Page 148 of Dragon Her Heels

THIRTY-SIX

I wanted to pet every baby alligator to cross my path.

Once upon a time, 36 Lakeview Street had been a two or three storied home, a mini mansion by all standards. Boasting over seventy acres of swampy foliage, it counted as an oasis of natural beauty close to civilization. It also served as the nesting ground for many of the lake’s alligators.

The instant I’d stepped foot out of Lucifer’s SUV, the local babies swarmed me, throwing themselves against my shoes and legs in an effort to cuddle. With hundreds of them to contend with, I had no hope of petting them all, which broke my heart.

I wanted to pet every baby alligator to cross my path.

As mosquitos also lived in the area in terrifying number, I crafted a ward to prevent them from viewing humans as tasty treats.

Then I narrowed my eyes. “Can a human die from mosquito bites?”

“Usually only from the disease or allergies, and our targets are not allergic, I’m afraid. You could make them beyond miserable, however.” Lucifer joined me, and he crouched, smiling at the congregation surrounding me. “These are the children of the alligators you spared when the storm came. Your presence imbued their mothers, and they recognize the sensation as comfort and familiarity. Your magic touches them even here, which is part of why I’m working to secure every acre surrounding this lake. This place is yours.”

“Poor Yuless, forced to live on someone else’s turf,” I replied with a grin. “I’m sure I can help him cope with his status as my dragon.”

“I’m sure he won’t mind in the slightest.” Lucifer cleared his throat. “My father wishes for a new angelic seed, which means I must create a demonic seed to balance it. Pick an alligator, any alligator. I will handle the conversion so that you have a companion who will live a long and happy life. I recommend a male. The estrogen levels in your home are frightening.”

While I snickered at his comment, I considered the babies surrounding me. “I have no idea which ones are male.”

Lucifer pointed at one of the bolder babies, who climbed over the others and pawed at my leg, desperate to be picked up. “That one is a boy.”

I scooped him up, gave him a kiss on his nose, and said, “Then I’ll pick him, as he seems the most determined to accept my affection.”

Lucifer shook his head and held out his hands. “Give him to me, then.”

I obeyed, keeping a close eye on the Devil. “I will make you wish I destroyed you should you hurt my new baby. He’s going to be part of my present for Yuless for dealing with yesterday.”

“Hasn’t anyone told you it’s a terrible idea to give pets to somebody as a gift?”

“The gift is allowing him to love my sweet baby boy.”

“You’re something else.” After a few moments, Lucifer returned the alligator. “There. All done. And I recommend you turn this into a tourism area, where guests give donations to make use of walkways you install. They will photograph the alligators, and your wards will make certain everyone gets along. Your curses will also make certain nobody attempts to poach your scaled children.”

“I will include some nasty curses should anyone attempt to poach my children.” I smiled at the thought of inflicting some significant misery upon somebody for attempting to hurt my alligators. “I will create a business plan for Yuless, and we’ll do a weekly event where everyone can help feed the wildlife here. It’s not like my magic allows them to thrive normally.”

“That would do a great deal of good for the local economy, yes. It will also give local farms a place to dispose of chickens who perish from avian flu. A small dose of neutralizer hidden in the chicken’s carcass will prevent any spread of disease.” Lucifer reached down and picked up a rather lethargic alligator. “I’m feeling benevolent today, so this little one is coming home with me. She will not survive in the wild, so I do no harm.”

The poor little girl. “What’s wrong with her?”

“She is much like Lady, and she will endure a similar treatment once I take her home. Nature is not kind because nature is nature; it simply is. Sometimes, I decide to change an animal’s fate simply because I can.”

“Is it simply? Or is it because you had to allow evil to happen to someone—or something—good, and at least this way, you make up for it a little?”

Lucifer shot a glare my way. “You are an impertinent young lady!”

I suspected the Devil needed to unburden his shoulders more often than anyone, especially him, cared to admit. “Do you want to talk about that act of evil?”

He sighed. “It’s more of an old evil creating new consequences. What do you know about the killings in Texas?”

While there had been many killings in Texas over the years, a more recent series of brutal murders of women and their children, at the hands of a corrupted presidential hopeful, had smeared the state’s reputation. “Probably not as much as I should. It seemed like a pointless tragedy.”

“Yes, in so many cases, it was. Texas has lycanthrope cops now as a result, which is doing a great deal of good for their communities, but there are many holes left from the murders. What if I told you there was a woman forced to participate in the killings who has a rather sizable hole in her soul as a result?”

I took my time thinking about it. “I would think that is also a tragedy.”

“Would you, as a woman who loves children, be able to accept someone you knew had murdered others, including innocent children?”