Page 48 of To Crave Truly

Stop feeling sorry for yourself. It’s depressing. There was a definite undercurrent of snark in my demon’s tone.

“Well, forgive me if I’m not happy about this whole situation. I don’t feel like bouncing around and being all fucking sunshine and rainbows.”

Pity.

I tsked at her and Lucifer gave me a sideways glance.

“What?”

“Nothing,” I mumbled, “just my demon giving me sass.”

“Have you come across this before?” Iver asked Lucifer, his gaze still weirdly obsessive as he watched me.

“No,” Lucifer replied. “But Lori is unique.”

“She’s also your life spark,” Iver said before marching deeper into the darkness. “Looks like you won’t need to hold up your end of the deal. I’ve done it for you.”

“Iver! That’s not fucking helpful.” But he just laughed and gave me his back whilst the shadows swallowed him whole.

“Is that true?” Lucifer asked, his eyes wide and jaw slack. He grabbed my arm, pulling me to a stop.

“Apparently. When Iver and I arrived at the Conclave we were put in some holding cells and Fenris came down, looking like shit. But that’s not the point. Iver thinks that because I brought Fenris back from the dead I have the scintillam vitae.”

“Huh,” Lucifer mused. “Why didn’t I think of that?”

“But what’s worse, is that Fenris isn’t acting like himself. I think… I think bringing him back did something to him. is that possible?”

Lucifer looked at me with concern brimming in his fiery eyes. “Maybe, but without spending some time with him, I won’t be able to sense the damage done to his soul.”

“Would you do that for me? Would you make sure he’s okay?” I clutched his arm, hoping that Lucifer could give me a little glimmer of hope that we could save Fenris.

He wrapped his hands around my face and pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Of course, little dove. Anything for you.”

You guys are so sweet I might actually be sick. My demon fake retched in the back of my mind, and I huffed a laugh at her.

“Do you guys need a minute, or are you still fucking?” Iver shouted.

I groaned. “Why did you create this guy? He’s unbearable.”

Lucifer smiled down at me and my heart skipped a beat. “He’s not that bad.”

I gave him a flat look.

“Okay, so yes, he’s a little insufferable but hopefully allowing him to socialise will improve him.”

“You know I can hear you,” Iver called. “Can we get this over with? I don’t want to be here anymore than you do.”

“Urgh, I am really starting to hate this guy.”

“Don’t lie to me, Lori,” Lucifer whispered by the shell of my ear. “You know what it does to me.”

I shivered and leant into his touch. Lucifer had the knack for detecting lies, but if I lied to him, it turned him on something fierce.

I pressed a quick, hard kiss against his lips. “Later. We will revisit this later.”

“You’re damn right we will.”

“Do you think it’s much further?” Iver asked, his tone bored. Jeez, it was like taking a toddler with us.

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