Devilish Mate

4

“I have to know. No matter how bad it is.” I crossed my arms, using my wings to keep me alight. “And really, can it be any worse than being killed by my own mate?”

Lucifer gazed up at the heavens. “Will I pay for that crime for the next century?”

“At the very least!”

His voice lowered as his eyes landed on me again. “Don’t forget I did it for you. For us.”

I let out a long breath. “I understand why you killed me, but that doesn’t mean I’m okay with it. I’m not sure how to forgive you, or how to move forward from this.”

His face darkened and he shot toward me on his black wings, until he was only a breath away. “Forgive me or not, it matters little. You’re my mate. You always have been, and you always will be.” He took my arms as he stared into my eyes with intense focus. “Even if you can’t see it now, you’ll realize in time that this had to be done. The curse had to be broken. This was the only way.”

I let out a burst of golden light and used my wings to jerk back from him. “That doesn’t make it okay!”

He shook his head. “You need to rest. In the morning, we’ll take the private jet to visit Jophiel.”

“No. I need to confront my sister, but I’m doing it alone. Besides, the last time we were all together, you and Jophiel nearly killed each other.”

He pressed his lips into a tight line. “I can’t let you go alone.”

“You can’t stop me either.”

“Then take Azazel at least.”

“Fine.” My wings flapped slower, and I felt the weight of the evening dragging me down. “After I get some rest.”

Lucifer suddenly swooped me into his arms and flew me toward the penthouse, holding me close as his shadowy wings carried us forward. I tried to protest, but was too exhausted to do anything but glare up at him. My traitorous body wanted to curl up against him, and my heart beat faster at being pressed close against his hard chest. My brain might be screaming that it was all wrong, but the rest of me wanted to savor every second in his arms. Lucifer was right—he was my mate, and no matter how angry I was, I’d never be able to escape that fact.

As soon as he set me down in the penthouse, I turned from him and ran, my shoes crunching on broken glass from the earlier fight. I couldn’t spend another second with Lucifer and all my conflicting emotions. I headed straight to the guest room where I’d been staying, and it was a relief to find it untouched from the battle that had raged earlier.

I closed the door and leaned back against it, feeling out of breath and shaken to my core. My knees were weak, and my mind almost demanded I give in to my panic, but my newfound powers were draining me fast. Or maybe it was dying and coming back to life—I imagined that would really take it out of a person. I collapsed on the bed, my limbs weak and useless, and the sweet relief of sleep took me quickly.

But I didn’t sleep for long.

Four hours after I’d gone to bed, when everything was deathly quiet in the penthouse, I shoved some clothes into a duffle bag. Enough for a few nights. Maybe more. Maybe forever.

Then I slipped out of the penthouse. Alone.

3

Hannah

N

o one stopped me on my way out of the penthouse, or down the long elevator ride to the lowest level of the garage in The Celestial Resort and Casino. Why would they? Everyone who worked in Lucifer’s hotel knew I was his woman. They had no idea of the turmoil inside me at the thought of being his mate for the rest of my life. My only life now, thanks to Lucifer breaking the curse.

I headed through the private area of the parking garage, where Lucifer kept all his expensive sports cars, toward the yellow Lamborghini I’d borrowed (aka stolen) from my sister Jophiel yesterday. I wasn’t looking forward to another long drive back to San Francisco, but I also needed to speak to her immediately—and without Lucifer present.

A sharp footstep behind me made me jump and spin around, my wings flaring out behind me and a bright glow emanating from my skin. Azazel stood before me, her long hair framing her muscular shoulders, her dark skin gleaming under the light I was radiating. She was dressed for combat in black leather with her daggers strapped on, and she stared at me with open hostility. “What fresh hell is this?”

“I’m leaving.” I gripped my bag tighter. “You can’t stop me.”

“Not that. Your wings.” Zel gestured at them with blood-red nails, and when she spoke her voice dripped with disgust. “You’re an angel now?”

I looked over my shoulder at the silvery feathers, and then with some effort managed to make them vanish, along with the glowing light. Damn these powers. I still wasn’t sure how to control them.

“It appears so,” I muttered. “Trust me, I’m just as shocked as you are.”

Her dark eyes narrowed. “How? Lucifer would’ve noticed if you were an angel. We all would have noticed.”

I let out a long sigh. “I don’t know. All this time I thought I was human too. That’s why I’m leaving—to get answers. Lucifer says my sister Jophiel hid my powers and my memories from me, and I’m going to confront her now.” I stared back at Zel. “Is this going to be a problem for you?”

“I have no love for angels.” She sounded like she was speaking through gritted teeth. “But I swore to protect you, and that hasn’t changed. I failed once, and that won’t happen again—even if you are an angel.” She curled her lip when she said the last word.