Page 35 of Lucifer's Redemption

The table continued with idle chatter, discussing the tasks at hand. Hades was doing his kingly stuff, and Ember was working today while tending to Lilith—I wasn’t exactly sure what work though. It had something to do with a sphere and matching.

Loki stuffed his face with another mouthful of waffles, the syrup dripping from his mouth.

“Oh, Uriel, Loki is going to the Celestial Kingdom for lessons today, so you won’t have to watch him much.”

Loki groaned, getting up from his chair. “Do I have to? I don’t really want to go; it's Uriel’s first day, and I want to show her around.”

I giggled, watching Hades shake his head. “No, Lucifer will do that,” he said off-handedly. “Besides, you're behind on your modern-day human history. Hera said that was Uriel’s favorite subject. Maybe she can tutor you when you get home.”

Loki groaned, walking to the entryway. “Can you at least zap me there, so I don’t have to walk to the portal?”

Hades dropped his fork, rubbing his temples. “Would it kill you to get a little exercise?” Hades huffed, and Ares slammed the table again with his fists.

“See, isn’t Hades fucking funny? You know, the Underworld, killing, death?” Mariah shook her head, her face flushed.

“Oh, do you kill people down here?” I shivered, not liking the sound of it.

“Nah, they are already dead when they get here, Uriel. So, Dad? Little zippy zappy zoo?” Hades waved his hand, and abruptly, Loki vanished.

I squealed, jumping from the table. “That was amazing! Can you do it again? Make me disappear!” Luci pulled my hand, sitting me back down and moving the chair closer to him.

Lucifer

“Hey, Lucifer can teach you a few tricks.” Ares snickered, pulling Mariah to his lap. Mariah playfully hit his shoulder, again.

She secretly loved it when Ares acted like an ass. Stupid damn mate bond, and their crazy shit.

“He will?” Uriel’s dewy eyes looked up at me, her deep lashes almost touching her eyebrows.

Those eyes, I could get lost in their light gold swirls.

Her dark, curled hair covered her chest in an unwelcome manner. My finger extended to rid the stray hair from her face until the obnoxious God of War howled.

“Rawwrr! Get ‘er, tiger! It might help if you talked to her though!”

Our moment was ruined, or at least my moment.

I whipped my head around with fire in my eyes. Ares threw his hands up, scooting him and Mariah down the table.

Uriel, seemingly oblivious, touched my arm, rubbing it softly. “You didn’t say ‘yes’ or ‘no.’” She pouted her bottom lip. My eyes glanced from her lips back to her eyes.

The damn thing was wobbling. That wasn’t the only thing that was going to be wobbling back to the room if I didn’t get a hold of myself.

“Yes, Uriel, I’ll show you.” My voice came out deeper than I wanted, but that didn’t bother her like it did the others in the palace.

Her arms wrapped around my neck, shifting her seat closer to mine as her bare thigh brushed my joggers. My parents clutched each other's hands waiting to see what I would do next.

I wouldn't hurt my mate. I couldn’t even imagine doing that now.

The coolness of her skin sunk deep into my chest, instantly calming me from Ares’ outburst. My hand moved to return the hug, but it was cut short when she pulled away. “Thank you, Luci! After breakfast?”

I nodded—because that was all I could do without choking on my spit.

When I woke up this morning, my goal was to get closer to her, and here I was, getting ready to spend the day with her.

Hell, spending the day with another being was going to be a feat within itself. I couldn’t stand more than five minutes with anyone except my parents.

Usually, I labored out at the rim of Tartarus, feeling the heat tan my face and the sulfur fester in my nose. When my eyelids dared remove the darkness, my mind flipped to her.

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