His eyes darkened for a moment, and he waved the thought away. “It’s nothing. There is a problem with a couple of the sects—a highly political sect, and a more dormant one built on violence. Some of the members are…breaking the rules. Flouting my law, as it were. I’ll need to make a public display. It is the dirtier part of running a kingdom. We’ll conquer that, in time. You are too new here to be involved in something like this. We must wait until you are more established, with a better grasp on how things work.”
“Yeah, no problem. I didn’t think you’d want me to come.”
He paused in sipping his “wine” and dropped the glass a little. “I want to involve you in all facets of this kingdom. You will have a fresh take on our operations. New ideas. I am eager to hear about them. Archion has spoken at length with Tatsu about his conversations with you. About the things you say as you fly over the lands. They are both intrigued to see what you can dream up. I am, too. It will be nice to finally share the burden of leadership. It’s a lonely role, without family. Without visitors.”
“If we can beat the elves back a little, maybe we can open things up a bit. Not be so closed off…”
He did take a sip then and set the glass down as the soup arrived. “Yes. We will need to make a plan for the elves. I had hoped to bring in some vampire help, but…it seems we weren’t on the same page, he and I. I will rectify that misunderstanding soon. I believe I have found the vampire in question.”
“Vlad, you mean? Is he the reason you closed everything down?”
To his credit, Lucifer hardly skipped a beat as he reached for his spoon. If I hadn’t been watching for it, I wouldn’t have noticed his surprise. Servants talked. All one had to do is hang around the hallways in one of those invisible spots and listen in. All was fair in tomfoolery and shenanigans, after all.
“Yes. He snuck in. We’re not sure how. I had expected him to report to the castle, but he has not.”
I tried my own soup, reached for the not-quite bread, and dipped it. I filled my mouth and talked around it, much less guarded without Cahal here, watching everything I did. “He’s cunning. He’ll be your best ally so long as you have what he needs. And you do. He’s probably just…” I shrugged and swallowed.
“Finish your thought.” An edge had crept into his voice.
I grabbed my wine and leaned back. “I’m guessing.”
“We’re all guessing at this point.”
“He’s probably creating a network for after we handle the elves. Vampires think of the long game, always, and he’s more cunning than the others.”
“He should know better than to keep me waiting.”
“Agreed,” I said. “He and I…don’t see eye to eye, so much. I’ve threatened him a few times. Nearly followed through the last time, but I was stopped.”
“By?”
“Darius.”
“Ah.” He spooned soup into his mouth.
“I have been wondering where Darius might be. I thought he’d try to save me.”
Lucifer ate a bit more before dabbing his mouth. “He had ample opportunity to get in before I closed everything down. If he was in a hurry, that is.”
“I guess he wasn’t.”
Lucifer watched me for a beat. “Does it pain you, his absence?”
I ticked my eyebrows up. “That’s the first time you’ve asked.”
“I’ve been afraid of the answer.”
I pushed my soup away, no longer hungry. Guilt gnawed at my gut. “I was going to marry him. Maybe try for children.”
“Marry a vampire?”
“I brought out his humanity. We’re not sure why.”
“He is a vampire—maybe he was giving you what you wanted to see…”
“Oops. You must be tired. That little dig wasn’t very subtle.”
Anger flashed in his eyes, and he blinked, leaning forward for the wine. “Yes. You’ve caught me. It would be easier for me if he wasn’t in the picture. If he wouldn’t barge into the picture, I suppose, given he hasn’t tried to assert himself thus far. And yes, that’s another dig, I suppose. Please, forgive me.”
I allowed a smile and waved it away, leaning my head back and downing my drink. “I’m not going to lie. I miss him. I’ve been trying not to think about him. Eventually, though, I’ll need to make some hard decisions.”
“Eventually, but not today.”
“I don’t really want to talk about it, but no, not today. I’m not ready to make decisions. There’s too much going on, what with Archion and practicing my magic and getting a handle on the castle and the kingdom…from the air, anyway.”
“Would it help to visit a lust sect for a few days—maybe sex him away?”
I widened my eyes and then coughed out laughter. “Dude, you’re biologically my dad. You can’t say stuff like that. It’s weird.”