Page 155 of Wicked Believer

“Enough about Charlotte,” Levi says. He plays it off as if he’s coming to my defense, but weallknow it’s because he’s jealous I’m suddenly hogging all the attention.

“It’s fine.” I pat his hand like I appreciate the effort.

“No, it isn’t, I can feel you wanting to throttle Mimi from here.” Wrath cracks his neck, relaxing like he’s just had his chiropractor adjust him or enjoyed a full-service massage. The off-the-book kind. “Lot of pent-up rage you got there, Charlotte. Care to let it out?”

“That’s called sisterly love, right, Mimi?” I cast a fake affectionate grin in her direction but shut this line of conversation down before she can respond to me. “First, I want to thank all of you for being here, but especially Gluttony for all the delicious food he made.” A few awkward claps come from the humans at the table—Mia, and Az’s fuck buddies.

“Plus, a special thanks to Envy for sitting next to me,” I mutter softly, trying and—from the annoyed look on his face—failing to keep him appeased. “I’m sure you’re all curious why I invited you here.”

Mimi scoffs. “That’s theonlyreason any of us came.”

I press my lips together into another fake smile.

Sisterly love. Sisterly love,I silently repeat.

“Of course. Thank you, Mimi,” I say with only ahintof sarcasm just as Mia stands and announces, “Okay, humans, that’s our cue. Everybody out.”

She ushers out the remaining staff and Azmodeus’s fuck buddies, each of whom he takes painfully long to make out with in lieu of a goodbye kiss, even though they’re only headed up to the second floor for a few minutes. Assuming this all doesn’t blow up in my face and end with several of the most powerful beings in the world brawlingwith one another on the penthouse floor. You know, like most human Thanksgivings.

As soon as everyone who isn’t an immediate member of Lucifer’s family exits, Azmodeus clears his throat. “So, are we going to get down to the naughty bits or what?”

The naughty bits?

Oh God. Here we go.

I lift a brow. “What do you mean, Az?”

“You know, the part where you tell us you’re planning to fuck Lucifer and ask if we all want in.” The other Originals nod in agreement.

“Fuck Lucifer?”

Az shrugs. “In a political sense, of course.”

I forgot they still believe he’s working with Michael, rather than against him. But maybe if they think ...

No, I internally chastise myself.

Honesty is the best policy when it comes to family.

Even one this divinely messed up.

“I’m not doing this to fuck Lucifer.”

“She already does that every night.” This from Envy, who from the covetous way he’s looking at me, might be more of a usurper than Az on that front.

“And most mornings,” Az adds helpfully.

I shoot him a narrow-eyed look, and he throws up his hands in surrender. “What? I’m sure what the two of you have is supremelyspecial, lovey, but I’m getting tired of feeling you getting reamed before I’ve even rolled out of bed.” He takes a generous sip of his coffee, like it might shake whatever celestial hangover he’s nursing. “Try to keep it to the evenings, would ya? You know, when the rest of divine civilization is awake.”

“The bickering too,” Wrath adds. “Could you believe that the other day they—?”

“Enough.” I bang my fist down on the table as I stand, silencing them all.

Five devilish expressions turn toward me.

Apparently, they only like me when I’m allowing them to needle me.

I clear my throat, my nerves suddenly making my pulse race. All five of them watching me is infinitely worse than being pinned beneath Lucifer’s gaze, or even Azrael’s.