Heir of Night (The Thorne Hill)

“How did you two meet?” Julian asks. I lean back and smile, launching into the story.

“This was fun,” I tell Julian, pausing on the back porch. “I’m really glad you got to hang out with me like this.”

“I am too.” Julian smiles again, and I make a promise to myself that we’re doing this again. Divinity seeks divinity, and being around Julian is calming. Aside from that, I really care about him. He’s risked a lot to stand on my father’s side—to stand on my side—and having just one more ally means so much to me.

“I know you’re going to have to leave soon.” I wave my hand over the door, magically unlocking it. “Come back when you can and maybe we can get lunch again.”

His smile widens. “I’d very much like that. Food is good. I understand overindulgence now.”

I laugh. “It’s something that’s quite easy to do.” We both step into the little mudroom that leads into the kitchen. Scarlet bounds over, and I spend a few minutes greeting her and then let her outside. My familiars, bored they didn’t find any demons in Paradise Valley, are out in the woods making sure everything is good here. Scarlet joins them, and if she doesn’t find something to kill, I’m going to have to summon something. That dog was made to kill. Literally. That’s her purpose, and I don’t know how long she can go ignoring her calling before she accidentally hunts and slaughters the cows in the pasture about a mile from here.

“Honey, I’m home!” I call and take off my shoes, grabbing my phone from my purse. Lucas comes into the kitchen from his office, and my heart flutters at the sight of him. He’s dressed casually today, in dark jeans and a black t-shirt. His hair is pushed back, and the stubble that’s slowly growing on his face makes me want to feel it rub against my thighs. Vampires’ hair and nails do grow despite being dead, just at a much slower rate than humans.

“You look happy,” he tells me, taking me in his arms and kissing me passionately, tongue entering my mouth. My heart flutters, and I throw my arms around him, kissing him back and then pulling away since Julian is standing just feet from us.

“Do you want me to leave so you can have sex?” he asks with a straight face.

“Yes,” Lucas replies right away.

“No,” I say, playfully smacking Lucas in the chest. “Stay until you have to leave. Please.” I flatten my hand over Lucas’s pec and smile again. “We had a really nice time. No demons, no danger, no archangels plotting my murder.”

“Good.” Lucas’s arms are still around me. “You needed it.” He kisses the top of my head. “Maryellen sent a note through the fireplace. She wants to know when is a good time for her to stop by and give you a checkup.”

My first reaction at the mention of any sort of medical procedure, no matter how small, is to grimace. Completely human and healthy pregnant women get checkups regularly as they reach the end of their pregnancy, and we really don’t know when I’m actually due anymore.

Which is really fucking terrifying.

“I’ll write her back. Anytime today is fine.” I go into the library to jot down a quick reply. Lucas stacked the books on the desk, leaving them open to the pages Julian had been looking at before we left. I fold up my reply and stick it in the fireplace. Grunting as I stand, I almost miss it.

But then I hear it again, a faint whisper in a language I don’t know, and I whirl around, eyes going to the large windows that face the side yard. It’s only there for a split second, but I’m certain I saw a handsome young man, with dark hair coming down to his shoulders, wearing a black tunic and matching pants. He shimmers out of view as soon as I turn my head, yet for some reason I know exactly who it is.

“Paimon.”

Chapter 31

Check the woods at the side of the house, I mentally tell my familiars. Not blinking, I continue to stare at the spot where the guy had stood, waiting to see movement between the trees.

“Guys,” I call, and Lucas speeds into the room.

“What is it?” he asks, coming to my side and putting his arm around me, thinking I’m having a contraction or am in pain again.

“I thought I saw someone in the woods.”

Julian rushes into the room holding his dagger. “Where in the woods?”

“Straight out that way.” I let out a breath, forcing myself not to panic. “I don’t know what Paimon looks like, but I just got the feeling it was him.”

“Describe him,” Julian tells me.

“Kylo Ren, but demonic,” I say, and Lucas gives me an approving look before getting concerned. Julian has no idea what I’m talking about. “He was younger, like maybe early twenties, with wavy black hair that came right to his shoulders. Good-looking and wearing a black tunic-type shirt.”