Chapter 54
Two Weeks Later
“Ifeel this is such a trivial use of such an incredible gift,” I say while staring at one of Kairhyse’s shadows cooking.
He’s known as a Veilsidian—one who can multiply himself in shadow form.
I’ve never met another like him; they’re extremely rare, almost as rare as an Umbraen like Kayn.
Those who gain special gifts after turning into Vampires tend to gravitate toward one another.
I’ve heard Xera has a friend, Sydni, who was also gifted, though she hasn’t mentioned with what.
Speaking of the half-Succubus, she tuts and rolls her eyes. “I promise you, neither he nor I care about your opinion of what he does for me.”
Throwing my hands up, I chuckle lightly. “Alright, my opinion doesn’t matter—”
“You’re learning.”
She releases a heavy sigh and looks out the window.
Kayn and Kairhyse have been gone for a few hours.
A gate opened not too far from here, and they both thought it best we stay put.
I agreed on the condition that they didn’t engage with anything that came out of it, and they took Zuhara and Aph—Mister—with them.
Both Familiars promised to throw them into the Phantasm if they got too trigger-happy and tried to fight.
Both Xeraphine and I are worried—or, I am. She’s just… honestly, I have no idea what she is. I told her not to be concerned, and she basically told me to fuck off, that I had no idea how she felt.
She promptly apologized for her outburst.
I’m giving her some leeway. Kai and she sat us down a few days after we arrived and brought me up to speed on everything that had happened.
Bloody Beyond, her story tore me to pieces.
Kidnapped at eighteen by her own mother, tortured to bring out her Amoro, then buried alive when it finally woke.
Apparently, the plan was to keep her underground until she turned one hundred, then forced to breed for her mother, Tali.
Succubae like Xera can only give birth once, but because of her Mundane side, the hope was that she could give more.
Unfortunately, that was correct. The horrors that woman put her through—and the ones Kai endured to get her back—make my own pale in comparison.
Kayn warned me not to do that. Not to compare my trauma to hers. I had no choice in my servitude to my father, but I was never forced to be raped or treated like cattle.
“Lucifer?”
I shake my head as she calls for me. “What?”
“You good?” There’s not much concern in her tone, but at least she cares enough to ask.
“Yeah, sorry.”
“It’s whatever…” Her voice trails off as her eyes widen.
I hear footsteps, and the only other person in this house is supposed to be asleep.
When I jerk around, it’s Amarah wobbling down the hallway toward us. She hasn’t been awake in over two weeks, and while we could see her body healing naturally, we had no idea when she would wake.
Of course it would be when Kayn isn’t here. He’s been a fucking mess without her.
Her lips are pale, but her bright indigo eyes are full of life. By the time she gives me a weak, half smile, I’m up on my feet and by her side.
My arms wrap around her head, holding her tightly—but not enough to hurt her.
She loops her arms around my waist and rubs her face into my chest. Even though she’s been unconscious this long, Kayn and I have washed her every two days to keep her clean and check for infection.
We also wanted her to feel her best when she woke.
She hums softly and squeezes me. “Hi.”
“Hey, dollface. How’re you feeling?”
“Hungry and so, so thirsty.”
I turn us toward the kitchen. “I’ll get you something.”
She nods and lifts her head as we walk slowly toward the barstool at the island. Xera leans against the counter, her finger circling the rim of her glass.
“Kai, the Witch is awake.”
The shadow beside her tenses before continuing to plate the pancakes it was making.
“They know…” Amarah’s voice stays low. “They’re on their way back.”
I guide her onto the barstool and go to step away when Xera turns. “I’ve got it. Water?”
“Please.” Amarah leans forward onto the counter and lets out a soft groan.
“Dollface, this is Xeraphine. Or Xera for short.” The Succubus waves her hand above her shoulder.
When I look down at our girl, she gives me a nod. “Xera, this is Amarah.”
Neither of them say anything to the introductions. I think she’s still waking and Xera just doesn’t care.
“How long have I been out?”
“Fifteen days,” I say, running my hand over her back. “Scared us…” Truthfully, I still see that day every night I lay with them—how I could’ve lost them both, and how it would’ve been my fault.
