Chapter 33 Lucifer
LUCIFER
Three months later.
Luc paced the mezzanine floor of his loft, rounding the bed and dresser, and stalking past the sitting area. His heart fluttered, and his stomach was worryingly unsettled.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he stopped.
Dex:
Are you okay?
He’d sensed Luc’s nerves through the bond. Luc smiled, his jitters calming as Dex sent warm, soft affection his way.
Luc:
I’m fine. I’ll pick you up in ten minutes.
Dex:
Can’t wait. You’ve got this!
Luc’s feathers ruffled, and he stood taller. There was nothing wrong with a little self-doubt in the face of what tonight represented.
Teetering on the brink of everything he’d ever wanted was surreal. His mate was happy, flourishing as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Dex’s new condo had injected joy into his heart, and he seemed focused on the future rather than stuck in the past.
Luc also had his eyes on what lay ahead for the first time in centuries. Some days, he awoke hardly believing it was real. He had his mate. That was more than enough, but Luc had been given far more.
The guilt he’d carried around since the first witch had been born cracked and fell away, the last remnants of dust disappearing in the wind.
Even that amount of healing would have been enough, but Luc had been blessed with more. Dante had invited him over for a family dinner. They’d all be there. His brothers and their mates.
Luc grabbed a sweater from his wardrobe and tied it to his belt. His loft was still mostly empty, other than Dex’s parents’ belongings which were stored carefully and tucked out of sight.
There was no need for most of the loft. Luc liked the mezzanine floor and kept his occupancy centered there. It was like living on a balcony, giving him plenty of room for his wings. But he wasn’t planning to stay in the loft long term. He had dreams of creating a home with Dex.
This would do until then.
Luc left the loft and flew up the river. Dex waited for him on his apartment’s small balcony. Luc cast an illusion to match the one covering him, so no one would notice Dex disappear, and landed on the railing, perching like a gargoyle, his tail flicking back and forth.
“Careful.” Dex grabbed Luc’s hand and kissed him.
“I won’t fall.”
Dex laughed. “I never imagined this when I bought a place with a balcony, but seeing you fly in and land at my door is my favorite thing about living here.”
Luc purred, tangling a hand in Dex’s hair. He tilted Dex’s head back and kissed him deeply.
Their forever home would have an enormous balcony. Perhaps every room would have one. That way, Dex could always look out and see Luc coming home.
Dex pulled back from the kiss, cheeks flushed, and cleared his throat. “We should go. You don’t want to get distracted.”
“Don’t I?” Luc chased Dex’s lips, pulling the bottom one gently between his teeth. “Last time I checked, it was me who told you what to do. Not the other way around.”
Dex groaned. “I’m not trying to deny you. I’m reminding you that you want tonight more than whatever your libido is telling you.”
Luc laughed. “I can’t want anything more than you.”
“Then it’s a good thing you don’t have to choose. Come on, you know what I mean.”
“You’re right. I’m nervous about tonight and trying to distract myself. I don’t actually want to be late.” Luc wouldn’t be inconsiderate like that, especially not to Dante.
He scooped Dex into his arms and launched into the air, swooping low over the river before pumping his wings and soaring over the city.
Cool air whipped by, and the city lights glittered below.
Soon, the city would be decorated for the winter holidays, Dex had said.
He was adorably excited to see the Christmas lights from the air.
Eventually, Dante’s nature reserve came into view.
The eight of them hadn’t been together since the day Luc led his team to the gateway.
Luc had seen Onyx and Nico the most out of everyone since then and had met with Ash a couple of times.
He hadn’t seen Dante, Ollie, or Harper at all.
Dante had said to visit, but Luc had hesitated, unsure if all could be forgiven.
He didn’t want to push Dante, Ollie, or Harper into accepting him.
He landed and set Dex down beside him so he could retract his wings and pull on his sweater.
“I like this one.” Dex ran his hands over the red fabric.
“You like all my sweaters.”
Dex shrugged. “They make you soft and cuddly.”
“Cuddly?” Onyx’s sharp tone cut through the night air.
Dex wrapped his arms around Luc. “Very cuddly.”
Luc flashed his fiery eyes at Onyx, who curled his lip.
“I’ll take your word for it. Now, hurry and get in here.” Onyx jerked his head toward the house. “It’s too cold for the non-demons to leave the door open.”
