Queen of Night (Thorne Hill 6)

“It was the way you looked at me, and I thought…I thought you wanted payment.” A single tear runs down my face. “I thought you’d take something from me that would hurt the most.”

The smirk disappears from Lucifer’s face and he actually looks hurt. “I don’t want anything from you, Callie. Nothing other than this.”

“And what is this?”

“Us…talking. Conversing. It’s lonely down there,” he says sullenly. “You know how deep it cuts when your own family casts you out for being different. That’s all I am, Callie. I’m different. I saw things differently. I wanted humans to know we are superior because we are. And if we kept control over them, maybe the world wouldn’t be the cluster-fuck it is right now. You want torture? Try living as a human on this godforsaken planet.”

“I…I…don’t know what to say,” I admit. “On one hand, I agree because the world is pretty messed up. But on the other…who are you to tell me you’re better than I am?”

“I’m not saying I’m better than you,” he presses. “We are better. You are half archangel. You are superior whether you like it or not.”

“I’ve never felt like I was better than anyone,” I say, and Lucifer looks at me like he knows I’m lying. “Not for being a Nephilim at least.”

“You just found out you’re a Nephilim. And while I’d love to continue this conversation, we have to do it elsewhere and we have to do it now.”

There’s a change in the energy around us and suddenly, I’m terrified.

“Put Scarlet’s collar back on,” Lucifer tells me. “And come with me.”

“Not without Lucas,” I tell him and hold up Scarlet’s collar. She comes over, covering a lot of ground in one giant stride.

“Fine,” Lucifer huffs and waves his hand. Lucas shoots up and races over to me.

“I’m okay,” I rush out. “But we have to go. Other angels sensed me.”

Lucas protectively wraps me in his arms. “You trust him?”

“It’s either that or take your chances,” Lucifer says and looks at his watch. “We really must go.”

“I can feel them,” I tell Lucas. “Other angels. They’re getting close.”

“Then let’s go,” Lucas says, tightening his hold on me.

“My familiars—” I start.

“They’ll be fine,” Lucifer interrupts and picks up Scarlet. “Not out of the ordinary for this town.” He holds out his hand again. “We have to go.”

My eyes meet Lucas’s in question. Staying here is a death sentence, Lucifer was right about that. I’ve set off an alarm I can’t turn off, and the only option is to get the hell out of here. But with Lucifer?

“What choice do we have?” Lucas keeps one arm wrapped tightly around and extends his other hand.

“It’ll be okay,” Lucifer says, and closes his fingers around Lucas’s hand. The world spins around us, and I cling tightly to Lucas, praying we made the right decision.Chapter 21“Where are we?” I ask as soon as my feet hit the pavement. We’re standing in a parking lot, and the smell of cigarettes and smoke hangs heavy in the air. The night is warm, and talking and laughter fill the air, drowned out only by the distant hum of music.

“Dallas,” Lucifer tells us, letting go of Lucas’s hand. It’s the first time Lucas has been transported via angel, and Julian warned me that anyone who doesn’t have angel blood might have a hard time with it. It threw me for a loop the first time Michael transported me from my bedroom to that beautiful beach in Australia.

Lucas’s arm is still around me, and his eyes are wide, but I think it’s more from shock than from feeling physically ill. Vampires don’t feel ill, though now I’m wondering what would happen if I sat one done in an office chair and spun them in circles for an hour.

“You okay?” I ask him in a low voice.

“I’m fine,” he replies. “Are you?” Flashing his fangs, he moves between me and Lucifer—who’s still holding Scarlet.

“Why did you take us here?” Lucas demands, and I never thought anyone could look terrifying while staring down the devil, but, damn, Lucas does.

“Things are bigger in Texas, right?” Lucifer points to the neon sign behind us. “And what a better place to experience that than here!”

“We’re at a strip club?” My eyebrows go up.

“It’s an adult bar, employed by entertainment engineers.” Lucas lets out a snort of laughter. “Whatever you have to tell Dad, right?” He sets Scarlet down and starts walking to the entrance of the strip club. “Come on. We can talk over a drink.”

“I can’t drink,” I grumble, and Lucas loosens his hold on me, taking his hand from my waist and lacing his fingers with mine.

“Oh, right.” Lucifer dramatically sighs. “And this one only drinks blood. Leave it to me to finally leave Hell and end up drinking alone. You sure you can’t have just one?”