Embrace The Dark (Her Elemental Dragons Book 5)(39)

I went inside and put back on the sparkling black gown and uncomfortable heels from the ball, leaving Jo’s clothes behind. Then I shoved my phone back in my tiny little purse and checked my cash. I had plenty to cover gas money and a pair of flip-flops, because no way was I driving for hours in these freaking heels.

I stepped out into the hallway and glanced around, but didn’t see or hear Jophiel anywhere. I considered finding her and explaining that I had to go, but I honestly wasn’t sure she’d let me leave. She’d try anything to make me stay. Anything to prevent me from returning to Vegas—to Lucifer.

But fuck that. This was my life, and I was taking control of it.

Yesterday Jophiel had given me a brief tour of her gigantic mansion, including her four-car garage, and that’s where I was headed now. Once there, I found a panel by the door that had a row of key fobs, which no doubt unlocked one of the ridiculously expensive cars before me. I took a moment to eye up the cars—a burgundy Porsche SUV, a black classic Rolls Royce, a yellow Lamborghini, and a silver Audi—and then grabbed a pair of keys. I rushed over to the Lamborghini, because when you’re stealing a car from your angelic ‘sister’, you might as well go big.

When I got on the street, I found the button to put the top down and cranked the radio. My hair blew out behind me, immediately getting tangled up, and I kicked off the heels and tossed them to the passenger seat.

Vegas, I was coming for you. Consequences be damned.





29





Lucifer





After my encounter with Jophiel, I returned to Vegas, keeping my word to give Hannah some space even though it tore me apart to do so. Besides, my people still needed a king, and Samael said he wished to speak with me. I had some questions for him too.

The sun had barely risen by the time I arrived in his office. He was on his computer, completely absorbed in whatever he was looking at, but he glanced up sharply as I entered.

“Did you find Hannah?” he asked.

“Yes, she was taken by Jophiel.” I slammed my hands down on his desk, making him jump. “The Archangel gave me back my memories. Turns out, my mate was once an angel, and we were together before the Earth Accords were signed, when our relationship was forbidden. No one knew about us, except Jophiel…and my most trusted advisor.”

Samael’s chair squeaked as he rolled back and looked at me in alarm. “Lucifer, I can explain—”

I clenched my teeth. “You kept this a secret for years. Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I thought the pain would be too intense. I thought it might be better if you didn’t know. Less agonizing. For both you and Hannah.” The look on his face, the twist to his mouth, said he was tortured by the decision, but that only made me angrier.

“Keeping those secrets was not your decision to make.” I kept the desk between us, or I would've been too tempted to grab his throat like I’d done with Jophiel. “Did you set up Brandy’s kidnapping to bring Hannah back to me? Are you behind the attacks on my mate’s life?”

He held his hands up in supplication. “Of course not. I wanted to keep Hannah away from you, not bring you together. I assumed Jophiel had her hidden somewhere, but that suited my ends. It kept you both safe and alive.”

“Not safe enough. Someone found her and brought her here.” I fixed him with a glare as I asked questions I’d never wanted to voice. “Have you ever thought about taking my place? Or becoming the leader of the Fallen?”

He drew his shoulders back. “I’m offended you would even ask me such a thing. I’ve been your closest friend for thousands of years and have always served you well. You’re questioning my loyalty when I’ve never given you any reason to do so.”

“You’re the only other person who knew about Hannah’s life as an angel. What was I supposed to think?”

“There is someone else who knew. Adam.” Samael returned to his desk and took a seat. “That’s why I asked you to meet me, actually. At the ball, Gadreel told me he’d tracked down a human who might be Adam.”

“Where?”

“He didn’t say.”

I took the chair across from Samael and stroked the rough stubble on my chin as I considered this news, my gut telling me something wasn’t right. I scoured my memories, including the ones Jophiel had just returned to me.

When Eve had been reborn as an angel, I’d believed only Samael knew about our relationship, but maybe I was wrong. Maybe someone else knew too. I’d never found Adam in that life—normally I tracked him down and killed him as retribution for what he’d done to my mate, but Jophiel intervened first and took my memories. I never even knew what he looked like. Could he still be alive?

