Demons Prefer Blondes (Demons Unleashed #1)(10)
Dominic shook his head. “This isn’t good. Does she know?”
“No.” Rafael blew out a deep breath. This mission became more urgent as the minutes ticked by. “She has no idea, but I had to restrain her friend. Before I could explain myself, she ordered me out.”
“Back up a second. What do you mean restrain her friend?”
Rafael tugged at his hair. “Her friend tried to touch me.”
“Oh, that’s not good.” Dominic leaned back against the settee. “A mortal touching a demon without permission?”
Rafael nodded. If only he could explain. “I didn’t want to risk it. The last time it happened…” Miss Amanda Newell’s face, her long golden hair, and her bright blue eyes flashed before him. He refused to cry. It had been over two hundred years anyway. “I won’t hurt another innocent mortal again.”
“But didn’t you just say Lucia Gregory wasn’t completely mortal?” Dominic crossed his legs and stretched his arms behind his neck. “Impossible.”
Rafael shrugged. “She may be a descendent of Lilu. Her energy is more sexual.”
“Interesting theory.” Dominic took a deep breath. “No one has been able to prove that an incubus has ever procreated with a mortal, even though mortal folklore says otherwise.”
“There’s something about her that doesn’t add up.” Rafael gritted his teeth as he remembered her intense glare, full of untapped energy. That energy threatened to consume him and drive him mad with desire. He couldn’t tell Dominic though. If his friend heard that his powers were diminishing, he’d be removed as a Paladin. And that wasn’t going to happen. He would fight Lucia Gregory’s power. He would not submit. But with that much power, she was a target for the Infernati. They would use her for evil. And from what he saw, she was far from evil.
“I need to protect her.” And by protecting her, he could also retrieve the chest.
Dominic’s gaze grew serious. “I’ve known you for over four hundred years. If you feel strongly about this, then you need to do it. We need the chest, regardless.”
“What should I do with Lucia?”
Dominic’s voice remained firm and full of resolve. “Keep her from opening the chest, of course. Then bring her here. If she’s of demon blood, as you suspect, she should have no problem crossing through.”
“How goes the search for my sister?” Rafael asked, turning to his friend. “I need to know she’s safe.”
Dominic’s gaze grew somber. “We’re still searching for her,” he replied with a determined tilt of his chin. “I won’t stop until I find her.”
“I don’t think I could find a better demon for the job.” Rafael, despite the despair clutching at his soulless heart, managed a wan smile. “Thank you, Nic.”
Dominic nodded. “It’s the least I can do. You and your sister mean everything to me. You’re like a brother to me.”
But Coby was more. Everyone knew, even though Nic adamantly denied it, his affections for Coby were more than brotherly.
“The feeling’s mutual.” Rafael extended his arm, allowing his friend his elbow. Once Dominic grasped it, Rafael returned the favor. “I appreciate the update, my friend, but I must return.” And, despite his earlier objections, he wanted to go back. It had nothing to do with the chest, either. Much to his chagrin.
***
Why in the hell did she agree to dinner with her mother? Then again, it was too late ask that question. Lucy loved her mom, but there was only so much nagging one could take.
“Are you sure this is what you want in life?” Victoria Gregory asked in between sips of white zinfandel. Lucy never cared for wine. She liked her alcohol a bit harder.
Contemplating a clever reply, Lucy took a sip of her own drink, a Captain and Diet Coke, of course. “The shop’s doing well.”
It wasn’t a complete lie. In the six months Luscious Locks had been open, a steady stream of customers had passed through the door. “I couldn’t be happier,” she added with a confident smile.
“Your father wanted you to follow in his footsteps.” Her mother dusted off her fingernails. Fingernails she traveled across town to have manicured. Talk about twisting the knife in someone’s back. “You would have made an excellent surgeon.”
Lucy coughed on her drink. Did the woman not remember what the sight of blood did to her? “Maybe I would have. But would I have been happy? I don’t know about you, but I’d rather have a happy hair stylist working on me than an unhappy surgeon.”
“Are you sure you’re all right?” her mom asked, oblivious to the banter. She reached across the table and brushed a strand of hair from Lucy’s face. “You look horrible. No amount of makeup will cover those dark circles.”
Lucy rolled her eyes. “Yes, Mom,” she said in the firmest voice she could muster. “I’m just peachy keen. I just stayed up a wee bit late last night.” More like the entire night, but she wasn’t ready to divulge that information.
“You know, your father didn’t save all his hard-earned money for you to slave over a shampoo bowl.”
Truth be told, her dad would have supported her in whatever career she chose. Unfortunately, he’d passed away before he got the chance to see her succeed. “Dad knew I wanted to be a cosmetologist. He respected me for making my own decision. You’re the only one who wanted me to go to med school.”