She turns her head and smiles. “Can’t kill me that easy.”
“Being punched by Belial is nothing to shrug off,” Xera says, placing a glass of water on the counter and sliding it toward her. “Hard head you’ve got there.”
“Thank you.”
“Mhmm.”
A plate of food is set in front of Xera, and Amarah lifts the water to her lips. “Do you want cereal?”
“She’s lactose intolerant.”
Xera rolls her eyes. “Of course she is…” She looks down at her plate.
The way her nose scrunches and her eyes narrow has me nearly laughing.
There’s no way she’s going to— “Here.” She slides the plate across the island.
“These aren’t made with milk. Eggs are fine, right?
You aren’t everything-intolerant, are you? ”
A soft, tired laugh leaves Amarah before she shakes her head. “No… but you don’t—”
“Just take them.” I cut in quickly. “She’ll get mad if you don’t.” I’ve come to know this crazy woman quite a bit over the past two weeks.
The moment Amarah takes the plate, Kai’s shadow form grabs Xera around the waist, making her squeal before she slaps it across the face.
“Get off! Kai!”
Metal clinks against the plate, and I look down at our girl, who isn’t paying attention to whatever nonsense is happening across from her. She’s just eating.
I lean against the counter beside her and run my hand across her cheek, brushing her hair behind her shoulder. My fingers trace the sharp curve of her jawline. She’s lost weight during all this, so we’ll need to make sure she eats as often as she can stomach.
Her eyes lift to mine, and only after she finishes chewing does she ask, “How’re you?”
Smiling, I lean forward and kiss her forehead. “I’m okay, but fucking Beyond, Amarah—we were so worried.”
She leans into me, and I cup her cheek, my other arm wrapping around her shoulders. For a moment, the chaotic whatever’s-happening between Kai’s shadow and Xera fades away. I’m not sure if she’s been carried off or if I’ve just tuned them out, honestly.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper against her ear. “I should’ve just listened and taken you both back here. I just…”
“It’s okay, Lucifer. You were worried for Kayn and what your father would do. Nothing that happened is something I blame you for.”
Leaning back, I tip her chin up and study her eyes. They hold nothing but truth. She means it, and the knot of anxiety in my chest loosens more with each second I look at her.
“I want to kiss you, dollface,” I slip through the link, the connection as strong as ever between us.
Her lips curl into a soft smile. “What’s stopping you?”
“Just wanting to make sure it wasn’t a one-sided want.”
“Definitely not.”
That’s all the consent I need to lean in and press my lips to hers. My hand slides back, fingers threading through her white hair as I hold her to me. I have to consciously rein in my Vigoro or it’ll latch onto her like it hasn’t fed in years—despite the fact I’ve fed almost every night on Kayn.
She grips my shirt, keeping me right where she wants me.
As much as I’d like to continue making out with her, she really needs to eat. So, with a heavy groan, I pull back just slightly.
“Eat, and when you’re done, I’m going to go back to kissing you.”
With a soft nod, she releases me and returns to her food. I take a moment to register that Xeraphine is nowhere to be seen—nor is Kai’s shadow.
Amarah finishes eating—slowly, which I’m grateful for. I don’t need her getting sick. She’d mentioned her eating routine back when Kayn took her from Thornegate, and I know I still have so much to learn about her.
I’m excited for the prospect that I’ll get that: time with her. With both of them.
As promised, I went right back to kissing her.
There was no intention beyond wanting to feel that connection again.
I’m not carting her off to the bedroom to fuck her, though the desire certainly pulses through me.
There’s still much to discuss, and I can already sense our brute of a Vampire approaching.
By the time the patio door opens into the living room and kitchen space, I’ve got Amarah sitting on the island countertop, standing between her spread legs. She’s been resting against my chest, letting me caress her back under Kayn’s shirt she’s wearing.
“Thank the Gods,” our Vampire huffs, crossing quickly toward us.
She leans away from me, and I step aside so he can fully take the space in front of her. Behind him, I spot Kairhyse approaching, hands tucked into his pockets and a smile pulled across his lips.
