Lucifer's lips parted on a sigh.

  Then the tale changed, became what I believe he wanted it to be. Just as with those gods who I'd put to sleep, I offered Lucifer the illusion of his desires, and I hoped that I had read him right. But either way, I would shortly know what kind of man Lucifer was. Or could be.

  I wrapped Lucifer in my music and wove the tapestry he wanted to behold. All anyone wants is to know they're not alone. I offered him that. Offered to be his Angel-Goddess; perfect for him in every way. To lay down beside him, sink into him, join all I was to all he could be, and bind myself to him forever. All he had to do was prove he could love me more than his magic.

  A glistening tear trailed down his cheek, and I knew. Lucifer wanted love more than power.

  The revelation shook me as much as it appeared to rattle him. Lucifer stared at me with open longing throughout my entire song; body thrumming with tension and wings rustling as if in a storm. When the last word left my lips and my music fell away with it, Lucifer stood and rushed over to me as his angels clapped appreciatively. He swept me up in a romantic embrace, and I was suddenly glad I'd chosen to sing behind him. If Lucifer had been facing the room—facing his angels—he never would have let his emotions show.

  “Thank you,” he whispered to me beneath the angelic applause.

  I hope that was the right thing to do, I murmured in my mind as I felt Lucifer's tears sink into my cheek.

  Right or not, we know what we're working with now, the RS said cryptically.

  Chapter Fifty

  Lucifer may have confessed to you about Marjorie, but he didn't mention how he used Raphael, Kyanite said to me later that night.

  After my song, Lucifer had pasted on a bright expression and turned with me to face the room. The Angels had cheered for me, but I wasn't sure if it was because they enjoyed my music or because they wanted to appease their god. Whatever the case, after we resumed our seats, both Lucifer and Aza fell silent; him pensive and her seething. He had briefly bought into my illusion but that didn't mean he hadn't seen it for what it was. Nothing had changed between us; I had warned him of that before I sang. He knew I still wouldn't choose him over my lovers but now, he also knew how much he wanted me to.

  In short; I had deeply unsettled him.

  So, I wasn't surprised when Lucifer bid me goodnight and left the hall with Aza. It bothered me but not for any romantic reasons. I had shown him his deepest desires. Love. Companionship. An ease to the ache of facing life alone. I hoped Lucifer saw that he didn't have to find that love with me to be happy. I had merely been a symbol of what could be. If he could find love, I was certain it would motivate him to try even harder to suppress the Devil. But I didn't like Aza and, from what I'd seen, I knew she'd encourage the Devil to emerge instead of helping Lucifer to repress him. As much as she wanted an alliance with him, I doubted that she actually wanted him; she'd push him to choose power over love.

  “I know,” I muttered. “I think it's time to do some digging on my own, Ky. I've seen that he has the possibility to be good, now I need some proof that he's working toward it.”

  The shiny guy did say you had free rein to explore the palace, RS reminded me. I believe he said no door was to be barred to you or some other stupid shit like that.

  I chuckled. Sometimes having the RS in my head was like having Cerberus with me. Damn; I missed my buddy. He probably would have rampaged through the palace on his very first night here. Cerberus didn't do subtle.

  I went to the closet and slipped on a close-fitting dress; something that wouldn't make a lot of noise when I walked. Then I put on some soft-soled shoes. I didn't want to look as if I were sneaking around, but I didn't want to draw attention to myself either.

  I waited until well after midnight, when most of the palace staff would be asleep, and then started to slip out into the hall.

  Wait! Kyanite cried. I have an idea.

  “What?” I froze.

  Let's make you invisible.

  “Invisible,” I whispered. “Perfect!”

  And I have the perfect song for it, Ky sounded smug.

  “Is that country music?” I asked as the soft strokes of a guitar filled the room with the unmistakable sound of modern country.

  You love country, Kyanite said.

  “I do,” I admitted. “I love music, Ky. I just haven't sung country in awhile. Josh Gracin, huh? It is perfect.”

