Page 51 of The Rebel Witch

“Normally, I wouldn’t mind at all, vampire. I think clothes are overrated, however, I’m here on business so I have to agree with the witch. You should have pants on, son.”

Now I gasped for a completely different reason because there was a man standing in the door that led to the living area of the suite. He was roughly six foot five, with broad shoulders and a face that could make an angel weep. Probably because he’d once been an angel himself. He’d been closer to the deity than anyone could imagine, and now he was here.

My blood went cold because I realized who was standing in the room with me. The demon blood that ran through my system recognized him. Everything inside me told me to bow to the being who stood in my doorway because he could incinerate me with a single thought.

Kelsey had been worried about how we would get into Lucifer’s realm. She should have worried about the man, the myth, the legend getting into ours.

Lucifer Morningstar was here.

And we were all in trouble.

Chapter Eight

Liv

“Greetings, Lucifer Morningstar. Though I shouldn’t be the one welcoming you.” My heart caught in my chest, and I wasn’t sure if it was from the fear that this being could eviscerate Casey with a thought or excitement. Lucifer worked with Myrddin. He might be here to save me.

The master would have outdone himself in proving his commitment to his Profane if he’d sent the Morningstar himself in to save me.

And I wouldn’t see Casey until we were on opposite sides of this war again.

Casey nearly tripped over himself trying to get his legs into his pants. “Lucifer? LiketheLucifer?”

A smirk hit the Lord of Hell’s face, curling his lips up slightly. “In the flesh. And might I say your flesh is lovely, vampire. As I mentioned, I wouldn’t mind a little fun if I wasn’t here on business.”

I have to admit I liked the fact that having Lucifer hit on him seemed to poleaxe the man who claimed to be my husband.

He wasn’t. Not that Lucifer would let a wedding band stop him.

“I…uhm…totally flattered but really straight and also married.” Casey fumbled his way through the explanation.

“No one is straight enough to not enjoy an encounter with me.” Lucifer shifted his attention between the two of us as though trying to figure the situation out. “Well, I came to this room because the lord of the house takes advantage of his marriage vows. He was pretty much balls deep in the Hunter, and that werewolf was working pretty hard, too. Normally I would stop and watch, but there were all kinds of…feelings.” The Morningstar shuddered. “It felt better to be in here since this one is so deliciously angry. And confused. I find that comforting. Thank you, dear.”

I wasn’t confused, but I also wasn’t about to argue with Lucifer. It was good he’d felt my rage. He could pass that on to my master so he understood I’d played no part in getting stuck here.

This could be my way out.

If Lucifer took me with him, I wouldn’t have to face Casey or Kelsey or Lee. I wouldn’t need Evan because I could get my own fix. Dean could be on his own. At least until his father rode in to save the day. I would be rewarded for bringing Myrddin valuable intel, and I would pick whichever bitch annoyed me the most and murder her because there were only three Profane and she was wearing my crown. I would take my place at the head of the unholy trinity, and my life would be back on track.

I went down on one knee. “How can I aid you, Lord Lucifer?”

“Get on your freaking feet, Olivia.” Casey was at my side, trying to haul me up. “You do not bow to him.”

“Oh, but she seems to,” Lucifer said, walking in like he owned the place. Pitch black eyes fastened on me. “Olivia Carey. A witch of some power, but you didn’t come into it until later in life, and it was taken from you. You’re more powerful now. You’ve got rage to fuel you. What…ah…it was a violation of your person that sent you careening over the edge. I like you. There are people out there who would have found a way to hold on to their humanity, but you just went for it. One bad thing happens and you’re ready to toss it all out and take down the world and burn it all down around you.” His eyes widened. “Oh, and you’re missing a piece of your soul. Yes, that’s the way to handle trauma, girl. Go for it.”

I didn’t like Lucifer. And he was way more sarcastic than I thought he would be.

He turned his attention to Casey. “Casey Lane. A young academic. You were lucky. So many vampires don’t turn until they’re far too old to enjoy vampiric life. You know your parents had a life insurance policy on you. I’m sure that was helpful with all their partying. I do believe they keep a picture of you. They find grief a great icebreaker.”

The fallen angel really knew where to stick the knife in. I knew that wasn’t how it had gone down, but I wasn’t about to argue with Lucifer.

Casey’s expression didn’t change at all. “Good to know I could help.”

He wasn’t giving Lucifer anything. Like vampires, demons have different classes and innate talents. With the exception of Lucifer, who had them all. In this case he was calling on his empathetic and clairvoyant talents. He was better with supernatural creatures since we were closer to demons than humans. He would have more trouble with, say, a companion or a Fae since they were closer to angels than demons, but he could see through to my soul.

I did not like what he saw.

Lucifer paced, his hands behind his back. “An interesting pairing. Most vampires don’t bond so closely with anyone but a companion. Academics are the freaks of the vamp world. So much weaker than your warrior brethren, and yet history has proven your class almost always controls the Council in one way or another. This war on the Earth plane harmed your relationship. I can sense it. As to aiding me, witch, you can tell me how long the Sloanes usually go at it. I know the Hell plane is considered chaotic and lawless, but we do have formalities I insist upon observing. One of them is to announce myself to the lord of the realm I’m visiting. Lord Sloane has been helpful to me these last few years, and I don’t want to upset him.”

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