32. Lucifer
Chapter 32
Lucifer
World’s worst apprentice:
Alice keeps asking questions.
She thinks there’s something up.
I don’t want to lie to her.
Why?
Kyle, you’re the best at pretending no one else exists.
Just keep doing that.
World’s worst apprentice:
Your neglectfulness aside. Leo’s in.
World’s worst apprentice:
I’ve managed to recruit someone.
Calls himself Danger.
Right prick.
You’ll get on with him perfectly.
World’s worst apprentice:
He wants payment.
Told him to deal with you directly.
L ucifer mentally scolded his knee, which was bouncing beneath the stupidly small cast iron table loudly. He was too tall, making it even more awkward as he changed to stretching his legs out in a way that was clearly inappropriate for the classiness of the bakery if he went by the dramatic tsks of the other tables. Shooting the grey old lady beside him a suggestive wink, he returned to watching the sky for signs of Scarlet.
Why was he so nervous?
It had only been a few days, and he craved the sight of her like a junkie would for his next fix.
Path-et-ic.
He was Lucifer, a somewhat infamous Daemon that had lived more lifetimes than most. Okay, so he wasn’t confident on how long he’s actually graced everyone with his presence. His memory of the last hundred odd years was sketchy at best considering he’d been trapped in the dark, and tortured on a regular basis. And that was if he wasn’t out doing some prick’s bidding like some obedient dog, all because of his summoning name.
Yay to being a Daemon. All gruel and no glamour.
Alice had once called him mentally under-developed, which was fucking rude, even if it was said without vigour since they were arguing over which reality TV show to put on next. She’d wanted the one where the strangers met and married on the same day. He’d wanted the show where all the contestants were put in a single house and fucked.
Rubbing across the sudden pain in his chest, he looked over to find Scarlet descending from the clouds with the sun at her back.
But something was wrong. He could tell from the way she landed that Scar’s usual coldness had returned, but what worried him was the lack of response from her pulse. He could still feel it, the steady beat that had somehow slowed his own down to match. But he couldn’t feel her emotions, as if she’d built an impenetrable force that he was unable to penetrate.
The table screeched when he stood, knee protesting as it hit the fucking iron with an audible thwack. Scar’s expression was closed off when she turned to him, and he barely controlled the sudden anger that spiked at the sight of her skin.
“You want to tell me what happened to your face?” he asked, and Scarlet clenched her jaw in response before taking a blatant step back.
Oh, fuck no.
Lucifer drifted in front, taking in the bruise darkening her cheekbone. Someone had split her lip, the cut already scabbed over.
“Scar…”
“Don’t,” she whispered, her hair falling from her shoulder to reveal shadows along her neck. The anger turned into a black rage, pressure building inside his chest that must have shown on his expression, because she quickly moved her hair back over.
“No, you don’t get to do that.” Reaching out, he hovered over her bruise and she flinched. “Are you okay?”
She stiffened. “They’re fine.”
“I’m not talking about the bruises.” Although, he wanted to know about them in fucking detail. “I’m talking about you .”
Her eyes softened, quickly blinked away before they hardened once more into those icicles he’d worked so hard to melt. “ I’m fine,” she lied.
“Then you can tell me who hurt you. Was it Cassiel?” Scarlet remained silent, and Lucifer dropped his hand to fist it against his side. “Seriously love, what has he got on you that you can’t just walk away? It can’t just be money? If it is, you can have mine.”
“I don’t want money.” Scar licked at her lip, wincing slightly when she hit the cut. “It’s not that simple.”
“Then tell me,” he demanded, slapping his chest with an open palm. “Let me help.”
“Help me by releasing my soul,” she snapped. “Because that’s the only reason I’m here. A toy pushed between two men.”
Nope, not going to happen. Her soul was his.
“Cut this hot and cold bullshit,” he growled, lifting her chin with his fingers so she was to look up at him. “You don’t get to act like this ice princess when you’ve come all over my fucking face.”
Colour flushed her cheeks, which only highlighted the bruises more.
“Or have you forgotten already?” He dropped his voice to a husky whisper. “Because I’m more than happy for a repeat performance. This time I think we should time it, see how quickly I can make you scream.”
Her eyes widened a fraction, flicking to the side to where he was sure they had the entire bakery’s attention. He’d specifically picked a table outside so he could watch the sky, which meant everyone could likely hear their entire conversation.
