Demon King (Claimed By Lucifer #1) - Elizabeth Briggs Page 0,71
statement, his voice becoming more serious. “I’ve heard a lot about you too, and it seems I owe you my thanks.”
I shrugged, the action making my shimmering cloak flutter. “All I did was nudge Lucifer in the right direction.”
“You’re a good friend. Brandy is very fond of you.” The way he said her name made me think he cared for Brandy too.
I remembered how she spoke of him at the spa. “I’m not the only one she’s fond of…”
His shoulders stiffened and pain crossed his green eyes. “Brandy is special, but it’s impossible for the two of us to be together. She knows that.”
“Maybe, but I know Brandy better than anyone and she’s never backed down from a challenge. She’s also never spoken of any other guy the way she spoke about you.”
He studied me. “May I tell you a secret?”
Err…me? I’d met the guy two minutes ago. But I nodded. “Of course.”
He closed his eyes as if in pain and let out a shuddering breath. “I haven’t slept with anyone since meeting Brandy. My parents want me to feed, and I know I need to, or I’ll die. But I can’t. I don’t want anyone but her.”
“But you can’t have sex with her?”
“Only once, and then never again. Not without killing her.”
“Is there no way around that?”
“No, there isn’t. Unless…” He trailed off and looked across the room, his gaze landing on his mother. “There might be a way. But I’d have to give up everything. For a human I barely know.”
I spread my hands. “I can’t tell you what to do. All I know is that Brandy would love to see you again. Maybe all you’ll have is one crazy, wild night together that you remember for the rest of your lives. Or maybe you both decide you want more and find a way to make it work. Either way, you should go to her.”
“I think you’re right,” he said, his voice distant. Then he took my hands and bowed slightly. “Thank you, my queen. I always did appreciate your wise counsel. It’s good you’re back.”
My mouth fell open. “You’re welcome?”
He straightened the cuffs on his shirt. “I have a long drive ahead of me. I better get going.”
“Give my love to Brandy.”
With a nod, he vanished into the crowd, and I hoped I’d done the right thing. There was obviously something there between the two of them, and if nothing else they needed to get some sort of closure. Hopefully they’d be able to find a way to be together too.
And now I was alone again. I scanned the crowd for Lucifer, but didn’t see him anywhere. Plastering a pleasant expression on my face, I worked my way to the edge of the room, nodding at people I didn’t know and shaking more hands than I wanted to think about. The darkness along the walls was deeper, but there was also an area with tables. My feet throbbed in my heels, and I collapsed gratefully into the chair closest to the wall, then slipped off the expensive, sky-high heels.
Being a human among demons was intense to say the least, but it was far easier to handle from over here. The other guests barely paid any attention to the edges of the room, focusing all of their attention inward instead to observe each other, sometimes with suspicion gleaming in their eyes from behind those masks. It made for great people watching, though. Demon watching.
A small group sat at the table behind me, their faces shrouded in darkness. As I listened, relying on my mask to disguise exactly where I was looking, I learned that the demons were scandalized by some new woman who was half demon and half angel but was favored by Lucifer, and I was just leaning into the details of the story when a rough voice nearby caught my attention.
“It’s true then. Lucifer’s woman has returned.”
“She’s human though.” The second person snickered. “We’ll see how long she lasts.”
My pulse kicked up a notch at their words. I glanced over, peering into the shadows and trying to make my movements so small that no one would notice my focus had shifted to the new conversation. I got a glimpse of a huge man with a red and gold mask. Mammon.
“Not long,” he said. “Things are already in motion. Many of the Archdemons are involved. Soon Lucifer will be defeated, and it will be time to return to Hell.”