Being a human among demons was intense to say the least, but it was far easier to handle from over here. The other guests barely paid any attention to the edges of the room, focusing all of their attention inward instead to observe each other, sometimes with suspicion gleaming in their eyes from behind those masks. It made for great people watching, though. Demon watching.
A small group sat at the table behind me, their faces shrouded in darkness. As I listened, relying on my mask to disguise exactly where I was looking, I learned that the demons were scandalized by some new woman who was half demon and half angel but was favored by Lucifer, and I was just leaning into the details of the story when a rough voice nearby caught my attention.
“It’s true then. Lucifer’s woman has returned.”
“She’s human though.” The second person snickered. “We’ll see how long she lasts.”
My pulse kicked up a notch at their words. I glanced over, peering into the shadows and trying to make my movements so small that no one would notice my focus had shifted to the new conversation. I got a glimpse of a huge man with a red and gold mask. Mammon.
“Not long,” he said. “Things are already in motion. Many of the Archdemons are involved. Soon Lucifer will be defeated, and it will be time to return to Hell.”
His words were enough to strike fear in my heart. I had to tell Lucifer immediately. I bent to slip my shoes back on, then took a deep, fortifying breath and threw myself into the crowd. I darted between demons, trying to get to the center of the room so I could find Lucifer and warn him about Mammon.
When I was almost halfway there, one of the spotlights swung around and beamed down on Lucifer. I caught my breath at the sight of him, shadows playing across his face and his eyes burning with power. He stood in front of his throne and turned in a slow circle. A silver crown graced his head, throwing off fragments of the light as he moved, and it fit him as if he’d been born to wear it. The room quieted as everyone gave their attention to their king.
His commanding voice rang across the ballroom. “Someone in this very room has been plotting to overthrow me. Trying to take what is mine.”
At first I assumed he meant his throne, but then his gaze found me in the crowd, like a caress only I could feel.
He meant me. I was the thing he considered his.
“All traitors will be punished.” As he spoke, another spotlight illuminated the corner of the room, near where I’d been sitting, where Gadreel and Samael now led out four demons. I wasn’t sure what kind they were, but I had a sneaking suspicion these were the demons involved in the attacks that had been captured.
The demons were pushed down so they kneeled in front of Lucifer, facing the audience. Their faces were drawn with lines of tension and their hands were bound behind their backs, but otherwise they appeared uninjured. I could barely look into their eyes. Pure fear glimmered there as shadows began to snake round them. Like even the darkness was toying with them.
Lucifer began to pace slowly behind the traitors as he spoke. “These four—an imp, a dragon, a gargoyle, and a shifter—were all caught in plots against me. Tonight they will be punished.”
I expected the audience to react in some way, but it seemed like everyone in the crowd was holding their breath, too terrified to move. Me included.
“I have been Demon King for thousands of years.” Lucifer’s voice boomed around the ballroom, echoing from the walls I couldn’t see. “Though many have tried to overthrow me, all have failed. There’s a reason I’m the King. Perhaps you all need a reminder?”
Then he bowed his head and took a deep, controlled breath. His shadowy black wings erupted behind his body, and I gaped at him along with everyone else in the ballroom. Tendrils of black, smoky energy crept around him coalescing and growing thicker, until they almost looked like inky black, swirling solids. I stepped forward, moving carefully through the crowd again as the lines of black shadow wrapped around each of the demon’s necks. Nobody moved but me.
“I do not tolerate insubordination.” Lucifer snapped his fingers, and suddenly bright blue flame erupted from the darkness wrapped around the demons. The traitors screamed as the unnatural blue fire consumed them, lighting the room with eerie, flickering light. Everyone gasped, their faces paling, their mouths falling agape, but nobody stepped forward. I heard a few people whispering in shocked voices about hellfire, as the four demons turned to ash before our eyes.
Then the entire room bowed as one, lowering to knees of submission on the floor, until I was the only one besides Lucifer standing. I stared at him in horror as he surveyed the people kneeling before him, his wings spread wide with darkness trailing off them like mist.
He’d just…killed them. Right there, in front of everyone. And his people bowed. My breathing came in shallow, fast pants, and my dress felt like it was tightening around me, constricting my chest until I had no space for air.
