44
A MEETING FROM HELL
ENZO
L ucifer marches through my halls and there’s not a damn thing I can do to stop him. He’s refusing to listen to reason and my attempts to hold him back are failing. The Devil’s on a mission and nothing’s going to stand in his way.
He’s going to get what he wants, no matter what—and what he wants is to see Adriana.
She’s sick.
Being in Hell hasn’t been easy for her and she’s found the emotional turmoil difficult. Adriana’s world has turned upside down and almost dying in the Temple of the Damned was the least of it. She’s struggling with the revelation that she’s half- angel and I’ve tried to keep things constant while she processes the change in her identity.
Eva hurt her body and her mind, and healing the body was easy with magic. The mind never heals so quickly, and Adriana needs time to come to terms with her ordeal. She hasn’t slept well and I’m sure she’s reliving her torture in her nightmares. She tosses and turns, sweating and needing to throw the covers off to cool down.
My girl isn’t coping and she works herself up into a state. She’s overcome with waves of revulsion and the nausea that comes with it is overwhelming. Adriana finds herself clinging to a bowl or toilet as she retches and I can’t seem to make this go away.
“I have had enough excuses,” Lucifer screams.
Lesser demons cower and scurry away as I follow him to my quarters. Elgios shrugs and the other Princes of Hell look on with glee, enjoying my suffering. The bastards are finally getting their revenge for my years of favor and not one of them shows me any loyalty.
“She’s sick, Lucifer. She’s struggling with finding out about her father and the torture isn’t helping.”
“You sound pathetic,” he snarls back. “I want to see the Altair you’ve been hiding from me. How long have you been hiding her, Amaymon?”
He stops and turns to me, every inch the vicious ruler of Hell that everyone fears. The step he takes toward me is laced with threat, and there is only one way to deal with him when he’s in this mood. He’s murderous and Hell will pay.
I step toward him, and the high court takes a breath in unison.
I’m not the King, but I am a fucking Prince of Hell and I won’t be spoken to like this. I earned my fucking title and no one’s taking it or the privileges it provides from me. Not even Lucifer. I might serve him, but he’s gone too fucking far and I won’t let him overrule me on this.
Not when it comes to Adriana.
“I did not know she was the Altair, Lucifer. I confess I was drawn to her and I knew she was special. But I truly did not know until she released the light within the Temple of the Damned.”
He scoffs.
“And vanquished the Power of the Damned,” I remind him. “She stopped the rebellion and prevented Mordecai’s return.”
Lucifer growls and his eyes turn into the scarlet of uncontrolled rage lurking beneath his refined exterior.
“Along with Elgios, who held back the army, and myself. We serve you, but she is mine. The deal she made with me is absolute, and you would break the agreementbetween us if you do not grant me my wish.”
The Devil tilts his head and stares at me like he’s contemplating genocide. He probably is, and I’m pushing my fucking luck. But even Lucifer wouldn’t dare to break an unbreakable oath in front of the other Princes of Hell—it would lead to another rebellion and now is not the time to appear weak. He’s vulnerable and if the princes united against him, it would be enough to overthrow him.
“We will see her. Now, Amaymon.”
“She’s sick,” I repeat. “Her appearance isn’t…”
“Material,” Lucifer interrupts. “I don’t give a fuck what the girl looks like. I want to look her in the eye and see what she has to say for herself. I’ve searched for an Altair for generations and now we have one.” His fist clenches as he marches towards the door standing between him and Adriana. “One that you are asking me to spare.”
“Lord, I…”
He ignores me and throws the door open. They slam into the walls and he sweeps through them, arriving in my quarters with all the grandeur that his position affords.
I glance around the large room and Adriana’s nowhere to be found. The sofas and chairs are empty. The bed is made and she isn’t it. My quarters look deserted and my girl’s making a bad situation worse.
“WHERE. IS. SHE?”
