Page 159 of The Bonds of Indigo

“Amarah, shh, it’s alright.”

My arms are freed, and the moment I can move, I snatch one of the blankets and throw it over myself. I scramble away from him so fast my back slams into the uneven headboard, sending a bolt of pain down my spine.

“Kayn!? Kayn—please, can you hear me?!” I shout through the bond, but I can’t feel him. There’s nothing. Just a void and the dread that crashes over me because of it makes me cover my face with both palms.

“No, no, no. Please hear me, Kayn. Where are you?!”

A gentle hand grazes my bare arm, and I whip around so fast that my palm cracks against Lucifer’s cheek. The slap echoes through the room. I’m already rearing back to strike him again when he catches my wrist.

“Dollface, please don’t hit me.” He shifts closer, still holding my arm firmly. “Bloody Beyond… this isn’t good.”

His free hand rises to my cheek, and the backs of his knuckles glide softly across my skin. When I finally meet his gaze, he says quietly, “It’s good to see you. I’m glad you’re alive, Amarah.”

I bite my bottom lip to keep from snapping something smart, because why does he sound so damn sincere?

“Where’s Kayn?”

He draws in a deep breath and shuts his eyes. “In the Phantasm. It’s where Familiars meet with their ruler and creator, Hex. He’s in the safest place in this realm.”

“And me?”

His hand shifts and continues its gentle sweep along my cheek. Gods, his hands are soft—too soft. Too safe. It shouldn’t feel like this. Not with him. Not with the devil’s son, himself.

“You’re safe with me. I won’t let anything happen to you, and I’ll get you, and Kayn, home.”

He drags his thumb along the bridge of my nose, right over the scar, then tilts my chin up with two fingers.

“All of this, in such a short period of time. You were⁠—”

“Flawless before?” I bite out. I didn’t mean to be a bitch, but… it just came out.

Because are we kidding? An Incubus—Lucifer—who is said to be, and I can confirm, as perfect as they come. Why couldn’t he have been a gremlin-looking Demon?

And then there’s Kayn. Quite literally a God among mortals.

Uncertainty coils under my skin like a parasite.

Why would Kayn want me when he has… this?

“No, no.” Lucifer chuckles. “Still fierce, I see.”

When his touch brushes up to my forehead, I tense. “Nocthariel… You’re cracking⁠—”

“It’s not permanent.” I shove his hand away. “Stop touching me, please.”

I tack on the please in hopes he’ll listen, but he doesn’t. His fingers simply migrate to my arm, tracing light lines across my pulse points.

“Unfortunately, I can’t do that…”

“Why?” I snap—but even as I say it, I don’t move away. Maybe because I know he’ll just reach again. Or maybe because part of me doesn’t want him to stop.

I remember meeting him so vividly. And yes, I was attracted to him like any person with eyeballs would be. He’s godsdamn gorgeous, and cocky without being insufferable. Where Kayn is full of himself, Lucifer just carries an effortless confidence he doesn’t need to voice.

I’d take either of them at this point.

No, not take them. I mean the confidence. Not… take them, take them.

“Two reasons,” he says, tone dipping low. “The first being your safety. I told my father I’m going to feed before we go to dinner with them… and he’ll know if I haven’t.”