Page 42 of Lucifer's Redemption

Before I went to sleep, I planned everything in my head. I was going to take her around the palace, show her a great time, and maybe make her laugh.

Rubbing my hands up and down my face, I groaned and sat down on the gigantic, black leather couch. As I sunk into the couch, Father didn’t once divert his attention from the paper he held, giving me nothing to go on.

“Yeah, your touch got too strong for her,” he chuckled, flipping through another stack of papers.

My head perked up, slapping my hands on either side of the couch. “It did what?” I blurted and jumped from the couch.

“Yeah, the bond caused her to feel things she’s never experienced.” He laid the stack of papers on the desk. I rushed around where his chair sat, staring him in the face. Panting, I put both hands on either arm of his chair, he leaned back, wide-eyed watching my gaze burn into him.

“What. Happened?” My voice was no longer my usual deep voice, but that of a high-pitch prepubescent teen whose balls had yet to drop.

“Son, I usually worry for you when you get angry, but…” He licked his lips, still trying to back his head away from mine, “you are downright terrifying me right now.” Releasing the chair, it snapped back from the weight of my father leaning away from me, forcing his hands to slam on the desk to catch him.

“Fates,” he sighed.

“What happened?” I asked again, pleading for answers.

“Your mother is talking to her right now. She let me hear part of the conversation, but I cut her off when it got too detailed.” He cleared his throat, pulling on his collar.

Too detailed? What was Uriel talking about? Was the bond that strong already, where she felt something other than friendship for me?

“Tell me every word.” My hands slammed on the desk. No more begging, the fire inside was raging. I needed to know every bit of information I could.

Father eyed me warily but nodded his head in agreement. “Uriel left because the bond effects hit her all at once. The way you both have interacted with each other before was harmless, but as you spend more time together, the bond grows. Uriel is feeling the effects now…” his voice trailed, lowering his head, urging me to catch on.

How would she feel the effects? Were the tickles or tingles becoming too strong? Could I not hold her hand? Kronos, I had to touch her sometimes. I’ll go mad.

My silence drove my father to grunt in disapproval. “Lucifer, what have YOU been feeling when touching her and holding her hand?”

It was my turn to clear my throat. Straightening, I walked away from him, rubbing my mouth with my hand. “Things,” I grumbled.

“That is what she is experiencing:things.”

Turning back quickly, I eyed my worried father. My heart leaped in my chest.

The desires I experienced were now being felt by Uriel too. She wasn’t completely a child?

Granted, it was obvious she wasn’t. She was twenty-five years old, but her parents treated her like a damn child. Her mind was brilliant; I knew it was. It was her social skills that were lacking. I felt guilty that these lustful stirrings were inside me.

No holding back now.

“I want every word.” I leaped back to the desk. “What did Mother say to her? What did she say back?”

Father slumped back in his chair, pinching his nose. “Please don’t make me do this,” he groaned. “I really don’t want to do this.” I ran back around to his chair; he stood abruptly, straightening his jacket. “No, don’t you pin me again! I’m going to have nightmares of those eyes.” He shivered, walking away. “Here it is. It’s all I’m giving you, so listen up.”

I stood far away from him, gripping the desk in excitement. I couldn’t recall the last time I felt so giddy, so wonderful.

“She ran away from you because herstufftingled.” Standing there, still gripping the desk, my eyes wandered around the room.

Her stuff tingled?

My eyes widened at the sudden realization:HER STUFF TINGLED!

“No shit?” I covered my mouth with my hand. I don’t remember the last time I smiled, but I was close, and I only wanted to give that smile to Uriel. “It tingled?” I repeated again.

Father eyed me cautiously while clearing his throat.

“What else? What else did she say?”

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