Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 144404 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144404 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
“A talent you cannot take from me,” Gray countered.
And that was precisely why he’d brought in Myrddin. He wanted to force our hand. “Are you planning on giving Dean to Myrddin if we don’t capitulate to your every whim?”
“Something like that,” Lucifer murmured. “The truth of the matter is, Dean is the blooded child of Myrddin Emrys. He is currently here on the Hell plane, where I have dominion over everything. He has enough demon blood to come under my rule while he is here. So I get to decide what happens to him. There are two bidders. Let’s see who comes in with what I need.”
“Lord Lucifer, you promised me,” Myrddin argued.
“The only promise I made was that you could leave here with something of import. I never said what that thing or person would be,” Lucifer replied. “You’re off your game. Now, I want to stop prevaricating and get down to business. Grayson, I want an open-ended contract for your services or I’ll allow Myrddin to take his son.”
“He’s going to kill him.” I wasn’t about to allow this to happen, but I couldn’t think of a way out right now. If Gray signed that contract, we would never be free. He would be forced to descend on Lucifer’s whims.
I heard a low growl and realized I had another problem.
Fenrir was at the doorway, and somewhere in this palace, I would bet his nice clothes were in tatters because he was in wolf form. Evan stood at his side, her eyes narrowed.
“What is he doing here?” Evan asked. “I wasn’t sure what was happening because this psycho scented the air and then his clothes exploded and I had to run to keep up. I take it we’ve been betrayed. What a fucking surprise. Calm down, Fen. You can’t rip Lucifer’s throat out. I’m pretty sure it grows back.”
“Such a smart girl,” Lucifer said, staring Fenrir’s way. “And a dumb wolfling. Yes, I called you that you massive bit of fur and muscle. You’re still a child if you think you can threaten me. Mr. Wilcox, if you don’t want me to murder your son, you should get him under control.”
“Fenrir, please,” Trent said, holding out a hand. “Let Gray handle this. You need to protect Evan and your mother.”
“I’m not going to harm Lady Sloane,” Lucifer said between gritted teeth. “That child is important to the future of Hell. The princess is another story altogether.” He looked back Myrddin’s way. “Don’t you want her for some reason? Are you looking for another child bride? Didn’t I already give you one of those?”
“I want my son,” Myrddin said, though his eyes had strayed to Evan. “Where is the other one? I have reports that Lee Donovan-Quinn traveled to the Midnight Kingdom. I’ll take him if I can’t get my son. I’m owed a soul.”
“No, you’re owed something of import,” Lucifer shot back, and it was easy to see the male was losing patience. “As it so happens, I plan on gifting you a new Coven House. It’s a whole building I own in New York City. You’ll find that covers my promise to you. Unless Grayson isn’t willing to meet my demands. As for the amusing prince, he’s…” Lucifer frowned. “I can’t feel him. Why can’t I feel him? This is my realm. It’s made of my body. I should be able to feel every creature who crawls here.”
Shit and double shit. “He was going to portal back after he dropped off Dean. He’s watching over the prisoner we have at our place.”
“Prisoner? Do you mean Olivia Carey?” Myrddin asked.
Lucifer paced, shaking his head. “I don’t care about her. She’s meaningless, though she’s covering her power. I suspect that has something to do with you. But I don’t care because no one portalled out of here. So if he didn’t portal away, the fucker is still here.”
“It’s the Mantle of Arthur,” Myrddin said under his breath. “I curse the day I gave that to his father. Had I known the trouble it would cause me I would have let Donovan die that night. Lord Lucifer, Lee Donovan-Quinn is a thief, and he’s here to steal from you.”
“That is a lie,” Evan proclaimed.
“You’re trying to heal him yourself.” Myrddin faced off with Evan. “The boy is trying to steal the one thing that can heal an Uro spell.”
My fear ratcheted up substantially. How the hell would we get away from Lucifer if Eddie wasn’t here to teleport us out?
“Lord Sloane, is your guest trying to steal one of my feathers?” Lucifer’s voice had gone deep and low, his eyes changing to a pure red. “I know you’re new to this realm, but let me school you. No one steals from me. Especially not pieces of me. Do you think I allow thieves to take my body parts and make weapons or spells out of my sacredness?”