Page 8

Chapter Eight

After two never-ending days of bouncing between my jobs and guarding the portal, I was ready for a break and grateful for my date with Jack. I stepped into Normand’s and shook off the winter chill. The warmth of the restaurant washed over me, instantly melting away the biting cold. The place was cozy, with its rustic décor and intimate lighting, but I couldn’t help but feel a bit out of place. Normand’s was the kind of restaurant I’d never had the funds to experience. I did now thanks to Deidre’s bounty, but Jack had told me tonight was his treat, a treat I planned to enjoy.

I scanned the room and spotted Jack at a table near the back, looking relaxed and effortlessly handsome. Must be nice. During the hour-long bus ride here, I’d suffered a moment of utter panic when I realized this would be my first date. And not just with Jack. Ever . Somehow, that little detail had escaped my attention until tonight. Now, it was all I could think about. What was I supposed to do? Wait for him to notice me and come over? Wait for someone to escort me to Jack’s table? Or should I just walk right over since he was already seated?

Why was this so hard? Give me a sword and I could gut a hellspawn in two seconds flat. But put me in a dress, and I was completely and utterly lost. I’d seen tons of movies and read plenty of books, but somehow, none had prepared me for this.

“Ma’am?” a voice drew my attention.

I blinked and glanced over to find a dark-haired woman standing in front of me, a slight frown creasing her brow. Crap, had she been trying to get my attention?

“Sorry,” I said, laughing.

Her expression cleared. “Do you need a table?”

“Oh, uh, no, I can see my date from here.”

She nodded and returned to whatever task she’d been working on prior to my entry.

I strode to the table, my steps slowing the second Jack glanced up. The instant he spotted me, he rose from the table.

“Lily, hi,” he said.

“Hi.” Why was I so nervous? I wasn’t naturally shy—far from it. But something about this whole situation unbalanced me.

I removed my purse, then reached for the buttons on my jacket and quickly opened them. I shrugged it off and hung both on the nearby coat rack before turning back to Jack.

He stared at me, a slow smile spreading across his face as he took in my brand-new dress and boots. “Wow, Lily,” he murmured as he pulled out a chair for me. “You look amazing.”

“Thanks,” I said, my cheeks warming. “You clean up pretty well, too.” Usually when he came to the coffee shop, he wore slacks and a dress shirt, but tonight he wore a perfectly tailored suit. One that molded to his every muscle. And damn, it looked good on him.

Jack chuckled, then helped tuck me into the table. Once settled, he returned to his side of the table and sat. Seeing as how this was my first date ever, I truly had no idea what to do with myself. Or where to put my hands. On the table? In my lap? Jack’s were on the table. That seemed a safe bet.

I folded my arms, but that felt wrong. I started to readjust my position, but moved too quickly, and my elbow brushed the water glass sitting right next to me. Horror swept over me when it started to teeter. With a quiet gasp, I snatched the glass with liquid fast reflexes—reflexes far too quick for a human—and steadied it before it could fall.

Jack’s eyes briefly widened, then he gave another soft chuckle. “Damn, good catch.”

I gave an awkward laugh. “Just got lucky.”

“I’d say.”

This time, I folded my hands in my lap, determined not to touch anything else, lest I give myself away.

“You okay?” Jack asked.

“Yeah, I’m great,” I told him. “It’s just…” I took a breath, then lifted my gaze to meet his. “This is my, uh, first…” I bit my lip, then laughed, heat chasing across my cheeks.

“Date?” Jack asked when I didn’t finish my sentence.

I winced when my cheeks grew even hotter.

Knock it off , my brain screamed at me. I was being ridiculous. For crying out loud, who cared if this was my first date? So, I hadn’t dated anyone before. But I’d done other things. Lots of other things. Like ride hellwyrms and travel inter-dimensionally. Who else on Earth could claim they’d done those two things?

“Well, I’m honoured to be your first,” he said before awkwardly coughing. “Your first date, I mean.”

Before I could respond, a waiter approached the table with two menus. “Good evening. How are you two tonight?”

