“You will live in the Dark Palace with us,” Elle said as she got to her feet with Luke sleeping soundly in her arms.
I hoped like Hell Luke wouldn’t remember this day, but for some strange reason I knew he would.
“Will I get my own bedroom?” Murry asked and then backpedaled immediately. “I mean, it’s okay if ya want me to sleep in the basement. I’m used to that.”
Breathing in through my nose and slowly out through my mouth, I recalled the promise I’d made to Mammy. I was appalled that so many were here to witness my largess, but it was what it was. I wasn’t always a man of my word, but today I was. Tomorrow would be anyone’s guess.
“You will have a suite, Murry. Your own suite. You will never live in the Basement of Hell. I shall protect you and watch over you until the end of time,” I said.
“Can I call ya Pappy?” he asked.
“Absolutely not,” I shouted and then reined it in when Elle pointed to her pocket. “Lord of Darkness will be fine.”
“Ya got it, Lord of Dark Shit,” Murry said bowing respectfully. “Thank you.”
He clearly had a slight hearing issue like his mother. I let it go. It had been a rough fucking day.
“You’re welcome,” I said, shaking my head in horror at my good manners.
I heard a few gasps from the crowd. I decided to ignore them. Being forced to electrocute anyone after the evening we’d just lived through didn’t appeal to me. Plus, I secretly liked most of the people still here.
“Will ya go to the Red Lobster with me?” Murry asked shyly.
Fuck. The word no was on the tip of my tongue until I noticed Elle had gone for the butter knife again. “Yes,” I choked out as Elle gave me a smile that lightened my black heart. “Sounds like a plan—a bad one, but a plan nonetheless.”
“I told you he was good,” my mother squealed to Steve Perry. “You really should get to know Lucifer. You would probably be best friends!”
Rolling my eyes, I shook my head.
“I’m not good. I’m not even nice. I’m an asshole,” I corrected her much to the amusement and agreement of all present. “Leave Steve Perry alone, Mother.”
“Seriously?” my mother asked, shocked.
“Seriously,” I assured her.
“Can I come out of hiding now?” Mr. Rogers called out from under the table as Lizard poofed back into the room.
“Yes, Fred,” I said with a chuckle as I put my arms around Elle and kissed Luke’s fat baby cheek. “Did you actually go to Purgatory?” I asked Lizard as he grabbed his horribly dressed women and pulled them close before walking over to Murry.
“Nope, I was here the whole fuckin’ time just in case you needed backup,” he told me as he gave Murry a heartfelt man-hug which consisted of an awkward embrace and a few backslaps while chomping on his ever-present gum. “But I’d be up for a game of hide and seek with Fred anytime.”
“Next Thursday in Purgatory?” Fred suggested as he crawled out from under the table and joined the group.
“It’s a date, you sexy-assed, sweater wearin’ hot piece of man meat,” Martha yelled.
“Damn straight, you tennis-shoe changin’ love machine,” Jane added with a shimmy.
Fred looked positively terrified, but he was a polite man. He smiled weakly and gave the trio a thumbs up.
“Well,” Astrid said with an exaggerated sigh as she held hands with her mate and her son. “This was one fucked up party.”
“Understatement,” I muttered, nodding to Ethan and Samuel. I had wanted to save what I was about to say for a private meeting between Astrid and myself, but it was more appropriate and humiliating to announce it with company. Astrid had earned it. “You shall receive a favor.”
“From you?” Astrid inquired with a laugh.
“From me,” I said. “What would you like?”
“I’ll have to get back to you on that,” she replied with a wicked grin, using my own line on me.
“Of course, you will,” I said dryly, unable to hide my smile.
The other Vamps, The Kev, Gemma, Dixie and her mate Hayden all said their goodbyes and left. I was ready to call it a night, but a few stragglers remained.
“I miss everything,” my father yelled as he arrived in a small explosion of bright blue magic with his hair still wet from the shower.
“Sorry about that, Bill,” I said as I approached him and hugged him. I was relieved he didn’t reek of monkey shit.