“Sparkly Thongzzz, yes. Plural. It’s English from the Brink. Black sheep is a furry sort of animal. For the other, sparkly, you know. A thong is a small slip of undergarment you likely have encountered—”
“I know what it is!” His voice thundered across the way. Anyone who wasn’t expressly needed in the area ran. Everyone else withered where they stood. “Those aren’t names. They are not proper magical identifiers. What are their names? Who are they?”
“Ah. Well…” Victoria forced herself to straighten, and Lucifer could see the effort behind it. “I am honestly not sure why those names were accepted. The heir was accounted for, of course. So there really is no explanation.”
Lucifer turned toward the river, scanning where the fog once was. “Whoever it was, they were powerful enough to get through my barrier and rip down my illusions. Check that sect. Get any information you can. I want to know what sort of being has infiltrated my territory. If it is the angels after that accursed druid…” He tightened his hand into a fist. “Just find out who they are and trap them. I will deal with them myself. Their deaths will be a public spectacle.”
“But the heir enjoys that vampire, sire.”
“It will be easy to sow mistrust. He’s a vampire, after all. She is probably just addicted to his bite. We will cure her of that. I need to get that druid out of there, though, before he poisons her mind with thoughts of leaving. He will remind her of the life she had. Of her humanity. If that happens, she will go the same way as the last heir. I cannot have that.”
“Yes, sire.”
Victoria turned to leave.
“And Victoria?” He waited for her to turn back. “Find that vampire Vlad. Take him to the castle. I would like a word.”
“How will we keep him here, sire? He is cunning. Able to get out of tight spots.”
Lucifer’s smile showed his teeth. “Call the most powerful conspectors. They will help me create a barrier not even an angel could tear down. The Underworld is closed until further notice—no one in or out. I want those trespassers—all of them.”
Eight
I slowed as I reached the set of double doors that led to my collection of rooms. Brain watery and body weary, I didn’t at first register the pulsing, icy magic covering the wood. I’d stayed in that garden for what felt like days. In reality, it had only been until the sun dimmed and finally went out, not sinking like in the Brink, but dimming in the manner of a ceiling light.
I could now make a perfect flower. Granted, the colors were probably still off, in Romulus’s opinion anyway, but the details were spot-on. I understood how to achieve that precision now. Unfortunately, it still wasn’t solid, and the whole thing had been incredibly taxing.
Now, ready for that Underworld whiskey, and maybe a bite to eat because I missed the act, I stopped in front of the ice blockage and wondered, What the fuck? Both sets of double doors had them.
“It is to keep the druid out,” said my stalker demon with the ridiculous boobs.
“He has no interest in this place. Ask him to stay where he is, and he’ll stay.” I rubbed my temples.
“If you didn’t return when he thought you should, it was thought that he might seek you out.”
I turned to meet the demon’s eyes, and when it lowered its gaze, an unfamiliar spark lit in my middle. Dawning understanding curled through me.
I was its master. I was its supreme being.
With Darius, there were people waiting on me, helping me (often against my will), and doing things for me, but they weren’t answering to me. I wasn’t in charge.
Here, I was in charge. Only my father had more say than me.
I’d just called him my father.
“This place is fucking with me,” I said to myself.
“Yes, your heinous.” The demon bowed.
I was too tired to figure out if it was agreeing with me, which meant this place was fucking with me on purpose, or if it was acting like a yes-man so I wouldn’t lose it and kill everything in sight.
I also didn’t really care.
“Cahal—the druid—is acting in my best interest. If he wants to check on me, he can check on me.”
“Yes, your heinous. Of course. Except when the Great Master forbids it. And then he will be locked in your rooms.”
Annoyance flared through me. I continued to stare because I didn’t really know what I wanted to do with that information. Given what I’d seen of Father Dearest today, he would probably accede to my request to allow Cahal some freedom. He’d been incredibly patient and forgiving of my mistakes. Eager to make me happy. He seemed like he’d hear me out.
But he wasn’t here now, and this creature couldn’t do squat about the situation.