Battle With Fire (Demon Days & Vampire Nights)

“Turns out I’m not adjusting so well to being tortured,” I said, wiping my hair away from my face.

“I would like to make a joke about that, but I’m not adjusting so well to you being tortured, either.”

“Not as well as you adjusted to Cahal being tortured?”

“You will never let that go, it seems,” he replied. “I will say, however, that he was in a day spa compared to what you endured. I’ve never seen that druid so pale as when I saw him looking down on you in that dungeon.”

“That’s really no excuse for letting your son torture someone.”

“Even the druid? I have a very hard time feeling bad about him, you must realize. The angels took pity on him—surely we’re even?”

I frowned at him, and he laughed.

“Where is he, by the way?” he asked.

I shrugged. “He took off.”

“Of course he did,” Lucifer said darkly. “And just so we’re clear, I fully expect that druid to attempt to kill me, like he tried to kill my last heir.”

I lifted my eyebrows.

His smile was cold. “Didn’t tell you that part of the story, did he? Hmm. I’ll save it for him. You’re a good enough judge of character to tell if he’s lying.” He cocked his head. “You mentioned hiding your magic earlier. You have the magic of the Underworld—why would you hide it?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because I knew you’d show up, drag me down into the Underworld, and try to trap me there…”

“Yes, that’s a pretty obvious answer. I would’ve had a much better time at keeping you down there when you were younger, though. I call that a missed opportunity. Now I have to go about it with decency. So much more hassle.”

I had to smile at that. “Way more hassle, yes. Maybe a better outcome, though.”

“Let’s hope.” He glanced at the kitchen again. “Now, should we go back in to your friends, or let them eavesdrop a little longer?”

I rose, and we re-entered the kitchen together. Darius pulled the chair out for me.

Lucifer sat and threaded his hands together on the table. “Darius, tell me more about your relationship with Vlad. I have been instructed to turn him over to you if Reagan asks. It seems there are some skeletons in his closet regarding you.”

Normal people would’ve gone unnaturally still at that word bomb, but Darius didn’t seem at all affected as he lowered into his seat. “Who has mentioned this to you?”

“That nutty fae with the red hair. We have secret dealings—I can’t tell you what they are.”

I shook my head. “Don’t listen to her. You might end up in a pickle.”

“Like you did?”

“Exactly like I did, yes.”

“I do not like their brand of magic. I can agree with you on that.” Lucifer looked around the table. “I might try the wine. I remember liking that brand of alcohol.”

Emery turned from leaning against the counter to grab a glass.

“Given you are the mate of my daughter,” Lucifer said to Darius, “I would advise you to find a way into Vlad’s closet. It doesn’t seem as though you will like whatever you find. I assume it’s no secret that I am using him for his forces—I’d like this matter resolved before long or it will interfere with my killing all the elves. Please note that I will use his forces regardless. Taking him won’t change that, not now. If he isn’t leading them, one of the others will. That’s the joy of creatures that are not at all sentimental.”

“So then…it’s all about you?” Penny said.

Lucifer grinned at her. “Of course. Did you expect the master of the Underworld to be altruistic?”

Penny frowned. I laughed at her confusion. Lucifer’s irreverence had a way of disorienting a person.

“Noted,” Darius said, and rolled the brown liquid around his snifter, his tell for when he was thinking.

“So, tell me.” Lucifer glanced around. “What did you really think of the Underworld? Pros and cons. I’m looking to make some improvements.”

It was amazing, watching Lucifer thaw the room and make everyone comfortable with his presence. Even Penny warmed up, shedding some of that rage she’d carried around like her magical cloud ever since leaving the Underworld. When he left a couple hours later, everyone was speaking like old friends. Emery hadn’t ventured any closer, but he was chuckling regularly and had even smiled a time or two. Callie huffed a good bit, of course, but I could tell her heart was no longer in it.

When it came time to leave, Lucifer gave me a hug, which somehow wasn’t awkward, and told me he’d see me on the battlefield, if not before. He also said he hoped to see me in the Underworld when I was ready.

“It is incredibly hard to hate that man,” Penny groused after he’d gone. “He was going to kill me. He was headed to the jail cell I was being held in to kill my fiancé and me, and now I kinda like him. What kind of magic is that? You’re not that cool, Reagan. I have to say it—you’re simply not that cool. I don’t trust him.”