Page 102 of Broken Shadows

He was always that way. Everyone expects the devil to be evil, often mistaking him for a demon, but he’s not. He’s an angel, and they’re born from light. Out of the eight of us in our family, Lucifer is perhaps the nicest, yet most powerful of us all.

I replay the memory in my mind of him tearing apart a soul in punishment, releasing his untapped, terrifying power in a split second, then sitting down and playing fire blocks with us after as if he hadn’t obliterated a soul out of existence.

I reach the entrance to my childhood bed chambers, happy to see nothing in here has been touched since then.

Except for the tuxedo on my four-post bed, along with a note. He’d only been gone for fifteen minutes, and Dad has already done this.

My son, this is for you.

You will accompany your stepmom tonight while I greet our guests and then join your love.

Love, Dad.

He knows. Of course he does. I just hope he doesn’t relay anything to Evangeline. He would have had his demons report everything to him by now, about my time in Hell. He might even know about the trials if he’s spoken to Ezra.

I pull the velvety fabric of the suit jacket between my fingers. The entire thing looks as if it’s been plucked from the night sky. I suppose it’s easy for him. Dad can manifest almost anything into reality, a gift no one else has.

I’m sure the dress he’s spun for Evie is just as beautiful. Not that it matters. She’d look fucking stunning in just about anything… or nothing but her rose and skull tattoos.

Evie. Fuck. She needs to know that we must be careful around Evangeline. I don’t trust the cunt not to attempt to hurt Evie if she knows, even more than she wants to now.

I reopen our bond, removing the mental barriers until I reach her.Evie? Little Witch?

Lor?An edge of anxiety hangs in her tone, and I suddenly feel awful for keeping her cut off that long.

Are you okay?

She hesitates than answers,Yes, but I was worried about you.

Don’t be. Look, I found my dad, but I couldn’t convince him. I need you to listen to me carefully.

CHAPTER THIRTY

Evie

Lorcan’s voice comes through in an unusual, panicked flutter.

Evangeline cannot know we are together. She will destroy you and until I can convince my dad of the truth, we need to play it safe, for you, Rosa, and Aiden too. You’re all at risk here.

We chose to come here,I say into his mind before he can blame himself.

Your aunt knows the bonds between demons well,he explains.She’ll know if I’m talking to you in your mind and that can only be done to a witch or human after imprinting, even partially.He pauses briefly, then continues through the bond.Evangeline is not a fool. I will not risk your life by risking her finding out, so we can’t do that when we’re together, okay? Just know, everything that is about to happen isn’t real. My feelings for you will never change, but you must play along.

I shoot a message back through our bond.Play along with what?

Lorcan’s voice splits into my mind in an instant.I’ll explain later, Little Witch.His voice echoes in my mind, thrumming softly as if it belongs there.Lucifer has left a dress for you in the wardrobe for the ball later. Remember that letter I gave you? Did you read it?

Not yet.I reply.It’s still in Rosa’s bag.

His reply comes all too quickly.Read it and hold on to the words. I must go.

Lorcan? What happened?

Silence greets my question, and I sigh. My stomach knots at the thought of him being in such close proximity to Evangeline. Who knows what she’s fucking capable of? If she’s anything like the rest of my family was, then I can only dread to think of the damage she will inflict. And from everything I’ve heard, she’s worse.

I need to find Rosa to retrieve that letter, but first, he said there’s a dress the actual devil, made for me, which is insane since I’ve never met the…man?Demon? No,Angel. He’s a godsdamn angel. It’s insane to think how much my life has changed. Sometimes I wonder if I’m trapped in some prolonged fever dream.

I climb out from the cocoon of darkness in the massive fourposter bed and push back the black, velvet curtains draping the intricately carved posts. I shudder as my bare feet hit the ancient stone and look around. Gomez has cradled himself on top of the tall, black wardrobe.

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