Page 201 of Awakened by Sin

“You have two suitors?” Lucifer asked cattily and nudged her with his elbow. “Which one are you going to choose?”

“I’m going to kill you,” she hissed, and he grinned.

“You can try. I love challenges.”

“Carmen, are you all right?” Angel asked.

She nodded and focused on him instead of Marcus. “Yes.”

“Lucifer,” Angel growled. “What the fuck?”

“This isn’t my fault. You should be thanking me. I saved her,” Lucifer said.

“Thanks,” Marcus said in a voice that sounded like crushed glass. “Now give her to me.”

“Not without payment. I was hoping for Gavin, but I got you two instead.”

“What do you want?” Marcus asked.

Lucifer waved a vague hand. “Did either of you bring a present? No? How rude. I saved your princess’s life. The least you could do is bring me a fruit basket or a head or something.”

“Lucifer.” Marcus sounded like he was speaking through clenched teeth.

“If Gavin came to fetch her, I would have renegotiated more than an annual visit, so what do you two have to offer?”

“What do youwant?” Angel asked.

“Presents, a good fight …?”

“Whatever you want, consider it done,” Marcus said.

“You didn’t come the night Lyla was here. Why not?”

“I wasn’t invited.”

“But you can fight.” Lucifer stroked his beard. “You’re trained, probably by Gavin himself. I’d like to see you in a match.”

She went rigid. “No.” Marcus had never killed anyone in his life and only one winner emerged from the pit.

“Done,” Marcus said.

“No, Marcus!” He could die and for what?

“And what about you?” Lucifer asked Angel.

“Going in the pit suits me just fine,” Angel said with a shrug.

Lucifer winked at him. “Bitten by the bug, eh? I hear you’re practicing. Gavin used to be a regular patron. You’re welcome anytime.”

“Lucifer,” she began, but he put a massive paw over her mouth and squeezed.

“How about you two battle each other and then Carmen won’t have to choose?”

She gripped his thumb and twisted his wrist so that his arm bent at an odd angle, but she didn’t have the strength to hold him. Lucifer laughed while Marcus and Angel watched from several feet away.

“I’d rather stay in here with you than let them battle in the pit,” she snapped.

He sighed and rolled his eyes. “Fine.”

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