The Princes of Hell fan out as they stare at me, enraged, curious, and amused. They’re delighting in this spectacle and relishing watching someone else being the target of Lucifer’s anger.
A small whimper sounds through the room and everyone’s eyes dart to the door on one side.
“Adriana?”
She groans and I brush past Lucifer, heading toward the bathroom. My girl’s having another attack and the sound of her distress is more than I can bear. I’ve savored the cries of thousands of tormented souls, but I cannot stand to hear her cry.
Lucifer follows, and I open the door.
Adriana’s curled up at the edge of the bath, leaning over the top of it and retching into it. She’s wearing a thin top and shorts, cooling her sweaty body on the cold marble beneath her. And she's still wearing the collar—my collar—and Lucifer snarls, well aware that Lilith covets it.
My girl looks ill.
“I said…”
“SHUT. UP.”
Adriana retches again, and her fingers turn white as she grips the rolltop bath. Thin strands of spittle drop from her mouth and her far from glamorous appearance is not in keeping with the way I wanted to present her to Lucifer.
I wanted him to revere her—as I do—and instead he’s looking at her like she’s an object of curiosity. An unappealing one, too.
Maybe it’s better that he isn’t interested in her.
Not that I’d give her up.
But I could do without the fucking headache of competing with him for her affection.
I take a step toward her and he grabs me, stopping me from going any further.
“I’ll take it from here, Amaymon,” he says in a voice that’s cold and calculated.
“Lord, she’s not up to this right now,” I plead. “She’s dealing with a flashback.”
Lucifer’s eyebrow rises and he tsks, ignoring my protests as he leaves me standing between the other princes and Adriana. His head tilts as he walks over and Adriana doesn’t lift her head, staring at the plughole like she wants to disappear down it.
“Lucifer, please…”
“I said shut up, Amaymon. I don’t like repeating myself.” He inches closer. “I suggest you shut the fuck up if you know what’s good for you.” He bends down next to Adriana. “For the girl too.”
Adriana vomits again and the princes behind me snigger.
“Hello, sweetheart,” Lucifer says, running his hand over her hair. My girl’s hair . “Let’s take a look at you.”
He lifts her chin and turns it to face him. Adriana’s eyes lock with his and she meets his gaze, refusing to cower or show any sign of fear. Lucifer tilts his head in the other direction and she follows him. He smirks as if he’s got everything he wanted and he’s about to take it from me, and Adriana smiles back at him.
And then she vomits on him.
Startled gasps and growls of indignation sound behind me and I tense, reaching for my magic and preparing to use my talons on anyone who threatens Adriana. The Princes of Hell are readying themselves to strike in retaliation for the insult she just leveled at Lucifer, and there’s not a chance I’m letting that happen.
“Let’s get you out of here,” he says, surprisingly softly. He turns to face me and waves his hands dismissively. “Pick her up then.”
I race forward and grab Adriana, hauling her into my arms despite her protests that it makes her nausea worse. She groans every step of the way to the sofa and I set her down carefully, trying to do anything I can to help her settle.
Lucifer stares at the scene playing out before him, crossing his arms and shaking his head in annoyance. He waits until it’s apparent that Adriana isn’t settling and clicks his fingers, summoning some tonic that I don’t recognize.
He hands it to me and I stare at it like it’s poison.
“It’ll help,” he sighs, rolling his eyes. “I assure you, all it will do is take the nausea away. It won’t affect anything else.”
I hesitate, and he nudges his head.
“I give you my fucking unbreakable word, sworn on the ninth circle in front of all the Princes of Hell, Amaymon.” His eyes glance at Adriana. “It even tastes nice.”
I’ve never heard Lucifer use the word, and I hand the glass to Adriana. She smells it and sighs. She takes a sip and the sickly green color fades. She swallows more of it and looks better, regaining her composure.
