As proven by nearly every politician. Although she wouldn’t go so far as to say all law-abiding people were big secret rebels, but she got what he meant. Solid point to Lucifer.
“Sure.” Raphael grinned and laughed. “But she’s so…Gabriel.”
“Right.” Lucifer shuddered. “She probably has a rule book for fucking.”
“And a spreadsheet to measure performance.” Raphael snickered.
Talk about eye openers. Bianca was watching two immortal beings gossip and cackle like seventh graders.
“It’s obviously not me.” Raphael pressed a hand to his chest.
Lucifer’s answering grin was pure mischief. “How is that obvious?”
“You’re an asshole.”
“You know me so well.”
They both laughed.
“Which leaves Cassiel, Azrael, Ramiel, or Michael,” Lucifer said.
“Ramiel despises humans.” Raphael grimaced.
Well, that would get good old Ramiel struck off her birthday card list.
“He despises Nephilim as well.” Lucifer tapped a long finger on the steering wheel. “Do you think maybe he’s protesting too much?”
“Right.” Raphael’s eyes widened, and he nodded. “Like being so vocally anti-Nephilim keeps everyone from suspecting him.”
Or more like another male who liked to play without taking any responsibility.
Lucifer glanced at Raphael. “By that reasoning, we need to take a long look at Michael as well.”
Raphael huffed. “No. He despises humans as much as you do.”
Ouch! Real, live human sitting right there and listening to them. It shouldn’t have stung as much as it did, because Lucifer had never been secretive about how he felt about humans. She still wanted to smack the back of his head. With something heavy.
“I don’t despise humans.” Lucifer’s gaze met hers in the rearview mirror, and he winked. “Just human witches.”
Prick! She made a face at him. “As much as I’m enjoying this gossip fest.” Or she had been until they got to the last part. “Can I go ahead and assume we’re not doing the time squishy thing?”
Raphael turned to her with an apologetic expression. “Correct. Even if it wasn’t forbidden.” He punched Lucifer’s shoulder. “We need to know where we’re going to do it, and we need to have been there before.”
They were doing this the human way then, which meant… “Road snacks!”
“Eh?” Lucifer frowned.
He may despise humans, but he had a crap ton to learn about them. “We need to stop for road snacks.”
“Absolutely no—”
“Yes!” Raphael tapped out a drum tattoo on the dashboard. “Let’s get road snacks.”
And they did, which made the journey slightly more bearable.
By the time they stopped for the night, however, even Raphael’s good nature was wearing thin.
Lucifer strode from the motel reception to the car holding up a key card.
“Ummm…” Bianca motioned the card. “I hope you have more of those in your pocket.”
“One room,” he announced and pulled bags from the trunk.
He had to be shitting her. Bianca planted her feet and folded her arms. “Nope.”
“Come on.” Raphael nudged her. “It’ll be fun. Like one of those things girls do on television. They put on sleep clothes, eat snacks, and watch movies.”
“A sleepover,” she said. “And I’m not doing that with you two.”
“One room.” Lucifer tapped the card on her nose. “Because you are a powerful witch, and powerful witches are being hunted. This way, I can keep you safe.”
She’d been so concerned for Emma and Leona she hadn’t considered her position as precarious. Not one to give in easily, particularly not to him, she groused, “I thought you hated witches. Why would you want to keep one safe?”
He grinned down at her. “That stung, huh?”
“No.”
His grin widened. “I’ve made an exception for you.” Grabbing their bags, he turned and marched away.
“He’s right.” Raphael flung an arm around her shoulders. “One room makes it easier to watch over you.” His expression turned endearingly earnest. “And I vow to you, you have no reason to fear for your virtue.”
Gah! He was so sweet, deluded, but sweet.
“All right.” She wasn’t going to be stubborn when her life could be at risk. “But I pick the movie, and we raid the minibar.”
Chuckling, Raphael walked them after Lucifer. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Lucifer could have warned Bianca that Raphael was a lightweight, but where was the fun in that? Two mini bottles of vodka, and the archangel was passed out on one of the two queen beds. No way Lucifer was sleeping on the uncomfortably looking, hideously green velour upholstered couch, so he’d have to move him before he and Bianca went to sleep.
At the moment though, he was deriving too much enjoyment from a tipsy Bianca.
She’d washed her makeup off and was dressed in black leggings and an oversize black T-shirt with elemental symbols on it. With her elegant shape, he’d love to drape her in silks and velvets. She had a timeless beauty that would age gracefully.
She wriggled beside him and giggled. “This is my favorite part. Watch this, Rafe.”
“He’s sleeping.” They were propped side by side against the headboard watching some movie Bianca had insisted on downloading. About witches—imagine that!