In every life, Adam was reincarnated as a pair with Eve. If she was born human, so was he. Except when she was Lenore. The one who’d killed her was an angel, according to Gadreel. When I’d found them, there’d been a dead angel beside her, his sword covered in her blood, and I’d simply assumed that the curse didn’t differentiate between an angel and a Fallen.

But what if it did?

Now someone had lured Hannah to Las Vegas, for the sake of bringing her back to me. Why? Just to take her away again, knowing it would hurt me more now that we’d found each other. But how?

My mind followed the trail of clues. Asmodeus said he’d received a text from Samael ordering him to seduce her, but Samael claimed he’d never sent it. It had to be someone close to us, someone who knew too much, who had access to everything.

Someone like Samael’s assistant.

Someone who spent too much time chasing both Lenore and Lilith.

Gadreel.

Could it be? Could Gadreel be Adam? Had he somehow defied the curse and stayed alive when Eve was reincarnated again and again?

I leaned forward, anger simmering under my skin. “Where is Gadreel now?”

Samael’s mouth tightened. “I haven’t seen him since the ball.”

Darkness swirled around me. My fury couldn’t be contained, and with it came fear for Hannah’s life. She was in more danger than I’d realized. “Find him, and bring him to me. Now.”





30





Hannah





The drive from San Francisco to Las Vegas took way longer than I expected, and even with only a few quick stops, it took me the entire day to get there. By the time I rushed up to Lucifer’s penthouse, night had fallen and The Celestial was waking up. Vegas truly was a perfect city for demons, where most of the action happened after dark.

I found Lucifer in his library sitting behind his desk, a glass of whiskey beside him and an ancient-looking tome in his hands. He rose to his feet as soon as he saw me, and my heart skipped a beat as our eyes met and I was hit with the full force of his magnetic presence. Then he quickly crossed the room in a few long strides and swept me into his strong arms. Before I knew what was happening, his mouth came down on mine and he kissed me hard, as if he hadn’t seen me in years, while his fingers tangled in my hair like he was never going to let me go. My hands gripped his soft white shirt while his tongue swept against mine and I wondered how I ever thought I could live without this man.

My mate.

“You came back to me.” He pulled back just enough to study my face. “You had us all worried.”

I was still dazed from his kiss and it took a second for his words to register. “Worried?”

“Jophiel texted me when you drove off with her car. Nice choice, by the way.” His lips quirked up in amusement as his thumb idly stroked my cheek. “Both of our people have been looking for you ever since. You shouldn’t have driven all that way without anyone protecting you.”

I shook my head. “Lucifer, I can’t live in fear all the time. I may be cursed to die, but I’m ready to accept my life by your side. For however long we have.”

“Even though I’m a villain? A monster? The root of all evil?” His eyes gleamed red as he spoke, as if he were challenging me to run away again.

I reached up to stroke his eyebrows and the dark stubble on his jaw while I gazed at him, accepting him completely, red eyes and all. “I don’t care how the world sees you. You’re not evil. Not to me.”

He gripped my arms tightly. “Only because of you. Your light keeps me from turning completely to darkness. I would be lost without you.”

I trailed my fingers down his neck. “I’m here. I’m yours.”

He closed his eyes and inhaled sharply. “Say it again.”

Sliding a hand behind his neck, I drew his face down to mine and brushed my lips across his. “I’m yours.”

“Yes, you are.” He yanked me against him and turned my soft kiss into something much more, something that made red hot desire race across my skin. “Across the vastness of time, you’re the one thing that stays mine.”

My heart beat faster with his words and his touch, my need for him becoming overwhelming. I quickly unbuttoned the top of his shirt, while his hands skimmed down my black, sparkling gown. The gown I’d worn to the ball as his guest. As his queen.

“You’re still wearing this dress.” He unclasped the attached sheer cloak, and it billowed to the floor. “I love seeing it on you.”

I smoothed my hand down the front of it. “It’s probably ruined now.”