Embrace The Dark (Her Elemental Dragons Book 5)(25)

“How was your day?” he asked, as he led me to the helicopter.

“Fun.” I glanced behind me at my two bodyguards, who trailed behind us. “Zel hated every second of it. Or at least, pretended she did.”

That got a sexy, low chuckle from him. “Good. She could use some fun in her life.”

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“I’m taking you on a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon.”

My eyes widened at that, and then he helped me inside the helicopter, which was another new experience for me. At least, I assumed it was. Then he got in the pilot’s seat and we both put bulky headphones on so we could talk over the roar of the helicopter. Zel and Gad got in the seats behind us, but they didn’t bother with headphones.

I was truly impressed when Lucifer guided the helicopter into the air. I supposed when you were as old and rich as he was, you could pick up some expensive hobbies. First we flew over the city, and I marveled at the view of The Strip from above. Then we set out over the seemingly endless desert, and excitement nearly spilled out of me at the sight of the world laid out before us.

I turned to watch Lucifer, who exuded masculinity and power as he flew the helicopter with practiced ease. “How was your day? You looked…troubled earlier.”

He shook his head slightly, as if surprised by the question. “You always did catch everything. Yes, troubled is a good word for it.”

“What happened?”

“We managed to capture some of the demons involved in the kidnapping and the attacks, but we couldn’t get them to tell us anything. Not even when I questioned them personally…” His eyes burned with dark fire. “And I can be very convincing.”

“Did you…” I drew in a breath and tried again. “Did you torture them?”

“Not physically.” He glanced over at me as if considering something. “One of my powers is…coercion, you could say. I can convince people to tell me anything, or do what I wish.”

A memory sparked in my mind of Lucifer telling me to sleep, and cold fear trickled through me. “You used it on me, didn’t you?”

“Only to help you sleep. That was all.”

I bit my lip. “But you use it on others?”

“Now and then, yes. It’s a useful tool, but one I use sparingly.”

I had a sudden realization and gasped. “The devil made me do it. That’s really a thing, isn’t it?”

He let out a low sound of discontent. “I can’t make anyone do anything. That’s more of a vampire power. What I do is tempt. Coerce. Sway. If someone is at a crossroads, I can nudge them down a path I choose.”

“The darker path, no doubt,” I muttered.

“Perhaps, but is darkness always evil? Or is it necessary for there to be light?”

I shook my head, unsure about his justification for what he did. Maybe to an ancient being like himself it seemed normal, but to me it sounded like mind control—and made me wonder what other powers he had that I didn’t know about. And how many stories about the devil were true.

I sighed and turned back to the view, as we flew along a river that eventually led to a big bridge and a white dam behind it. Lucifer informed me it was the Hoover Dam, and I leaned over to get a better look at the impressive structure nestled between the arid mountains. At the entrance, two huge green statues with tall wings stood guard. When Lucifer caught me looking at them he explained, “I helped fund the Dam, long ago.”

More conflicting feelings warred inside of me. Was he good or evil? Should I be worried about the feelings I was developing for him? And how right it felt to be by his side?

I stared out at the view to distract myself, which was easy when the sunset set the Grand Canyon ablaze with color. The immense size of it left me awestruck, as did the raised plateaus and steep canyons, with winding rivers cutting through them. My inner nature lover longed to be out there hiking the trails, checking out the plants that grew here and breathing in the wild scents.

Suddenly the helicopter swung low over the canyon, making my stomach drop, and impulsively I grabbed Lucifer’s hand. He gave it a squeeze as he prepared to land the helicopter on top of one of the plateaus, and I spied a table with a white tablecloth with rocks holding it down so it didn’t get completely blown away by the chopper wind.

When the blades quieted, Lucifer helped me step out onto the rocky terrain. Zel and Gad exited behind me and took flight, quickly disappearing from view somewhere among the crags of the steep walls.

