Dance of Wings (Curse of the Guardians #7)

22. Lucifer

Chapter 22

Lucifer

I t had been an hour, and Lucifer’s grin of amusement was only just sobering. Scar had clutched her carefully constructed mask with a stubbornness that impressed him, but when they’d kissed…

Fuck.

The first brush of her tongue against his was pure carnal pleasure. The velvety intimacy of the act was just a confirmation that she felt their attraction. Not that he would call it a mere attraction. No, it was much more. A weight of tension, pulled so taut it was like she was the calm before the storm, and he was the raging thunder.

But then she’d taken a deliberate step back and pinned him with her usual glare, one that bored a hole straight through his soul. And that only made him want her more.

Lucifer grunted when he felt someone lift his feet off the sofa in which he was peacefully lying, the movement a touch violent if you asked him. Sitting up on his elbows he wrinkled his nose at Jax, who had decidedly taken the seat which had been reserved for his legs.

Jax simply raised a brow, a challenge that Lucifer would usually enjoy taking him up on. Teasing his generally silent best friend was one of his favourite past times, but his gut seemed to be fluttering in a strange way that was far too distracting.

“How did you convince Thea to mate you?” he asked, the question bursting from him like verbal diarrhoea. “And don’t give me all that fated bullshit.”

Jax shook his head, blue eyes narrowing a fraction. “Persistence,” he said, his deep voice a rumble. “Why?”

Lucifer threw himself back down onto the sofa, staring at the ceiling. “I need more than your one-worded answers.” Lifting his legs, he planted them straight onto Jax’s lap, only for the bastard to shove him off the sofa entirely.

“This about that celestrial?”

Lucy kept his face pressed against the plush carpet.

“Thea’s my rainbow girl,” Jax answered. “She was always mine, so I had no choice but to learn what she liked.”

Lifting his head, Lucifer glanced at his brother. “Like what?” Jax smirked, which made Lucifer groan. “If you say your cock, next time you finally sleep I’m going to cut it off.”

“Flowers.”

Rolling onto his back, Lucifer returned to staring at the ceiling. “I don’t know if she likes flowers,” he murmured. Scar liked croissants with butter. Could he make her a flower croissant? Was that a thing?

“Then what does she like?”

Lucy worried his bottom lip, his sharper canines slicing the skin. “Violence? She’s fucking epic with her bow, and she seems to enjoy stabbing me with her knives.”

Jax burst into laughter, which was a rare sound. “I like her already.”

“I’m glad this is amusing to you,” he said dryly, watching how Jax’s shoulders continued to shake. “Some friend you are.”

“We’re not friends.”

“Said just like a best friend.” Lucifer grinned, only turning when he heard the door open.

“Dude, why are you on the floor?” Sythe asked as he waltzed in, followed by Riley, Xander, Axel and Kace.

“Good, you’re here,” Riley said, frowning at Lucifer lying flat on his back. “So, you want to tell me why you took the angel to your meeting with Ilzake?”

Because she’s mine, he thought, but decided against it due to everyone’s judgmentally frosty expressions.

“You need to drop her,” Xander added. “You don’t get to fuck with Cassiel right now. This isn’t some game.”

It was like lightning shot through his spine. Jumping to his feet, he faced Xee. “Scarlet isn’t some game,” he growled. “I know what I’m doing.”

Xander pinned him with his hauntingly pale eyes. “Do you?”

“Ah, there it is. Took you all of, what? A few minutes to show your distrust.” Lucifer laughed, the sound forced. “I’m sorry, did your little fucking pet Daemon do something you didn’t like?”

“Stop being an arsehole,” Xee said dryly. “This has nothing to do with distrust.”

“It has everything to do with distrust.”

“Enough,” Riley warned, his tone a bark that silenced the room before turning to Lucifer. “The celestrial can’t be trusted. Tell me I’m wrong.”

There was a beat of silence, and the fluttering in his guts hardened to rocks, which was arguably worse.

He couldn’t answer, because Riley was right.

“I know I’m not a Guardian,” he began, his voice raw. “But you have to –”

“Of course you’re a Guardian,” Riley interrupted.

“Is that what you think?” Xander said, shaking his head. “Idiot, you’ve been one of us since the beginning.”

“Did you really think we’d put up with your shit if you wasn’t one of us?” Sythe added with a laugh.

Axel leaned against the wall beside him, the sharp edges of his jaw emphasised by the soft lighting. “What? Did you want an official ceremony or some shit?”

Lucifer stilled, pride and another, unnamed emotion jolting through him with a fierceness that stole his breath. “Actually, yes,” he said when he managed to find his voice.

