Page 1 of Premonition of Peace

one

NATHALIE

This whole situationwas fucked six ways to Sunday.

“Sasha?” Mist bolted across the room to hug Sasha, wrapping her lithe arms around her body, and squeezing tight. It took Sasha a good second to respond, hugging her in kind. It was short and quick, as I would expect. Neither of them were much for hugging.

If anyone was, it was me, but I couldn’t bring myself to move. Not with the state of uproar going on inside me. Ann was focused on Sasha’s appearance. The Warden wanted to defend Mist from Lucifer. Peace wanted to go back to bed with him, which wasn’t a surprise. Caretaker was trying to get them all to settle. The only one who was silent was Bad Nat.

She sat with a completely neutral expression, waiting to see what I would do.

“Nathalie?” Mist asked hesitantly, clearly holding on to her calm by a thread. She moved a fraction closer to Sasha and eyed Lucifer, who stood stark naked in the living room with an arm wrapped around me. Clearing my throat, I stepped out ofhis embrace. Or I tried to. He moved with me, as if we were dance partners in a choreographed routine. Lucifer had watched me for nearly a year. He knew me to my core. He also knew, apparently, that I would try to put space between us.

“This isn’t the time,” I said quietly, not taking my eyes off Sasha.

“I didn’t ask about the time,” he replied with a slight shrug.

“You know what I mean.”

“No, actually, I can’t say that I do?—”

“Oh for fuck’s sake,” I said, finally tearing my eyes away to stare at him. “I don’t have time for this. Go wait in the bedroom until I can figure out some clothes for you.”

“You’ll have to forgive me, love, but I’m not comfortable leaving you with?—”

“Lucifer. Bedroom.” When he didn’t move, I added a demanding, “Now.”

“I wasn’t aware that caring was a crime,” he said, using a deep timbre that made me want him to do unspeakable things to me.

I sighed, rolling my eyes. “Stop it. I know what you’re doing.”

His only response was to tip his head at us. “Ladies,” he said.

A sense of guilt nagged at me. I knew he was trying to manipulate me, but that didn’t change the fact that we needed to talk. That conversation would have to wait. Sasha’s return trumped everything.

As he left the room, I turned back to Mist and Sasha, both of whom were watching him with expressions that couldn’t be more different. When the sound of a door closing echoed, Sasha spoke again.

“You didn’t have to send him away.”

“You’re back, and he’s a distraction right now.” I kept my tone warm and sincere. I felt anything but.

“He’s the devil; you don’t say?” she replied with a wry smirk while she followed him with her gaze. Her expression was so familiar, it caused an ache in my chest . . . right up until the moment her green cat-eyes pulled away, coming to focus on me.

“Is Señora Rosara on her way up?” I asked lightly, glancing at the door.

She shook her head. “No, she wasn’t in the shop when I woke up. Everything was closed, lights off.”

“Have you gone to see Sienna yet?” I forced a smile, but it kept it smooth.

“No, I wanted to come see you first. After all, I know what you did for me . . . with the lure . . .” Her response felt like it was meant to have emotion, but the delivery was just off somehow.

“Well, that’s not important now.” I waved it off. “Sienna is going to be beside herself. We have to get her.” I looped my arm through Sasha’s, laying my palm against her forearm.

“I can do it,” Mist volunteered, playing into my hand.

“That would be great,” I responded, and she was out the door within seconds.

“Is everyone seeing what I see?”Ann asked, her voice strained as she looked to the others who wordlessly nodded. They were all in agreement now that Lucifer was gone.“This takes precedence over everything.”

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