Luc ushered Dex inside, and Onyx shut the door behind them. The mates were huddled on the couch, looking at something on Harper’s phone, while Ash and Dante were occupied in the kitchen, pouring drinks.
“We’re all here,” Onyx announced, stealing everyone’s attention.
Luc’s face heated, and he gripped Dex’s hand. “Thank you for having me.”
“Eww, don’t be so stiff.” Onyx swatted his shoulder.
Luc cleared his throat. “My apologies, dear brother. Please forgive me for forgetting how to socialize.”
“Ugh. That was the stiffest shit I’ve ever heard.” Onyx shook his head, apparently giving up, and went to perch on Nico’s lap.
“You apologized like that just to bug him, didn’t you?” Dex whispered.
Luc flashed his mate a conspiratorial grin, his initial unease softening to something manageable. “What good is family if we can’t rile each other up?”
Dex laughed.
“Let’s grab a drink.” Ollie appeared at their sides and pulled Dex away. “Ash is practicing his mixology skills. You want one?” he shot over his shoulder to Luc.
“Why not?” He followed them into the kitchen.
The fact that Ollie could look at him at all was a miracle Luc might never get over.
From what Dex had told him, Ollie was more interested in bringing the group together and spending time with Dex than focusing on how much Luc had hurt him.
His determination to share everything with his best friend was admirable, but Luc’s guilt for hurting Ollie hadn’t been banished as completely as his guilt for falling to Earth.
Ash handed a drink to Ollie and Dex before catching Luc’s eye. “I made negronis. Want to try one?”
“Go on.” He accepted a glass and had a sip, rolling the liquid around on his tongue. “I don’t know what it’s supposed to taste like, but it’s not bad.”
Ash barked a laugh. “That’s better than Dante’s reaction, so I’ll take it.”
Dante flicked his tail. “How did you expect me to react? I don’t like alcohol, and that was the most bitter thing I’ve ever tasted.”
Ollie chuckled and had a sip. “Oh. That’s strong.”
“Yeah, I’m not having more than one of these.” Dex caught Luc’s eye, his cheeks flushing as a hopeful tendril of lust wound down the bond.
“Probably a good idea,” Luc agreed, sending his burning desire back. “Always smart to keep your wits about you.”
“I got a little too drunk one time.” Dex huffed, his amusement taking the edge off his whining.
“At least Luc was there to take care of you.” Ollie’s gaze darted to Luc, then away.
Dex had told Ollie about the night Luc had found him drowning his sorrows at Dorthy’s.
As far as Luc could tell, there wasn’t much the two didn’t share.
They’d become even closer over the past few months.
Dex had confessed to Luc that he’d been holding back from Ollie and was glad to put that behind him, along with the heavy emotions that had caused him to withdraw in the first place.
“I’ll take drinks to Harper and Nico.” Ollie set his glass down and grabbed the tray that Ash had arranged with two more drinks.
“No, I’ve got it.” Dex took the tray from him and hurried off, giving Luc the moment he needed, but hadn’t asked for. Had Dex sensed it through the bond, or did he know him that well?
Likely both, and that gave Luc the courage he needed.
“Ollie, can I talk to you?” Luc asked before Ollie could follow Dex into the living room.
He paused. “Yeah?”
“I wanted to say thank you. Again. I know Onyx thinks I’m being stiff, but I mean it. Before this can be a comfortable family dinner like I’m sure you’re all used to, I have to let you know how much I appreciate what you’ve given me.”
Ollie’s cheeks flushed, and Dante wrapped an arm around him. “I didn’t give you anything. You gave me Dex. I wanted to thank you.”
“Me?” Luc looked at Ash for clarity, and he grinned unhelpfully.
“Thank you for giving Dex the life he deserves. He’s so into you. I’ve never seen him like this with anyone. Not even close. I want us to be friends, so stop apologizing to me. Okay?” Ollie glared like he’d been practicing. His level of menace wasn’t bad.
“Okay,” Luc said on a shaky laugh. “But you don’t have to be comfortable with me any time soon. We have years ahead of us. There’s no rush to get over what happened.”
“We know.” Dante nudged Luc with his wing. “We’re focusing on the future, not the past. On who you are now. You should do the same.”
“Focusing on the future sounds like a good motto to me,” Harper said as he sidled up to Ash, drink in hand.
