Demons Prefer Blondes (Demons Unleashed #1)(46)

“Lilith.” His voice lacked emotion as he stalked next to Lucy. “What brings you here?”

She rolled her eyes. “Where were you while Belial attacked your ward? Lucky for you, I was in the area and came to Lucia’s aid.”

“She was in capable hands.”

“Capable hands that have since wandered off,” Lilith bit back with a huff. “Kalli? You know how she despises our race, yet you leave her to protect Lucia?”

“Kalli’s changed.” Rafe drew his mouth in a straight line. “She’s proven herself many a time to the Paladin cause. She won’t fail us.” His eyes swirled in a look of determination. It drew her to him. It made him seem almost human. She wanted to wrap her arms around him… comfort him. What could cause such despair?

In a flash the glimmer of sadness morphed into his usual stony fa?ade. “I’ll ask once more, Lilith. What brings you here?”

Six degrees of demon separation? Or was it the six hundred and sixty-six degrees? Was there a demon that didn’t know one another? “So I suppose they have succubus and Paladin mixers in Hell?”

Rafe blew out a disappointed breath and groaned.

“We live in Limbo, thank you very much.” Lilith crossed her arms in front of her. “Lucifer and his princes, along with Belial’s Infernati and the damned, reside in Hell.”

Rafe nodded and popped a squat, never once taking his glare from Lilith. “Why is one of the Sexubis’ most prominent figures protecting a common succubus?”

Common? Screw him. Even when she was still 100 percent human, she was anything but common. She balled her hands into tight fists. “What the hell am I? Chopped liver?”

“No Lucy, you aren’t chopped liver.” Rafe reached out and wrapped his arms around her waist and hauled her toward him. With gentle force, he sat her next to him.

Shocked, she could only gape at him.

“You’re special, I can feel it.” He ran a tender finger along her cheek. What the hell was happening? He angled his gaze toward Lilith, who stood there with mouth equally agape. “And since the High Priestess of the Succubi takes an interest in you, that only confirms my suspicions.”

Lilith arched a perfectly manicured brow. “I’m not allowed to show an interest in one of my subjects? I’ll have you know, I’m a real people-person.”

Rafe smirked. “I suppose you want to take over her training?”

“She needs to learn the ways of a succubus. And since I’m one of the oldest, who better to instruct her?”

She wasn’t lacking confidence. She stood there, all six feet of her, with her hands on her hips. Pride sparkled bright in her glittering amber eyes. Lucy liked her better as Mrs. Gunderson than this over-confident stack of steaming sexpot. “Kalli and Rafe will teach me all I need to know.”

Lilith rolled her eyes, a sarcastic laugh rolling from her lips. “They aren’t succubi. They can’t train you.”

“I know how to screw, f*ck you very much.”

Lilith huffed. “I made a promise to your father that I would protect and train you if you were to ever come into your powers.”

Lucy attempted to bite her tongue, but she was too damn angry. She didn’t care what this woman had to say. Louis Gregory was her father. This incubus was only a glorified sperm donor. Never mind. Nothing like that should be glorified—ever. “My father died ten years ago.”

“How wrong you are.” Lilith flashed a cryptic smile.

“Try me.”

Rafe sucked in an uneasy breath. “Is all this animosity necessary?”

“It’s the way of the Sexubi. We’re very territorial by nature.” Lilith sauntered toward where Lucy sat and crouched down to face her. Taking her hands in hers, she smiled. “I don’t plan on infringing on your space. I’ve already got my own territory to satisfy.”

Lucy controlled the snort that threatened. Satisfying? From what she’d read about succubi, there wasn’t anything satisfying about it. Unless you enjoyed having the energy boinked out of you. “So, where’s your domain?”

“Las Vegas.”

She snorted out a laugh. “How appropriate. Sin City. I bet you make a killing there.”

“I don’t kill my victims. Only those who’ve joined the Infernati do.” Lilith huffed. “I suppose I’ll let your father explain everything to you. I’m making a mess of things.”

“That’d be a good idea.” Lucy narrowed her eyes. Hopefully her gaze threw daggers at the sexpot. “But my real father died ten years ago. I don’t deal with demon sperm donors.”

“Lilith, why not come back later, after Lucy’s had time to deal with everything?” Rafe shot the sexpot a pleading gaze. He had that expression down pat.

Lilith nodded. “I see that you care for her, Rafael. I’ll honor your request.” Cared for? What the hell did she mean by that?

“I’ve been sworn to protect the chest, and with it… her.”

Lucy’s heart sank. Was he only doing this as a duty? At least Belial, even with the stench of rotten eggs and cloying spices, seemed genuine. Genuinely concerned with himself, her inner conscious challenged. Then again, he tried to kill her. “Oh.”

“Good, Rafael. Just make sure she doesn’t end up like all the other females in your life. I heard your sister has taken residence in Belial’s palace?”