my life. The sooner we know what his plan is, the sooner we can find a way to thwart it.”

I lowered the ward.

Kane’s phone trilled, and he slipped it out of his jacket pocket. “It’s Dantalion.” He put the great duke of hell on speakerphone.

“Lucifer just breached the gate of the Castle!” Dan’s voice blasted through the phone.

Kane wore a wry smile. “You don’t say. ”

“Shall I attack him from behind?”

“I appreciate the offer but stand down. We’ll take it from here.”

“Thank you, Dandelion,” I yelled over Kane’s shoulder.

Kane disconnected the call before Dan could argue.

“He’s only looking out for you.”

“I know, but I don’t want him putting himself in harm’s way on my account. He’s done quite enough of that for one lifetime.”

I adjusted his collar. “He’s loyal to you.” I kissed his cheek. “And so am I.”

Kane turned so that our lips locked. I felt his aching need for reassurance in his kiss and did my best to oblige. My fingers found the silky hair at the nape of his neck.

“Ahem,” Ray said. “You might want to save the heavy petting for dessert.”

I broke off the kiss. “Ready?” I asked.

Kane’s face darkened. “No, but I’m willing.”

I opened the door to greet the demon, who held up a bottle of wine. Never in Joseph Edgar Blue III’s wildest dreams would he have imagined Lucifer himself as a guest in his home. No doubt he would’ve loved it.

“I come bearing gifts.” His gaze landed on Kane. “Well, well. What have we here?”

“Lucifer,” Kane said tersely.

The demon crossed the threshold, his gaze still pinned on Kane. “You look well, old friend.”

“Thank you.”

“What? No return compliment? Never mind. I understand. These things take time.”

“He doesn’t look scary,” Ray remarked.

“You can’t judge a book by its cover,” Nana Pratt said.

“Why not?” Ray asked. “It’s how I choose what I want to read. ”

I shooed them away. Now wasn’t the time for distractions.

The food delivery arrived a few minutes later. As I handed the driver a tip, I spotted Dantalion in the shadows outside the gate and waved. He spread his arms wide in a ‘what gives’ gesture.

I closed the door and carried the warm bag into the kitchen, where Kane and Lucifer were seated at the table. Lucifer’s body was languid and relaxed, whereas Kane looked like he’d entered the first stage of rigor mortis. Claude had decided to join the party by perching on Kane’s shoulder, which only added to the look.

Lucifer studied the wrapper. “And what is this curious fare?”

“It’s called a cheesesteak hoagie. I ordered them from Sal’s. Half the town thinks Sal’s makes the best ones, and the other half insists it’s Joey’s.”

Lucifer carefully unwrapped the sandwich. “And you’re Team Sal, I take it?”

“I’m Team Coupon, which Sal’s had in the circular this week. If Joey’s had included one, it would’ve been a tossup.”

“The goddess of the underworld is a bargain shopper,” he said with amusement. “Who would’ve guessed?”

“My bank account is as empty as your soul.”

He snorted inelegantly. “And what’s the preferred beverage with a cheesesteak hoagie?”

“I’m partial to beer,” I said, “but Kane likes red wine. If you don’t want alcohol, you could pair it with a soda. They’re salty, so you’ll be thirsty later no matter what.”

“I’ll have a beer, if one’s going spare,” Lucifer said.

Kane rose to his feet. “I’ll get it.”

Lucifer leaned forward and lowered his voice. “He’s uncharacteristically quiet this evening. ”

“Because he’s worried you’re here to murder him,” I whispered back.

“Right, I suppose that’s it. I should really put his mind at ease, shouldn’t I?”

“It won’t be easy.”

“No, but I knew that from the start.”

Kane returned to the table with three beer bottles and an opener. “I figured I’d give the beer a try, too.” He cracked open a bottle and placed it in front of Lucifer. “This brand is fairly local.”

Lucifer studied the label. “Clever. I like the artwork.”

“You’ll like the taste even better.” Despite his easygoing response, I could see that Kane’s fingers were curled tightly around the bottle, as though he was attempting to squeeze the liquid out by force.

“I noticed a lot of wreaths on the doors in town,” Lucifer commented. “People seem superstitious in Fairhaven.”

“Some,” I said. “Older residents like Jessie know the town’s history, but a lot of people hang the wreaths because they’re pretty, not because they ward off witches and dark spirits.”

