Page 129 of Live Like Legends

Idragged Elise down the hall watching as people filtered in through the front doors of the great hall. Enchanters and angels stood at the doors to take their coats and help them in any way they could.

The grumpy demon grumbled but allowed me to continue to pull her forward. Natalia had been in talks with Maurice about hosting a gathering that could be the setting for a new realm. The buzz that it created was massive. The grand hall in The Skies was huge and Natalia had it decorated just for this occasion. Tiny orbs of light were strung on the ceiling. Ivy circled the columns and multicolored lights flickered as if by magic in between the ivy itself. A bar cart was placed at each corner and there were so many dancing bodies, I couldn’t even count.

“Dani, I put on a fucking dress for this shit, what more do you want from me?”

I turned around to face her. “You can’t just hide in one of their kitchens because you don’t want to socialize.”

Elise snorted, giving me a lackluster curtsy in her thigh length black strapless dress. “Fine, I’ll go socialize by the bar, if I must.” She gave me a middle finger before trotting over to one of the bar carts.

I followed her to the one closest to the door. Before I could even sidle up next to her, she had ordered shots. “You are just a ball of sunshine, aren’t you?”

She scoffed. “I’m a riot.”

I turned to look out at the dance floor seeing Beetee, in her hot pink dress, get low to the ground so she could let Leah’s son twirl her. Things were getting a bit easier, Leah was coming around more often and her smile was becoming more genuine.

“Beetee and I are leaving,” Elise announced.

I sucked in a breath, confused. “Leaving?”

“Back to Purgatory.”

“But wait, you…” I started but Reese came up cutting me off. “Oh, no you’re leaving. How sad. If you need help packing, don’t ask me because I’m busy.”

I shushed the blonde angel. “Slow down. Why?”

Elise slapped the bar, insinuating that she wanted another shot. “Because this isn’t my vibe okay. You might enjoy this vomit inducing realm where you get fucked on the regular by a pretty angel but yeah, I do not.”

Reese had his drink to his lips right as he sputtered. “I know very well that my friends are fucking but I really don’t like to openly talk about it.”

Elise rolled her eyes. “You don’t have to worry about Dimitri’s father or anyone else coming after you. He thought he could promise Lucifer something he couldn’t deliver so the big guy isn’t about to come here and demand it himself. It wasn’t hisidea, so he’s not going to spare his precious time with ideals from a pretentious prick who got his ass handed to him by a hybrid.”

“And you’re so sure about this whole we are safe from the likes of Hell because…how?” Reese pressed, looking over his drink at her. His hazel eyes narrowed.

“I just fucking am. And I’ll make sure of it.”

I clucked my tongue. “How do you plan to do that? You are quite scary, but you aren’tthatscary.” I fanned the ends of her hair with my fingers.

She made a shooing motion at me. “I’ll run Purgatory.”

Reese sputtered into his drink for the second time, placing it on the bar. He opened his mouth to make a joke, but then he stopped. “Actually, I think that’s kind of perfect for you. You can just tower over everyone and stomp all over their dreams, like the little menace you are.”

“You can just do that? Take over?” I asked, leaning against the bar.

I hadn’t realized Beetee was standing in front of us until she spoke,“of course she can, next to you, she was basically next in line to succeed Lilith. Even if that wasn’t the case, it’s pretty much set in stone by…”

Elise shushed her. I narrowed my eyes at her, wondering what she was being so coy about. “Set in stone by the fact that Purgatory isn’t the kind of territory where the residents can vote. Their choices are either me or death so it’s probably a really tough call.” She grabbed her third shot, downing it.

Beetee shook her head, fanning herself. “I love it here, Dani, but my place is at the hostel. My moms are ready to go home, but Natalia is giving me a key so I can come back.” She squealed with joy doing a twirl.

“You all look lovely,” Natalia complimented, her hair in a multitude of twists that were piled on top of her in a neat bun.Earrings adorned the outside of her ear and two bangles sat firmly at her biceps.

“I do clean up nice.” Reese ran his hands down the lapels of his navy suit jacket.

Natalia raised an eyebrow at him, but didn’t give in to his obvious need for more compliments. “I hope you are enjoying yourselves and not fretting about the future. As much as I enjoy a good strategy plan, I like to think some mind numbing fun is always in order.”

I laughed. “I’m really sorry, but there is just something stopping me from seeing you have mind numbing fun.”

Natalia proceeded to speak but Elise cut her off, “we all know the high witch just needs to get laid. That kind of plan worked for sweet old Nicholas and he is happier than ever, give or take some missteps.”

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