“Thank you. All of you.” Luc was breathless, and everyone stared at him with varying levels of exasperation. “Last time, I promise.”
“I still can’t believe the Realm of the Damned is gone,” Harper said, mercifully changing the subject before Luc broke his promise and spewed more gratitude. “The Eternal Realm better be ready for witches like my father.”
“They will be,” Luc assumed him. “Bad people die all the time. A soul’s lifecycle is about healing.
Even though witches won’t reincarnate, they’ll enter the same reflective stage as humans upon arriving.
By the time someone like your father is walking around the Eternal Realm, I’d say he’ll be different than you remember. ”
Harper’s nose wrinkled. “I don’t know what I think about that. I guess it’s good, but it almost sounds like a second chance.”
Ash frowned in response to his mate’s distaste, as if anything that displeased Harper offended him. “Second chance or not, it’s a positive thing. Witch souls in Hell didn’t enter any part of the reincarnation cycle. It’s better that your father changes than being left to fester.”
Harper huffed. “True.”
“Some souls are stuck in the healing stage for years, even centuries,” Ash went on. “I’d say your father will be occupied for quite some time, given how far he has to go.”
Ash and Dante had supervised the destruction of the Realm of the Damned, along with Valac. The three had stood at the gateway as the damned souls traveled through.
Hell was gone. Luc could no longer disappear to that cursed place when he needed to escape, and he’d never been more grateful. Hopefully, he’d never need to run like that, and if he ever had the urge, he liked to think he’d stand and face whatever scared him.
According to Valac, word of the Realm of the Damned’s destruction had spread like wildfire through the demon population. Luc’s participation had changed some demons’ minds about him, but he wasn’t as weighed down by their opinions as he had been.
He had his brothers, and that was what mattered most. There was no need to reconnect with anyone else, at least not right away. Maybe one day. It was something to look forward to.
The news that witches and vampires were no longer damned hadn’t spread as quickly, but it was out there.
Rowan, Catalina, and Nico had gotten the story circulating, but had been met with varying degrees of disbelief.
Skepticism was fair. The magic world as a whole would likely take a long time to accept the truth.
Luc had told Rowan that he’d help deal with any Satan-worshiping covens who resisted the new reality. All Rowan had to do was ask, and with any luck, worshiping him would die out eventually.
“Hollis said he might join us one day,” Dante said, shaking Luc from his thoughts.
“Really?” Luc couldn’t picture it. “He’d fall? Why now?”
“The same reason you did. He’d rather not live under the council and hopes to find his mate here one day, but he wants to see how the transition in the Eternal Realm goes before he leaves.
To make sure the council doesn’t twist things around.
” Dante’s eyes flared. “I told him we appreciate him keeping an eye on things.”
“That’s very good of him.” Luc couldn’t get his head around more demons falling after all this time. But why wouldn’t they, now that they knew coming to Earth wasn’t an assault on the sacred balance of the universe?
Strict duality didn’t dictate the realms, and falling wasn’t inherently wrong.
The Eternal Realm could still ban travel between the two, but there was no moral reason not to come to Earth.
The ability for Eternals to leave without guilt might actually help the Eternal Realm change for the better.
If the council didn’t want people looking for a better life elsewhere, they’d have to make living in the Eternal Realm seem like the best option.
“Hey, Luc, I was wondering…” Harper waited for Luc’s attention before continuing. “Didn’t you see Dex the day you followed me into Seaside Coffee?”
Luc’s muscles tensed. “What? No. Dex wasn’t there.”
“Huh. I mean, he was there. I talked to him. Maybe he went out back after making my coffee, and you missed him.”
“I didn’t order coffee that day. I went into the restroom and disappeared back to Hell after you saw me. I didn’t want Ash catching on. He was nearby.” Luc threw an apologetic glance Ash’s way.
Ash laughed. “Fuck, imagine if you’d met Dex then. You might have believed me from the start.”
Luc’s heart skipped. Would he have? That could have changed everything. He might never have hurt Harper or Ollie.
“It doesn’t matter,” Dante said, and Ollie nodded his agreement. “This is how things went, and in the end, we’re all here in my house as I’d dreamed. That’s what’s important.”
“You dreamed I’d be here with you?” Luc teased. No way that could be true.
Dante’s eyes crinkled and he smiled like Luc hadn’t seen in a thousand years. “In my wildest dreams, yes, Luc, you were here too.”