Page 11 of These Monstrous Ties

She doesn’t laugh. “No. That’s for their evil, hot spawn.”

“Okay,” I say, the vodka making me bold. “Let’s say I believe this bullshit. Which, by the way, I definitely do not.”

She laughs again.

“But let’s say I do. So, what is tonight all about? The Unsaints are some strange gang? What do they do on Halloween night? Rape and pillage?”

The last part is a joke, but Ria’s eyes go wide. “I don’t think they’d have to rape anyone, Lilith,” she says, eyes going to my horns.

I roll my eyes. “That’s a bold, stupid statement.”

She smirks. “Have you seen the Unsaints?”

I’ve seen Lucifer. Atlas. I haven’t seen Jeremiah, Mayhem, or the other two whose names I’ve forgotten.

I shrug. “Whatever. This shit sounds absurd. And besides,” I look around the park again, eyes peeled for Lucifer, “this is a public.Park.” I emphasize the words. No one seems to get them.

“It’ll get wilder as the night goes on. If you think the Unsaints are strange...well, girl, you’ve got something else coming.”

“Like what? Are we gonna go for a ride on the merry-go-round?” I laugh, but the truth is it’s all making me a little uneasy.

She doesn’t even smile. “It’s happened before,” she admits. “Next morning, it was covered in blood.”

She finishes her drink.

My own blood runs cold. It’s not that I’m afraid, exactly. I wanted to end this. I’d planned this night for weeks. But still…

“Whose blood—”

The words die on my tongue as arms slide around me, forcing me backward into a hard, warm body.

“No need to ask questions she can’t answer,” Lucifer says in my ear.

My pulse quickens. I try to breathe normally, but I’m nearly panting.

It’s just Lucifer, I tell myself.And who, exactly, is Lucifer?myself says back.

What a fucking question.

“Ria,” Lucifer drawls.

She looks equal parts terrified and turned on at the way he says her name. I can’t say I’m not feeling the same thing.

“Go find yoursaint,”I hear the smile in his words. “The games are about to begin.”

Ria nods quickly, sets her empty cup on the table where it topples over. With a hesitant look at me—Lucifer’s arms still around me—she jogs away, toward the fire.

People are still there, drinking, laughing, making out.

But there’s another group, too, Ria bringing up the rear of it, and they’re going deeper into the forest. I’m not sure where they’re going, exactly. I don’t think I’ve ever ran down that trail.

“Ready, Lilith?” Lucifer purrs.

I shake my head, try to twist in his arms to see his face. He squeezes his strong arms around me tighter.

“Where are they going?” I choke out.

“Oh, love,” he says against my neck, “you’re going, too.”