The sun had just sunk behind the cliffs, leaving us in a glow of orange and red. Lucifer kept my hand as we walked across the hard, rough landscape over to the small table. He helped me into my seat, because if nothing else, the devil was always a gentleman. Then he opened a large black container, which he’d carried from the helicopter. A super fancy picnic basket. He quickly set the table with red candles, real plates, and silverware. No paper for this picnic. With a snap of his fingers, he lit the candles with pale blue fire—another of his powers, it seemed—and I tried to hold in my gasp.

Lucifer poured drinks for both of us, and when I was about to protest, he winked and showed me the label. It was a fancy sparkling cider. “Non-alcoholic, of course.”

Warmth filled my chest knowing he’d remembered and respected my wishes, and that he’d set up all of this for me. I took the glass and gazed out at the incredible view, while the cool wind softly teased at my hair.

“What sin is tonight?” We’d done gluttony, greed, wrath, and sloth so far. That only left three more.

“I’m not sure.” He raised his glass in a toast. “Let’s see how the evening goes.”

He opened a basket and set out fancy sandwiches, an impressive cheese plate with tapenade, and artisan chips. I had no doubt everything would taste amazing, because with Lucifer it was nothing but the best.

The light reflected in his eyes, bringing out that flash of flame even more as he bit into a piece of cheese. As I picked up a sandwich, I blurted out one of the many questions always rolling around inside my brain. “Do you really need to eat?”

His eyes danced with amusement. “Of course, all things need sustenance.”

“But you said Lilim feed on lust. Do you need something else too?”

He raised his eyebrows like he was impressed. “A very attentive question. Yes, all supernatural beings must feed on energy of some kind. The fae, for example, feed on nature itself, while angels feed on light. Demons vary in what they feed on depending on their type, but generally speaking, they feed on the emotions of others. And Fallen are the inverse of angels. They need darkness to survive and fuel their powers.”

“Including you?”

He leaned in close and lowered his voice. “I’ll tell you a secret. I can feed on both light and darkness. It’s one of the reasons I’m the most powerful being walking the Earth right now.”

“Wow, cocky much?” I asked, with a sharp laugh.

He settled back and lifted a casual shoulder, giving me one of his devilish grins. “Is it cockiness if it’s the truth?”

I grabbed a fancy chip from the bag. “So there’s no one else as powerful as you?”

“Oh, there are a few. The High King of the fae, for example, but he’s in Faerie and knows better than to set foot here. The Elder Gods certainly, but they’re all banished or sealed away.” His smile widened, showing teeth. “But on Earth? I’m the big bad, darling.”

Well, shit.

I decided right then that when confronted with impossible, terrifying things that were hard to accept and understand, one could either run, or make a joke. I chose the latter.

I raised my glass and grinned. “Tonight must be pride, because you’re certainly full of it.”

He let out a deep laugh that was pure sex. “You’re probably right. Pride is my sin, after all.”





18





Hannah





We continued eating as the sky darkened around us and the candles flickered in the soft breeze. Finally, I worked up the courage to breach the topic hovering in the back of my mind all day. “Tell me about my past lives.”

“Which ones?” He poured us both more cider. “There’s no way we could discuss all of them tonight. I have a better idea. Tell me about your life now.”

“Don’t you have everything about me stored in a little file somewhere?”

“I’d rather hear it from you.” He passed me the cheese plate. “Last night you mentioned your parents died in a car accident. That was five years ago, wasn’t it?”

I swallowed and stared down at my plate, wishing I didn’t have to discuss this, but knowing it had to come up sometime. Better to get it over with. “It was a drunk driver.”

“Ah. Hence the reason you don’t drink.”

I nodded and breathed deeply, trying to force myself to be calm as the emotions welled up inside me. “I was in the car with them, but I was the only one who survived. I lost my memory at the same time. I don’t even remember them.”

He reached across the table and took my hand. “How awful that must be for you.”

My vision blurred, and I blinked back tears. “I wish so much I could remember them but there’s just…nothing. My earliest memory is waking up and my sister telling me what happened.”