Chapter 16
Chapter
Sixteen
GRIM
“Ididn’t take you for a romance reader,” Lucifer said as I studiously ignored him and flipped the page of the book I’d been pretending to read.
I kept my eyes on the pages of the book I’d borrowed from Merri’s bedside table, not taking in a single word of printed prose as I continued to feign interest. How the two of us ended up alone together in this suite, I’ll never know.
A cruel joke by the universe? Or more likely, an opportunity seized by Luc to poke at me.
In truth, it wasn’t actually that complicated. Merri was napping with Sin while Malice joined Chaos for a sparring session. Which left me alone babysitting the devil.
But I was far from happy about it.
“Oh, come on, your eyes aren’t even moving,” he groused.
I pointedly licked the pad of my finger and flipped another page.
“You know, for a being of your years, you’re being incredibly childish. You can’t ignore me forever.”
Fucking watch me.
“We’re family now.”
“The fuck we are,” I muttered under my breath.
“Ah-ha! I knew you were faking,” he crowed.
I had to grit my teeth together to avoid taking the bait again.
I went to turn another page but dropped the book entirely when he said, “I really think it’s important we get to know each other.
Not only will we be raising a child together, but at some point in, dare I say, the very near future, we’re going to get familiar with each other’s cocks—”
“Come anywhere near my cock, and I will tear yours off and bludgeon you with it,” I growled.
Lucifer smirked. “Gotcha.”
A knock sounded at the door, sparing me from my own personal hell. Thank all the stars in the heavens.
“Come in,” I called, getting to my feet and turning my attention away from the immortal currently dancing on a knife’s edge of serious injury.
Moira popped her sapphire head in, taking in the two of us before the rest of her body followed. With her sleek bob, she reminded me of a flapper from the twenties. “Well, don’t you two look cozy.”
“Hardly,” I deadpanned.
Alek and Thorne followed close behind, their dour expressions and black-clad figures calling to mind the image of two underpaid bodyguards. All they needed were twin pairs of mirrored sunglasses.
“Moira, darling, to what do we owe the pleasure?” Lucifer smoothly cut in.
She cocked a brow. “Since when are we on a first-name basis, devil-boy?”
“I assure you, I am no boy.”
“What can we do for you, Moira?” If I didn’t interject, the two of them were likely to come to blows, and we’d never get to the bottom of her visit. With her it could be any number of things, ranging from a general announcement to revealing one of her recent visions.
She whipped her gaze to meet mine. “I think I have a solution to your paternity problem.”
Something that might have been excitement sparked within me. “Oh?”
“We did something similar when Sunday got pregnant,” Alek offered, speaking for the first time.
Thorne nodded, adding, “Not that it went as smoothly as it should have. But knowing that our situation was unique, Moira feels confident it should work this time.”
A little furrow of annoyance vee’d her brows, but it was gone as quickly as it arrived.
I could only assume, based on our handful of interactions, that she didn’t appreciate the men speaking for her.
“Right. I just need all possible baby daddies, the mama to be, a bit of blood, and”—she made a dramatic flourish with her hands—“presto change-o, paternity solved.”
Lucifer crossed his arms and leveled a heavy stare her way. “As a rule, I don’t give out my blood. Especially not to witches.”
She smirked. “Chicken?”
He puffed up like a peacock. “No. I’ve been around long enough to know you never use blood for just one ritual. All you need is a drop for a hex. They’re nasty and difficult to remove, even for me.”
“I’m not going to hex you. I have better things to do with my time. Like save the world.”
“That’s what they always say. Then your crotch itches for weeks.”
I cleared my throat. “When do you want to do this? Do we need to wait for some sort of celestial event?”
“No, not for this one. So now’s as good a time as any.”
“I’ll gather the others. Where should we meet you?”
Alek chuckled under his breath. “Every group always has a Caleb. Is it written somewhere in the rules?”
“More than likely,” Thorne said sagely.
Any other time, I wouldn’t have let the insult go unanswered, but I had enough on my plate at the moment, so I ignored them and kept my attention on the witch.
“Here? Mostly we just need space, but this should do. I’ll get it ready while you grab the others.”
Minutes later the six of us were all stood in the living room, the furniture shoved against the walls, floor bare with the exception of strategically placed candles. None of us were comfortable. Merri glanced from me to Lucifer, then to Moira.
“What is this about?” she asked.
“Don’t worry, it won’t hurt the baby. I just need some blood from all of you, and we’ll know who your baby daddy is in two shakes of a demon goat’s tail.”
“I take exception to that,” Lucifer said with a glare.
