“Since when do you drive?” He cocked his head to the side, his expression curious.
Cate stamped her foot in annoyance.
“For fuck’s sake, does it matter? Can you help me or not?” Cate could feel her blood starting to boil and the arcane energy starting to pull at her fingertips.
Lucifer just laughed.
“What do you say, Chloe? Do you feel like a little...side quest?” Cate watched as he ran his fingers up and down her arm slowly, noting the prickle of goosebumps it left on her skin.
Nice to see some people haven’t changed.
“I suppose we could make a detour,” Chloe answered as she let her gaze rove over Cate.
“This way,” Cate spoke hurriedly as she turned on her heel, Lucifer and his newest infatuation hot on her tail.
* * *
Darcy’s expressionpaled as Cate and her associates approached the van. Hades sat on the edge of the van floor, the doors open, with Gunner frozen beside him.
“Ah, Hades, how are you? It’s been far too long.” Lucifer cast him a smile that looked almost polite, and Cate narrowed her eyes.
“Well, this is like a bad joke,” Chloe said with mild amusement as she approached the side of the van.
“What is?” Darcy asked as she took in Chloe’s presence.
“Lucifer, Hades, and Hecate meeting up in a parking lot at two in the morning.” Chloe let out a little giggle.
Lucifer gingerly pulled up the hood of the van, casting her a sly grin as he rolled up his shirtsleeves.
“Your humor amuses me,” he said between gritted teeth.
Darcy sidled up Cate, her voice only a whisper.
“Lucifer... as in…”
“Yes. In the flesh,” Cate whispered.
“Shit, Cate. How many hot gods do you know?” Darcy’s eyes sparkled in amusement.
Cate cast her friend a weary look.
“Lucifer is designed to be beautiful. He’s an angel. Fallen, but—” She shrugged.
“Hades is certainly not…hot.” She wrinkled her nose.
“Says you,” Darcy chirped as she jabbed Cate in the shoulder playfully.
“Oh, for the love, Darcy!” Cate sighed in exasperation. The idea of Darcy and Hades together... Cate could not comprehend such a thing. For one, she considered them friends, and second, she did not want to see either of them hurt. And most certainly, as it always happened with her kind, someone would inevitably end up heartbroken.
“Heissingle right? No Persephone or…” Darcy continued to pry, nevertheless, the intrigue in her voice more than prevalent.
“Darcy!” Cate’s voice raised in the silent night, drawing the attention of both Chloe and Hades. The latter had the audacity to look utterly clueless. Darcy just smiled.
Cate sighed, taking in the sight of her friend’s curious stare, and she could not relent.
“I’m afraid Hades is perpetually single.” She twisted her lips. “Has been for over a century.” Cate watched as Lucifer called forth a fiery magic to his palm, shocking the engine with a loud bang, a clash so loud and potent it rocked the van. The doors swung open, and Chloe gasped.
“What the Hell?” she said in alarm, her gaze raking over Gunner’s body.