“I know,” I say, feeling myself get even more conflicted. Lucas, having lived for so long, has a rather interesting and very different view on institutionalized religion and government. I suppose when you’ve lived for that long you see the bad in the good and the good in the bad.
“Let’s go get something to eat.” I pull the other ribbons out of the book, leaving only this one marking Bael’s page, and close the book. “I’m hungry, and I do my best murder plotting with an overpriced margarita.”
“All right, my love.” Lucas takes my hand, and we go outside. I seal the house with an extra protection spell, and we get into the Jeep to go into town.
The vampire crew is at the house tonight, working until three or four AM before leaving to make it home before sunrise. Lucas has gone over and spoken to them, but I’ve stayed away, doing my best to keep my identity as a witch hidden.
I text Evander and Kristy, letting them know I identified the demon. There’s no cell service in the Covenstead, but I wouldn’t be surprised if either of them stepped out to check for messages.
“Is there a way to know if the door to Hell has been opened?” Lucas asks as he parallel parks along the main street in downtown Thorne Hill.
“Like a specific spell?” I unbuckle. “If there is, I don’t know it. Though going off the last time the door opened when the demon came out looking for me, it made the Ley line all wonky.” I get out of the Jeep and move to the curb. I close my eyes and hold out my hands. “It feels normal to me.”
“Good.” Lucas takes my hand again. He’s acting cool and calm as always, but I know him well enough now to know he’s on edge, looking around for anything that might be a threat to me.
Thorne Hill is a small town, and while a lot of its population is made up of witches and warlocks, we have a lot of nons here, too. I’ve always kept to myself, but co-owning the only bookstore in town has allowed me to get to know a lot of the people in town…and let them recognize me.
I say hi to a few people on our way into the restaurant, and the waiter who seats us is the same guy who served me chips and salsa when I was here with Lucas and Julian. The guy smiles and nods, not remembering anything thanks to Julian’s little mind trick.
“If he only knew,” I say under my breath, and Lucas laughs. I order a large strawberry margarita and put extra salt on the chips. Sliding the bowl in front of me, I dip a chip in the salsa.
“So Bael—who I’m just going to call B from now on—is a high level demon. Years ago, he was trapped in a magical vessel and thrown into Hell. Powerful demons have the ability to go back and forth, as we know from my little friend who tied me to a tree and tried to burn me to death.”
“That demon,” Lucas starts, leaning forward. “He was looking for you because rumors were circulating Hell about the nephilim being alive after all.”
I take a bite of the chip but suddenly lose my appetite. “You think B is looking for me, too.”
“It makes sense,” Lucas says ruefully. “You said it was like he wasn’t there. Like he was watching. Testing you.”
I throw my head back dramatically. “Motherfucking demons.”
The waiter stops short, just a few feet from our table. I force a smile, knowing I’m going to have to ask Lucas to alter this kid’s memory—again—before we leave.
“Hi, I’m ready to order,” I blurt, cutting to the chase. “I’ll have combination number eleven tonight.”
“Nothing for me,” Lucas says when the waiter looks at him. The boy just nods and quickly walks away. “I get the feeling he doesn’t like vampires.”
“He’d probably like witches even less.” I eat another chip and take a sip of my margarita, needing to let the tequila dull my senses before diving back into the subject that another demon is looking for me.
Because if the rumors are circulating Hell…they’re bound to circulate Heaven, too.Chapter 25“Hey, guys,” I say, stumbling a bit when I get into the house. Why did I think heels were a good idea again? Or more so, why did I think ordering that second margarita was a good idea?
Oh yeah, because along with a pissed-off, out-for-revenge, crazy necromancer, I have a demon after me as well. And they might be working together. Scarlet jumps up and down at my feet, and I turn, bumping into Lucas, who has to catch me to keep me from falling.
“I think she needs out,” I say, and he keeps a tight hold on me as we go onto the porch, letting my hellhound run around the yard. Lucas wraps his arms around me, and I tip my head up, looking into his blue eyes. “I love you,” I whisper, letting my eyes fall shut as he kisses me. Warmth floods my veins, and desire washes over me. I am so fucking thankful to have Lucas in my life.