Devilish Mate

33

Lilith stepped into the foyer to greet us, wearing a long gown the color of blood with a high slit up the thigh, her curves alluring because she couldn’t wear them any other way. "Welcome! I'm so pleased you could join us. It's lovely to see you both."

She went to Hannah first, and kissed her on the cheeks. My mate smiled warmly and said, "Thank you for inviting us into your home. It's lovely."

Lilith laughed at that as she moved toward me. "It's not my home, but I appreciate the sentiment anyway."

“Lilith.” I leaned forward to accept her cheek-kisses and touched her shoulder briefly. “I’m surprised to see you shacking up with Baal. You’ve never lived in one place for long.”

“I'm only staying here because of Lena. She needed us after she and Ekariel were rescued from that horrid cult.” Lilith shuddered a little, and I sensed the depths of pain in her voice. She'd spent years searching for her daughter, who went missing as a child, but once she found her, the girl was in bad shape after being in captivity so long. Baal had even resigned from his position as headmaster of Hellspawn Academy to help care for her.

"How is she doing now?" I took Hannah’s hand in mine, reminding myself she was beside me, drawing some strength from her presence.

"Better." Lilith led us down a long hallway, this one only marginally less opulent than the grand entrance hall. "She no longer screams every night. Small victories."

“Glad to hear it." I sensed the mood needed to be lightened, and gave her a devilish grin. "And tell me, are you rekindling your old flame with Baal while you're here?"

Lilith's soft laughter echoed through the hall. "I do need to feed, naturally."

I raised an eyebrow. “And Gabriel?”

She lifted her chin with a secretive smile. "The Archangel does come to visit me from time to time."

"I knew it." I leaned over to Hannah and spoke in a low voice, as if sharing a secret. "Lilith and Gabriel had a secret affair years ago, resulting in Olivia. It seems to have started up again."

Hannah's eyes danced with amusement. "How scandalous. I wonder how many other secret relationships happened over the years between angels and demons."

"Oh, plenty." Lilith winked at Hannah. "Gabriel was certainly not my first angel, but we succubi do like to sample a wide variety of delights."

"If you're seeing Baal and Gabriel, that means you'll only need one or two more to be satisfied," I said. "Might I suggest Samael for one of the open positions?”

Lilith sighed. “Samael is angry with me for granting Asmodeus’s wish to become mortal.”

I lifted a shoulder in a casual shrug. “He’ll get over it.”

“He doesn't understand that it was difficult for me too. I don’t want to see my son grow old and die.” Lilith sashayed across a finely tiled floor as an impressive conservatory rose above us, the leaded glass windows dark at this time of day, with a mixture of floral and fruited scents hanging in the air. “But ultimately I want whatever makes Asmodeus happy, and I have to respect his decisions.”

"For what it's worth, he does seem very happy with Brandy and her family," Hannah said.

“Ah, the things we do for our children," Lilith said with a sad smile.

We walked through a final doorway and out into an impressive garden. Winding paths led between mature bushes lit by tiny fairy lights, and candles hung in jars here and there. Night-blooming flowers filled the space with sweet scents, and tiny white blooms cascaded over a gazebo.

Hannah squeezed my hand tightly as she looked around. “It’s magical.”

Lilith only flashed a small smile of acknowledgment before she led us toward the gazebo, where a table and four chairs had been arranged, with candlelit wine already waiting for us. We all took seats around the table, and I poured us each a glass of wine.

“How are you, Hannah?" Lilith asked. "I see you've become an angel since we last met, but I won't hold that against you, I promise."

Hannah flushed. "Yes, it was a surprise, but I'm finding my way."

Lilith leaned forward and rested her hand over Hannah's. "I have no doubt you will. I'm sure you've discovered your son and my daughter are now an item. That makes us practically family."

"Yes, Kassiel and Olivia seem to complement each other well," Hannah said, but then she bit her lip. "I'm hoping to connect more with my sons. It's been so long since I last saw them, I feel like I don't know them at all anymore. And they don't know me either."

“I understand," Lilith said. "I’ve only recently reconnected with my daughters after years of being apart.” She paused as if searching for the right words, her gaze far away as she looked out into the darkness beyond the gazebo. “It will take you some time, and it will be difficult, but it will also be worth it.”

Before Hannah could continue the conversation, Baal emerged from the house, drawing our attention. He looked like a vampire from an old movie with long black hair, cold blue eyes, and sharp cheekbones.

“Welcome to my home,” he said with a formal British accent, his gesture vast as he encompassed the house and gardens, his smile wide. He gave me a slight bow. “I’m pleased to have you here.”

I nodded. “And we thank you for your hospitality, Baal.”

As he sat down, he made another gesture with his hand and a man in a tuxedo brought out a cart laden with covered dishes, as if he’d been waiting behind a rhododendron all along. The aromas of well-cooked food overtook the delicate floral fragrances, and the waiter served a mixture of perfect vegetables and steak before quietly taking his leave.