Chapter 28
If not for you pesky kids
Drew heard Andras shout, but his body was so exhausted he could do nothing but watch. The man Kensington had introduced as Trumbone, Tremble—something like that anyway—he had a sharp piece of wood in his hands, and he was running towards Lucifer.
Lucifer, who had his arms full of Orias and couldn’t defend himself.
Before anyone could even muster a spell, Princess was there. He jumped at the man, crashing into his back and taking him to the ground. Then, with one vicious bite, he tore into the back of his right leg, severing the hamstring.
The man screamed in pain, and then Kensington and Andras were there, restraining him.
“What the fuck, Tremblay?” Zach shouted.
“No! You can’t ruin this for me!” Tremblay screamed, fighting against the hands holding him. “Let me at him!”
Lucifer was stronger than he looked, as he pushed himself to his feet, all the while holding Orias to his chest. Drew struggled to stand from sitting with a book in his hand, let alone a fully grown demon.
Lucifer turned and gently sat Orias on the throne, cupping his cheek. “How are you feeling?” he asked.
Orias was looking at the throne in horror. “Master, please. I can’t sit here! This is your throne!”
Lucifer tsked. “Don’t be stupid. It’s the most comfortable seat in this room, so it’s where you’ll stay until I can get you somewhere to fully recover.” His eyes were gentle and full of wonder as he added, “Somewhere we can talk.”
Orias blushed, but nodded, and when Lucifer bent and brushed his lips across his temple, he looked on the verge of combusting.
Turning, Lucifer glared down at the chaos below.
He glanced up at the ceiling and with the flick of his hand, the clouds dissipated, the sleet and rain stopped, and the residual magic cleared.
“I want answers, and I want them now,” he said, voice low and deadly with no hint of the musical lilt that he normally had.
“So do I,” Zach said, and he stood, helping Drew to his feet. Drew allowed himself to be led over to one of the sole chairs that remained intact, and Zach quickly righted it so he could slump down onto it. Then he wrapped a wing around his shoulders, and Drew snuggled in.
“This is a shock to all of us,” Kensington told Lucifer. “None of us knew Tremblay was planning this.”
“Who the fuck even is this guy?” Drew asked.
“He’s my mentor,” the young man who had accompanied them said. “Well, he was. Not anymore after whatever the hell this was.”
Drew grimaced. “I’m sorry. I don’t know who you are either.”
“I’m Alastair Cavendish. I’m the Alberta chapter head of the Collective.” He smiled at Drew. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.”
Drew just nodded at that.
“Tremblay.” Kensington hoisted the man to his feet, ignoring the way he cried out in pain as weight was put on his injured leg. “Explain yourself.”
Lucifer stalked towards them, and Tremblay flinched back from him, but Kensington held him firm. “You tried to kill me. You almost killed Orias. Why?” he demanded.
Tremblay straightened and sneered at Lucifer. “You are only in power for as long as you are undefeated.”
Drew felt Zach recoil in shock. “You were attempting to usurp Lucifer?”
“And I would have succeeded if that oaf hadn’t jumped in front of him!”
“You think a mere dagger could have killed me?” Lucifer asked. “Oh, you ignorant human. It would take a lot more than that to dispense with me.”
“You’re not even powerful enough to be a chapter head of the Collective, let alone a Grand Master,” Kensington said, sounding confused. “Even if you had managed to kill Lucifer, you would have been killed by the first demon who challenged you!”
“That’s what you think,” Tremblay retorted. “I would have ruled over this realm, becoming more powerful than any of you!”
Lucifer shocked them all by beginning to laugh. He almost doubled over, he was laughing so hard. When he finally composed himself, he wiped a tear from his cheek and said, “Oh, I can’t believe you honestly thought that would work! You’re not just stupid, you’re delusional!”
“Your hubris will be the end of you,” Tremblay warned.
All mirth disappeared from Lucifer’s face, and he stepped in close to Tremblay. “I’m not the one who will meet his end today.” Then he jabbed his hand toward Tremblay’s chest.
If Drew hadn’t been watching with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have believed it possible.
Lucifer’s hand seemed to sink into Tremblay’s chest, and then with a jab, he pulled it free.
Clasped in his fist was Tremblay’s heart.
The man jerked once and then fell to the floor like a puppet with its strings cut.
Lucifer watched with disinterest as Tremblay hit the ground, then he stepped over the corpse and offered the dripping heart to the urco. Princess licked at the heart, wagged his tail, and then took it from Lucifer’s hand delicately. He then lay down on the floor and began to chew on his treat.
“Is anyone else here planning on challenging me?” Lucifer asked mildly.
“Uh, no,” Kensington said. “I believe we all just want to go home.”
Lucifer nodded. “I believe I also want you all to go home.” He looked at Drew. “You still want to take Andras with you?”
