“When the invitation mentioned mature offspring had been discovered, I thought that meant that you just found her, not that she just found herself too,” she adds, making all eyes fix on Tazreel.
He shifts his weight uncomfortably in his chair, an irritated flash in his eyes that I know is for me. “To be frank, I’m not exactly sure. She just showed up in my meditation room like an angry storm. I caged her and called a Savor to find out who she was and who she belonged to, but things did not go at all like I thought. I figured I was being pranked by one of you. I know I’m due since I sent that kappa demon into your toilet, Ace.”
Ace snorts out a tired laugh while the rest of the Abdicated chuckle at the table like they’re remembering something fondly.
“Could’ve done without that,” Ace tells him.
Tazreel just grins. “I heard the water demon bit your balls and clogged your plumbing,” he says, like this feat is something to be proud of.
I stare at them, flabbergasted, trying to comprehend how I found myself in a place were putting a fucking water demon into someone’s toilet is a prank that they’re all giggling over. Finding some creepy demon when you’re trying to pee sounds fucking terrifying. I vow to always look down before sitting on the toilet here from here on out.
As the laughter dies down, everyone resumes looking at me once more. No one says anything, but it’s clear they’re waiting for an explanation about how I just found out I was a demon. I feel the sudden need to hold my cards close to my chest instead of just blurting out everything that happened to me. I don’t trust these Abdicated at all, toilet demon notwithstanding, and there’s so much I don’t know about this world that I don’t know what could be used against me.
“Umm…” I try to search for a usable lie, but I have no fucking clue how to explain my wings away without telling them everything, so I go for vague instead. “I just never keep them out,” I say, hoping that this is a thing and they can actually put their wings away. If they can, I really need to learn that trick, because I hate these things. It’s only a matter of time before I get scoliosis.
“Lie.”
My eyes snap over to Luce. He’s holding a clear glass of blood-red liquid in one hand, regarding me as he lazily swirls the drink around and watches me with an icy, unforgiving gaze. I swallow hard.
Across from me, Tazreel’s eyes harden on me. “Forgive her, Luce. She’s new to this. She’ll know from now on not to lie to the King of the Underworld. Won’t you, Delta?” he asks pointedly.
My face pales, and my gray eyes widen with fear. “Wait. You’re...Lucifer? As in the Devil?” I ask.
He spreads his arms out as if to show himself off. “The one and only.”
Shit, Delta. You tried to fucking lie to the King of Deceit?
“Sorry,” I quickly say, hoping that will appease him enough not to burn me alive.
Fuck. Well, that explains a lot.
It also leaves me with a shit ton of questions. Exactly who is my sperm donor that he has such an open and friendly relationship with fucking Satan? They’re so chummy. I just didn’t see the King of Hell being so jovial and easy-going. And who exactly are the other six Abdicated? Everyone here must be a big fucking deal if they’re all eating dinner together like old friends. This newfound knowledge sets me even more on edge.
Lucifer lets me suffer in silence for a second, while everyone at the table is tense and still. Even the musicians and menagerie aren’t moving or making a sound; they’re too busy watching to see what he’ll do to me. They seem excited.
Sweat beads at the nape of my neck, but I can’t swipe it away. I’m too fucking terrified.
“You’re forgiven,” Lucifer finally says, and I nearly fall over in my chair with relief as the musicians and dancers start up again. “This time.” That added declaration makes a panicked laugh bubble out of my throat, but I tamp it down by grabbing my fork and shoving the first thing of food into my mouth.
Bad choice.
An overwhelming taste of charred meat attacks my taste buds until I feel like I’ve swallowed a piece of charcoal. What the fuck kind of chefs does Tazreel have down here? Gordon Ramsey would throw a fit.
I want to start coughing or spit the bite out, but I don’t dare. So even though the burnt meat practically turns to ash on my tongue, I force myself to swallow it down and paste a forced smile on my face.
Everyone is still watching me, even as they start to eat like they’re savoring every bite. “Is the meal not to your liking?” Tazreel asks me, and I wish this fucking table wasn’t so wide so I could reach under the table and kick him right in his shin. It’s like he wants me to get smited. Smote? Smitted? Point is, Tazreel sucks ass at being a father.
“It’s really...different,” I choke out, while glancing around at the table in search of a drink. Unfortunately, the imps haven’t filled my cup yet, so I’m shit out of luck.
“Try the Graveworms. They’re Luce’s favorite,” Tazreel tells me.
Oh, fuck me.
Barely suppressing a grimace, I look down at my plate and find the pile of pink, spaghetti shaped worms in a neat pile on my plate. “Umm...you know what? I actually ate before I dropped into Hell. I’m fu—” I stop myself from saying full, not wanting to get caught in another lie. “I’m okay,” I say instead.
“She’s a nervous one, isn’t she?” Elle declares conversationally.
“Indeed,” Luce muses as he begins to twirl the pile of
