Page 100 of Premonition of Peace

“About?”

“You, sunbeam. What else?”

“Elaborate.”

August patted my thigh. “You have a tendency to . . . take on too much.” As soon as I opened my mouth to argue, he said, “Let me finish. You take on the weight of the world. You look after everyone. You don’t have to do that anymore. You have us.”

“You have support,” Marcel added, and my eyebrows shot up.

“He started seeing a therapist,” Lucifer whispered. “He’s full of new words, like ‘trauma,’ ‘support,’ and ‘bandwidth.’”

August shot him a look, while Marcel’s nostrils flared and he cleared his throat.

“Okay,” I started slowly, thinking to think of how to manage everything they’d just said. “So, that’s new information about Marcel. And explains where you go when you have ‘things to do.’ And I’m happy about it.”

“But this is about you,” Lucifer added. “The dreadful business with The Morrigan is resolved. You don’t need to keep overworking yourself, little witch. You can scale back.”

“I . . . I don’t know how to not work.”

“We’re not saying don’t work,” August said quickly. “Gods, you’d be bored as hell. We’re just saying you don’t have to do it all anymore. Delegate. Outsource. Build an even bigger team and network. And lean on us when you need to.”

I hesitated, the familiar tension of responsibility tightening in my chest. But when I looked at the three of them, I knew they were right.

“I’ll try,” I promised, my voice softer. “I’ve been thinking about taking on a second personal assistant to manage more of the businesses.”

“That’s a start,” Lucifer said, then he shrugged. “I don’t mind being in charge of the hiring process. I can run the background checks.”

“You mean follow them around and decide if they end up crossed off that list you don’t think we know about,” August said with a chuckle.

“Same difference.”

I groaned. “You keep an actual list?”

“I’m a busy man. It’s hard work keeping the city clean.”

“You’re like a blonde Batman,” Marcel said, smirking. “You even lower your voice like him. ‘I’m Lucifer,’” he said, moving his arms around and lowering his voice mockingly.

August watched the interaction with disappointment. “Maybe group therapy is something we should look into . . .” he said quietly, watching the other two banter.

I barked a laugh, instantly feeling sorry for the poor soul that would take us on as clients. Even though they didn’t sound like they were actually fighting, I knew if it went on too long, it might get tense. Clearing my throat loudly, they stopped the chattering and looked at me. “How about this,” I began, looking at all of them one by one, “I will get a second assistant, full-time, and that person and I will begin the process of expanding my team, as you put it. And Lucifer, you can run the ‘background check’ butcleanly. I want to know the good, the bad, and the ugly about each candidate.”

“I find that more than agreeable,” August said, taking my hand and kissing the top of it. The simple action sent delicious chills through my veins.

Marcel and Lucifer both nodded in agreement.

I patted their thighs and stood up. “Good. Now, if you don’t have any objections,” I said, pulling my shirt over my head as I walked out of the room. “I’m going to go for a swim . . .” I dropped the shirt on the floor and turned to leave.

“I thought you said it wasn’t heated?” Marcel said, though he couldn’t hide the hint of arousal in his voice.

A salacious smile curled up August’s lips, and Lucifer’s eyes glowed with desire.

I stopped, taking off my bra and letting it fall. Looking at them over my shoulder, I winked. “I lied.”

thirty-one

NATHALIE

What didyou wear to get lunch with the girl whose soulmate you stole?

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