Chapter 36
THIRTY-SIX
I wanted to pet every baby alligator to cross my path.
The instant I’d stepped foot out of Lucifer’s SUV, the local babies swarmed me, throwing themselves against my shoes and legs in an effort to cuddle. With hundreds of them to contend with, I had no hope of petting them all, which broke my heart.
I wanted to pet every baby alligator to cross my path.
As mosquitos also lived in the area in terrifying number, I crafted a ward to prevent them from viewing humans as tasty treats.
Then I narrowed my eyes. “Can a human die from mosquito bites?”
“Usually only from the disease or allergies, and our targets are not allergic, I’m afraid.
You could make them beyond miserable, however.
” Lucifer joined me, and he crouched, smiling at the congregation surrounding me.
“These are the children of the alligators you spared when the storm came. Your presence imbued their mothers, and they recognize the sensation as comfort and familiarity. Your magic touches them even here, which is part of why I’m working to secure every acre surrounding this lake. This place is yours.”
“Poor Yuless, forced to live on someone else’s turf,” I replied with a grin. “I’m sure I can help him cope with his status as my dragon.”
“I’m sure he won’t mind in the slightest.” Lucifer cleared his throat.
“My father wishes for a new angelic seed, which means I must create a demonic seed to balance it. Pick an alligator, any alligator. I will handle the conversion so that you have a companion who will live a long and happy life. I recommend a male. The estrogen levels in your home are frightening.”
While I snickered at his comment, I considered the babies surrounding me. “I have no idea which ones are male.”
Lucifer pointed at one of the bolder babies, who climbed over the others and pawed at my leg, desperate to be picked up. “That one is a boy.”
I scooped him up, gave him a kiss on his nose, and said, “Then I’ll pick him, as he seems the most determined to accept my affection.”
Lucifer shook his head and held out his hands. “Give him to me, then.”
I obeyed, keeping a close eye on the Devil. “I will make you wish I destroyed you should you hurt my new baby. He’s going to be part of my present for Yuless for dealing with yesterday.”
“Hasn’t anyone told you it’s a terrible idea to give pets to somebody as a gift?”
“The gift is allowing him to love my sweet baby boy.”
“You’re something else.” After a few moments, Lucifer returned the alligator.
“There. All done. And I recommend you turn this into a tourism area, where guests give donations to make use of walkways you install. They will photograph the alligators, and your wards will make certain everyone gets along. Your curses will also make certain nobody attempts to poach your scaled children.”
“I will include some nasty curses should anyone attempt to poach my children.” I smiled at the thought of inflicting some significant misery upon somebody for attempting to hurt my alligators.
“I will create a business plan for Yuless, and we’ll do a weekly event where everyone can help feed the wildlife here.
It’s not like my magic allows them to thrive normally. ”
“That would do a great deal of good for the local economy, yes. It will also give local farms a place to dispose of chickens who perish from avian flu. A small dose of neutralizer hidden in the chicken’s carcass will prevent any spread of disease.
” Lucifer reached down and picked up a rather lethargic alligator.
“I’m feeling benevolent today, so this little one is coming home with me.
She will not survive in the wild, so I do no harm. ”
The poor little girl. “What’s wrong with her?”
“She is much like Lady, and she will endure a similar treatment once I take her home. Nature is not kind because nature is nature; it simply is. Sometimes, I decide to change an animal’s fate simply because I can.”
“Is it simply? Or is it because you had to allow evil to happen to someone—or something—good, and at least this way, you make up for it a little?”
Lucifer shot a glare my way. “You are an impertinent young lady!”
I suspected the Devil needed to unburden his shoulders more often than anyone, especially him, cared to admit. “Do you want to talk about that act of evil?”
He sighed. “It’s more of an old evil creating new consequences. What do you know about the killings in Texas?”
While there had been many killings in Texas over the years, a more recent series of brutal murders of women and their children, at the hands of a corrupted presidential hopeful, had smeared the state’s reputation. “Probably not as much as I should. It seemed like a pointless tragedy.”
