Embrace The Dark (Her Elemental Dragons Book 5)(19)

A low growl rumbled in my chest. Imps, shifters, and gargoyles had all acted against me or Hannah in the last few days. Ever since she came into my life, demons who were once loyal to me were turning against me. Was it a coincidence or part of a larger conspiracy? The Fallen and the Lilim still seemed loyal, but what of the dragons and vampires? I needed to question that shifter tonight and find out the depth of this mutinous plot. Either way, I would have to deal with this problem before more demons got any ideas about defiance.

I ran a hand through my hair, the anger and pent-up lust making my movements sharp. “Thank you, Gadreel. I’ll meet you in the war room soon.”

He bowed and then departed, and I turned back to Hannah, who’d watched the conversation with questions shining in her intelligent eyes. Damn it. I needed to tell her who she was, but first I needed to deal with this insubordination problem. Besides, she wasn’t ready for any more surprises tonight.

“Sleep,” I told her, easing her back into the bed, putting a touch of power in my words once more. “Stay here in my bed, where you belong. I’ll make sure you’re safe.”

She nodded slowly as she settled down, her eyelids growing heavy. “Don’t leave just yet.”

My heart twisted at the soft plea. “I’ll stay until you’re asleep.”

That seemed to satisfy her, and I stroked her head softly as she relaxed, no longer tense like before. I longed to crawl in beside her, to curl up behind her and wrap my arms tight around her small frame, but I had matters to attend to tonight.

Tomorrow. I’d tell her the truth tomorrow.





13





Hannah





Sleeping in Lucifer’s room was like an extra level of decadence. I’d escaped there because it was the only untouched room in the penthouse after the gargoyle attack, and sheer exhaustion and lingering shock had made me pass out in his bed, amid black silk sheets that smelled like him. When I awoke to his touch and his news that Brandy was alive, I’d never felt such overwhelming relief and gratitude. He said he was a villain, but last night he’d been my hero.

And then there was that kiss, and the way he touched me like he already knew every inch of my body. I grew wet again just thinking about it, imagining him here in bed with me now as I stretched out upon his soft sheets with morning sunlight filtered through sheer black curtains. I had no idea where he’d slept last night, or if he’d slept at all. The last thing I remembered was him stroking my hair as sleep overcame me.

Lucifer wasn’t in the kitchen either, I discovered with a pang of longing. I was sure he was dealing with the aftermath of last night’s events, and I wanted to go see Brandy anyway, but I still felt his absence in the big, empty penthouse. I quickly downed my coffee and ate a muffin, then threw on some yoga pants and a t-shirt from my own wardrobe.

Once I was ready, I hurried down to The Celestial’s day spa to meet Brandy, with Azazel and a few other guards surrounding me. It was no surprise that The Celestial had its own luxury day spa. There seemed to be nothing that Lucifer’s resort and casino lacked. I even saw a champagne vending machine on my way down the marble halls. I could probably live my entire life in this hotel without needing to ever step outside again—especially if Lucifer continued to bring the world to me. Memories of his kiss flooded back to me at that thought, practically setting my panties on fire. Maybe being the devil’s captive wasn’t so bad in the end.

I stepped inside the Diabolique Day Spa and marveled at the large, relaxing fountain in front of me. Everything was white marble, shining blue glass, and smooth, curved lines.

“Ms. Thorn,” a beautiful woman said, stepping forward to meet me. I briefly wondered if she was a demon, and if so, what kind? “We’ve been expecting you.”

“Is my friend here yet?” I asked.

“No, but we will bring her in as soon as she arrives.” She gestured down the hall. “Follow me.”

I was led down shimmering floors and through a frosted blue door into a room with two massage tables. Another woman approached with a glass of champagne, and I waved her away. “No, thank you.”

They left me alone in the room. To change, I supposed. I’d never actually been to a spa, at least, not that I remembered, and wasn’t exactly sure what all it entailed. Instead of getting undressed, I paced the room with butterflies in my gut. Brandy was supposed to be here any minute.

When the door opened again, I rushed toward my best friend. She looked too thin, and bags stained the skin under her dark brown eyes a purple-gray color, but she was alive and safe and that was all that mattered.

“Brandy!” I threw my arms around her. “I’ve been so worried!”