Lucifer took a polite sip of beer. “Is that Jessie Talbot? I met her yesterday. Lovely lady. Very knowledgeable.”

Kane’s head swung toward the demon. “Did you leave her in the same condition you found her?”

“I can’t say that I did.”

My shoulders tensed. “What did you do?” I hadn’t heard of any deaths or injuries this week, and I would certainly have heard if something had happened to Jessie Talbot. The elderly woman was a local legend.

“I fixed her bicycle,” Lucifer announced. “Sweet little thing with a wicker basket and a horn. Delightful.”

“I’m shocked,” Kane said .

Lucifer pressed a palm flat against his chest. “And I’m offended.”

“No, I’m shocked that Jessie Talbot can still ride a bicycle at her age,” Kane said. “Doesn’t she walk with a cane?”

“She does, but she’s surprisingly spry,” I replied. “It’s her fae blood, I think.”

Kane’s eyes narrowed at Lucifer. “Since when did you become such a Good Samaritan?”

“Since I saw the error of my ways, which you so bravely brought to light during your rebellion. In that regard, one could argue that you won after all.”

“Didn’t feel like a win when I was having the skin peeled off my back.”

“Yes, that was bad behavior on my part. I deeply apologize for the harm I caused you.”

Kane blinked, seemingly at a loss for words.

Lucifer polished off his cheesesteak hoagie in what seemed like three large bites. I should’ve ordered extra. Couldn’t have the ruler of hell leaving my house hungry. What would the other demons say?

“That was incredibly delicious,” Lucifer said, patting his stomach. “I had no expectations.”

“It’s a personal favorite,” I admitted.

“Humans do have a way of combining the most mundane ingredients in a way that makes them interesting.”

“That’s called cooking,” Kane said. “Now that you’ve eaten, why not tell us the real reason you’re here.”

I shot him a warning glance. “Kane…”

“I only hoped to find you so that I could do exactly as I’m doing now. Showing you that your act of rebellion made a difference.”

Kane swigged his beer. “Why don’t I believe you?”

“Because of our history, obviously. I wouldn’t believe me either, which is why I knew it was necessary to demonstrate my changed behavior. As we know, actions speak louder than words.”

Kane’s face remained grim. Under the table, I placed a reassuring hand on his thigh. “Can I interest you in dessert?” I asked Lucifer. “We have devil’s food cake.”

Lucifer chuckled. “Oh, aren’t you charming?”

“We also have brandy,” Kane said. “We can retire to the parlor room for a glass.”

Lucifer made a noncommittal noise.

“What?” Kane asked.

“You said ‘we.’ How very domestic of you.” He pushed back his chair. “Brandy is an excellent idea. I don’t suppose you have any cigars.”

“There’s no smoking in this house,” I said.

Lucifer glanced around the kitchen. “Yes, I can see what a fire hazard it might be for a house in this condition.”

I resisted the urge to kick his shin under the table. “Why don’t you make yourself comfortable in the parlor room and I’ll bring the brandy?”

“I believe I passed the room on the way in.” Lucifer looked at Kane. “Will you join me, old friend?”

“In a minute.”

Once Lucifer exited the kitchen, Kane steered me into the powder room and shut the door behind us.

“This bathroom is due to be cleaned tomorrow,” I warned him, “so it’s as dirty as your mind right now.”

Kane’s face remained stony. “I didn’t pull you in for a quickie. I want to talk about Lucifer.”

“Can’t we wait until he’s gone? The sink is poking into my butt.”

He eased back so that I was no longer pressed against the edge. “What game is he playing?”

“No clue, but he’s laying it on thick.”

Kane clenched his fists in frustration. “He excels in torture and that’s exactly what this is. He knows I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop, so he’s drawing it out. Pretending to have good intentions to lull us into a false sense of security.”

I shrugged. “That’s what we’ve been doing, too.” Not that it was working. Lucifer hadn’t let anything slip so far, but I’d seen that nasty gleam in his eye at Otto’s house. The real demon was fully operational behind the mask.

Kane let loose a deep sigh that must’ve been building all night. “You’re not falling for any of it, are you? Promise me we’re still on the same team.”

I planted a quick kiss on his mouth. “Always. Now let’s see if we can loosen his lips with that brandy.”

