preys on people’s weaknesses. You’ll agree to things you wouldn’t normally agree to in a moment of desperation. I trust him. I’m not saying the rest of the world should, but for some reason, I believe him when he says he cares about me.”
“He had the chance to hurt you, twice now.” Lucas rests his hands on the back of my chair. “And he didn’t…unless he wants something else from you.”
“Like having you take his place in Hell?” Tabatha throws out her hand.
“He also told me it’s not that easy. I have to go willingly, but warned the demons will try to blackmail me into it. You know…say yes to being my demon-wife or I’ll kill your friends…that sort of thing.” I swallow hard. “I haven’t heard from Lucifer or my father in a while now, though, and with the most powerful angels in the universe going after him, I don’t think Lucifer is going to come back here.”
He told me himself my father was right to stay away, that it raises suspicions when archangels repeatedly come to earth. It raises so many more questions about my mother. Michael said they loved each other. They spoke about my future and planned for the worst. Their story wasn’t a one-and-done sort of thing.
They both risked everything just to be together.
“We can’t count on divine intervention,” Tabatha says. “If you can count the devil as divine. No, we’ll have to go forward on our own and come up with a plan. And the first part of that plan is you finishing dinner and then going to your room.”
“You’re sending me to my room?”
“You’re under my roof.” Tabatha winks. “I will work with Julian on the spell. I’d feel better if you stayed the night here regardless.”
“I would too,” Lucas agrees.
“We’ll have to leave before dawn.” I look at him. “Or we’ll have to stay the day.”
“Then stay the day,” he says. “It’s just a day, and if it keeps you safe it’s worth it.”
“You wouldn’t mind being stuck here with me?” I ask.
“I’ve been in worse places.” He moves his hands to my shoulders. “And I find this place fascinating.”
Tabatha looks at Lucas, a small smile playing on her face. “I believe Professor Darrows is teaching sixth-years about vampires this upcoming week. What better way to teach than to have our very own vampire come into the classroom? That’s if you’d be willing.”
“I would be honored,” Lucas says, giving my shoulders a squeeze. “As long as you don’t plan on showing the students how to kill a vampire.”
Tabatha laughs. “We do teach that, however I don’t think anyone here would attempt to try. You’re the oldest vampire any of us have come across.” With age comes increased speed, power, and the ability to hold people spellbound. Vampires can’t hold witches or warlocks under their compulsion, which was another part of what made them start the war against us. “I’m going to assume you will be bombarded with questions. Many of the students here have never come across a vampire before.”
“They’re lucky I’m their first.”
I laugh and shake my head. “They are, though,” I agree. I stick my spoon back in the cottage pie, not hungry but knowing I should eat something. I force myself to take a few bites but can’t stomach any more.
“Do you want me to show you around the school?” I ask Lucas, trading my food for the glass of water. “I hate sitting here doing nothing.”
Lucas smiles. “I’d like that. I find this all very fascinating, and I assume this is where our child will go to school.”
“Yes,” I say, smiling back. “It is.”
“And that’s how I knew it was a ghoul. I mean, there are only a few things you can stab right in the heart that won’t die.” I laugh and look at the stunned faces before me. Lucas and I are in one of the common rooms, sitting by a fire with a group of students. The little crowd started gathering as I showed Lucas around the school, and by the time we came back to the common room, over a dozen students were not-so-sneakily following us.
Like I said, I have a reputation at this school, and Lucas is, well, Lucas. He can make a straight man drool and a faithful woman want to stray from just one smirk. Good thing he’s all mine.
“How did you kill it?” a girl asks, eyes wide as she twirls her red hair around her fingers.