“Just great,” Jack said with a gentle smile.

My stomach flipped, but interestingly, it was a good flip. For a human, Jack was exceptionally handsome. I found his rugged appearance and short beard quite appealing. And I still couldn’t get over that suit. It hugged his build perfectly. The man had a great deal to offer, both looks and personality-wise.

“Wonderful,” our waiter said. “Tonight’s wild game specialties are Lac Brome Roast Duck, Alberta ten-ounce Bison Rib Eye Steak, and Alberta Wild Boar Ribs. We also have a wide range of drink choices. My personal favourite is our eighteen-year-old Glenlivet. It’s perfect for frosty nights like this.”

“Oh, that sounds nice,” Jack said. “I’ll have a glass of that, please. Neat. How about you, Lily?”

“I’ll have the same, if that’s alright,” I said. “Thank you.”

The waiter dipped his head, then handed us the menus and left.

Jack glanced at me with a raised brow, and I laughed. “I’m also a bartender. So, I’m no stranger to good whisky.”

He pressed his free hand against his chest. “A woman after my own heart. Where do you bartend?”

Shit. Shit . I shouldn’t have said that. Not even Jazz knew about my second job. This whole dating thing was really throwing me off my game. “Just a small hole in the wall no one knows about,” I said. Clearing my throat, I started perusing the menu. “So, Jack. What do you do?”

“I’m a compliance officer,” he said.

I glanced up from the menu with a raised brow. “And what is that, exactly?”

“I make sure companies follow all the rules and regulations. It’s a lot of reading through legal documents.”

“So, you’re like the company’s moral compass? Do you get to bust a lot of bad guys?”

He smiled. “Not exactly. It’s more like nudging people back onto the right path before they go too far astray. But it’s satisfying to catch things early and prevent bigger problems.”

I nodded, intrigued. “That does sound interesting. I bet you’ve seen some pretty shady stuff.”

Jack grinned. “Oh, definitely. There was this one time a company tried to cover up a huge environmental violation. They had all these fake documents, but they forgot one crucial detail that gave them away. I felt a bit like a detective.”

I laughed. “I can imagine you with a magnifying glass, inspecting clues. Do you wear a deerstalker hat like Sherlock, too?”

He played along, pretending to tip an imaginary hat. “Elementary, my dear Lily. But enough about me. What about you? What do you do when you’re not bartending or working as a barista?”

“I’m afraid two jobs don’t leave me much time to do much else,” I said, snickering.

“There has to be something you do for fun,” he commented.

I hesitated, not wanting to delve into my secrets. “I do enjoy knitting.”

Jack’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “Knitting, huh? I wouldn’t have pegged you for a knitter.”

I shrugged. “Everyone needs a hobby. And it’s surprisingly therapeutic. Plus, it keeps me out of trouble.” Sort of. More like it kept Vol out of trouble, but I couldn’t tell Jack about my imp.

Jack raised an eyebrow. “I can’t imagine you getting into any trouble.”

“Oh, you’d be surprised,” I said with a laugh.

The waiter returned with our drinks and placed them on the table. “Have you decided what you’d like to order?”

I waved at Jack. “You go first. I’ll decide while you order.”

Jack nodded, then started to order the wild boar ribs. Mid-order, he stopped and shot me a wide-eyed glance. “Are you a vegetarian?”

I snorted a soft laugh. “No, not at all.”

“Phew,” he said. “Not that there’s anything wrong with being a vegetarian. I just wouldn’t want to force you to sit here and watch me eat meat if you weren’t into that.”

Something inside me melted. I didn’t know Jack beyond his coffee order and the few pleasantries we’d exchanged over the year, but from the way he’d handled the customer at the coffee shop and the way he was behaving tonight, I could tell he was a considerate guy. Handsome, kind, funny…which one of us was the actual angel here?

Once Jack finished ordering, the waiter turned to me. I thought I’d be able to make a choice rather quickly, but once I started eyeing the prices, my nerves came back to life. Jack’s rib order was forty-four dollars, plus his whisky. Add in my drink, and whatever meal I ordered—none of which were cheap—and the bill would easily come to more than a hundred-and-fifty dollars tonight. For someone like me, who usually survived on pennies, this was rather intimidating.