I squeezed past him and opened the door. Kane reluctantly joined Lucifer in the parlor room, while I returned to the kitchen for the brandy. Nana Pratt immediately chased me away.

“I’ll take care of it. For the love of God, don’t leave those two alone,” she hissed.

I hurried to the parlor room to a relatively calm scene. Kane sat in a wingback chair, as stiff as a British upper lip. Lucifer sat on the sofa, appearing hypnotized by the fire that blazed in front of him.

“It’s a cozy room, isn’t it?” I asked, joining him on the sofa.

He ran a hand along the cushion. “I adore the red leather. It’s a real statement piece.”

I felt a surge of pride. “Thank you.”

Nana Pratt delivered three brandy snifters on a tray. I noticed that she didn’t leave afterward. She and Ray huddled in the corner, watching us with trepidation.

“A toast,” Lucifer said, raising his glass. “To closure.”

I clinked my glass against his. Kane lifted his in a half-hearted gesture and quickly lowered it again .

“I believe the time has come to lay my cards on the table before I’ve worn out my welcome.”

“You were never welcome,” Kane said.

I shot him a pointed look.

“I didn’t think I would manage to fool you, but I admit it was entertaining to try.” Lucifer downed the brandy and returned the empty glass to the tray. “Come now. You didn’t really think I ventured all this way to make amends, did you? I’m Lucifer, my susceptible darling.”

Who was he calling susceptible?

Nana Pratt gasped. “But he seemed so sincere.”

Kane shot to his feet. A flaming sword now burned where his arm had been, as though he’d been anticipating this very moment, which no doubt he had.

“Keep them away from the library,” Ray yelled. “Those shelves are brand new.”

Lucifer gazed at the weapon in admiration. “I was wondering whether you still possessed that mythical sword of yours. I’m surprised it took this long to make an appearance. You could’ve used it to slice the hoagies into thirds. Would’ve made it less awkward to eat.”

Kane aimed the sword at Lucifer. “Leave now and never return.”

“Or what?” Lucifer flicked the point of the blade, unaffected by the flames. “You know this can’t hurt me. Well, it might hurt a little, but it certainly won’t kill me.” He grabbed the blade and yanked Kane toward him. Blood gushed from his hand, yet Lucifer didn’t even flinch. “And if you ever point a weapon at me again, you’d best be able to kill me with it.” The demon released the weapon, retrieved a silk handkerchief from his pocket, and calmly wiped the blood from his hand.

Nana Pratt watched in horror as a few drops fell to the floor. “Who raised him? Does he have any idea how hard it is to clean that?”

Pulsing with barely suppressed rage, Kane retracted the sword. “What now?”

“Now I offer you the terms.” He returned to a seated position. “And you will listen.”

I moved closer to Kane and touched his hand, gently urging him to sit. I perched on the chair’s arm beside him.

“When I first heard about your alleged paramour, I was dubious.”

“My inamorata,” Kane corrected him, and I couldn’t help but smile.

“I thought nothing of it at first,” Lucifer continued, “knowing Kane as well as I do.” His smile turned feral. “You see, to torture someone properly, you must get to know them intimately.”

Kane started to rise, and I nudged him back to a seated position.

“Then I met you, of course, and I thought perhaps I was wrong, that Kane was capable of feelings he hadn’t demonstrated before. And now that I’m persuaded that it is true love…” He cracked a menacing smile. “Well, that creates a host of new opportunities.”

My palms grew moist, but I resisted the urge to wipe them on the cushion; I didn’t want Lucifer to see me sweat.

“You talk a lot for someone who doesn’t say anything,” Kane said in a guttural voice.

“Patience, old friend. I’m getting there.” He picked up my unfinished brandy and drank. “First, I unleashed a bit of madness. I wanted to see if everyone would turn on your precious Lorelei. If they ostracized her, you’d be forced to join her. You’d both lose the home sweet home you’ve built for yourselves.”

My blood started to boil. “That was you? ”

“Technically it was Supay. He owed me a favor.”

A childhood lesson bubbled to the surface. Supay was the Peruvian god of the dead who reeked of sulphur. It all made sense now. I was annoyed with myself for not putting the pieces together before. “He’s pretending to be human. David Jordan.” That explained his strong cologne in the Devil’s Playground. “His cologne was overkill.”

“Agreed. I much prefer his natural musk.”

“Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but no one turned against me.”

