Page 70 of Demon's Desire
“He kept saying he’s sorry for hurting Harper and Ollie. He claims not believing they were real mates excuses his actions.He asked for help, and this time said something about demons wanting to kill him. But why would they? He freed them.”
“Retaliation?” Nico suggested. “Eliminating Lucifer would ensure he can’t reimprison them. How did he manage to trap everyone in the first place?”
Onyx had put those potential motives together, but he didn’t believe Luc was telling the truth and had dismissed any reasons someone might want him dead as irrelevant because the threat was a lie in the first place.
Unless it wasn’t… Were demons trying to permanently kill Luc?
Onyx didn’t know how to feel about that. Half of him was sick to death of caring for a brother who treated him like trash. The other half ached at the possibility of Luc being scrubbed from the universe. No one deserved that fate. Onyx had stopped Dante from committing that crime against Luc, mostly to save Dante, but partially to save his brother.
“To trap everyone, Luc stole magic from me, Dante, and Ash, and created a seal around the Realm of the Damned. And what’s more, those stolen pieces of magic apparently allow him to see through our invisibility illusions. We never knew that was possible. Luc kept that secret for a thousand years and must have seen us sneaking around countless times.”
“But he told you he could see through your invisibility today?” Nico sounded surprised.
Onyx nodded, dread sending chills through his body.
Luc had given away two big advantages—that he could get past Onyx’s protections and see him regardless of illusion—when he had no reason to. No reason except to prove he was on Onyx’s side. Or to trick Onyx into believing he was on his side, more likely.
But then, Luc had thrown that potentially regained trust away by threatening Nico and attacking Onyx.
Admittedly, it had been a weak attack. Nothing bad had happened. Onyx hadn’t been cursed or hurt like last time, only incapacitated for a second, allowing Luc to disappear.
Onyx took a second to assess himself with his demon sense, in case a latent curse had been laid. Everything seemed as it should be. He felt great. Better than usual. That wasn’t the sign of an attack. He hadn’t felt this good in so long, he’d forgotten this particular feeling of wholeness.
Onyx went rigid in Nico’s arms.
“What is it?”
“He… Fuck. Luc gave me my magic back.” Onyx scrambled from Nico’s embrace and sat up, running a hand through his hair and along a horn. “My power is at full strength. My fire feels deeper. Complete. I haven’t felt this way in a thousand years. What the fuck?”
Onyx stared at Nico as if he might be able to explain. Nico seemed baffled.
There was no mistaking it now that Onyx was paying attention. He’d gotten used to his missing magic. The hole had become part of him. But now that he had his power back, the difference was stark.
It had been agony when Luc first stole such an integral part of him.
Now he was whole.
“What the hell is he playing at?” Rage coursed through Onyx, more powerful than it had been in centuries. His fire flared.
Nico’s mouth opened in awe at whatever he read on Onyx’s face. He sat up, grabbing Onyx’s hand. “What if Luc’s not playing at anything? Wouldn’t giving your magic back go a long way to proving he’s sorry? What if he wasn’t threatening me? You said Luc claimed he wouldn’t hurt me. And he didn’t.”
“He hasn’t yet,” Onyx corrected. “I get what you’re thinking,but I can’t trust him. Not after everything. He has an agenda. He always does. Luc only looks after himself. Just because we can’t see his game plan doesn’t mean there isn’t one.”
Nico frowned, eyes disproportionately sad.
“I’m not risking it. I don’t care how his actions seem.” Onyx gripped Nico’s hand tighter. “I’m not risking anything happening to you. Trusting the Devil is for fools.”
You were never a fool.
Onyx nearly screamed to drown out his brother’s words.
He couldn’t do this. He needed Nico safe. As a witch, he’d go to the Realm of the Damned when he died and never reincarnate. Onyx didn’t want that cursed afterlife for Nico, and he couldn’t let Luc send him there early.
An idea struck.
Onyx let go of Nico’s hand and grabbed his shoulder. “You’re friends with a horde of vampires. Why are you still mortal? If you were thinking of joining their ranks, do it now. You’d be so much safer.”
Nico’s brows raised, forehead creasing. “I don’t want to join Rowan.”
