The chariot stopped with a slight jolt. The world rushed to catch up with her and solidify into discernible images.
Demon guards in immaculate black and white uniforms saluted.
Bianca tried not to stare.
Lucifer’s palace was like a storybook castle with twelve—yes, twelve, she counted—towers soaring gracefully against a cerulean sky. Black pennants snapped from the towers.
Raphael led her through the graceful arch of the guard tower into a pristine inner courtyard. The cobblestones beneath her boots were laid in a perfectly straight path through the middle of the white sand courtyard.
Giant arched wooden doors opened, and Lucifer stepped out. He glared at Raphael. “No.”
“Don’t be like that.” Raphael caught her elbow and marched them forward.
Lucifer, dressed in black tailored pants and a fitted black shirt, looked at home in the castle doorway. He didn’t even glance at her. “You shouldn’t have come.”
“I wouldn’t say that.” Raphael stopped in front of Lucifer. “And Bianca insisted I bring her.”
Finally, Lucifer deigned to stare down at her with glacial black eyes. “Bianca has no business here.”
Ouch! She wasn’t going to take that lying down. He should know by now that when he got pissy with her, she got fighty. “You and I are not done.”
“Yes, we are.” His expression was a beautiful, frigid mask. “I have fulfilled the terms of the blood oath.”
If he wanted to keep it all business, then so be it. She owed him an explanation for her behavior and maybe an apology, but he wasn’t going to get either while he kept her standing at his front door like a Jehovah’s Witness. “Not yet you haven’t. You swore to bring the witches back.”
“And you swore to release me from the amulet.”
“I did.”
He snorted. “Long after I no longer required it, and I found your witches.”
“We’re still missing one.” She dug Leona’s crystal out of her backpack.
He stepped so close to her it forced her head back to hold his gaze. “You broke your end of the oath, thus nullifying the oath.”
“You’re breaking your part now.” She folded her arms and kept her glare going. “You got your powers back all on your own, without mentioning that little fact to me. As soon as I was able, I released you from the amulet.”
“I didn’t need you.” He growled.
“Semantics.”
“Details.”
“Irrelevant.”
“Pivotal.”
“Lovely.” Raphael clapped his hands and beamed at them. “Now that we have that sorted, let’s have a drink.” He strolled past Lucifer into the palace. “Ah, Narcissa.” His voice floated back to their frozen stare down. “You’re looking as lovely as ever.”
“Thank you, Lord Raphael,” a female answered. “Would you care for refreshments?”
“I would.” Raphael sounded delighted. “I’m hoping you can manage some of those wonderful blinis I love so much.”
The female laughed. “For you, always, Lord Raphael.”
Bianca wasn’t sure what blinis were, but she could go for a glass of wine.
“You going to let me in?” she asked Lucifer.
He scowled.
She softened her tone. “I came all this way to see you.” She tried a little eyelash batting. “You can’t leave me out here.”
“I’m considering it,” he said.
Relief almost weakened her knees. He wasn’t freezing her out anymore. He was still glowering, but they’d work on that.
Lucifer took a minute, reluctant step aside.
Not waiting for him to change his mind, Bianca brushed past him. “What are blinis, and will I like them?”
Lucifer couldn’t believe Bianca was in his home. He couldn’t believe fucking Raphael had brought her there. Mostly he couldn’t believe how well she fit in and how glad he was to see her.
Perched on a chaise, she was eating her way through a tray of smoked salmon and crème fraîche blinis.
Narcissa fluttered around her, filling her wine glass and pressing canapés on her.
Dressed in her habitual black with those clunky boots, Bianca should have looked out of place in the refined elegance of his salon. Instead, she looked like she belonged there, which was ridiculous because she didn’t, and he certainly didn’t want her in his home. She’d rejected him, and she didn’t get to arrive on his doorstep and make herself at home. She had no business charming his house demoness until it looked like Narcissa wanted to adopt her.
“Perhaps, my lady would care to freshen up?” Narcissa smiled at Bianca like a proud parent. “The chariot can make one so very dusty.”
Bianca chuckled and slapped the thigh of her black jeans. A cloud of dust rose and drifted to his spotless upholstery. “You’re telling me.”
Lucifer didn’t want Bianca getting any more comfortable, but he also needed to let Raphael know exactly what he thought of the intrusion.
He waited until Narcissa had led Bianca out the salon. Then he let his emotions rip in a blast of power that sent Raphael crashing into the wall. For once, he didn’t care about the damage to his delicate plasterwork. “You had no right.”
“Dammit, Lucifer.” Raphael dusted plaster out of his hair. “Use your fucking words.”
And did he have words for Raphael. “You know I left earth to get away from her.” He stalked closer. “You know I have to find Ashe.”
“You’re so full of shit.” Raphael got to his feet. “You left because you’re butthurt.”
“Fuck you.” He grabbed Raphael’s shirtfront. This fucker was asking to have the crap beaten out of him.
“No.” Raphael wrenched free. “Fuck you and back off the shirt, it’s Turnbull & Asser.” He shoved Lucifer off him. “You promised Bianca and Emma you would find Leona.” He jabbed a forefinger at Lucifer. “And unless you have her stashed away in this anal mausoleum, you still haven’t delivered on that promise.”
