Demons Prefer Blondes (Demons Unleashed #1)(60)

“Uh oh,” Lucy whispered. Hopefully four hundred-plus years of demonic training would help him. But her dad’s hard glare said it all. Worry for Rafe raced through her.

Clenching his fists into tight balls, Rafe squirmed in his chair. “I’m surprised Lilith didn’t tell you.”

Dad scratched his chin and paced back and forth. “I haven’t summoned her yet.”

Her eyes widened. Summoned? “Amazing.”

“Pardon?” Her father’s brow jutted upward.

“I’m amazed anyone could summon her. She seems pretty”—bitchy—“hardheaded.”

Rafe coughed and shifted in the recliner. “That’s putting it mildly.”

Swiping a hand through his dark blond hair, her dad shrugged. “My sister wouldn’t dare defy me.”

“What are you?” she asked with a chuckle. “The Sexubi king?” And what did he mean by sister? She couldn’t bring her mind to even wrap around the thought. Cringing in horror, she wrinkled her nose. “Tell me it isn’t true.”

Her dad narrowed his gaze. “To answer your question…” He paused, his eyes narrowing to increase the dramatic effect. “Yes, I am.”

She didn’t know what was more shocking, the fact that her dad was the king of kink or that the sex addict formerly known as Mrs. Gunderson was her aunt.

One thing remained certain: this time she wouldn’t faint.





Chapter 17


Her head reeled as her dad relayed the whole sordid story. He’d come to Earth to “rejuvenate” himself. Sometimes sucking the energy from his subjects wasn’t enough, apparently. He met Victoria Jennings right after she graduated college. He’d been up front and honest and said he originally planned on using some of her energy, but he’d fallen in love with her instead.

They even got married in a Catholic church! There went her spontaneous combustion theory right out the window. Then again weren’t those who joined the Paladins blessed by angels?

Then came little Lucia in a baby carriage. What a shock that must have been, at least to her dad. Was she a miracle or an abomination? Hopefully neither. She wanted a normal life, not the life of a sex-starved succubus. Another reason to hate her dad.

“You were a blessing, my dear. I prayed that you never inherited my powers.” He shook his head. “No one deserves to live like that.” Could he read her mind too? Wouldn’t be a surprise. Time to test the waters.

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Shit on a shingle. Whittle me this. Whittle me that. Let’s carve a big black bat.

Since her dad hadn’t busted out in laughter, it was safe to assume he didn’t have the skill she despised.

Instead of laughing, her dad’s voice cracked as he continued the story. “My sister informed me that Lamia and those who severed were planning to take over the kingdom.” Taking a deep breath, he shook his head. “I had no choice.”

“I guess a kingdom is more important than family or your daughter’s graduation.” Not that it was as grand an affair as med school, but it was important to her. He knew it, too.

Rafe reached across from his chair and took her hand in his. Leaning in, he whispered, “Let your father explain.” His breath, hot against her ear, sent her pulse skyrocketing. In front of her undead dad, too? This man had her thoroughly enraptured. She didn’t care what he said. Rafe had control over her in a completely dangerous and exciting way.

“I’m not stopping him,” she mumbled. With a quick turn back to her dad, she crossed her arms. “Explain yourself.”

Her dad’s eyes grew wide and beseeching. Typical charmer. “If I stayed, the kingdom would’ve been thrown into chaos. That chaos would have spread to Earth.”

He paced back and forth. “I always made sure you were protected. Your friend too.”

“Serah? You never seemed to care for her when we were growing up.”

“I wasn’t able to tap into her.” He sucked in a deep breath. “I have the power of suggestion. And nothing I suggested broke through.”

“So she has a built-in anti-demon device, huh?”

“She is the anti-demon device,” Rafe mumbled.

With a curious arch of her brow, she looked between the two men. “Umm, okay?”

“She had no marks and an innocent soul,” her dad said, swiping a hand over his graying goatee. “She was harmless. She’s taken care of you, Lucy. I’m very grateful.”

“Cool. I’ll let her know.” And now the question of the hour, because executioning minds wanted to know. “Why’d you come back?”

“Lamia’s prized minion showed her overly pretty face.”

Rafe sucked in a ragged breath. His eyes swirled with turmoil. “Amanda.”

Lucy reached over and took his hand in hers. Surprisingly enough, he didn’t pull away.

“Leticia, Lily, Linda, and Laurel, to name a few more.” Glancing over at Rafe and her, her dad shook his head.

With a quick jerk, they pulled their hands away. Rafe turned to the window, and she swiped a hunk of hair from her cheek. So much for consolation.

Dad cleared his throat. “She thought she’d be sneaky and use a different name this time, but Lilith was on the ball—as always.”