Page 73 of Lucifer's Redemption

They all heard her trying to be sneaky, making everyone chuckle. Excited about her surprise, I excused us from the table only for Mother to stop us.

“Can we at least know where you are going? Just in case you-know-who decides to stop by demanding to see someone?”

“Who would want to see Luci?” Uriel cocked her head to the side.

I chuckled, patting her head. “Isle of Dragons.”

Mother scooted her chair back, running to Uriel. “Oh, that is wonderful!” She winked, clearly thinking that I was going to seal the deal today.

“Quick, let's pack a bag,” Mother grabbed Uriel’s hand, trying to pull her away, but I stopped them, jumping in front.

“I’ve got it taken care of, Mother. Don’t worry about us.” Mother pouted but gently took her hand away from Uriel.

“Okay,” she sighed. “I don’t get to help with the fun part, only the important stringing people together,” she huffed, walking back to Father, who was now scowling at me. Rolling my eyes, I pulled Uriel along, watching Loki’s gloomy face.

“He’s so sad,” she whispered, her lip wobbling at me.

I dared not look her in the eyes. This was our time—mate time. She can spend time with my brother later.

“Tomorrow,” I gruffed. “You can both hang out all day tomorrow.” Loki’s head perked up at the comment, and he scarfed down the rest of his eggs.

Taking Uriel outside, I led her to a clear patch of grass on the lawn. The hellhounds were running and playing tag with each other. Uriel watched them intently.

“Are you ready, bunny?” I pulled her close to me.

Her wings pounced from her body as she jumped happily. Glitter shone in her eyes as she squealed an overwhelming, yes! Her wings filled with golden tendrils that intertwined with the feathers. It had me watching in awe. She sparkled all over, not just her beautiful personality.

“I’m going to transport us,” I whispered, holding her close. “Let me know if you get too hot.” Uriel pressed close, her wings quivering at the sudden wind surrounding us. Smoke circled us as bursts of flames swirled like a tornado. The lightning flashed inside, finally engulfing us until we reached our destination, and it began to fade away.

As the smoke began to dissipate, Uriel’s wings meshed back into her body. Her head immediately looked down at the feeling of thick, warm sand between her toes. Out of all the beaches in both realms, Isle of Dragons had the best sand. It was thick like porridge, yet soft on the most sensitive feet. Uriel gasped, rubbing her feet into the new material.

“Sand?” she whispered, now bending and combing through it with her fingers. She darted her head to the ocean as a wave crashed into the shoreline.

“The beach!” she yelled, grabbing my hand and pulling me into the surf. Her laughter filled the air as she pulled me until we were both knee-deep in the ocean.

“It’s so blue!” she whispered, now cupping her hands beneath the water. Fish—of several vibrant colors that were indescribable on Earth—swam towards her as if she was a siren. “So pretty,” she muttered.

“Not as pretty as you,” I whispered.

Her body stiffened, straightening to look into the darkness before her. My dark attire was completely out of place in this world. She laced her fingers with mine, glancing up at me with glitter falling from her cheeks—her tears.

“Thank you for bringing me here,” she uttered. “I’ve always wanted to see the ocean.” Pulling her close to me, she sighed, putting her head on my chest.

I don’t know why her mother had to be so adamant about keeping her hidden. She lost out on a childhood, a real one, with people and friends, and now she is crying because she had never seen such beautiful colors. My fists tightened, trying not to let my hands blacken around her beautiful body. I’d show her anything she wanted, and I would never deny her.

“Kiss me,” I ordered her, my voice emitting harsher than intended. Her thick lashes parted, showing the beautiful sparkle of her wet face. Pulling her face closer, I planted an innocent kiss on her lips. She hummed, pulling on my shirt.

Parting from her lips, she groaned until I pulled her up into my arms. “Let’s get you dressed for a beach day, huh?” The kiss forgotten, she beamed as I pulled her from the ocean’s waves. Both of us were now drenched from the waist down, but that didn’t stop me from taking her to the tent just outside the forest edge. It looked rather worn and dirty from the outside.

Uriel’s questioning eyes looked to me for answers. I only pulled her by the hand, wanting to get her inside. The tent opened into a large room filled with pillows, snacks, candles, and—best of all—the swimsuits we were going to wear. Having picked the skimpiest outfit I could find in her drawer earlier this morning, I pulled her to the small changing room so that she could change into it.

“Dress in this.” The golden sparkles of the tiny, white bikini caught the light. Uriel’s pretty little mouth gaped into the shape of an ‘o.’

That’s exactly what I want to see when she screams my name later.

“I-it’s so small!” She held the top to her chest.

Fuck yeah, it was small. Because I wanted it to be small.

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