I had let my guard down, assuming her self-preservation instinct would force her to consider my vanquishment meant her death. It appeared that was an instinct she lacked.
Cinder was rash, single-minded, arrogant, and bold. Her impulsiveness put us both in danger every time she opened her mouth, and I couldn’t help but admire her for all those qualities and more.
I was a fool.
“Where’s my grimoire?” she asked from behind me, and I turned around to find her fully clothed in black pants and a dark gray shirt. She set her bag on a chair and rested a hand on her hip, drawing my attention to her curves.
My hands fisted of their own accord. “I traded it to the seer for a glimpse of the past four hundred years.”
“You used my spell book to pay for a history lesson?” Her expression was incredulous. “Couldn’t you have watched a few documentaries on the Discovery Channel? I need it back.”
“I’m afraid it’s gone, and we have more pressing matters to deal with. We’re being hunted…or have you forgotten?” I opened a panel in my closet wall and retrieved a leather satchel.
Cinder glared, pursing her lips. “Fine. What’s the plan? Whose house is this? Another ex-girlfriend?”
I set the satchel on the table and loosened the drawstring. “This residence is mine.”
“I thought you lived in the palace.” She crossed her arms.
“Officially, I do.”
“You mean did.”
I blew out a hard breath and took a hunting knife with an eight-inch blade from the bag. “Before I was imprisoned, I officially resided in the palace. Lucifer, as you have learned, can be intense. I built this home as a secret residence where I could escape to seclusion when I needed it.”
I laughed dryly at the memory and set down the knife. “I used to crave solitude. I was created to instill conflict and disagreement in everyone around me, but even the essence of discord itself gets tired of the ruckus.”
“I get it.” She picked up the knife and examined the blade, weighing it in her hand. “You were the devil’s right hand, but sometimes you have to be your own man.”
I flicked my gaze to her eyes, expecting to be met with ridicule. My desire for solitude, my need for separating myself from the position I was created to perform, was a weakness at best. Some would even call it my fatal flaw.
She met me with compassion and understanding. “Before all this, I was being groomed to take over as High Priestess of Salem. But something about it doesn’t sit right. There has always only ever been one, and when it comes time for me to be that person, I’ll have to be prepared to shoulder it all on my own.”
“And you aren’t ready to accept the challenge.” I took a thigh holster from the bag and strapped it on.
“I would have been, if my parents hadn’t done what they did. I was learning to do it all on my own, but it always felt so…lonely.” She held my gaze for a moment before blinking rapidly and shaking her head. “Anyway. Being High Priestess is my birthright, so I’ll figure it out. Being hunted like wild game in Hell, I did not sign up for.”
“And I did?” I yanked the strap on my holster, narrowing my eyes, her final words needling me. “What did you think would happen when you bound yourself to a demon and vanquished us both? Did you expect me to drop to my knees and kiss your feet? To magically know where your parents were and be willing to send you all across the veil with a flick of my wrist?”
“Something like that.” She shrugged. “Look, I didn’t expect unicorns shitting rainbow sherbet, but I figured you’d have some pull since you’re…you were…a prince and all.”
I huffed and continued strapping on my weapons. Cinder opened her bag and did the same.
“You do realize you’re dead, I hope. Your parents too.” I tossed the empty weapon bag into the closet. “Your strength allowed you to maintain your corporeal form when you crossed the veil, but unless you have a necromancer on the other side, you cannot go back alive without Lucifer’s blessing. Lucifer’s… The man who just put a price on our heads.”
She drummed her fingers on the back of a chair. “I’m sure there’s another way.”
“Are you?”
Her jaw tightened. “First things first. Let’s find Hecate. I’ll get her to forgive you and Luci, and I’ll convince her to return to the palace. You’ll get back in his good graces, and then we’ll go from there. Maybe Hecate can send me home.”
“You make it sound so easy.”
“Like a Sunday morning.” She slung her bag over her shoulder, a look of confusion contorting her features. “Wait. If you knew you were headed to your secret house here, why did you drag me through that forest? Why didn’t you do your little space-bending thing and bring us right here?”
“With the way you reacted last time, a jump that far might have killed you.”
Her lips quirked into a teasing smile. “I thought you said I’m already dead.”
