Chapter 26
Motley crew
“How did you come to meet Andras?” Lucifer asked.
Drew chewed on his lip. How much did he tell?
How much did Lucifer already know? If he’d been keeping tabs on Zach while he was here, he’d surely be aware they’d been in a relationship, wouldn’t he?
But if he was as infatuated with Andras as Orias made it appear, Drew didn’t want to poke the bear by bringing it up.
Would he fly into a jealous rage and crush Drew with his power to exact revenge?
Or would he drag Drew to a dank cell with sharp implements and a drain in the floor for his blood to trickle down?
“What is it?” Lucifer asked, curious. “Your heart rate just jumped.” His brow quirked. “Is that fear I smell?”
“Um, maybe?”
“And what are you so scared of, Drew Phillips?” Lucifer asked, the musical lilt to his voice making it sound like an innocent question, but Drew knew he was on dangerous ground.
After a long moment, where Drew was unable to speak, the prince tried again.
“If this entire incident is to be resolved, you need to be honest with me, Drew.”
As promising as that sounded, Drew was still worried that it was a trap and he’d be thrown into a dungeon forever.
“Come. You can tell me,” Lucifer said. It was gentle, but there was also a hint of demand in it.
Drew squeezed his eyes shut and blurted, “I don’t want to be tortured!”
There was a long pause. Drew eventually cracked an eye open and found Lucifer looking offended. “What, pray tell, have I done so far to make you think you’re going to be tortured?”
“Um, besides throwing us in a cell?” Drew asked.
Lucifer dismissed that with a wave of his hand. “That’s hardly a severe punishment. The cell is one of our more comfortable ones.”
“Okay, well, how about the fact that you’re Lucifer,” Drew said. “You’re literally the Prince of Evil!”
“Nooo,” Lucifer said slowly. “I’m the Prince of Hell. Hell isn’t evil.”
Drew scoffed. “So why do evil people get sent here in the afterlife, then?”
“To be punished.”
“Everyone knows demons are evil.”
Lucifer sighed, then steepled his hands together and regarded Drew seriously. “I fear your concept of Hell is based on a misconception, perpetrated by religious fanatics on Earth who are more interested in being in a position of power whilst alive than the eternal souls of those who believe.”
“Are you saying only people who believe in Hell get sent to Hell?”
“Naturally. There are other realms for other beliefs. This one is simply one of the more well-known ones. If human magic users hadn’t stumbled upon a way to summon demons all those years ago, we’d probably be one of the lesser-known realms. But they did, and our exposure to magic and the need to blend in during summonings caused us to grow stronger.
We are intrinsically linked to Earth due to this.
But punishing those who do evil does not make us evil in turn. ”
Drew found this hard to swallow. There was no way Beelzebub or Asmodeus weren’t evil. “I’ve met a few demons now, and some of them seemed to take great joy in what they did.”
Lucifer huffed. “That’s because we’re individuals.
Not all humans are the same, and not all demons are the same.
Some humans are evil, some demons are evil, just as some are good.
We have a job to do, and we do it well, just as angels have a job to do.
Trust me when I say some angels are absolute bastards.
Being an angel doesn’t make you inherently good.
” Lucifer raised an eyebrow at him. “Oberon, for example.”
It was a lot to take in. As Drew gave it the consideration it was due, there was a knock at the door.
Orias came in and crossed to Lucifer, bending down to murmur in his ear.
Lucifer listened intently, then turned his head to whisper something back to Orias.
His lips were very close to the Shadow Blade’s ear, and a pink blushed spread over Orias’ cheeks.
He maintained a professional composure as he continued the low conversation, and Drew tried not to stare at the hint of longing in his eyes.
Eventually, Lucifer nodded, and Orias stepped back. Turning to Drew, Lucifer said, “Some guests have arrived and requested an audience with me. I believe you may find it interesting.”
It may have been phrased like a suggestion, but Drew was under no illusion that it was a request. It was a command to go with him. He nodded. “Okay.”
Lucifer stood from his armchair and walked around the desk.
As Drew also stood up, he was reminded again just how tiny Lucifer was.
He barely came up to Orias’s shoulders, even with his heeled boots.