Lucifer’s gaze met mine with a dark smile, and he was triumphant. Proud. His eyes glowed red as he looked at me like he was encouraging my pleasure as well.
Because I was his queen.
And the worst thing was…a part of me wanted to smile back. To applaud him for what he’d done. They’d kidnapped Brandy. They’d threatened my lover. They’d tried to kill me. They deserved retribution.
As soon as everyone was upright again, I used their cover to take off running, sliding between bodies and moving as fast as I could while staying upright in my heels. My chest heaved as nausea roiled through me and my heart practically leaped out of my body. I made it to the elevator without anyone stopping me, but when I pressed the button, it wouldn’t light up. Turning to see if anyone was trying to follow me, I noticed a door off to the right. With a fluorescent glow behind a small window, I realized what it was. A stairwell. Even demons needed an emergency exit.
I burst through the door and slipped my heels off, holding the skirt of the gorgeous gown as I sprinted up the stairs, my legs pumping and my lungs threatening to burst. We were a few flights down from the parking garage, and I shoved through the doors, then raced across the lot in my bare feet until I found another door leading to another stairwell outside. I had to get the fuck out of here.
As I stepped out into a side alley, I gulped in the fresh night air as panic threatened to overtake me. I’d known he was the devil. He’d said he was a villain. What had I expected? That he’d be someone different with me? Had I willfully ignored his dark side, or had I craved it? He’d never been anything but honest with me about what he was, but I’d been drawn to him anyway. He should have inspired fear in me rather than lust. But that was his job, after all. Temptation. Sin.
It didn’t matter. The deal was over anyway. Tonight was the seventh night—Devil’s Night—and I was done. Maybe I was Lucifer’s reincarnated love, and maybe I wasn’t, but either way, it was time to return to my real life. I didn’t belong here. Not in this fancy hotel, not in these expensive clothes, and definitely not with the demons.
I put the shoes back on, not about to walk barefoot in a Las Vegas alley full of broken bottles and old piss. Then I pretended my feet weren’t on fire as I shoved my panic to one side and summoned enough confidence to walk a straight line. No way I was going back in that hotel. I had a tiny little purse with a wad of cash and my phone in it, and that was enough to get me home.
A flash of light exploded nearby, the force and shock nearly knocking me over. A pair of gleaming copper wings were highlighted against the dark night sky, swooping down toward me, and in my already-panicked state I screamed. Strong hands grabbed me, lifting me up…and then everything went black.
24
Lucifer
As I surveyed the room, taking in my followers and their show of loyalty, I wore a dark smile, my eyes glowing red. I hated doing shit like this, but it was necessary. A show of force to ensure they all knew I was their king. Demons needed a firm hand. Whatever this newfound conspiracy was, someone would come forward rather than risk my wrath. Then it would be settled. This shit had happened before and would happen again, and I’d deal with it every time.
Before I became king, the demonic tribes fought each other. When I left Heaven for Hell, I united the tribes under my banner, bringing order to the chaos. If it weren’t for me, the vampires and shifters would still be at war, the dragons would still be slaves to the fae, and let’s not forget the angels, who would have wiped out the lot of them if they’d had a chance. No matter how heavy my crown became, I never forgot that someone needed to rule the demonic horde, and it sure as shit had better be me.
Besides, I’d do whatever it took to save Hannah’s life. If a show of force was needed to prevent more attacks and show she was completely off-limits, so be it.
As everyone rose and the music began playing again, I sank down on my throne, waiting for Hannah to join me. I should have made them bring a second throne out for her, but they’d planned this night before she’d come back into my life. If she was still alive for the next ball, I’d make sure she reigned at my side.
The demons and Fallen went back to their conversations and I gazed around the room, searching for a glimpse of Hannah. I’d seen her briefly, but then she’d been swallowed by the crowd. I noticed Gadreel flirting with Lilith, whose smile was tight and her eyes wandered, like she’d rather be anywhere else. He’d always had a thing for her, but who didn’t at some point? And Gadreel had always been ambitious. It was one of the reasons I’d thought he was interested in Lenore too.