Page 87 of To Crave Madly
My brother’s jaw dropped. “You went to Upper Realm? How did you manage to get past Arella?”
I grinned wolfishly. “I made a deal.”
“You didn’t. Lucifer, you know you shouldn’t have done that—”
“I know,” I interrupted, “but after Lori encountered a celestial presence in the mind of a possessed mage, I knew I needed to see the Council. They kept refusing to see me, so I just went up there myself. It was all very illuminating.”
“How so?”
I gave my brother a flat look. “You were missing, for one. And the Council weren’t in their seats but huddled around Camael and Jegudiel like a group of gossips exchanging secrets.”
Michael’s eyebrows raised dramatically. “That is indeed odd.”
“I knew something was wrong the minute I got there. It was quiet. Too quiet, and Camael couldn’t wait to get me out of there. They refused point blank that there was any Celestial involvement with the mages and, when I asked about direct orders from the Divine One, Camael threatened to smite me.”
“I can’t say I’m surprised Camael would want to smite you. Even I have been tempted to do that. But he has been an overbearing force since inheriting the Faithkeeper. It’s almost unbearable.” He paused for a moment, his lips pursed in thought before continuing. “This Lori, is she the girl who you have created a soulbond with?”
I could see the disapproval in his face. His lips turned down and a scowl descended on his brow.
“It wasn’t entirely intentional. She gave me a name and called me her own which sparked the magic that bound us together. I had hoped she was the One, but I didn’t expect things to happen as fast as they did.”
“She makes you happy, doesn’t she?” Michael asked softly, his gaze seeing far more than he let on.
I thought about my little demon who had managed to turn my world upside down. She had fallen into my life and made every day a little brighter by just being in it. She was beautiful and caring, she made me laugh and made me think that I was a better person just because she made me so.
“Yes, brother,” I answered smiling. “She does.”
“Then I am glad for you. I wish I could meet her.”
“So do I. I am sure that you –”
A commotion sprang from outside the doors to my private chambers. I could hear guards shouting and the sounds of a brawl from beyond the door. Had someone come to collect Michael? Was someone breaking in?
“Lucifer! I know you’re in there.” There was a loud bang on the door followed by a frustrated growl.
“I think you might get your wish,” I ground out to my brother. What the hell was she doing here? If this was Torsten’s doing, I was going to kill him. Slowly and painfully.
There was another growl, followed by a grunt, before Darius came crashing through the large double doors and sliding along the wooden floor. He came to a stop just before colliding with my feet. How the fuck did she knock my head of security out cold? Her demon side was clearly getting stronger and, if I weren’t so annoyed with her for coming down here against my orders, I’d probably be impressed.
Lori came striding through the door, looking magnificent in all her rage and fury, like a warrior striding into battle. She was breathtaking and I found my trousers suddenly uncomfortably tight. Her limbs were clad in that ridiculous leather outfit they called a uniform and holy fuck… she was hot.
And really pissed off. I had a sudden inescapable need to throw everyone out and take her to my bed. All that anger channelled into sex would be wild and fucking delicious. But if she thought she could come here and battle me, then she had another thing coming.
I put my glass down and strode over to her, tucking my hands in my pockets as I walked. I didn’t trust myself not to throttle her.
“Hello, little dove. To what do I owe this unexpected visit?”
Chapter 30
LORI
I looked at the calm face of Lucifer and inwardly flinched. I knew that look. It was his I’m-one-step-away-from-losing-my-shit look. It was the look that spoke of the quiet before the storm. Well, you could bring it, Lucifer, because I know how to batten down the hatches and survive it.
“Why the fuck have you been so goddamn quiet?”
He grinned wolfishly at me and I had to tell my insides that we weren’t here for playtime in the bedroom. We were here for answers first. We could always make time for some fun later if I ever got control of my temper, which felt more difficult than it should be. I felt edgy, on the cusp of losing control. I had already attacked the giant of a man outside Lucifer’s door with far more force than necessary. It was like I could feel myself changing down here and I was hungry. So fucking hungry.
“She’s a charmer, Lucifer,” a voice drawled from the back of the room.