Drew smiled. “Yes, please.” After a beat, he added, “And the urco.”
“What?” Kensington exclaimed.
“Princess has bonded with Andras,” Drew explained. “It wouldn’t be fair to just dump him somewhere alone.”
Kensington was shaking his head. “Absolutely not!”
“What’s with the name?” Zach asked.
“Uh, that’s my fault,” Andras admitted. “I may, in a fit of pique, have called him Princess Fluffykins McGee, and now he won’t answer to anything else.”
“Of course you did,” Zach said fondly, rolling his eyes.
“Drew, we cannot take a hellhound back to Earth!” Kensington told him.
“He’s not dangerous!” Drew insisted.
“He’s eating a human heart!”
“That he was given. He didn’t kill that dude.”
“Drew.”
“Kensington,” Drew said stubbornly.
“I can glamour him,” Andras said, tentatively interrupting the stare-off. “No one will know he’s a hellhound. And I’ll keep him under control. I promise, he won’t hurt anyone.”
“Promises mean nothing when he’s standing over the body of a child!” Kensington argued.
“He wouldn’t harm a child,” Drew said. “I swear.”
“No,” Kensington said, crossing his arms. “I forbid it.”
“Kensington, please.” Drew gave him the biggest puppy dog eyes he could muster. “He’s all alone.”
“He’s a ferocious urco. He’ll be fine.”
“He’ll be lonely!”
Princess, whether it was from the arguing or just because he’d finished his treat and wanted more, whined pitifully.
“I honestly believe he’ll be no threat,” Zach chimed in.
Kensington threw his hands in the air. “Not you too!”
“If I may offer my opinion,” Lucifer said to Kensington. “I have never seen an urco be tamed before. Before today, I would have been in complete agreement with you; however, I believe this urco is not a danger to anyone.”
“Anyone who isn’t threatening one of us,” Kensington corrected. “He was quick to jump into the fray before. What if Andras gets into an argument with someone and the urco decides to defend him?”
“I can manage him,” Andras said.
The Grand Master glared at them all, but he was beginning to crack. “Fine! Bring him with us, but at the first sign of aggression, he’s coming straight back! And I expect you to keep him glamoured at all times. No excuses.”
“I swear,” Andras said, smiling. “Thank you.”
Kensington turned away, muttering to himself.
“I want to thank you, Drew Phillips,” Lucifer said, offering his hand to him. “For saving Orias.”
Drew stood up from the chair and shook Lucifer’s hand. “I’m glad he’ll be okay.” He paused, and then decided to be brave. “I hope both of you will be okay.”
Lucifer nodded. “This has opened my eyes to new possibilities.”
Drew grinned, overjoyed. Then he remembered. “Oh! Um, Orias has something of mine that I’d like back, please. It’s what I came back for.”
“You’ll need to take that up with him,” Lucifer told him.
Drew nodded and began to walk towards the dais, and Zach followed. “Oh, um, do you mind waiting here?” he asked.
Zach frowned. “Why?”
“Because it’s a surprise.” Drew knew he was going to argue, so he added softly, “Please?”
Zach sighed but then nodded, allowing Drew to approach the demon alone.
Orias watched as Drew climbed the steps of the dais and inclined his head. “I owe you my life,” he said.
“You picked up a ring, black with a red ruby in it,” Drew whispered. “It’s mine. If you give it back to me, I’ll consider us even.”
Orias looked down at his hand to where the ring was circling his pinky finger. “I see,” he said. “It’s beautiful. You have good taste, Mr. Phillips.”
“I hope so,” Drew said.
Orias tugged the ring off his finger and held it out. “I wish you well.”
“Same. I hope things work out with you and Lucifer.”
Orias looked bashful. “I am not deserving of him.”
“Yes you are. Treat each other well,” Drew said, and reached out to squeeze his shoulder.
“What should we do with the body?” Cavendish was asking Kensington when Drew returned to the group, ignoring the curious look Zach was shooting his way.
“I don’t believe he has any family to return it to,” Kensington said. “Do you want to bury him?”
Cavendish looked sad but resolute. “No. He’s a traitor. He can rot for all I care.”
“We can dispose of it,” Lucifer assured them. “I’m not sure what his beliefs were, but chances are we’ll be seeing him here soon anyway. If so, I’ll make sure he’s punished accordingly.”
Kensington nodded. “I guess we should get started so we can make the Borderlands as soon as possible.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Lucifer said. “I can send you back from here.”
“Oh. Well, thank you. It’s much appreciated.”
Lucifer nodded, and then turned and smiled at Drew. “Take care in the kitchen, Drew Phillips.”
Drew huffed. “I’m never living this down.”
Lucifer laughed, and then in the blink of an eye, the entire group was standing in Drew and Zach’s kitchen.
They were home.