“Yes, in so many cases, it was. Texas has lycanthrope cops now as a result, which is doing a great deal of good for their communities, but there are many holes left from the murders. What if I told you there was a woman forced to participate in the killings who has a rather sizable hole in her soul as a result?”
I took my time thinking about it. “I would think that is also a tragedy.”
“Would you, as a woman who loves children, be able to accept someone you knew had murdered others, including innocent children?”
“Did she want to?”
“No.”
I frowned. “Did she have a way out of committing the murders without cost to others?”
“No.”
“So, if she didn’t kill these mothers and children, someone she loved would be murdered, possibly brutality?”
Lucifer met my gaze, and he nodded. “That is correct.”
A tension I hadn’t realized had formed deep in my chest eased. “Did the mothers and children suffer?”
“No. She took great care making certain her victims had no idea they were about to die. My father escorted them all through the valley personally along with Azrael, so their passings were as peaceful as the circumstances allowed.”
“I’ve come to learn I’m not most people, Lucifer.
I would open the doors of my home to her without hesitation so she could begin working on that hole in her soul and begin the healing process.
If you say she had a reason to do as she did, I choose to believe you.
If she needs a place to go, I can provide one for her.
It’s not like I have a shortage of dragons around to keep everything nicely in check. ”
He raised a brow. “The dragons might be less inclined to forgive her compared to you.”
“Unless she’s asking me for forgiveness, I don’t see the problem.
We weren’t the ones wronged, and nobody can bring back the dead.
All I did was convince a dragon to come out of the shadows and give life a second try.
If she needs a place to land when she gets out of that situation she’s in, I can provide her with a place to land.
If she didn’t want to do it, she was forced into doing it, and has a hole in her soul as a result, then she should get the help she needs.
And, well, I can’t say anything about the justice part of things. It sounds like she’s a victim, too.”
“She is, worse than you could ever know.”
“Can she lead those assholes who forced her to justice?”
“Yes, one day.”
“I’m sure, if we work together, we can make certain she quietly disappears and lives happily ever after once she makes certain that justice is served by those who victimized her. What kind of life would she like to lead?”
“A quiet life on a farm would suit her nicely. She loves children.”
I winced. “No wonder she has a hole in her soul, then. I can start her on baby horses, and we can then find a man who can accept her and everything she has done. The man better be able to deal with dragons, though. I’m drowning in dragons.”
Lucifer laughed at me. “You really are. But yes, that would work nicely. You leave the man part to me. Just make sure you have a room ready for two at any point.”
“How about Ashley’s old property? We can tear the old building down, put in a cozy place, add a stable for mini horses, and she can work with really baby animals.”
“That would be an eloquent solution to that problem. As I have foisted many property problems your way, you leave the building and the man to me. I wish you the best of luck convincing everyone living under your roof to give her a chance. Not everyone is nearly as forgiving as you.”
“I’m sure you’ll change your opinion of my forgiving nature as soon as those who shot me show up. Mercy and forgiveness are not on the agenda. Ah, speaking of which. My children are not all here.”
I turned until I faced my property, drew a deep breath, and whistled for Mr. Magic the Bold and the rest of my alligators.
In addition to my alligator, I drew more than a few winged visitors, Yuless included.
“Aw, we’re busted, Lucy,” I complained while smiling, holding up my new baby alligator for my fiancé to see. “I love you enough you can play with my new alligator son. Lucifer gave him to me.”
Shadows enveloped Yuless, and a moment later, he reformed as a human, raising a brow at my new pet.
“I thought you were going to the store. I’m not precisely surprised you have kidnapped more wildlife.
It seems I cannot take my eyes off you for a moment.
Fortunately, I do not mind this. At least when you get into trouble, I can help you get out of it. So, what are you doing?”
“I did go to a store. It’s very specialized.
I went shopping for some shooters, and I spent Lucifer’s money to make it happen,” I reported.
“And I may have abused one of your friends to make certain the shooters will show up. You can serve as my eye candy while the rest of my scaled guests make the evidence disappear.”
“You bought shooters?”