Page 286 of The Spider Queen
He growled.
Lucifer now smelled of darkness and mist, of cold barren places, of unquenched rage, and of a void that would never be filled.
He beat his wings a few more times as we flew through the storm. Gray clouds misted around us and he dove through one before descending.
My stomach leapt into my throat at the sharp decline, but I shrieked in excitement, my eyes tearing from the cool air.
His wings wrapped around both of us, effectively blocking my sight, and then they unfurled.
We’d landed and I hadn’t even felt him set his feet down onto the ground.
“Whoa. Ten out of ten for perfect landing,” I quipped.
He squeezed me tightly around the ribs and then let me go. Completely off balance, I collapsed. As I caught my breath, I looked around. We were in a ripe green meadow with rolling hills and trees lined with golden light.
I blinked and looked up at the sky. The storm had ceased, but the gray storm clouds flashed with lightning every so often. But the sky that wasn’t covered by angry fog was a soft Easter egg blue.
“Are you completely mental?” Lucifer snapped.
I swiveled my gaze back to him. He was panting, his hands clenched at his sides. His sculpted chest was slick with sweat, and he looked like a marble statue come to life.
“You were much more charming when we met at the masquerade,” I groused.
“I was in the mortal realm. I had to be charming.” His eyes widened. “You left me sitting at the table. Alone.”
“Is that why you’re pissed at me?”
“I’m pissed at you because I told you not to jump again. And you defied me.”
I snorted. “Defied? I’m not your minion. Do you even have minions? Never mind. You also told me you wouldn’t save me. You’re a liar.”
He clenched his jaw, his indigo eyes flashing in anger and something else. Something that had me stepping back.
“Try it,” he rumbled, his voice low and raspy. “Try and run and see how far you get.”
Why did he make it sound appealing? What would happen if I ran? He’d come after me, no doubt. And catch me. Would we roll to the ground? Would he pin me beneath him and then cover my lips with his?
The air crackled with energy. Literally. Tiny blue lines of electricity zinged off of Lucifer, and he wrenched his eyes from mine.
“Why did you jump?”
Whatever bravado I still had, I used it now. I tossed my hair over my shoulder and replied, “To test you, of course. Now answer my question: why didn’t you let me fall to my death?”
Chapter 9
“You. Tested. Me?” He punctuated each word while simultaneously trying to keep his breathing under control.
Lucifer was a loose cannon, but for some reason I found him appealing.
He expanded his wings. They were monstrous. And beautiful in a gothic sort of way.
I couldn’t stop staring at the delicate bones that ribbed each wing, the black membranes between them almost translucent.
“Like what you see?” he purred.
Jarred out of my reverie, I tossed him a haughty look. “I’ve seen better.”
He strode closer to me, his wings reaching out to wrap around me and pull me to him. “I doubt you’ve seen another fallen angel’s wings before, Stella.”