  And it was. The song was called; “Invisible.” The result we wanted was right there in the title. I pulled the magic of the music down to meet the magic inside me and swirl them into a gentle hum as I let the lyrics roll from my mouth. A sweet love song about a man wanting to see all of his woman; all the parts she hid from him that he knew would only make him love her more. I sang about the way he'd secretly watch her sing or dance or just be the person who she refused to show him, and how he wished that he could be invisible simply to see that side of her. I twisted those lyrics and focused my magic to make his desire my result.

  The sweet sway of it rocked me, and I closed my eyes to enjoy the song. When I opened them, I looked down and saw only floor; my feet—as well as the rest of me—were gone. I was invisible.

  “It worked!”

  Now, get out there and do some invisible investigating, Kyanite said.

  I eased the door open slowly and then stepped into the hallway. The night hung quietly around me; no sound of footsteps in the corridor or rustle of angel wings on the wind. I had learned my way around the palace pretty well, just from the few times I'd navigated the hallways with Lucifer and Raphael, and I headed unerringly toward Lucifer's private rooms.

  I had no idea what I was after. I just had this feeling that I needed to look. I try to always follow my instincts; they usually led me right.

  I crept up to the imposing gold door that guarded the God's private rooms. Pearls and precious jewels studded the gold, held in place by looped carvings. I set my hand on the handle and pushed slowly. It barely clicked and then the door swung open on well-oiled hinges. No squeaky doors for this god.

  I padded softly into the room, leaving the door slightly ajar. As soon as I was inside, I heard the unmistakable sounds of sex. I froze.

  Go on; this is the perfect time to look around. He sounds distracted, Kyanite said smugly.

  Fucking that fox-bitch most likely, RS muttered. What an asshole; he took her to bed after crying over you.

  In a way, this is good, I said. I showed him his desire for love, but he knows I won't accept him. So, he's looking elsewhere. That's a relief; he won't be bothering me even after I sang him a love song.

  Except? Kyanite asked.

  Except I don't like her, I growled. Aza's not good for him.

  But you are?

  I'm not interested in him romantically, Kyanite. You say you know my deepest thoughts, you should know that.

  You're not seriously interested, but you do find him attractive... he fascinates you because you think you are alike.

  Whatever, I huffed and headed resolutely into the room. Any fascination I may hold for Lucifer would surely be burned away when I witnessed him sleeping with another woman.

  I froze again.

  Sex saturated the air; it hit me like an aphrodisiac and left me quaking. I inhaled the scent of man and arousal as my eyes went heavy-lidded, but it wasn't lust that held me in thrall. The scene itself paralyzed me. I couldn't move, could barely breathe, and definitely couldn't look away.

  Aza knelt on her hands and knees on Lucifer's magnificent bed. An expanse of mattress wide enough to sleep ten stretched out along the right wall. Gold columns bracketed the matching headboard that had the look of a gate to it; vertical bars bordered by a swirling line that arched up to a point at top-center. That point was mirrored above the headboard in an arch that spanned the columns.

  The foot of the bed had no decoration; a bare base that Lucifer stood against as he slammed himself into Aza. The Kitsune Goddess cried out with pleasure, her tiny breasts shaking with every slap of Lucifer's hips. Her hair lay loose around her, pooling around her straightened arms as she shoved back against Lucifer's thrusts. Her fox tails draped evenly around her flanks, framing her tiny, flushed bottom. Lucifer's hands gripped her hips, directing her over his long cock, and his head angled back; his eyes closed and lips smiling.

  I shivered hot and cold with need, but again, it wasn't attraction that held me rooted. There was something wrong with Lucifer's hands. His fingers seemed darker than the rest of him. As I watched, that darkness spread in both directions along his arms. Long, oil-slick talons extended from his fingertips as his hands, arms, chest, and then the rest of his body turned rusty red; the color of dried blood. I finally broke free of my paralysis but only to clutch a hand to my mouth to keep from gasping as horns sprouted out of Lucifer's skull and his body thickened with layers of new muscles. His feet hardened into hooves and his pale hair turned sin-black as if soaking up ink.