“Lily?” Jack asked.

Biting my lip, I leaned across the table. “Are you sure this is okay? Everything is really expensive.”

Jack reached across the table and touched the back of my hand. “Trust me. Don’t even worry about it.”

Relief softened my shoulders, and I sat back. “Um, I guess I’ll have the Free Range Pesto Chicken Breast over Linguini, please.”

The waiter nodded once more, then collected our menus and left.

I reached for my glass and took a sip. The taste was familiar to me, considering my job, but I watched Jack’s face. He took a drink, and his eyes fluttered shut as he savored the flavour.

“Oh, that’s good,” he said.

It was.

We both placed our glasses back on the table.

“So, what about family?” Jack asked, resuming our conversation. “Do you have any brothers or sisters? Do your parents live here?”

“Nope, no family for me,” I replied, keeping my tone light and airy. This was a topic I did not want to broach. And now I was starting to see why I’d avoided dating for so long. It wasn’t like I could admit who my father was or tell anyone that he’d killed all my brothers and sisters long before I was even born, and my mother not long after.

Jack cocked his head and regarded me quietly. “No family at all?”

I shook my head.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice soft. “That…must be hard.”

“Nah,” I said, waving a dismissive hand. “Trust me when I say I’m better off without them.”

Well, better off without my father. My mother…I would have loved to have known her before she died. But some things just weren’t meant to be. It was easier to accept her death when I couldn’t remember a single thing about her.

I took another sip of whisky, then said, “How about you?”

“Oh, a whole slew of them,” he said, though his voice was incredibly soft, as though worried he might upset me. “I actually have three brothers and two sisters. All of whom live here. As do my parents.”

“That sounds wonderful,” I said. “It must be nice living so close together. But with that many people, I bet your family gatherings can be a bit…”

“Lively?” Jack said, laughing. “It’s chaos, really.”

Ah, my favourite word.

“Especially during the holidays,” he continued. “My mom insists that everyone come over for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Seeing as how three of my siblings are married and have kids, the house can get a little cramped.”

“Do you all get along?”

“For the most part,” Jack replied. “There’s the usual sibling rivalries and occasional spats. There’s been a few fights that I’m sure would scandalize you?—”

Oh, unlikely, considering some of the fights I’d been in with my father’s lackeys.

“—but all in all, I wouldn’t trade them for anything. We’re really tight. My parents did a great job raising us and keeping us all together. My dad’s the peacemaker, always stepping in before things get too heated.”

“And your mom?” I asked, grinning as the image of his family solidified in my mind.

“She’s more likely to start the spats,” Jack said, chuckling. “She isn’t a redhead, but we’ve always said she has the temper of one.”

I laughed aloud, though a pang of envy hit my chest at the mention of his mother, one he must have sensed from the way he watched me.

“But enough about my family. You said you don’t have one, but what about friends? Anyone you would consider close enough to be family?”

I thought about Jazz and the few acquaintances I’d made over the years, then shook my head. I kept everyone at arm’s length—and for good reason. Shopping with Jazz was fun, but I’d never invited her over to my place. How could I possibly explain the mischievous imp running around in all his weird little outfits that I stole from dolls? Sure, I could ask him to hide, but I knew he wouldn’t comply for long. He found terrorizing humans quite hilarious.

“Just my cat, Purrgatory,” I said, leaving Vol out of the conversation.

Jack blinked, then started chuckling. “You have a cat named?—”

“Purrgatory,” I repeated, “With two r’s, like in purr.”

He gave a laugh, then shook his head. “That’s an incredible name.”

“Do you have any pets?” I asked.

His face softened and he leaned forward, his arms folded on the table. “A Doberman puppy named Rebel, actually.”

I managed to refrain from shuddering, but only barely. Of all the dogs I’d met since arriving on Earth, that breed reminded me the most of hellhounds. Thankfully, Dobermans didn’t have spiked tails or venomous fangs.

