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.”
Anal mausoleum? Power blasts wouldn’t satisfy his anger. They were going to have this out the blood and flesh way. He threw a right. “She failed her end first.”
Raphael grunted as the punch snapped his head to the side, then followed with a gut punch. “It was never about that stupid blood oath.”
“Yes, it was.” Lucifer wheezed and smashed his left into Raphael’s pretty fucking nose.
“No.” Raphael landed an upper cut. “It.” Another body blow. “Wasn’t.”
Lucifer’s feet left the floor as Raphael connected beneath the chin. His back hit the table, and wineglasses and canapés took flight. He spat blood. “Of course it was.”
“Stay down,” Raphael yelled. “This is facile and infantile.”
But strangely satisfying. Lucifer located an unbroken flagon of wine and chugged it. “You shouldn’t have brought her here. She doesn’t belong.”
Raphael gave him a hard look before coming to sit near him with his back to the chaise. “You know Bianca better than any of us. She was determined.”
Having been the regular recipient of Bianca’s determination, it only seemed fair to hand the flagon over. “Why?”
“You’ll have to ask her for the real reason.” Wincing around a split lip, Raphael took a swig. “I can only tell you the reason she gave me.”
Lucifer snatched the flagon back. “Which is?”
“You still need to find Leona.” Raphael clicked his fingers for the wine. “And you did promise Emma, which has nothing to do with your blood oath to Bianca.”
Raphael had him there, and Lucifer handed the wine over. “I’m aware of that. I was following a lead on Ashe before I was summoned. If I find Ashe, I should find Leona.”
Raphael scoffed, sipped, and handed the wine back. “Bullshit.”
“Fuck you.” Lucifer finished the wine and hunted for another. He didn’t care for this heart-to-heart.
“Ashe may not be with Leona.” Raphael dusted off a blini and ate it. “The only reliable way to find that witch is tracking her through the crystal.”
Lucifer had never said his plan was perfect. It was a plan that got him off the earth plane, however, and away from a vexing witch who made him feel like he didn’t measure up.
Hell’s fucking teeth! She’d taken Weaz-adj as her lover. The bar couldn’t get any lower.
“You need to talk to Bianca.” Raphael hauled himself to his feet. “And while you’re doing that, it would be useful to remember that saying humans have about pride.”
Lucifer didn’t have the energy to follow him. “Which is?”
