the server said solemnly, echoing Tatiana’s words from only moments ago.
Lucifer didn’t respond as he took a cigar from the selection. The servant made scarce quickly. I didn’t see a lighter around, but when he snapped his fingers and a small flame appeared on the tip of his thumb, I was reminded of a time not long ago.
When I sat at a booth in his casino and scolded Anders for trading three days of his life to buy that magic. Now I was wondering if Lucifer was who he’d bought it from.
The Demon King of the Underworld put the cigar to his lips and inhaled, blowing out through his nose.
“Tell me about the shipment,” he said, after a moment.
It only took a moment of hearing her speak that I figured out what the shipment was.
People. Young boys and girls, to be specific.
“None of them are older than twelve,” she said. “A few are shifters. Only one fae. A girl. She’ll fetch a nice price.” Tatiana ran a hand through one of her slave’s hair. She did it absentmindedly, like how one would pet a dog.
“Any succubi?” he asked, taking another puff from the cigar.
I wrinkled my nose at the musky smell of it. Whatever it was, it was strong, and had magic woven in.
“No,” she said.
He dabbed the end of the cigar in the ashtray and hummed under his breath. “Good.”
Good?
There were only a few reasons I could think of any kind of shipment like that, and none of them were good.
Yet, he was happy there were no succubi.
I thought back on the pussy cats and frowned.
Before I could blank my face, Lucifer lifted an eyebrow in my direction. “Something to say, toy?”
I scowled at the name. “No.”
“No?” he asked, mockingly.
“Yes.”
He narrowed his eyes, then leaned in. “What are you thinking about, Piper? What is going through that mind of yours that made you frown?”
Magic coated his words, and if I really fought, I knew I could overcome it.
But this wasn’t something worth fighting for.
“I’m confused about how someone trafficking children is happy there aren’t any succubi.”
He didn’t say anything for a moment, and Tatiana had grown quiet as well.
“You really think me as horrible as the legends say, don’t you?”
He didn’t use magic this time, and I wondered if that was because he didn’t truly want the answer. I gave it to him anyway.
“Yes.”
Lucifer leaned back and snorted. “Tatiana, meet my new toys, Piper and Nathalie,” he said, motioning to each of us with a turn of his head.
“They must be new,” she said diplomatically. A nice way of saying I wasn’t broken in yet.
Lucifer grinned. “They are. Perhaps it’s time for a little show of obedience, then. What say you?”
Tatiana smiled and my stomach plummeted.
Lucifer rubbed his hands together in anticipation.
“Nathalie, go sit on Piper’s lap. I want you both to give me and Tatiana a show.”
I blinked.
He couldn’t be serious. He wanted . . . a tease? A show? A—
I was jarred from my own surprise when Nathalie straddled my lap. She reached up to curl her arms around my neck. I felt her back bow as her front pressed into mine.
She loomed closer, and there was a look of apology in her eyes.
Was she apologizing for this shitty fucking plan I never should have agreed to? Or what came after?
I wasn’t sure, but the next moment her lips pressed against mine.
Let it be known, I wasn’t a prude. Most of my fuck buddies had been men, but I did have an occasional dalliance with a woman. They gave better head than any guy I’d been with, so kissing her wasn’t unpleasant, really. She was warm and soft. Her hair easily slipped through my fingers, and the smooth skin and hard muscles of her thighs were attractive.
She was a pretty girl. A smart girl. Not my usual type, but that wasn’t the issue. There was only one simple problem.
I wasn’t into her. At all.
Maybe it was because the first time I’d really seen her was at a demon summoning. Or maybe it was because I kidnapped her, and then she got sick. There was also the little issue of her being a witch. I preferred my partners more . . . human.
But Lucifer asked for a show.
And she was a great actress.
So when Nathalie kissed me, I kissed her back. Our lipstick smeared. She smelled like raspberries and juniper. It was a sweet scent. Pleasant enough for me to easily lean into.
Her fingers knotted my hair. I