It was a little jarring, as his authority was so absolute that Drew felt overshadowed by him.
It was an odd juxtaposition to therefore have to look down at him when they were standing side by side.
Following Lucifer and Orias from the study, Drew spared a thought for Andras.
He hoped he was doing okay, alone in their cell.
At least Leila was with him. If he was away much longer, though, Drew was pretty sure Andras was going to start to worry.
He’d deny it, of course, but that didn’t make it less true.
They left the hall and entered a small antechamber, and Drew could hear the murmur of voices from beyond the door.
Orias opened a closet door and took out a blood-red cape and draped it over his master’s shoulders.
Lucifer gave him a smile of thanks, and Drew grinned at the bashful nod Orias gave him in return.
Then Orias turned and caught Drew’s grin, and a scowl replaced the expression.
“Could you please announce me, Orias?” Lucifer asked.
“Of course, My Lord,” Orias said, and he went through a small door into the chamber beyond. “Rise and attend to the Son of the Dawn, Ruler of the Kingdom of Air, Master of Serpents, and the Prince of Hell—Lucifer Morningstar.”
Lucifer grinned at Drew over his shoulder. “Showtime,” he said. “Give it a minute, then follow me in.” Then he walked through the door.
Drew hovered in the doorway, listening. He expected Lucifer to welcome his guests or just ask immediately what they wanted. Instead, he said, “Is that an urco?”
Drew’s heart began pounding, and he darted through the doorway and into the room. There were four people and an urco standing at the foot of a dais beyond the door, and Drew’s heart skipped a beat as he recognized the tall, dark-haired man on the end. “Zach!” he cried.
“Drew!” Zach echoed, and then they were running towards one another, arms outstretched.
Before they even got close to one another, Drew was tackled to the ground by the urco.
He hit the floor painfully, then felt his breath whoosh from his lungs as the full weight of the hound settled on him.
The urco was wriggling happily, licking each part of Drew he could reach, all the while squashing him flat.
“Orias, no,” he heard Lucifer say, and Drew managed to turn his head enough to see Orias with a sword drawn, pointing at the urco. “It’s no threat.”
A wet tongue slipped into his mouth, and Drew cried out in disgust, turning his head and trying to wipe his mouth. “Princess, that’s gross,” he chided.
The urco didn’t seem to care, too happy being reunited with Drew to be calm and sedate. Drew rubbed his sides and then tried to push him off, but Princess was too heavy.
“Little help,” he said, looking up to see Zach hovering over them, a grin on his face.
“You look pretty comfy there,” Zach teased. “I wouldn’t want to ruin this romantic moment between you and—did you call him Princess?”
“If you don’t want to kiss me, then I’m happy to replace you with Princess,” Drew told him archly.
Zach laughed, then heaved Princess off Drew. “My turn,” he told the urco, and then he was pulling Drew up off the floor and into a fierce hug.
The feeling of Zach’s powerful arms enveloping him was such a welcome relief after all that had happened. Drew clung to him, his face buried against Zach’s chest, just breathing him in. Then he sneezed because Zach’s clothes were dusty.
Zach laughed and pulled away to look down at him. His hand cupped Drew’s cheek, and his thumb traced over his split lip, and his other hand reached up to brush gently over the lump on his forehead. “What have you done to yourself?” he asked.
“It’s nothing serious. I’m fine,” Drew assured him.
“Fuck, I missed you.” He pushed up and crushed their lips together, kissing Zach needily.
Zach was just as eager, immediately deepening the kiss and sliding his tongue against Drew’s, not even caring that the urco had recently licked it.
Suddenly, everything felt like it was going to be alright.
They were together again, and whatever they faced, they’d face together.
“Now that we’ve had a show, perhaps we should get down to business?” Lucifer said, breaking into the bubble Drew and Zach had drawn around themselves.
Reluctantly breaking apart, Drew slipped his hand into Zach’s, and they crossed back to join everyone else. He was shocked to see Kensington was also here, as well as two other people he didn’t know.
“Causing trouble as usual, I see,” Kensington drawled, but pulled Drew into a crushing hug. “Don’t you ever scare me like that again,” he whispered.