The waiter returned with our meals, interrupting our conversation. He placed the dishes in front of us, and I marvelled at the presentation. My pesto chicken breast over linguini looked like a work of art, and Jack’s wild boar ribs were equally impressive.

“This looks amazing,” I said, picking up my fork.

Jack nodded. “Absolutely. Let’s dig in.”

We ate in comfortable silence, savoring the flavours. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d eaten something this delicious.

“So, what’s the best part of being a barista?” Jack asked between bites. “Other than dealing with handsome customers like me.”

I chuckled and swallowed a delicious bite of food. “The smell of fresh coffee,” I replied. “It’s an instant mood booster for me.”

Jack grinned. “I bet. Plus, you get to play with the fancy coffee machines.”

I laughed. “True. I’m a bit of a coffee snob now.”

We finished our meals, and the second I laid my fork on the empty plate, the waiter swept in and cleared the dishes.

“Dessert?” he asked.

I shot Jack a glance and raised a brow. I was stuffed , but one upside to being a celestial was my angelic metabolism. No matter what I ate, I never gained a pound.

“You game?” Jack asked.

“I am, if you are.”

He grinned. “Oh, absolutely. How about we share the torte?”

“Sounds perfect,” I said.

It didn’t take the waiter long to return with the cake. One slice, two forks. I smiled at the symbolism. I’d never had the opportunity to share something as innocent as dessert with someone before. We picked up our own forks, tapped them together like we were in a cheesy rom-com movie, then dove in. The first bite was delectable.

“This is so good,” Jack said around a bite.

I couldn’t even spare any words, too busy nomming down on this glazed treat, but I did nod my agreement. We plowed through it quickly, barely pausing to chat. When one bite remained, we stared at each other, both grinning ear to ear.

“It’s all yours,” Jack said, relinquishing his pronged weapon.

“No,” I said, laughing. “You should have the last bite.”

“Absolutely not,” he said, mock horror filling his expression. “I would never steal cake from a lady.”

I snickered, then dove in and devoured the last bite. It lingered on my tongue, the chocolaty yumminess giving me quite the sugar high. I washed it down with a sip of water, then lifted my gaze to find Jack staring over my shoulder, the sparkle in his eyes dimmed and a frown now creasing his brow.

“What’s wrong? Is there something on my face?” I swiped at my mouth, horrified at the thought that I might have smeared chocolate across my cheek or something equally embarrassing.

“No, but…do you know him?” Jack asked hesitantly, his focus on someone behind me.

I turned, and my stomach dropped. Of all the people I could have imagined standing there, he was the last. Because according to Deidre, he was supposed to be in Hell, enduring endless torture.

Rathiel.

He stood silently, as though he’d simply been waiting for me to turn. He looked almost exactly as I remembered him. The same dark, tousled hair, and the same piercing pale blue eyes that all angels possessed. But there were two stark differences. One, a scar I didn’t recall him having—a violent slash that cut a cruel, jagged path along his jawline. And two, no wings. Both of which raised so many questions. Where were his wings? Had someone sheared them off, like mine? What had happened to his face? And who did it?

But there were two far more pressing questions to address. What was he doing here? And how had he escaped my father? Even as the questions came to mind, I quickly answered them. I’d destroyed the Infernal Eye and killed Deidre—though my father didn’t yet know that—so he must have sent Rathiel to finish the job and drag me home.

It took every bit of restraint, but I didn’t react. I couldn’t. Not in public. Not with Jack here. My mind scrambled for options. I sat in the middle of a crowded restaurant, surrounded by humans who had no idea the danger that had just stepped inside. And poor Jack, who had no idea who—or what—I was. This wasn’t the time or place to engage in a little light stabbing. So, I did the only thing I could—I waited. The right time would come to me, I merely needed to be patient.

“Rathiel…” I breathed.

His eyes shifted from me to Jack, who now stood protectively next to me. Rathiel’s jaw clenched, and if I wasn’t mistaken, a flicker of something dark crossed his features. A flicker that vanished so quickly, I must have imagined it.

