Fallen Kings

40

Then we’re off. The crowd moves to the edges of the room, revealing a big dance floor. Before I know what’s happening, Lucifer takes the lead, his dancing so skillful that even when I stumble nobody can tell. I catch sight of Kassiel and Lilith dancing gracefully on the other side of the floor. Soon other people join us, kicking off the night in style.

“Thank you,” I say, sure nobody can hear me as we move swiftly across the floor.

“No, thank you for rescuing my son. It saved me from having to get involved directly and possibly starting another war.” When the music ends, Lucifer presses a kiss to the back of my hand, and then offers me to his son. I melt all over again at the sight of Kassiel looking incredibly handsome in his black tuxedo, and desire races along my spine as he touches the small of my back.

The night passes by in a whirlwind of introductions and dances. I even dance with Baal and a few other demons my mother introduces me to, and everyone is gracious and seems to be accepting of me. On the surface, anyway. When Lilith turns away, I see the jealous looks and hear the suspicion in their voices. But at this point in my life, I’m used to those.

After a few hours, Lilith drags me outside into one of the alcoves, which is covered in night-blooming jasmine, and we sit on one of the stone benches together. It feels nice to take a break and get off my feet.

“Are you having a good time?” Lilith asks, swirling her wine.

“I am, yes.” I turn toward her, noticing how the moonlight only makes her more stunning. “Thank you for coming tonight. It means a lot to me.”

She entwines her arm with mine. “It was time. There’s no need to hide who you are anymore. Although I do have to ask, what happened to the necklace I gave you?”

I touch my chest reflexively, but of course it’s gone. I stopped wearing it because it only made me sad. “The stone in it broke when I was hit with a blast from the Staff of Eternity. I’m sorry.”

“How did that happen?”

I sigh and quickly explain everything to her, ending with how we have the Staff hidden away. It’s been a while since we saw each other, and we have a lot to catch up on. “Do you know how to the destroy the Staff, by any chance?”

“I don’t, but I know the man who would. My former lover Culann is the enchanter who made it, along with your necklace. I could ask him. If I had a way to get to Faerie.”

“Damn. I have some fae friends, but no fae relic anymore.”

“A fae relic won’t be a problem. I still have the ring I use to change my appearance, which was also made by Culann.” She downs the last of her wine and stands. “If you take me to your fae friends, one of them can open a portal for me.”

I hastily get to my feet. “Right now?”

“Why wait?” She winks at me as we return to the ballroom. “Besides, this party is growing dull. Better to leave now so we make an exit everyone will remember. We need to give them something to gossip about, after all.”

I’ve never been so proud to be her daughter before.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Olivia

W

e pay our respects to Lucifer, and then I give Kassiel a goodnight kiss, both of us sad that we can’t spend the rest of the evening together, especially when we’re dressed as we are. I promise him I’ll wear the dress again sometime, and then I lead Lilith into the shadowy doorway to Seraphim Academy’s side. We both bend down and take off our heels with a short laugh, and then I make us invisible as we continue toward the school.

“I’m looking forward to meeting the rest of your men,” Lilith says, as we walk through the forest. “Although I suppose I’ve already met Bastien, even though he didn’t know it.” Last year, Lilith came to train me as a succubus under the disguise of a woman named Delilah. I’m not even sure Uriel knew her real identity.

“They might all be asleep,” I say, realizing it must be the middle of the night by now. “It’s late.”

“Ah yes, I didn’t think of that.” She lifts her diamond-covered dress to step over a rock. “Sunlovers, we used to call them during the war.”

I love getting this glimpse of the past. “And what did they call demons?”

“Nightwalkers.”

We make it back to the bell tower, and to my surprise, everyone is there and awake. Mostly. Marcus is passed out on the couch, but Callan jumps up as soon as I walk into the Princess Lounge. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I ask, while mother hangs back in the hall, probably trying not to startle them with her presence. “What are you all doing awake at this hour?”

Marcus sits up and rubs sleep from his eyes “Callan’s been like a little old lady, worried the whole time you’ve been gone. He wouldn’t leave, so we thought we’d keep him company.”

Bastien stands as well, but that’s his nature. “Welcome back, Olivia.” Jonah, Araceli, Tanwen, and Eveanna look at us from the table. They’re playing some sort of card game. “Did you have fun?” Araceli asks.

“I did. And there’s someone I’d like you all to meet.” I turn toward the door as Lilith saunters inside, her jeweled dress sparkling like stars under the light. Every head swings around to her as she crosses the room. “This is my mother. Lilith.”