“Yes, I realized I was testing the wrong limits, which leads me to this—I’d like to test the limits of your love.”

A low growl emanated from deep in Kane’s throat.

“Oh, quit the theatrics,” Lucifer said. “You tried to beat me once and you failed miserably. What makes you think you could do it now, when you’ve been weakened by attachment?”

Ray pushed up the sleeves of his plaid shirt. “I really don’t like him.”

“I’m not a particularly fair demon. I do, however, love a challenge. It’s so rare for someone of my stature.” Lucifer made himself comfortable, crossing his ankle over his opposite knee. “And here we arrive at my proposal. I will agree not to drag one Kane Sullivan back to hell for eternal damnation if your inamorata successfully completes three trials of my choosing.”

“No, not Lorelei. Just me,” Kane said. “I complete the trials.”

Lucifer studied his cuticles with great interest. “I think you’ll find that I’m in charge of this conversation, just as I’m in charge of the circle of hell you attempted to seize. Only Lorelei and Lorelei alone will complete the trials. No team effort. If she loves you as much as you believe she does…” He directed his smile at me. “As much as she believes she does, then you have nothing to fear. Love conquers all, does it not?”

“How do we know you won’t renege on your promise once I complete the trials?” I asked.

“We won’t know,” Kane said. “He can’t be trusted.”

Lucifer uncrossed his leg. “Then I suppose I’ll simply take you to hell right now. I don’t expect you have a plan to stop me.” He held up a hand. “And before you mention your soldiers posted outside, please know that I have my own demons poised to take out both Dantalion and the vampire. It would be quite the bloodbath.”

I jumped to my feet. “I’ll do it.”

Kane tugged my hand. “Lorelei, no.”

“My whole life has been a trial,” I told him. “I was born for this.” And when I completed them, Kane would be free of Lucifer’s looming shadow forever. No more looking over his shoulder. No more nightmares.

“You have to sign an agreement in blood,” I told Lucifer. “Make it an unbreakable contract.”

“He’ll add a loophole that we won’t notice until it’s too late,” Kane argued. “He only wants you to do this as a way of torturing me.”

“You know me too well.” Lucifer slapped his hands on his thighs. “So? Will you agree to it if I sign a contract?”

“Yes,” I said.

Kane buried his face in his hands.

“Delightful.” He reached into the interior pocket of his jacket and produced a rolled-up sheet of paper. Ink materialized on the page.

“You came prepared,” I said.

“Deals are my specialty, you sweet little fool. This contract will cover the terms and conditions of the trials.” He pricked the tip of his index finger and signed with his blood.”

“You’re a lefty,” I said .

He grinned. “All the best demons are.” He held out the paper to me. “Sign it in your blood, and the first trial begins tomorrow at noon. We’ll meet at the crossroads.”

Bile rose in my throat. “And if I fail?”

Lucifer had the decency to look sad. “Then you’ll end up on the boulevard of broken gods, I suppose. The two of you won’t be reunited in death. Kane will be my pet to play with, and you will never, ever see each other again.”

Kane didn’t stay the night. Once Lucifer vacated the premises, Kane returned to the Devil’s Playground to update his team on the latest development. He wasn’t wholly convinced that Lucifer wouldn’t try to pull a stunt while we were preoccupied with the trials.

On the heels of tonight’s outcome, it was a valid theory.

I barely slept, knowing that in fewer than twelve hours, I’d be facing the first trial of Lucifer’s creation. The moment the sun broke free of the horizon, I sent a message to Gunther and Camryn, inviting them to breakfast.

An hour later, Gun replied with, What’s wrong?

What makes you think something’s wrong?

You invited us for breakfast. Before noon. If that doesn’t say crisis, I don’t know what does.

I sighed at the phone and typed back. Just be here at ten .

They arrived at ten-fifteen because Camryn couldn’t find the pair of Louboutin’s that matched her purse. At ten-thirty, I broke the news about the upcoming trials as we huddled in the kitchen over bowls of granola with blueberries.

“He isn’t the Godfather. He made you an offer you can absolutely refuse,” Gun said.

“You’re right, Gun. He isn’t the Godfather. He’s worse.” Much worse. “Anyway, the blood is dry on the contract, so there’s no point arguing about it. On the upside, I get a twenty-four reprieve between trials. I promise to update you on all the fun I’m having.”

