Page 30 of Which Witch Is Wicked?
She wasn’t dead, thank the Gods. If she had been, her fire would have been completely eradicated from his soul. But their connection had been severed.
“What is it? What do you think has happened to her?”
Dru leveled a hard look at his friend, sensing the hope in his voice. “She’s not dead, if that’s what you’re wishing. Besides, you’d know that outcome as soon as I did.” He sat on a step, trying to catch his breath.
He removed his phone and dialed her number.
As he feared, no answer.
Bane had the decency to look regretful. “Sorry, man. It’s just…
Come to Sirens. Have a drink. Let’s see if we can figure it out.”
“I need to go there. To their house. I need to know she’s okay.”
Bane snorted. “You know as well as I do, you won’t get the tip of your sword one inch inside that house without their permission. And they sure as hell won’t roll out the welcome mat. Come on. Let’s go up. Maybe the other guys will have a suggestion.”
He gave a disdainful laugh. “A suggestion to save Claire? When Hell freezes over.”
“Hey.” Bane gave his shoulder an indignant shove. “Enough with the jokes.”
Dru sucked in a breath as his body slowly accommodated the pain. He stood, then slowly made his way upward. Beads of sweat broke on his brow as he fell into his usual seat in the backroom of the bar.
By the time the Four Horsemen had gathered around the table with drinks in their hands, Dru managed regular, if shallow breaths.
“Claire’s in trouble,” Bane explained to the rest of them.
“I didn’t do anything.” Nick met Dru’s gaze head on.
“Neither did I, so cast your accusatory stare elsewhere.” Julian straightened his ascot.
Dru would have told them both to fuck off if he’d had any spare oxygen and wasn’t so damn cold.
“What’s this?” The sound of a delighted feminine voice tinkled behind him. “Are my boys fighting again?”
“Lucy.” Nick stood and gave her a peck on the cheek. “Take my
chair. I’ll get another.”
“Thank you, my dearest. You always were my favorite.”
Nick grinned, and Dru wanted to remind them both that her favorite changed with each breath she took. Except for Julian. He’d never been her favorite.
Yet.
“What’s the problem here?” Lucy looked at each of them, her attention stopping on Dru. “Oh, Dru, darling. Whatever is the matter? You look like death warmed over.”
Bane huffed his displeasure but said nothing to Lucy about overused, unwanted jokes.
Dru focused on Lucy’s icy blue eyes, finding too much pleasure in her gaze. “What have you done?”
“Me?” She unbuttoned the silk jacket she wore and removed it, revealing a sheer white blouse beneath. It was obvious she wore no bra. For a woman her age, her breasts were surprisingly pert. Then again, the devil never aged.
“You might be the ruler of the Underworld, but you suck at hiding your emotions.” Dru inhaled a deep breath.
“You truly are suffering, aren’t you?” A momentary look of concern stole over Lucy’s face, but she quickly replaced it with admonition. “Perhaps one day, you’ll learn not to mess with me.”
Her eyes turned to crystallized wrath as she encompassed the group. “Not one of youHorsemenhave fulfilled your duty. You’re worthless, incapable of fulfilling your reason for existence. I should smite you all right now and eradicate your useless bodies from the face of the earth.” The anger in her voice shook the glassware on the table.