What a shame he boxes himself into just women. Or, well, just Xeraphine. He’s quite handsome—and that trick with his shadows? Yes, please.
Looking back at my two, Kayn is pulling away from a possessive kiss that leaves her gasping for air.
“Hey, little slayer, did you eat?”
She nods. “That shadow makes a mean stack of pancakes.”
“I had to get it right or I’d lose my cock,” Kai says with a chuckle. “Good to see you’re up, girl-with-the-mysterious-name.”
“You can tell him,” she says, looking between Kayn and myself.
“Her name is Amarah,” he offers.
“Pleasure to meet you, Amarah,” Kai says while walking past us. “They can tell you who I am. I have a little demon to tend to. She’s only shared her food with her Familiar, so I need to check to make sure everything is okay.”
As our girl lets out a soft giggle, he disappears down the hallway toward the bedrooms.
I turn back to Kayn brushing his hand across her cheek, smiling—probably the happiest I’ve seen him since we left the Beyond.
My hand rests on the counter beside her, my other relaxed against her thigh.
She reaches out, loops one of her arms over his shoulder, and with her other hand, tucks her fingers beneath my palm before giving it a squeeze.
“Belial didn’t chase us?” she asks, genuine concern threading through her lowered tone.
Kayn shakes his head, but I offer the explanation. “Apparently Xeraphine complicates him coming after us. It’s a lot to wrap your head around, but he wants something from her and can’t jeopardize the deal they made.”
“Deals… so many deals…”
That’s when our brute takes her chin in his hand, directing her gaze up to his.
“Yes. However, we have more pressing matters to discuss.”
Her eyes widen, her throat working around a hard swallow.
“The bond killing the other is a big deal to me, Amarah. How could you just… not tell me?!” There’s pain and anger in his tone, and I understand both.
“I…” Her heart races so quickly it actually surprises me. “I’m sorry.” She flicks her gaze to me as if asking for help, but I shake my head. I’m with Kayn on this one. We’re not here to hurt her; this is communication, something she and I both struggle with, apparently.
“Why?” he asks, his thumb brushing along her jawline. “Why wouldn’t you tell me?”
She clears her throat and forces herself to meet his eyes. “I always planned on breaking it… you knew that. I told you I was going to.”
“That was before I—” He cuts himself off and shakes his head. “That was before you let me in. Remember? You agreed.”
“I know.”
“Do you still want to break it?”
“No!” The panic in her voice soothes something in me. Kayn hadn’t been worried, but I—ever the pessimist—couldn’t shake the thought that she wanted to leave him… leave us.
She tightens her grip on my hand and shakes her head again. “No, I just… I don’t know. Everything went crazy once we got into the Beyond. I thought we’d be in and out. I never imagined Belial of all creatures wanting to keep me there. I never imagined we’d be going after his son.”
“Were you ever going to tell me? About the bond connecting our lives?”
“Of course I was, Kayn. I planned to when we got back. I swear.”
He looks at me for reassurance because he knows what comes next. The part she begged me not to say. But there can be no secrets between us. She’s young, and she still needs to learn that for the life of an immortal, lies only ever end in disaster.
With a heavy sigh, he turns back to her. “Were you going to have me kill you, little slayer, to fulfill the blood bind?”
The color drains from her face, nearly washing out her freckles. “W-What?” Her weary eyes lock onto mine, dread written plainly in them.
“Tell us everything, dollface. No more secrets. We’re here to protect you.” I reach up and brush a strand of hair from her face. “To be with you.”
“Why would you want me to kill you? I said when we were done—”
“I remember very clearly every second with you, Kayn. Every word that’s come from your mouth.” She sighs and shakes her head, slipping free of his grip on her chin. “I don’t feel the way I did before. I’ll tell you someone else I want dead. We can drop this.”
“No,” he says firmly, taking the back of her neck and keeping her from pulling away. “We will talk. Now. So buckle up, little slayer.”
I don’t know what it is about him, but immediately I feel the instinct to submit, and I think the same sensation wraps around Amarah. Her arms stiffen at her sides, and she bites her bottom lip.
“Not here in the kitchen…” she whispers. “Please.”