Page 125 of Like Grim Death: Part One
The initiate.
I know it’s him, but I don’t know why he’s here. Lucifer didn’t say he brought him here. He would’ve told me if I was going to wake up to a stranger in my house.
And last night—last fucking night—I dreamt you. You were in my fucking dreams.
I see, for the first time, bruises beneath his eyes, and one half of his full lips look swollen. Like he got… hit.
“Why the fuck are you in my house?” I’m glad my voice comes out strong, but my insides feel shaky. Rain wiggles again in my arms, and I cup my hand behind his head a little tighter, keeping him close, loving the silky feel of his hair, the warmth of his skin. Confirmation he’s alive, alive,alive.
The boy swallows, and glances down at his hands, hanging his head. It’s like his shoulders curve inward, and I see him wince, but I don’t know why. “I’m sorry, I thought Lucifer would have—”
“It’s okay, baby girl.”
I jump, spinning around and finding Lucifer looming over me, his eyes scanning my body, as if to check for injuries. Then he’s glaring at the boy in the room.
“Who is this?” I demand, feeling braver now with my husband by my side. I sway a little back and forth, trying to keep Rain calm even though I am anything but. “Who thefuckis this?”Why did I dream him?
I hear a creak on the stairs, and marvel over the fact I didn’t hear Lucifer come up them, but then again, he knows every inch of this place. My eyes shoot past Luce and I see Maverick without a shirt on, a hand trailing down his tanned six-pack and all the ink under his skin.
“Oh good, you’re getting a formal introduction to our half-brother like I did last night.” He sounds fucking annoyed, and my heartrate triples in my chest.
My mouth hangs open as Luce turns to shoot Mav a glare over his shoulder.
Mav shrugs, a dimple flashing in his tanned face as he smiles and comes to stand beside Luce.
Lucifer turns back to me, frowning. “I’m sorry, it’s just…last night…” He trails off, a slow smile curving his lips.
Impossibly, I feel myself blushing as I look back at him. I remember last night very well. It felt good to take care of him. To love him.
But… “You’re forgiven,” I snap out. “Now tell me who the fuck this is and why he’s in our house.”
I turn back to face the boy, who is peeking up through his long lashes at Lucifer and Maverick standing just outside his doorway.
Lucifer comes closer to me, his arm snaking around my waist as he pulls me close. I know what he’s doing. Besides the fact he can never stop touching me, he’sclaimingme. I want to protest. To tell him if this kid is related to me like they’re saying he is, then obviously, I wouldn’t touch him. But then I cut my eyes to Maverick, who’s staring with a furrowed brow at the boy, and I keep my mouth closed.
“This is the initiate.” Lucifer speaks with a cold cruelty toward the new kid.
I glance at him and see he’s grimacing. “The one you stabbed thirteen times?” I ask.
The kid looks at the floor.
“That’s the one,” Luce says with pride in his voice.
Maverick snorts. “Sevryn. That’s his name.” I turn to look at Mav, who is still staring at him. “Sevryn OttoAstor.”He mocks his middle name, but absolutely snarls his last name. He tilts his head. “In the light, you look…” He trails off, then scrubs a hand over his face, not finishing his sentence. “Nevermind,” he finally whispers, but I see him staring at his hand as he drops it.
At my name, and his dead brother’s.Malachi.
My stomach dips and swerves. My family relations are always a little fucked up, and I’m not sure I want to know the story here, but I bite anyway. “He’s Maddox’s kid?”
Mav nods once, dragging his gaze to me. “Probably Maddox and some whore’s—”
I narrow my eyes.
“Somewoman,”he amends, “at a brothel in Russia. That’s where he grew up, anyway.”
“And how long is he here for?” My voice rises a little, my head swimming.
“Not long. Halloween.” Lucifer’s words.
