Battle With Fire (Demon Days & Vampire Nights)

I almost pointed out that she had been about to swear, but I pulled back. “I know, I’m sorry. Hang tight, though—we still don’t know why he’s here. We might have to kill him yet.”

“Yes, that possibility is never out of the question.” Lucifer laughed and straightened up, smoke curling from his head and his eyebrows wiped clean off his face. “Mighty magic. You have earned your place at my daughter’s side.” He offered her a bow. “I must ask…can all mages do hellfire?”

“No.” I didn’t leave my place, mostly between him and her. “She has a rare gift. If she’s close enough, she can…borrow someone else’s magic, essentially. She can tap into the kind of magic they do and weave it into her spells.”

His brow twitched upward. “Fascinating. And the angelic magic…where did you acquire that? After killing that accursed druid, I hope.”

I answered for her again. “No, she robbed it off a disgusting little Redcap goblin we killed a while back.”

“Oh, fantastic.” He beamed at her. “Horrible little creatures, those. Almost as bad as the wretched angels.”

Callie and Dizzy stood just inside the door, capsules in hand, ready to throw some spells. Darius was off to the side, the wariness I felt through the bond not showing on his perfectly composed face.

I squared off with Lucifer again and met his eyes. “Why are you here?”

He put up his hands. “I was telling the truth a moment ago—I come in peace. Alone. I wanted to speak with you again. See where you live and what you’re doing. That is all. I understand if you don’t want to see me.”

He was the enemy, at least one of them—everyone agreed on that. He was one of the powers I’d have to fight on the battlefield. That I would have to best in order to keep the worlds somewhat balanced. I should send him away, or maybe even try to kill him.

But instead I let out a breath, looked at Callie and Dizzy, and lifted my eyebrows. “Can you fix his hair, and also can he stay for a minute, or should we move this to my house?”

“You cannot be serious,” Penny said on a release of breath.

“Babe,” Emery said softly, trying to subdue her.

She stuck out her arm toward Lucifer. “He trapped her down in the Underworld, planned to kill us, chased us with the intent of kidnapping her again, and we’re supposed to invite him in for tea and crumpets?”

“Let Reagan handle it,” Emery murmured.

“Your loyalty to her is commendable,” Lucifer said to Penny. “And you’re right, of course. I am a deplorable specimen. I’m best watched at all times. I simply cannot be trusted…except when it comes to my blood. Reagan is my daughter, my heir, and I hope to make amends. As much as can be expected, of course, since war is coming. It seems we won’t be on the same side. As for my hair…” He ran a hand over his head and then down his face. Thick, dark hair sprouted and grew, covering his head and forming perfect eyebrows. “Easily remedied.”

Penny’s brow lowered. She cocked her head at him. I doubted she was used to the villain coming right out and saying where he stood. Vampires certainly never did. Apparently shifters didn’t either, that tricky bastard Roger.

Or maybe she was just jealous of Lucifer’s ability to grow his own hair back. What I wouldn’t give for that trick…

“You know what…” I nodded, looking at Darius. “Let’s move this to my house. If things go south, and Penny has to blow it up, it’ll give Darius a reason to make it even bigger.”

“I’d like that,” Lucifer said, and stepped back. “I’d also like to try some of your Brink whiskey. Let’s see what the Underworld failed to live up to.”

“A lot.” Penny crinkled her nose at Lucifer. “A whole lot, that’s what. It’s a mind bender down there, and I don’t mind saying it.”

Unable to help a laugh, I walked toward Darius. “The Underworld broke Penny’s brain.”

“The elves did, actually,” she said. “The painting Cahal drew certainly helped.”

I quickly explained what Cahal had apparently painted.

“Ah. Yes, the state she was in…” Rage and anguish flickered in Lucifer’s eyes. Fire curled into the air around him. “The elves will see retribution for that. But that is for another day. I will meet you at your house, Reagan. I was there earlier in the day, but you’d gone out. The Seer told me to come back later.”

I slowed as I reached Darius, turning back to face my father, but decided I didn’t want to ask questions. The Red Prophet had been hanging around my place, which was fine because she never mentioned her prophecies. I didn’t mind her weirdness—it was growing on me, actually, especially considering how much it irked everyone else—but I could not tolerate her magic. Not anymore. I was a person who held grudges, it turned out. Torture could do that to a person.