Page 172 of The Bonds of Indigo

“He wants me to do something for him as penance for killing one of his Grimhorn,” I say as I lean back further, my back resting against Lucifer’s arm. I cross my legs, keeping my voice even. “I don’t think it’s fair that you expect me to pay for defending myself.”

The power I feel coming from Lucifer has me working double time to keep my heart rate in check. The room feels thick, like we’ve been swallowed to the depths of the ocean but still are capable of breathing.

Belial opens his mouth, but his wife raises her hand.

“Enough of this. Honey, stop.” She turns to me—no, to Lucifer beside me. “Lucifer, it’s fine. Your father won’t hurt her. Not at my table.”

Belial grumbles, and Lucifer’s hand twitches against my back before moving to my waist.

Her gaze snaps back to her husband. “We’ll look further into this. It hasn’t even been a day since it was killed. There has to be answers, and blaming it on our son’s… Witch, isn’t the right course of action.”

Proserpina regards me with a gentle smile. “Stay for some time so we can clear this up. If it isn’t my husband sending a Grimhorn after you, then you’re in danger.” Her tone is kind, but I know the concern isn’t for me—it’s for her son, who is acting… surprisingly protective.

It’s nice.

“Vendra won’t appreciate me being kept here longer than intended.”

“That is why I’m requesting it,” she states matter of fact. “You won’t be a prisoner, but it is in your best interest. You understand.”

When I look at Belial, his deadly stare is locked onto us.

I know I can’t leave now. Because if I do, and Belial comes after me, I’ll be with Kayn. And while I’d have a better chance defending us in the mortal world, I cannot risk him. Not his life.

“I understand, ma’am. I’ll stay until it’s cleared up.”

Lucifer exhales sharply through flared nostrils as he looks at me. “You’ve really put yourself in a bind here.”

I’m not sure why I do it, but I lift my hand and graze it across his cheek. “I’m pretty much fucked in every direction these days. What else is new?”

It’s meant to be comforting, not seductive, but by the feral look in his eyes he takes it the latter.

Oh, no.

What have I done?

“Then you’ll respect my wishes, Mother.” His hands tighten at my hips, nails pricking my skin. “I’ll keep her at my place, not here. I’d prefer a bit more privacy.”

“I don’t trust you not to⁠—”

Belial is cut off by his wife. “Leave them be. You’ve been begging for our son to get over that boy, and here he is doing it.”

I take a deep breath through my nose. I’ve been with Lucifer for only a few hours, and I can already see how ridiculous that notion is—him getting over Kayn. I’m more likely to turn into a Vampire before that happens; and that’s actually impossible for my kind.

I’m glad it’s like that, though; their absolute refusal to let go of each other. The way they orbit one another even in denial. Their obvious, stubborn devotion.

I want that for them. I want them both so painfully hung up on each other that it drives them mad with the need to be together.

That would make me happy. And wherever my temporary little life fits between them, I’ll take it.

The rest of dinner was basically suffocated in silence, but I did enjoy not only the food, but my time with Lucifer. I’d mentioned the touching thing again but I could see how hard it was for him to keep his hands off me. I’ll choose to believe it’s because he wanted to feel me under his fingertips, not that he was putting on an act. It made the awkward quiet far more bearable.

When Belial abruptly left, he told Lucifer to see him in the morning. His mother lingered only a few minutes longer, leaving just the two of us in the dining room. I’d finished about half the plate when I started to yawn.

I’ll die before admitting he was right and any longer I may have curled up in his lap and just passed out.

Lucifer guided me up on my second attempt at hiding my exhaustion and brought me… here.

Where here is, I have no idea.