“Roth owns it since he didn’t want neighbors,” Cayman explained. “So he bought about a hundred acres surrounding the house.”
I blinked. “Being a demon must pay well.”
“Being a demon prince sure does,” Cayman said. “But in other words, there’s no one around to hear you scream.”
Frowning, I stopped and looked at the phone Zayne held in his palm. “Well, that’s creepy.”
“I know.” Cayman giggled, and that was even more creepy.
Zayne shook his head as he slipped his hand free from mine, and walked a few steps ahead. “Do you know if they’re bringing back an extraspecial friend with them?”
“No idea,” he told us. “Like I said, reception was terrible.”
I folded my arms. “And did you happen to find out anything about Lucifer potentially sending demons after me?”
“Since none of those who’d be in the know have been easy to find, the answer is no,” Cayman said. “And I know, I’m oh so very helpful these days.”
“That you are.” Zayne turned his face as the sound of...running water came through the phone. “What are you doing?”
“Taking a bath.”
“You’re taking a bath right now?” I asked. “While you’re on the phone with us? When Roth and Layla may or may not be showing up with Lucifer?”
“Hey, it’s not often I get some me time,” he countered. “So when I find that time, I seize it. Also, it’s a bubble bath.”
“You’re a mess,” I told him.
“I know—oh, I have a text coming through. Let me check this out.” There were several moments of what sounded like...splashing and then Cayman said, “Captain? On your left.”
Zayne glanced at me. “Did he just quote Falcon from Endgame?”
“Kind of.” Squinting, I looked over Zayne’s shoulder. The world was stuck in those minutes where everything was sort of gray, and it wasn’t the greatest time for my eyeballs, but the space behind Zayne appeared to ripple. “It could just be my eyes, but there might be a portal opening behind you.”
Zayne turned. “Definitely a portal, but I doubt the King of Wakanda is about to show.”
“That would be cool, though,” I murmured.
Red sparked in the rippling air as the scent of sulfur reached us. My grace pulsed in response, and my muscles tensed. A moment later, a series of tingles erupted along the nape of my neck.
The Crown Prince of Hell and the daughter of the Lilith stepped out of the portal.
As always, I was a bit dumbstruck by their contrasting appearances. Roth with his dark, messy hair and penchant for black and Layla with hers long, platinum blond and love of pastel colors, they were a striking contradiction to one another and yet they seemed to fit together perfectly, like day and night.
Roth was inhumanly beautiful, like he’d been molded from clay by a skilled artist, but there was a trace of coldness there that made his beauty almost brutal. His attractiveness was no surprise. Upper Level demons were universally attractive, no matter their gender or the viewer’s sexuality. They were the embodiment of temptation, and Layla was just as gorgeous, but in an ethereal way. She looked more angelic than me, and she didn’t have angel blood in her... Well, except for the Fallen blood she apparently drank.
They stepped forward, hands joined. I wasn’t sure which one saw Zayne first, but they both stopped at the same time. They were too far away for me to make out their expressions, but I was betting shock and awe were etched into their features as they stared at Zayne.
Neither of them moved as I looked for the very scary third arrival, but they were alone as the portal closed behind them. Did that mean they failed?
“Holy shit,” Roth whispered, his attention fixed on Zayne.
Layla stepped forward, her hand falling free of Roth’s. “Zayne?” she whispered, not making it very far. Roth captured her hand, holding her back as he stared at Zayne. “Is that—?” Her voice cracked. “Is that really you? How?” She jerked her head toward me. “Did Grim help you?”
“It wasn’t Grim,” Zayne answered, his voice thicker. “But it’s me, Layla-bug.”
“Layla-bug?” she whispered as I repeated the rather cute nickname in my mind, and then it appeared as if her face crumpled. A knot of emotion swelled in my throat as she pulled against Roth’s hold, reaching for Zayne.
“He doesn’t feel right.” Roth stopped her. “What do you see around him, Layla?”
“I...” White-blond hair swayed as she shook her head. Her gasp reached my ears. “I don’t see anything.”
“You wouldn’t, because I’m not a Warden any longer,” Zayne said, standing still. “Roth knows what I am. Apparently he’s always known what we once were.”
Layla’s head jerked back to Roth and then swung back to Zayne. “Wardens were once angels who Fell, but you’re not an angel. You don’t have an aura—”
“That’s because he’s a goddamn Fallen.” Roth yanked Layla back then as he stepped in front of her. “With his grace.”