be here if he could, but he doesn’t want to risk it. Even Lucifer found a loophole and he’s the one I’ve been warned about my whole fucking life.
“Has anyone gotten close to finding Lucifer?” I ask, secretly hoping no one has.
“No. He’s quite good at evading us.”
Lucas adds another log to the fire, bringing the small fire to a nice roaring blaze. Light and warmth fill the room.
“What’s going to happen when they do find him?” I ask apprehensively. Part of me doesn’t want to know, though I’m sure it involves throwing him back into Hell and slamming the door.
“Kind of.” I close my eyes and let out a breath. “Honestly, I don’t know what to think. But Lucifer has been more involved than Michael has, and yes, I know Michael has more at stake and wants to keep me undetected.” I stop myself before I say something I regret and let out a sigh. “Thank you for bringing…whatever that was.”
“I am sorry. I wish I knew what it meant as well.”
“Don’t feel bad,” I tell him and wave my hand in the air. “Don’t shoot the messenger, right?” I push my hair back and yawn. “When will you be back next?”
“I do not know.”
“Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away. We should be moved into the new house by then and I know you don’t eat, but I’d love if you could come and just hang out.”
Julian smiles. “I’d very much like that. I will do everything I can to be there.”
“Good.” I step forward and give him a hug, knowing he’s going to disappear in a rustle of feathers just a moment later.
He does.
“Are you all right, my love?” Lucas takes me in his arm and pulls me down onto the mattress.
“I’ll be fine,” I tell him, letting out a long breath. “I don’t get the blank paper, and I’ll probably be checking for hidden messages nonstop, but…really. I’m fine.”
Lucas nods, nuzzling his head against my neck. My eyes are heavy and it’s so nice lying here by the fire. My familiars are all stretched out on the couch, and Scarlet takes up the entire loveseat, which has been pushed back against the wall to make room for the mattress on the floor.
“I need to shower,” I say lazily, raking my fingers through Lucas’s hair. “And you need to too.”
“Yes, and showering together is the responsible thing to do.”
“Right.” I nod. “It saves water.”
Lucas kisses me and gets to his feet, holding out a hand to help me up. No surprise, we have sex in the shower and the water is cold by the time we’re out. I eat the rest of my leftover pasta, brush my teeth, and fall asleep in Lucas’s arms, snuggled and warm in front of the open fire.
I wake up right around sunrise, needing to use the bathroom. Lucas is asleep, looking dead since his chest doesn’t rise and fall and he’s lying perfectly still. The fire is just smoldering ash now and my familiars and Scarlet are all on the couch together.
Slowly, I move off the mattress so I don’t wake Lucas, and go upstairs to pee. I wash my face and get dressed, putting on black leggings and a long-sleeved black dress with a scoop neckline that shows off my cleavage. I add the stars-and-moon necklace Lucas got for me, and the simple silver bracelet that once belonged to my mother. I magically curl my hair in just seconds, and run my fingers through the curls to loosen them.
“Morning,” I say, seeing Lucas sit up as I pass the living room.
“Good morning, my love.” He speeds over and kisses me. “Have you been up long?”
“No, only five minutes or so. I had to pee. And now I’m hungry.”
“What do you want for breakfast?”
“The rest of my leftovers from last night.”
“Human food is unappetizing enough,” Lucas starts. “But leftovers in a Styrofoam container are plain disgusting.”
“I recently learned some countries don’t even let you take leftovers home because it could make you sick if you don’t store it properly.”
“Gross.”
“I’ll take my chances.” We go into the kitchen together and I plug in the coffee pot, knowing I’m gonna need a caffeine pick-me-up later.
“The head of the vampire contractors called last night after you were asleep,” Lucas says, sitting next to me at the small island counter. “They completed the last of the upstairs bathroom renovations, and it is possible to route pipes