upstairs to bring the mattress down. I forgot my leftovers from lunch in the car and put my jacket back on to go out and get them. We’re going to have a covered walkway from the estate to the garage area, and it’ll be the first time in my adult life that I’ll have an indoor spot to park my Jeep.
I bring Scarlet with me and she races through the yard, bringing me a slobbery tennis ball. I throw it for her, using magic to send it all the way to the woods. I unlock the car and get my food, looking forward to going back in and heating this up.
Scarlet barks, and I spin around, slamming the car door shut.
“Seriously, Julian,” I huff. “You need to stop doing that.” I let out a breath and Scarlet bounds over, jumping in place, tail wagging so hard her whole body shakes.
“You changed her glamour?”
“No, Lucifer did it while we were in Florida. Eliza said she woke up like this, quite literally.”
“Interesting choice, though more fitting for her.”
“Lucas said the same thing,” I tell Julian and pat my leg to get Scarlet to follow us into the house. “Is everything okay in angel land?”
“Everyone is on high alert looking for Lucifer, and the demons continue to grow more and more restless with no one to keep them in line.”
“The ones in Hell, you mean?”
“Yes. And without Lucifer to manage them, they are able to come and go through the gates of Hell much easier than before.”
“Well, that’s lovely…and something Lucifer left out.” Using magic, I open the front door. Lucas has the mattress in the living room and is getting the fire started.
“Julian,” he says, giving him a nod. “Everything good?”
“Yes, I suppose I do show up mostly to bring bad news.”
“Do you have any?” Lucas asks and strikes a match, lighting a small piece of wood on fire. He has the wood neatly stacked in the fireplace and gets a good blaze going. I’ve never been able to get a fire going “the old-fashioned way” like that. I’ve tried and failed so many times I have no idea how things accidentally burn down. Luckily, I have powers and can get a fire going with one simple spell.
“As I informed Callie, the demons are growing restless. They need a leader, and it won’t be long before one rises through the ranks.”
“Lucifer said he’s left Hell before,” I start, and Julian nods. “And demons didn’t take over then?”
“They try to organize something, but as soon as Lucifer is sent back, the plans fall apart. I believe the last time he incinerated any who tried to oppose him.”
“I probably would too,” I say with a shrug. “I mean, they’re demons after all.”
“I trust things have been quiet here as well,” Julian asks, curiously eyeing the mattress on the ground. “What happened to your room?”
“Nothing,” I tell him. “We wanted to sleep by the fire. It’s romantic and will be warm since the house is currently freezing.”
He nods, not really understanding why. “Fires are warm.”
“You catch on fast,” Lucas says, and I give him a pointed look.
“Do you want to stay the night?” I ask Julian, ignoring Lucas’s annoyed glare. He likes having the house to ourselves, and while I do too, Julian is always invited.
“I cannot,” he tells me and reaches into the pocket of the leather jacket he’s wearing. He took my advice to heart, it seems, to dress for the weather so he doesn’t raise suspicions of humans. It’s cold out now, and humans wear coats. “This is from your father.” He extends his hand, holding out a piece of folded paper.
My heart leaps in my chest and I eagerly unfold the paper. It’s blank. I flip it over and then hold it up to the light.
“I don’t get it,” I say slowly. “There’s nothing written on it. Is there some sort of code or spell?”
Julian shakes his head. “All he said was you would see when the time was right. He’s been charged to lead the search for Lucifer. We were only able to meet for a moment before he had to leave.”
I carefully fold the paper back up and go over to the fireplace, putting it behind the framed photo of my mother on the mantel. At least Lucifer talks to me and doesn’t send cryptic messages…if you can even consider a blank piece of paper cryptic. It’s fucking annoying more than anything else. He cares about you. Really? He’d