Brandy hugged me tightly. “Thank you for coming to Las Vegas to look for me.”

“How could I not?” We didn’t let go of one another for several moments, neither of us entirely steady. Tears filled my eyes, and I heard her sniffing too. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

I pulled back and examined her again. I was right—her face was just this side of gaunt and her normally glowing dark skin looked ashy. She mustn’t have eaten well in captivity, if at all. Thank goodness Lucifer had rescued her when he did. There was a darkness in her eyes too that hadn’t been there before, like she’d seen and learned things that had shaken her to the core. I wondered if I had the same look in my eyes.

As we hugged and cried, the masseurs kept checking into the room to find us still clinging to one another, and it took us several attempts to separate and lie on the tables for our first appointment of the day. But full body massages waited for no one, and Brandy looked like she really needed the care and attention.

“We better let them do the massage before they combust,” I said.

Brandy managed a ghost of a smile and nodded. “I could definitely use a good massage.”

We stretched out and tried to keep the conversation vague while the women were in the room. I told her about her mom and son, how worried they’d been, and we discussed what we’d seen of Vegas, but the conversation made me prickle with an urgency to know more, and I could hardly wait until the massages were over so we could talk properly.

Once our massage was finished, the women led us to another room. It was dimly lit, with a long, expensive-looking counter and two reclining chairs, similar to those usually found in a salon. Various pots and machines sat on the counter. The tools of the trade, I assumed, although I couldn’t begin to guess what some of the machines did. One of them offered us champagne, which Brandy gladly took.

“Your facialist will be here soon,” the woman said. “Mr. Ifer instructed us to give you at least a half-hour break between each session. He said you’d be eager to catch up.”

I thanked her with a smile, though I wondered if I should be thanking Lucifer. Again. How could he be the actual devil, with all the wickedness and darkness that brought, and still melt my heart with his small gestures of consideration? But my smile quickly disappeared as I looked at Brandy once we were alone, and I shuddered at the thought of the things she must have gone through.

I sank into one of the chairs. “Tell me what happened.”

“This is some high-class shit,” Brandy said, before she downed the champagne. I got it—it was easy to be distracted by the trappings of Lucifer’s life, especially when the other subject might be more difficult to address. She stared into the empty glass. “I guess you deserve to know, more than anyone.”

“If it’s too painful to talk about, I understand.”

She sat beside me and shook her head. “No, it will help to talk about it. It’s so crazy I have to share with someone.” She drew in a sharp breath. “Well, you know I came to Las Vegas for a librarian conference, right? But when I got here, there was no conference.”

I nodded. I’d learned the same thing when I’d started poking about.

“I didn’t know what to do. I mean, I was in Vegas, by myself, with nothing to do. In the end, I went to the bar to get a drink.” Her face took on a far-off, dreamy look. “That’s where I met Mo—Asmodeus, I mean. He was probably the hottest guy I’ve ever seen, and charming as all hell. Before I even got my drink, I wanted to take him back to my room and do naughty things to him.”

My jaw dropped. Brandy had never been the hooking up in a bar sort of girl. Maybe that was his incubus powers at work? “What then?”

“He convinced me to go out to dinner with him. While we were leaving the hotel, we were attacked. By these…monsters.” She shook her head like the disbelief was still real, and I gripped her hand as horror showed again in her eyes. “Giant wolves and bears. It’s such a cliché, but it all seemed to happen so fast, and it was totally unbelievable at the time. Then I got knocked out.”

“That had to be a big shock.” From what I’d heard, it was shifters who had captured her. I’d never seen one in animal form myself, but I’d seen gargoyles and Fallen angels, and they were scary enough, thank you very much.

“I’ll say.” Brandy snorted before reaching over to grab the champagne bottle and pouring herself another glass. “When I woke, I was with Asmodeus in a small concrete room—some kind of basement I guessed, because there was a tiny thickened glass window at the top of the wall. It didn’t open and there was no point banging against it.” She laughed a little. “I mean, I tried. But it just hurt my fists and barely made a noise. We couldn’t even see through it.” Her eyes took on that distant look again. “Asmodeus was with me the entire time, and we talked a lot. There wasn’t much else to do. He…filled some things in for me.”