Devilish Mate

35

I stood from where I was by the flowerbed as I considered her words, which rang true. “I’m slowly remembering these things, but sorting through all of my memories has been difficult."

“In that case, there’s something you should probably know about me before you remember it on your own and get the wrong idea,” She sounded hesitant as she touched my arm to get my full attention. “I slept with Lucifer. Eons ago. After I met Adam, before Lucifer met you as Eve, when I had first become a succubus and I could barely control my newfound hunger. It meant nothing though. A simple dalliance to help ease my insatiable thirst. Once he met you, he had no interest in anyone else.”

It meant nothing. Wasn’t that what they all said? But Lilith was speaking the truth. Though I felt a quick pang of jealousy, I couldn't be upset about something that had happened so long ago, before Lucifer had even met me.

She continued before I could answer. "At first, I was jealous of you, and how you'd captured his eye so completely, but I soon came to view you as one of my closest friends. Besides, we both know Lucifer is not the type to share."

"No, definitely not." I c****d my head. "Your daughter told me about how challenging it was to feed a succubus's hunger."

Lilith's face broke into a big smile. Maybe she’d expected an angrier reaction than the one I gave her. “Isn't she lovely? I only recently reconnected with Olivia. I’m so proud of the woman she’s become.” She ran her finger lightly along a flower petal. “I had to give up Olivia when she was a child. It was for her own safety since she was the only angel-demon hybrid, and such a thing was forbidden back then. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”

“How did you go about reconnecting with her?” I asked.

She smirked and tossed her dark hair. “I made a nuisance of myself. I showed up in her life one day, and then I kept showing up. That's all you have to do."

"Annoy them until they love you back?" I asked with a laugh. “I wonder if that might work on Belial. I know he and Lucifer have had a falling out of some sort."

“It's best if you remember that story on your own, I think." Lilith drew me close to her, linking her arm through mine as she led me down another path. The light from the gazebo glowed gently at the end, and every so often a burst of male laughter drifted in our direction on the breeze. "But even though Belial and Lucifer are estranged, that doesn’t mean they can’t make things right. Nothing is too late while they’re still both alive."

We emerged from the gardens back by the gazebo, but before we returned to our men, she stopped and looked me in the eye. "If you want your son in your life again, you should consider making a bold move.”

A bold move... My breath caught in my throat. She was right. I had to find Belial, and make things right with him.

I had to go to New Orleans.

L

ucifer shut the door of the guest room with a quiet click as I took in the space. A huge, wooden four-poster bed was hung with gauzy curtains, while a small fire crackled in a fireplace in the corner, with two small chairs flanking it. Every piece of furniture looked like it had been lovingly crafted, and I sensed they all had an impressive history. Pillows and throws were strewn artfully across the bed and chairs, and I wanted to lie down just to experience the comfort.

"You were brilliant tonight." Lucifer loosened his necktie, the noise of the fabric slicing through the room, his fingers swift as he made the masculine movement. "I knew you would have no trouble resuming your role as my queen."

"I'm happy I could help in some way." I sat in one of the chairs by the fireplace and fiddled with the soft throw hanging over the arm. "But there's something I want to talk to you about."

His brows drew low. "What is it?"

"I want us to visit Belial."

Lucifer shook his head. “It’s not a good idea right now, with all that's happening with the Archdemons. Once things have calmed down, then we can see him."

“No.” I stood, no longer hesitant, my voice firm as I took control of the situation. “I don't want to wait. What if Adam kills me, permanently this time? What if I never get to see my sons again?"

“Adam won’t—” he started, but then he pressed his lips together as I narrowed my eyes into a glare.

“We can’t know that for sure.”

Lucifer moved to the great window overlooking the garden and rested his hands upon the sill as he gazed outside. His back was tense, his muscles tight and straining against his shirt. After some time, he sighed and turned back to me. "Very well. But it would be better if you went alone."

"What happened between you and Belial?" My memories from Eve and my other early lives were the hardest to access and the most faded due to time, unlike more recent lives like Lenore. I remembered Belial, but only in brief flashes and pangs of emotion. Love. Pride. Disappointment. Guilt. Sadness.

Lucifer scowled. "He rebelled against us, as all children do in the end."

Something had happened, something no one wanted to talk about, but it had clearly broken our family in two. I wasn't going to stand for that. “You should come with me."

"It's not a good idea. I won't stop you from going, but you'll have better luck speaking with Belial without me there. Just take Azazel with you. And Morningstar."

I grabbed my brush and began working it through my hair slowly as I considered his words. “Thank you."