“Now that’s over with,” Lucifer says, moving me out of the way, “let me have a proper look at you. I’ve spent an eternity searching for your kind and the least I think I’m owed is the chance to get to know you.”
Adriana lifts her head defiantly.
I’m so fucking proud.
She’s meeting Lucifer on her own terms and she isn’t backing down. Rage and fury burn in those stunning blue eyes of hers, which I’ve come to realize dazzle because they’re her father’s heritage. They’re potent beacons of ethereal magic and they’re as close to Heaven as I’d ever want to go.
“You care for him?”
Adriana nods.
“Truly?”
Her eyes narrow, like Lucifer’s asking a fucking stupid question.
Lucifer smirks, and his gaze darts between the two of us.
“Well, that is quite something. An Altair and a Prince of Hell. I asked you to bring me one so I could kill it, Amaymon. Not so you could fuck it.”
Adriana and I stiffen and our tempers flare.
“Look at that,” Lucifer says. “They’re perfectly balanced. It shouldn’t happen. You shouldn’t want him, sweetheart, but you do. And he should despise you, but he can’t keep his eyes off you. He’d do anything for you, my dear. Any-fucking-thing.” The grin on Lucifer’s face widens. “It’s quite against his nature, but he’ll even submit to your will. From time to time. When he can. When you need it.”
I growl and Lucifer flicks his fingers again.
“He’s quite devoted. Amaymon was the only prince who remained undefeated, and you’ve conquered him without lifting a finger.”
My wings beat out in irritation, and Lucifer ignores me. Again. It’s getting fucking tiresome, and my reputation will need some restoration after this.
“I don’t know why you lied to me about her, Amaymon.”
Lucifer stands and his eyes darken to match the color of his hair. He watches me as I glance at Adriana, and we exchange confused expressions. I move toward her as he draws back, letting me take the space he occupied.
I’m still trying to figure out what the fuck is going on when he throws his head back and laughs wildly. I glance at Adriana, confused—and she shrugs her shoulders. The other princes look on in bewilderment as Lucifer laughs harder than any of us have seen him laugh in centuries.
“You truly don’t know, do you, Amaymon?”
“Lord, I…”
Lucifer runs his hand over his mouth and stares down at us. He’s so damn smug it’s fucking painful and if he wasn’t the King of Hell, I’d throw a punch to wipe the grin off his goddamn face.
“You’re not sick, darling. And you’re not having flashbacks or panic attacks, or whatever it is he thinks is going on.” Lucifer’s grin widens as his eyes wander down Adriana, stopping at her waist. “There’s another explanation for the girl’s sickness. One I assume she believes isn’t possible.”
My eyes dart to Adriana’s and they widen as I lock onto her.
Fuck .
It shouldn’t be possible, and she isn’t ready. She doesn’t want this. I’m not fucking ready and it hasn’t occurred to me she could be pregnant. Adriana’s a celestial. Not in the traditional sense, but in every way that matters and that means the assurance I gave her wasn’t true.
Fuck .
She deserves to hear the truth from me. Certainly not from a cunt like Lucifer, and I won’t take this moment from her.
“You’re pregnant, baby,” I whisper.
Adriana bites her lip and turns them in, turning her mouth into a thin line. She isn’t reacting and I don’t know if she’s terrified, thrilled, or just too damn numb to feel anything.
“I wondered,” she says back.
I nod and tighten my grip on her hands.
Lucifer takes a step toward us, and my wings splay open, covering Adriana from him.
“I mean no fucking harm, Amaymon,” he sighs, exasperated. “You can stop with the territorial male posturing. She likes you enough to let you knock her up. No one’s going to take her from you now.”
Adriana’s gaze moves to Lucifer and the rage pulses so hot it’s startling. I squeeze her fingers, drawing her attention back to me. This is our moment, and I won’t let a fucking asshole steal it from us. From her. My girl’s had quite enough taken from her and this is more than I’ll allow. Even for Lucifer.