A tug on his shirt, pulling him back down onto the sofa. Jax bumped his shoulder to his, which was as close to a hug from the guy as you were going to get.

“What the fuck have I missed?” Titus asked with a frown as he entered.

“Lucy’s insecure,” Kace said, a small smirk tugging at his lips when Lucy flipped him a finger.

Titus shook his head. “About what?”

“Being one of us,” Xander added.

“We explained it’s tough shit, you can’t get rid of us now,” Sythe said with another unnecessary chuckle. “You’re part of the rejects for life.”

“Are we all finished?” Riley grumbled, but there was amusement there. “Now we’re all here, there’s been some news from the Order.”

Everyone quietened, waiting for him to continue.

“There’s a new Archdruid.”

Picking up the remote, Titus pointed it to the large TV screen on the wall. After a moment of static, their image appeared as a small box in the corner. Lucifer waved, watching a reflection of himself wave back.

“Has that been there this whole time?” he asked, starting to make faces.

“Best behaviour,” Riley said, facing the camera.

The TV screen flickered once more, but this time it revealed a man no older than his mid-twenties sitting at a desk. “Mr Storm,” he croaked, his vocal cords seemingly strained. “I see you’re all here. I appreciate the meeting on such short notice.” Exhaustion carved harsh lines across his face, but what was more concerning was the fresh burns that covered around thirty percent of his exposed skin.

“Where’s Edwards?” Riley asked, and Lucifer glanced at Sythe, who was watching the screen calmly.

“Archdruid Edwards is in critical condition. Until he has recovered, I will be acting as Archdruid. Please, call me Dyer.”

Sythe barely acknowledged the news of his father. Which wasn’t a surprise considering saying their relationship was strained was an understatement. Luce didn’t really understand considering he couldn’t remember his own father, or much of anything before he ascended.

Waving his hand, he drew the man’s attention. “Okay, question, and don’t take this the wrong way but... how old are you?”

“Old enough to understand the consequence of allowing a Daemon to participate in this conversation.” Dyer relaxed back in the chair, but it looked forced. Almost painful. “But times are changing, and many of us aren’t so concerned with draconic rules.”

“What happened?” Riley asked, bringing the conversation back on point. “The last we’d heard, Edwards had escaped the attack.”

“Escaped the attack on the Council,” Dyer said. “But the Abbey was hit last night.”

Everyone stiffened. “Any casualties?”

“We lost sixty men.” Dyer dipped his head, a deep grief sweeping over his expression. “Gideon destroyed the wards, but we were able to regain control once we secured his undead minions.”

“Why didn’t you call us?” Riley asked.

“We didn’t have time.” Dyer sucked in a pained breath. “It happened too fast, and it’s not like the Guardians are on friendly terms with the Order.”

“We would have assisted regardless of our animosity.”

Dyer’s expression was sombre. “I trust your integrity, Mr Storm, which is why I believe it’s time we put aside this feud.”

“Our feud was never with the Order, just those that believed we were some dogs to be commanded,” Riley said, the words somehow sounding civil despite the slight growl.

“I’m not your father, nor am I Edwards.” Dyer looked towards Sythe. “I appreciate that you believe I’m too young to take this position, but I’m the last standing Vector. We’re not sure when Edwards will be able to retake his position, so until then I hope we can create a symbiotic relationship.”

“What do we get out of this?” Xander asked, his tone acerbic.

“Information.” Dyer held himself straighter. “Assistance when needed, and a place here for any children you have now and in the future.”

“Why the fuck would we trust an organisation that tortured us to become their obedient little soldiers with our own children?” Kace growled, the only one of them to have a child, despite Hunter not being biologically his.

Dyer took a moment to sweep his gaze across them all. “The Order was originally created to neutralise threats to keep the world safe. But we were no match for our own ancestors, the druids that chose to ascend and become Daemons. You know the history as much as I do, and how we were slaughtered. If you didn’t exist, the death toll would be too high to count. You were created cruelly, but out of necessity. Now, if you could go back and refuse the training, would you?” Dyer paused for a moment. “There’s nothing I can do, or say that will repair the past. I just hope together we can work amicably enough to defend the world against those that wish to harm it.”

“Daemons, you mean,” Lucifer said, clicking his tongue. “The Order teaches black and white. Good and evil. You believe that everyone who ascended, whether forced or chosen, is evil. You can’t tarnish a whole Breed because of a few bad eggs.”

“Then help me understand the difference so I can help shape the new Order.” Dyer’s gaze was direct. “We all want the same thing, and I need to trust that you’ll take Gideon down while I rebuild the Order from the ground up.”