Drew hugged him back, so grateful to see him. “What are you all doing here?” he asked.
“Yes, that’s what I’d like to know as well,” Lucifer announced.
He climbed the three steps to the top of the dais and sat on the throne in the centre.
It was carved from the same cream stone as the walls, but it had been polished until it shone like marble.
Runes and other patterns circled the legs and ran up the side.
There was a plump cushion, and the back was also padded, upholstered in the same crimson fabric as the armchair in his study.
“Why don’t we start with introductions?”
Again, it wasn’t a request.
Kensington stepped forward and bowed his head in deference. “I am Grand Master Bartholemew Kensington of the Nightingale Collective, My Lord.” He gestured at the others. “Alastair Cavendish and Marcus Tremblay are my colleagues, and this is—”
“Zachariel,” Lucifer interrupted. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance after all these years.”
Zach stiffened a little and pulled Drew closer to his side. “Lucifer.”
Orias glared at Zach. “Your insolence will not be tolerated here.”
Zach looked at Lucifer, who raised a brow and waited. He was clearly amused. Finally, Zach gave in and bit out, “My Lord.”
“Such a motley crew,” Lucifer said as he looked down at the group, eyes lingering on Princess. “What brings you before me today?”
“We came to assist my protégé in returning to our realm,” Kensington explained. “We respectfully ask that you allow us to collect Mr. Phillips and grant us safe passage back to Earth.”
“And is that all?” he asked. He waved a hand at them all. “The collective power between you all could be seen by some as a hostile act.”
“We have no ill intent towards you or your realm, My Lord,” Kensington assured him. “The only reason we came here was to retrieve Mr. Phillips. The power between us was necessary to ensure we could create a portal back, that is all. This is not an act of aggression towards you or your kin.”
“You’re saying that if I allow you to leave with Drew Phillips, that will be the end of it? You’ll return to Earth, demanding nothing more from me?”
Zach made a small sound of protest, but Kensington shot him a warning look. “That is correct.”
“I see,” Lucifer mused, eyes lingering on Drew and Zach. “I believe I can find it within my heart to allow Drew Phillips to leave with you. I have enjoyed speaking with him, and I won’t even demand anything from you in return.” His lips twitched. “After all, I’m not evil.”
“And his familiar?” Kensington added. “You’ll allow Leila to accompany us?”
Lucifer raised a brow. “It amuses me you think I have the power to keep a familiar separated from its magic user.”
“I only wish to avoid miscommunications, so I want to have all our cards on the table,” Kensington said.
“And are these all your cards, Bartholemew Kensington?” Lucifer asked. He glanced knowingly back at Drew and Zach. “You don’t have an ace up your sleeve by any chance?”
Drew frowned. He figured Lucifer was referring to Andras, but he wasn’t sure yet why Kensington wasn’t including him in his negotiations.
“We came for Drew and Leila,” Kensington confirmed. “They are the only ones I’m asking you to release.”
“What?” Drew demanded. “But what about Andras?”
It was Drew’s turn to be subjected to Kensington’s warning look. “Drew and Leila only,” Kensington emphasized.
Drew turned to Zach, his throat constricting with worry. “Zach, he helped me,” he whispered.
“I know, sweetness.” Zach looked at Lucifer in appeal. “I know there was a misunderstanding with Andras, but—”
“He stole from me,” Lucifer barked. “For that, Andras will remain here and face his punishment.”
“And what will that punishment entail?” Zach asked.
“How dare you question my master!” Orias snapped.
Zach ignored him. “What will you do to him?”
Lucifer held up a hand, halting Orias from approaching Zach and apprehending him. “What does it matter to you?” he asked. “Do you still care for him?”
That answered Drew’s earlier question. Lucifer was well aware of the history between Zach and Andras.
“Of course I care about him!” Zach said. “We were friends for centuries.”
Lucifer made a tutting sound. “Well, this will be quite devastating for you then, I’m afraid.”
All the colour drained from Zach’s face, and he squeezed Drew’s hand hard enough to hurt. “What do you mean?” he whispered.
Lucifer’s tone was flippant when he replied, “When I kill him, of course.”