Fallen Kings

41

“It’s a pleasure to meet you all,” she purrs, and the look of shock on all their faces is priceless. I wish I had a camera to capture it.

Marcus steps forward first and gives her an unexpected hug. “It’s so nice to finally meet you. I’m Marcus.”

“I see Raphael’s charm in you,” she says, patting his cheeks. When his eyes widen, she laughs. “Don’t worry, he’s never been my type.”

Bastien offers his hand. “It’s nice to meet you properly.”

“Forgive me for the ruse, but sometimes a little deception is required.” Lilith gives him a mischievous smile as she shakes his hand. Her gaze then swings to Callan, who has been standing back this whole time.

“This is Callan,” I say, hoping he doesn’t say something stupid when faced with an Archdemon.

He steps forward, his movements stiff. Is he…nervous? “It’s an honor.”

She takes both his hands and looks him in the eyes. “The honor is mine. I can see you have the courage of Michael, the integrity of Jophiel, and a heart that puts both of theirs to shame. How lucky for my daughter that you’ve given it to her.”

She winks at him as he coughs and steps back, his face turning red. All I can do is shake my head. She knows way too much about each of them, but I shouldn’t be surprised—she’s always been watching over me from the shadows.

I gesture to the others sitting at the table. “This is my brother Jonah, my roommate Araceli, and my friends Tanwen and Eveanna.”

Lilith gives each of them a smile and squeezes Jonah on the shoulder. “Thank you for being there for my daughter.”

I clear my throat. “Lilith is here because she thinks she can help us with the Staff.”

“Yes, I was once intimate with the man who made it. If one of you lovely fae ladies can open me a portal with my relic, I can find him and ask him how to destroy it.”

Eveanna slowly rises to her feet and speaks with awe in her voice. “You speak of Culann, master enchanter of the High Court. No one has seen him for many years.”

“He’s very reclusive, but I know where he lives.” Lilith tilts her head with a sly smile. “He might not be happy to see me, but he was never able to resist me for very long. I’ll get the information from him.” She turns to me. “I can ask him to fix your necklace too.”

I consider it, but then shake my head. “Thanks, but I don’t need it anymore.”

She gives me a proud smile. “No, you don’t have to hide now.”

“I can take you to Faerie,” Araceli says. “I’d love to meet Culann.”

Lilith shakes her head. “That is a kind offer, but you’re needed here at school, and it will take me a while to find Culann and convince him to give up his secrets. If you open the portal for me, I can go alone.”

“I will accompany you on this journey,” Eveanna says, in a matter-of-fact tone. “It is unsafe for a demon to travel alone in Faerie.”

“But you’ve been banished from Faerie,” Jonah says.

“We shall be careful.” She lifts a graceful shoulder in a shrug. “Most believe I am there already. If anyone sees me, it will only reinforce our fabrication. Whereas if I stay here much longer, someone will see through my glamour. It is only a matter of time.”

Tanwen rises. “Don’t get caught.”

The two of them exchange a long look, before Eveanna says, “I was chosen to be the guardian of the Staff of Eternity for a reason. We will not get caught.”

“We’ll be fine,” Lilith says, waving her hand. “I’ve had centuries to practice hiding from the fae. I can do this on my own without a problem, although I wouldn’t having someone by my side for the journey.”

Lilith removes her ring and hands it to Eveanna. Tanwen gives her a small knife from a sheath on her thigh, and the green-haired fae responds with a nod. Eveanna slices open her hand and clutches the ring in her bloody fist, then says a few words in the fae language while holding out her other hand. A shimmering, swirling portal opens in front of her, just tall enough for the two of them to enter.

Lilith pulls me into a hug. “I’ll be back soon with the answer. I promise.”

“Thanks, Mom.” The word slips out without any thought now. Lilith freezes and her breath catches. She pulls back and looks at me with tears in her eyes, and warmth spreads through my chest. She’s moved because I called her mom again. She touches my cheek lovingly before stepping through the portal. Only then do I realize she went in her sparkling dress with no supplies…but she’s Lilith. She’ll figure it out.

Meanwhile, Araceli and Jonah are shoving the entire contents of our little pantry into a bag for Eveanna to take. Eveanna thanks them, and then turns to Tanwen to give her back her knife. They stare at each other for a heartbeat, and then Tanwen places her hands on Eveanna’s shoulders and kisses her. It’s a shock to all of us, although I immediately feel the lust stirring between them. It must have been there all along, but they were both hiding it or trying to deny it. Eveanna slides her hand around Tanwen’s neck and kisses her back, before breaking away. The rest of us avert our gazes and try to pick our jaws up off the floor. I knew the two of them had become close friends, but I never saw this coming. As a succubus, I should have, but I guess I’ve been busy lately.

“Come back safely,” Tanwen tells her.

“I swear it,” Eveanna replies. She steps into the portal, and it immediately vanishes.