His statement was met with tense silence, and after a moment Riley nodded. “You called for more than to introduce yourself. What information do you have to share?”

“Since I’ve taken position, I’ve found ten druids from the grove have gone missing in the past six months, and that’s what we know of. I believe Mr Liu Wood has access to the files my team have sent.”

Titus somehow pulled up the ten images, placing them on the screen beside Dyer.

“Missing as in disappeared?” asked Sythe.

“Missing as in packed their stuff and left without informing anyone. One, maybe two isn’t unusual. I’m sure people do that regularly enough, but ten Druids in six months?”

Sythe moved closer to the TV. “Are these members of the Order? Or just citizens?”

“Three were Vectors from the Order, with the rest citizens. It may be why it’s taken us so long to realise. Only two of the seven citizens had even been reported missing from family members.”

“I recognise these two,” Sythe continued, pointing to the images of men no older than twenty.

“They’ve ascended,” Jax answered. “They’re either already dead, or soon will be.”

“That’s what I was afraid of.” Dyer looked off screen, nodding to someone before returning his attention to them. “I hope this information helps in some way, and I welcome you all to meet in person once the Abbey has recovered. You may no longer be part of the Order, but you are all still druid’s. May the Fates bless you.”

The screen turned black, disconnecting the call without any further words.

“Holy shit,” Sythe muttered. “Gideon managed to break into the Abbey.”

“It should have been impossible with the wards,” Riley said, dragging a hand down his face. The Abbey was a sacred site, regularly cleansed and warded to repel Daemons and Unhallowed.

“Not to mention the fucking Whisps.” Lucifer shuddered at the memory of being assaulted by the ghostly security system.

“Lucy’s the only Daemon to ever step foot on the grounds, and that was because Kyra and I led him there,” Xander added.

Titus raised a brow. “I’ve been in the Archdruid’s office.”

“A proper Daemon,” Lucifer said. “One with two wings and can actually drift.”

“Fuck you,” Titus growled, a ghost of a smile curving his lips.

Axel moved away from the wall, his movements agitated. “You think Gideon has someone on the inside?”

“Fuck, let’s hope not. We don’t need someone else fighting for that prick.” Lucifer began to pace, his mind racing. “He’s playing with us. He can wipe us out as easily as he broke into the Abbey, and yet he hasn’t. Why?”

“He doesn’t see us as a threat,” Jax added. “Which we can use to our advantage.”

“So what do you suggest?” Riley asked, holding out his arms.

“We stick to the plan.” Lucy stopped, facing his brothers. “I have to find a Daemon to syphon to. It’s the only way I’ll be able to match Gideon’s power.”

“Can you even hold that much power?” Riley asked. “I saw the fucking news, Luce. I saw the hellfire and damage.”

“Just for the record, I plan to die in an orgy covered in glitter, not to a cunt with a God complex. I’m confident the power won’t kill me because I only plan to hold onto it for long enough to take the bastard down, and not a second longer. So stop acting like I’m actively trying to self-exit.”

“You really have a way with words,” Sythe mused.

Lucifer pointed in his direction. “Out of everyone here, I’m the only one who can hold that much power. Separately we’re not enough. The Guardians need to take out the Unhallowed, Skulls and any other fucking surprises Gideon brings.” Lucifer swallowed, his chest tightening as anger and frustration polluted his blood. “Why are we even arguing about this? You’ve just said I was one of you, so you’re going to have to trust me.”

“Exactly, you’re one of us, which means we’re not going to fucking let you kill yourself.” Riley’s eyes swirled silver, his beast usually the calmest. But instead he matched Lucy’s wrath. “You need an anchor.”

The anger that had begun to call to his corruption paused, releasing some of the pressure across his lungs. “An anchor?”

Riley reached out to clutch his shoulder, the grip strong. “When it’s time. You’re going to push some of the power into me as a reserve.”

“Ri, you’re not able –”

“I can handle it. I spent much of my childhood being force fed power, only to have it removed.” Riley rarely spoke about his childhood, having spent much of the time being trained separately from the others. “I’ve done it with Alice.”

“Alice is a nuclear bomb in a tiny woman’s body. But even War’s not invincible, and neither are you.”

It was Jax who spoke up. “And you are?”

Lucy felt a chuckle vibrate up his throat. “Of course not, but I’m the only one who may stand a chance long enough to bring him down.”

Silence, the tension amongst them palpable. They could argue all they wanted, but everyone knew there was only one choice. Because every day that was delayed was another day Gideon becomes stronger.

Which means they were running out of time, and fast.