Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 109033 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109033 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
“No you don’t, you just want to go.”
He shrugged, heading for his bedroom. “Same thing.”
“Wait, before you ring off, we need to arrange a couples’ evening. You, Naomi, me, and Viper—it’ll be awesome.”
Luka frowned. “No it wouldn’t. So no, it isn’t happening.”
“Don’t act like you hate spending time with Viper.”
“It really isn’t an act. And the couples’ evening really won’t happen.”
“God, you’re such a bore.”
“I can live with that.” He ended the call just as he entered the master bedroom. He paused in the doorway, finding Naomi standing near the futon, rummaging through the duffle she’d set on top of it and mouthing the lyrics of the song playing on her cell phone.
She was wearing a toweling robe, and her smooth, lightly tanned skin gleamed with a fine sheen of damp. Little droplets lingered here and there, inviting him to lap them up.
Glossy tendrils trickled down from where she’d gathered her hair into a high, messy bun. He wanted to sink his hands into it, to free her hair and wrap it around his fists.
Or his cock.
As if she felt his attention settle over her, she lifted her head and whipped it round to face the doorway. Their gazes clashed. Locked. Held.
Her pupils dilated as a hint of a smile pulled at her mouth. “You’re back.” She tapped the screen of her cell, and the music cut off. “All good now?”
“All good.” Luka crossed to her. “I just spoke to Ella. I wanted her to hear our news from me. The demonic grapevine works at top speed.”
“How did she take it?”
“Very, very well. Though she’s not pleased that I won’t give her all the finer details.” He clasped her hips and tugged her closer. “She’ll no doubt quiz you during your evening at the pool hall. She’ll also probably push you to convince me to agree to a couples’ evening involving us, Ella, and her mate, but trying to persuade me would be fruitless, so don’t bother.”
Naomi’s brow pinched slightly. “Why would you be so against it?”
“Viper will never be my choice of company.”
Her lips hitched up. “I don’t think you dislike him as much as you claim. And if you want my opinion, it’d be better for you to just agree to her request. She’ll only pester you until you do. And I’d like to meet her daughter.”
Luka cocked his head as something occurred to him. “Given that Viper’s a fallen celestial like Lou, it strikes me that you and Lilibeth may be similar in some ways. What kind of angel is Lou?”
“A seraphim. But with upgrades, shall we say. He was given far too much power as rewards for this or that, being God’s favorite. I think it eventually corrupted him to the point that it twisted him. Or something. I don’t really know, so I can only guess.”
The seraphim were high-ranking, though they were a peg down from archangels. As such, Lilibeth would naturally be more powerful than Naomi. Still similar, though. Especially if Lou’s curse applied to all the fallen. Luka couldn’t ask Ella without giving some bullshit reason why he’d ever have such a question.
He trusted his anchor, but Naomi’s secrets weren’t his to share. And, honestly, he felt better knowing that not many were aware of them. It was less risky that way.
Breeds of blood-drinking demons had once existed. Feeding on the essence of life had made them so incredibly strong that they were the most powerful of all. Not liking that, other breeds had slowly and steadily wiped them out.
If people were to learn that Naomi fed on blood, they would come for her. And that wasn’t the only danger—many angels downright loathed even the thought of demons possessing holy blood. They, too, could come for her—especially if they learned that Lou was her father.
Luka slid a hand up her back. “You know that one of Viper’s brothers is Lou’s biological half-brother, right?”
“The one they call Jester, you mean? Yes, I know. Lou talks about him sometimes.”
“Does Jester know that you’re his niece?”
“Nope.” Naomi planted her hands on Luka’s chest. “Lou is super secretive about our familial connection, paranoid over my safety.”
“I like that he’s so protective of you.” It also surprised Luka, because he hadn’t heard many positives things about Lou. “You’re not curious about Jester? I mean, he’s your uncle.”
“And he may therefore know about Lou’s curse,” she pointed out. “If he learns who I am, he might guess that I share in that curse.”
“All the fallen might share in it.”
“True. But they also might not.”
“Haven’t you asked Lou?”
“Yes. He said he didn’t know, but that might have been a lie to keep me from wanting to hang with any of the fallen. He wouldn’t risk any figuring out he’s my dad for fear that they used the info to earn their way back to heaven or something. As I said before, he’s paranoid over my safety.”