“Of course you do,” Sin said with a smirk. “Just about everything seems to offend you.”
“Demons answer to me. I don’t want my child to be exalted as anything less than—”
“All she said was ‘demon goat’s tail.’ It had nothing to do with the baby,” Alek said, coming to Moira’s defense.
The witch made a face and grumbled beneath her breath. “Who knew the High Lord of hell would be such a sensitive snowflake?”
Merri snorted, which had the rest of us, minus Lucifer, cracking smiles.
Moira brandished a dagger, the blade glinting in the light.
“Where the fuck did she pull that from?” Sin muttered.
“You don’t want to know,” Alek said.
“Hands, everyone.” She waved a hand, and a copper bowl appeared in front of each of us. “I’ll need at least five good drops from each of you.”
“Five? You said a drop,” Lucifer complained.
“I have to have enough to draw the pentacle.”
“How is five enough?” Sin’s question drew her gaze, annoyance radiating off her.
“Don’t annoy the witch,” Malice said, elbowing Sin.
“In case you haven’t noticed, handsome, I’m a witch. I can do wonders.”
“I’d like to return to my earlier point about ensuring no excess blood remains after the ritual,” Lucifer said.
“For fuck’s sake,” Chaos groaned. “Do you seriously have to complain about every detail?”
“When it’s your dick pissing out toads, you’re going to wish you’d listened to me.”
“And here I thought Kingston was obnoxious,” Thorne muttered.
“He sounds like a fucking delight.”
“Want to adopt him?” Thorne offered, sounding almost hopeful.
“I’m going to tell him you said that,” Alek said with a grin. “He’ll be heartbroken. Bromance ended.”
Thorne scrubbed a hand over his face. “Fuck, you’re right. I’ll never hear the end of it. I take it back. He’s ours.”
“Why are you two here again?” I asked.
“We weren’t going to let our witch near the devil without backup.” Alek crossed his arms over his muscular chest.
“I thought Sunday was theirs.” Malice’s voice was a confused whisper.
“We are a package deal,” Moira snapped. “Ever heard of a platonic soulmate? She’s my bestie. Where she goes, I go.”
It was Sin’s turn to nudge Malice. “Kind of like us.”
“Absolutely fucking not.”
Chaos pinched the bridge of his nose, and I was forced to step in once again to get things back on track.
“All right, let’s get this show on the road. We have plenty on our plates right now and no time left to lose.”
“Mmm, stern and a silver fox. I see why Merri is smitten,” Moira teased before straightening her shoulders and approaching me, knife blade extended. “You can go first.”
I held out my palm, not even flinching when she dragged the point across my flesh. Blood welled to the surface, and she reached to touch me, but I recoiled.
“You can’t. You won’t survive. Do not touch my blood with your skin, witch. I won’t be responsible for your carelessness.”
Her eyes widened. “I can’t believe I didn’t think about that. Thank you.”
A curt nod was my only reply as I held my fist over the bowl she now had in her hands and carefully deposited five drops of blood.
“What about the rest of you? Is anyone else going to kill me?” she asked.
“No. Our powers don’t work the way his do,” Malice said with what I think was supposed to be a reassuring smile. Given the jerky, almost stilted nature of her movements, I’m not sure it worked.
She quickly gathered blood from the others, Merri having to coax Lucifer before he begrudgingly complied.
“Okie dokie, now we just need our mama.”
All of us stared on in discomfort as our mate winced when her blood was spilled. I’d never been affected by harm coming to anyone the way I was when my mate was injured.
“Careful,” Chaos growled, a little tremor rolling through the room at the violence he couldn’t quite keep in check.
Alek seemed to swell in size in response to the threat, but Moira stopped him with a shake of her head. “It’s all right, Viking. He’s just being protective of his mate, same as you get.”
“That’s five,” Merri said, snatching the handkerchief Moira waved in front of her and wrapping it around her wound.
Mine had already healed, as had the others, I was almost certain. It wouldn’t take long for her to be good as new, but it still rankled knowing she’d shed blood.
“Now what?” Lucifer asked impatiently.
“Now I mix your blood, draw the pentacle, and we get this over with. Believe me, I’ve got plenty of places I’d rather be than hanging out with you.”
“Feeling’s mutual,” he sneered.
“Oh yeah? That’s funny, last I checked you were banned from hell and basically no one likes you, so I’m pretty sure your dance card is less than full,” Sin helpfully pointed out.
Lucifer stared daggers at him. “I was not banned from hell. I was held against my will.”
“Right. And what about the part where the horsewomen managed to seize control in your absence? That part of your master plan?”