that had been done to transform Kheiron into this amazing spectacle. I inhaled deeply.
We were greeted by a one-hundred-fifty-foot Christmas tree taking up nearly the entire thirty-foot foyer, elaborately decorated with blue and white accents. At its top was Proxima Centauri, on loan from High Priestess Tia herself. I wondered if anyone would notice the nearest star to the sun missing.
“Ah, Grace, fresh from saving us from ourselves. Merry Christmas,” Tyler chortled as if he was the happiest person in the world. As if we hadn’t almost killed one another earlier. Tyler stepped forward and pulled me into a long embrace. He let his lips linger on my cheek. Gavin lowered his head at the sight of it.
“Grace, my father would like to see you,” Gavin stated with as much excitement as he would use to introduce me to his oral surgeon. He wore the look of someone about to have knives, needles, and pliers in his mouth.
“Yes, and you better hurry while he’s in a good mood,” Tyler added, releasing me.
I was not ready to meet Gavin’s dad. Seriously, I needed a shower and fresh clothes. I had been fighting demons and other grossness. Whatever happened to making sure I had human comforts?
“You might not want to keep him waiting,” LJ chimed in from behind me.
Touch a hair on her head and I’ll kill you myself, I threatened Tyler telepathically, smiling as I did.
“Deviously beautiful,” he replied aloud. He took LJ and led her to his office.
I started after them, but Gavin restrained me. “She has to account for her actions, Grace. We all do. Just let it go. LJ can take care of herself.”
I looked behind me, hoping to see Caius and Arcturus, but they weren’t there. “Where are my cherubs?” I didn’t mean to sound accusatory.
Gavin pulled me into a brisk walk past what seemed like twenty doors all leading to God knows where before stopping abruptly in front of one. No guards or servants attended the entry, conceivably because no one dared enter without an invitation.
His very name struck fear into the hearts of most humans from the moment they were old enough to speak it. He was known to them by many names, Lucifer, the devil, Beelzebub, Satan. One thing they knew for sure, they never wanted to meet him, ever. I was perhaps the only human in history eager to meet Lucifer, the very first Fallen Angel, father to my boyfriend, and perhaps the only person who may be able to put an end to the fighting among the members of our kind.
Hmmmm. I had just referred to myself as human. Bad Angel.
Gavin stood in front of the door to his father’s quarters with his head slightly down. “I’m sorry I never told you. I guess the proper human emotion would be embarrassed. I didn’t want you to think I was like him.” Gavin searched my eyes for an answer to the question he had not yet asked.
“I forgive you. You’re not your father, nor am I mine. Our obligation is to one another, that’s it. I love you, Gavin Zachary Vault!” My laugh didn’t come as easy as it should have. “Is that even your real name?”
“Yes. Well, not the ‘Vault’ part.” Gavin kissed my nose. He began to pull me closer, but I pulled away.
“He’s waiting for us. I don’t want to keep him waiting.” From all I had read about him, he seemed to have a bit of a complex.
Gavin smiled at my thoughts. “You humans and your Bible,” he mused. “And, Grace?” Gavin’s smile was devilish.
“Yes?”
“You look and smell amazing!” A smile lit his entire face.
Light scents of vanilla and chamomile filled my nose. My skin felt soft as I ran my hand along my arms, then reached up to feel seemingly newly washed and conditioned hair. “What have you done?”
Gavin had dressed me in a black, pink, white, and green plaid patterned dress. I ran my hands along the black waistband with lace-up detailing. It reminded me of a corset the way it hugged my waist tightly, giving me an hourglass figure. Black bow accents lined the skirt hem, making it very girly-girl. I laughed when I realized I was barefoot. Upon inspecting my hands, I found scarlet nail color painted upon the nails of each finger from thumb to pinky.
A sheepish Gavin kissed my cheek. “Sorry. I don’t understand women’s shoes.” His breath was warm on my face.
“Awwww. You did great. Let me get the shoes.” As soon