“Shall I let you in on a secret, sweetheart?”
She narrows her eyes as Lucifer basks in his glory.
“He has to be in love with you.”
The room falls silent and Adriana’s gaze falls on me. My obsession with her is all-consuming. It’s as powerful as an ocean, as eternal as the stars that light the night sky. It knows no limits and I cannot control it, even if I wanted to—and I don’t. It’s too damn warm, too undeniably nice. It’s comforting and it’s so damn fierce that it would set the world on fire just to see her smile.
The other princes stare in disbelief and I ignore the fuck out of them, looking only at Adriana. She’s the only thing that matters and if this is love, then I don’t want anything else. Only her. Only this.
She whimpers and squeezes my fingers back, smiling as I silently pledge my eternal devotion.
“Lord, I don’t mean to question you, but demons are incapable of love,” says one of the other fuckers standing behind him.
Lucifer closes his eyes, exhales loudly, and shakes his head. “What is that line that you’re all so fucking keen to quote all the fucking time? The one from that twat. Will whatever the fuck his name was who went around shaking swords or something?” He stares at Adriana, intrigued. “There are more fucking things in Heaven and Hell than are dreamt of in your fucking feeble minds? Sounds about fucking right.”
Adriana snorts and the Devil smiles.
“The girl is yours, Amaymon. I’ll not claim her, and I consider your oath to find the Altair fulfilled. I’ll even let the killing them bit slide.”
Lucifer’s lost his fucking mind if he thinks I’m going to take the risk that he’s just going to let me have Adriana.
“I’ve lost enough rounds that losing one more makes no difference.” Lucifer grins. “I’m content to wait until next time. Besides, this is much more interesting.”
I arch my eyebrow.
“A half-demon, half-angel, Amaymon. You brought me a Nephilim. A creature with more power than either who possesses complete free will. I cannot wait to see what they choose. It will be entertaining. Fascinating. Enthralling even.”
“It’s not a creature,” I snarl, getting to my feet.
Elgios and the other princes take a stuttered breath as Lucifer raises his hand. “My apologies, Amaymon. Your child. Did you wish to know what you’re having?”
“NO. HE. DOESN’T.”
Lucifer laughs and the amusement flashing through his devilishly wicked eyes overflows into the room. “It’ll be fascinating if they’re anything like their mother. I’m sorry to tell you, old friend, but you’ve got your work cut out for you. She’ll put you through more than anything I would.”
The Devil turns and signals to the Princes of Hell that he’s bored with their presence and they should fuck off. They scurry away like the vermin that they are and the doors close, leaving the three of us alone.
“I am truly pleased for you, Amaymon,” Lucifer says, heading toward the door. “You’ve served me well and you—of all the princes—deserve to be happy.”
“Happy, Lucifer?”
He grins as he turns back. “Love is madness, and it makes fools of us all. It is also more than many of us dare to hope for —it is the gift that makes us happy.”
His hand reaches for the door handle.
“She’s given you quite the gifts, Amaymon. Adriana shared her ability to love and let you know happiness. Should I let you in on another secret? One I won’t reveal to those other cunts?”
“Lord…”
“Clearly she hasn’t given you the gift of keeping your fucking mouth shut,” he seethes. His eyes dart between the two of us and amusement lights them again. “Adriana can’t conceive unless you’re in love with her,” he pauses for a moment, “but she must love you in return. Nephilim are born of both love and acceptance —and the pair of you have accepted each other for all that you are. It’s rather beautiful, really.”
The Devil walks through the door and pauses before closing it.
“Amaymon?”
“Yes, Lord?”
I do wish he’d fuck off now. I need my girl, and there’s so fucking much I want to tell her. So fucking much I need her to tell me.
“I expect a wedding, Amaymon. A fucking big one. I love defiling the bridesmaids. Groomsmen too. Make sure they’re pretty, Adriana—and game. I can’t stand it when they put up a fight.”