Gunther pushed aside his bowl. “You made a deal with the devil, Lorelei. Those never end well.”

“I was never promised a happy ending. If my time is up, I’d like to make it count.”

“Don’t say that.” Camryn pinched the skin of my forearm.

“Ouch.” I rubbed the sore spot. “I’m just stating the obvious. Lucifer has no intention of letting Kane go without a fight.”

“Then you shouldn’t have agreed to do this. Why sacrifice two of you instead of one?” Gun shook his head ruefully. “It’s a fool’s errand.”

“She’s a fool for love, so it fits,” Ray said.

“I can’t believe Kane let you say yes.” Gun’s temper seemed to flare with each word.

“He didn’t let me do anything. I’m my own person. And for the record, he wasn’t happy about it.”

“I should hope not,” Camryn said, without looking up as she typed on her phone. “I don’t understand why Lucifer is letting you come home between trials, though. Aren’t you more likely to fail if you don’t get any rest?”

“Maybe he has a warped sense of fairness,” Gun suggested.

“Don’t give him any credit,” I said. “It’s because it cranks up the suffering factor.” And Lucifer was dedicated to making Kane suffer in every way possible.

Cam glanced up from her phone. “I don’t get it. How is giving you recovery time with Kane the cause of any suffering?”

“Think about it. Let’s say I finish the first trial successfully. I come home to Kane. Do we spend our time together enjoying a blissful reunion? Not a chance. We spend it worrying about the next trial, whether this will be the last time we see each other as Kane wipes the blood off my face and arguing about whether I made the right call. He’s sowing the seeds of discontent.”

Understanding sparked in Camryn’s eyes. “So even if Lucifer loses, he wins.”

Gun sucked the air between his teeth. “That demon is an evil genius. I should take notes.”

I glared at him. “Please don’t.”

“I’m beginning to regret my advice to rip off his mask,” Camryn said. “He’s not just a player. He’s a game master.”

“It was the right call,” I insisted. “We cut to the chase more quickly and deprived him of the entertainment value he would’ve gotten from leading me on at One Oak.”

Cam checked her phone again and smiled.

Gun tipped back his head and groaned. “Oh gods. She’s smiling at the phone. I see another year of therapy in her future.”

Camryn set the phone on the table facedown. “It’s only Leo.”

Ray looked at me. “Leo as in Officer Leo?”

I nodded. “What’s up with Leo?”

Cam toyed with a few strands of her hair. “He wants to grab a coffee when his schedule calms down.”

“Coffee?” Gun scoffed. “He’s friend-zoning you.”

Camryn glared at him. “He is not. Coffee is a perfectly acceptable first date. Recommended, in fact.”

“I don’t think dating someone in law enforcement is very sensible for an assassin,” Nana Pratt said. “What happens when he finds out the truth?”

That was Camryn’s dilemma to resolve. I had my own more imminent and deadly problems to tackle.

“The good news is that Leo’s job should get easier now that Lucifer has redirected his energy to the trials,” I said. “No more Supay inflicting madness to frame me. ”

“Are you sure about that?” Cam asked. “Because Leo said he had to help restrain another guy just this morning.”

“It wouldn’t surprise me if Lucifer didn’t call off his mad dog,” I admitted.

Camryn frowned at the phone. “Gun and I could try to take him out, but we’d have to lure him outside the town border.” Assassins Guild rules dictated that the members couldn’t kill within the borders of Fairhaven.

“How would we do that? Kidnap him and drive him into the mountains?” Gun’s eyes lit up as he spoke. “Yes, that’s an excellent plan.” He patted my hand. “You focus on the trials. Leave David Jordan to us.”

“Except he isn’t David Jordan. Supay is a god.”

Gun shrugged. “I’d prefer to think of him as an evil spirit with friends in high places.”

“More like low places,” Cam corrected him. “And between Gun and I, we have enough tarot cards to make him wish he’d never set foot in Fairhaven.”

“Kane won’t like it,” I said. “You’re dancing dangerously close to the guild’s rules.”

“I don’t think His Highness will be aware of his own reflection right now, let alone what we’re up to. Not until you’re safe and sound.”

“He’ll be waiting a long time for that.” Safety was an illusion, an oasis in a desert of deadliness. Then again, I was the goddess of death. If anyone could withstand the trials, it would be me.

It had to be me.