He turned his attention back to me, and I fought the urge to pull away from Jack. Odd, but there was something about seeing Rathiel here , in my realm, while I was on a date, that unsettled me.

“Lilith,” Rathiel replied, his voice a deep growl.

Jack touched one of my shoulders, a move Rathiel noticed. His eyes narrowed dangerously. I considered shrugging off Jack’s touch before deciding otherwise.

“Friend of yours?” Jack asked.

I shook my head, voice flat. “Not particularly.”

Rathiel’s gaze snapped back to me, and a flash of something—anger, annoyance, pain—twisted his features.

I frowned. Rathiel and I had never been friends. He’d been my mentor, sometimes my guard when my father ordered it, but that was the extent of our relationship.

“We need to talk,” Rathiel said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

And that was where we disagreed. As far as I was concerned, I had nothing to say to him. I wasn’t going back to Hell—end of story. Hopefully, I wouldn’t have to make my point the same way I had with Deidre. Not that I was armed—stupid dress—but I had other means at my disposal. If he pushed the issue, we’d soon find out how well he handled the heat outside of Hell.

“Kind of in the middle of something here,” I replied, eyeing the surrounding patrons.

The corners of his mouth lifted in a humourless smirk, a dark shadow passing over his face. “Now, Lilith.”

I leaned back, closer to Jack, and crossed my arms. I was Lucifer’s daughter. I commanded demons. They didn’t command me.

Rathiel closed his eyes and drew a slow breath, and I imagined him counting to ten in his head. After a long, awkward pause, he opened his eyes and met my gaze. “I’m not in the mood to play your games. Either speak to me now, or—” his sentence drifted off.

Yeah, I knew that or well. Once again, I reminded myself that we were in public, surrounded by humans. I couldn’t afford to let him unleash his or .

Sighing, I rose to my feet, and Jack’s hand slipped off my shoulder. I threw him an apologetic look. “Give me a sec to talk to him. I’ll be right back.”

Jack’s expression darkened, his concern clear. “Are you sure? Do you want me to come with you?”

Oh, that wouldn’t work at all. I waved him off, hoping to keep things light. “It’s okay. I’ve got this. I just need a minute.”

Rathiel’s expression twisted into something murderous, his jaw clenched so hard I thought I heard his teeth grind. The possessive anger radiating off him was palpable, though confusing. For some reason, he didn’t like Jack. Not one bit. But Jack didn’t notice. He hadn’t taken his eyes off me since Rathiel arrived.

“Alright, but if you’re not back in ten minutes, I’m coming to find you,” Jack said, his voice firm.

I nodded. “Deal.”

I stood and followed Rathiel toward the front door. The second we stepped outside, he gripped my arm and steered me away from the streetlights and into the nearby shadows. I yanked myself free and wrapped both arms around myself. He’d dragged me outside, into minus thirty temperatures, sans jacket. Yeah, I was cold. But that didn’t stop Rathiel’s gaze from sliding down my body, male appreciation alight in the eyes.

I scoffed, mentally berating him.

“Yes, I’m wearing a dress. Get over it,” I sniped, my teeth already chattering. “Now, let me start this little conversation so I can go back inside where it’s warm. I don’t care what you have to say, I’m not going back to He?—”

His gaze snapped up to mine. “Your father wants you dead.”

I shut up.

So, things had progressed then. I’d told myself this could happen. Logically, Lucifer wanting me dead was hardly shocking. What else could I expect from the literal devil when there was a prophecy claiming I would destroy him?

But hearing it out loud differed from merely thinking it.

And it hurt that he’d sent Rathiel to do the job.

I wasn’t sure why that bothered me so much. Of course it would be Rathiel. Of all the fallen, he was my father’s favourite. He’d trained me to fight, to survive, and had molded me into the weapon Lucifer insisted I become.

Was that why it hurt? Because I was closer to Rathiel than I was to my own father? Or maybe it was because deep down, I’d always believed that if my father ever decided to kill me, he’d do it himself.

Guess I should have known better.

What a crappy end to a wonderful evening.