Good thing he didn’t give a shit.
“If I scream right now, will you stop?” she replied, her voice forcefully calm despite the tension that vibrated the air between them. “I don’t want a repeat performance.”
Lucifer laughed, the sound on the edge of manic. “Try and sound a little more convincing, love.” He gestured to their table, her brows lowering into a frown. “Come on.”
“What are you doing?” she asked, eyes darting across the other customers.
“You wouldn’t come to dinner with me, so I’m settling for breakfast.” He shrugged, pulling out a chair for her. “I’m calling in my win.”
The chairs weren’t designed for wings, so she had to sit a little forward.
Frustrated, Lucifer walked over and picked up a bench from the other side of the street. It was backless, which would allow her to fit more comfortably. He expected her to protest, and when she simply moved to the bench he pulled it closer to him. It screeched an awful sound, and he quickly turned with an apologetic smile to the grey old woman who was still tutting her disappointment. Scar opened her wing automatically to stabilise herself from the sudden jolt, and he quickly pulled her even closer until her wing was a heavy weight against his back.
Her chin tilted in that fucking way that made him want to put her over his knee, despite the blush that still warmed her cheeks.
“So Blaze has suddenly remembered someone else on the list,” he said, unable to take his eyes off her. She looked so fucking graceful, with the wind teasing the golden blonde of her hair. “You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that?”
Scarlet pursed her lips. “No.”
Lucifer smirked. He had no idea how she’d managed to convince the son of a bitch to help, but she had. With Leo and Kyle, that secured three Daemons. Well, three and a half if he was forced to bring Titus into it. His brother may be a Guardian with an unrivalled strength of his own, but he was still a baby when it came to the darker side of his power.
“Weird.” His knee began to bounce once more until he rested his hand against it. “It’s almost as if someone went back and threatened him.”
Scar swallowed, a delicate roll of her throat. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Hmm.” Leaning down, he made their eyes the same level. “Careful going around threatening men with that pretty blade of yours. I might get jealous.”
Her lips parted in reply, but the waitress decided that was the perfect time to arrive. Sitting back, he watched her as the plates were placed in front of them, accompanied by a fresh pot of tea that cost a small fortune. Honestly, what pompous pricks enjoyed tea that cost more than the average steak dinner?
“I made sure they’re already buttered. I know that’s how you prefer it.”
Her eyes flicked up to his. “Croissants?”
“Of course. It’s one of the things you said you liked.” He shrugged, just wanting her to eat the damn things. Reaching down for his, he shoved it into his mouth.
A small smile curved her lips, her eyes brightening as she watched him chew. And chew. And chew, because for some reason he’d decided to shove it in whole like some kind of barbarian.
“How is it?” she asked after what felt like a lifetime of chomping.
Lucifer finally managed to swallow, and he was actually thankful they were covered in butter because otherwise he’d have probably choked. Which wasn’t sexy at all. “Delicious, but not as delicious as you.”
“Lucifer!” she hissed, but he swore he heard a laugh beneath.
Pouring them some sweet smelling tea, he gestured to her plate. Scarlet picked up the croissant and bit into it. She moaned a little, and Lucifer had to clench his muscles to stop leaning over and licking the crumbs from her lips. His cock didn’t get the memo though, because blood rushed from one head to the other. His erection strained, and because the table was so fucking small he accidentally banged his cock against the bottom and almost tipped over the cups. Tea sloshed, and the table wobbled.
“Fucking Fates,” he muttered, trying to dab at the spill with tissue while simultaneously talking his dick down.
If Scar noticed, she didn’t comment as she slowly ate her croissant. “What are we doing here, Lucifer?”
The tea was actually fucking delicious, and as hot as the sun as it scalded his tongue and throat. “I don’t know if you have this concept in Aetherna, but over here we eat food in the mornings, which we call breakfast.” He smiled, but she didn’t seem impressed with his explanation.
Scarlet frowned. “I can take care of myself.”
“I have no doubt, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to take care of you too.”
Scarlet turned away, giving him her profile. “You shouldn’t say things like that.”
He itched to force her to face him, just so he could try and decipher her true mood and not the one she projected. “Why not?”
She reluctantly turned to him, but he was met with impenetrable ice. “Because I’m not worth it.”