  A low, dangerous growl vibrated from his lips as he stretched them open to bare a vicious pair of fangs. His hips moved faster as blood seeped into his majestic wings; feathers fusing together to become crimson skin. The bones of his wings sharpened and elongated to develop deadly spikes at their tips. Finally, a thick tail grew from the base of his spine, right above his pumping ass, and whipped around his legs eagerly.

  The Devil had finally taken control.

  Aza's cries rose in volume, and Lucifer grunted savagely. Even in this terrifying form, he was utterly mesmerizing, and I couldn't tear my gaze away from him. I watched the play of his muscles beneath that demon skin; biceps bulging, ass clenching and releasing with his thrusts, and chest heaving with his hard breaths. His talons grazed Aza's lower back, leaving thin trails of blood in their wake. He bent over her, his tapered tongue flicking out to lick up the blood before he jerked upright again. Satan's whole body tightened with ecstasy as he emptied himself into Aza and roared out a name.

  My name.

  Holy fucking Devil Gods! RS shouted. Did he just come while calling out for our girl?

  He did, Kyanite confirmed in a low tone; a scared tone.

  Ky? I asked a lot with that one syllable.

  I think you need to leave, Elaria, Ky said. Now!

  “Did you just fucking say—” Aza turned around to confront Lucifer but found the Devil instead.

  Satan grinned wickedly at Aza and grabbed her throat. Aza clawed at his hands, her nails lengthening into claws that were no match for his. Her tails swished in terror as the Devil lifted her off the bed and dangled her in the air before him. He brought her closer to his face as his eyes went infinite.

  “A god always chooses power,” his deep, demonic voice quoted her. “But I am the God of Gods, and I don't have to choose I will have them both!”

  Shit, I whispered even though it was only in my head.

  Move! RS shouted. Do something. Help her!

  No! Run, Elaria! You can't help her! Kyanite shouted. It's too late for that.

  Fuck! He's right, RS admitted. Forget that bitch and run!

  But I couldn't run. I couldn't move. My feet stayed pressed to the floor while I watched the Devil consume Aza. Streams of glittering magic flowed from her eyes into his. His massive, cinnabar body seemed to pulse and glow, bulging even bigger as he consumed her magic. Aza whimpered—legs kicking and claws scratching at Satan—but as her body shriveled, she went silent and limp. And the Devil didn't stop there; he kept draining Aza until she crumbled into dust in his hands. Then he blew the ashes from his fingers and roared triumphantly.

  “Now, we claim our bride,” the Devil growled.

  We? Who the fuck is he talking to? RS shrieked.

  Himself, Ky said grimly. Elaria! Snap out of it. Get out now!

  Girl, he's coming for you! Find Raphael and make him take you off this godawful planet! RS shouted.

  Satan stormed past me with a determined look on his face, not bothering to clothe himself. His hooves hit the floor with loud cracks, and his horns dragged against the door frame as he passed through, leaving deep scratches behind. I shrank back against the wall and when he was gone, I hurried out after him. I watched him head toward my suite, and then I turned in the opposite direction; toward Raphael's rooms.

  I didn't bother trying to muffle my footsteps. I just ran as I released my spell. The invisibility flowed away as I reached Raphael's door and started pounding on it anxiously. Raphael opened the door, took one look at my face, and yanked me inside.

  “What's happened?” He demanded.

  “I just saw Lucifer turn into the Devil and consume Aza,” I whispered as if the walls were listening. Hell; they could be.

  “What?” Raphael gaped at me. “No; that's not possible.”

  “Then Satan said he was going to claim his bride!” My voice rose in hysterics. “I'm pretty sure that's me, Raph! Gods-damn it! I should never have sung that stupid song to him!”

  “Elaria, calm down,” Raphael said gently. “Lucifer would never force you to marry him. That's ridiculous.”

  I gaped at Raphael and then noticed the glassiness of his eyes. They were dilated. “Oh, Raph, no. He got to you.”

  “What are you talking about?” Raphael frowned. “I'm fine. Elaria, you need to calm down. I'll take you to Lucifer, and we can figure this out.”

  Kyanite, I need you to play “Misguided Angel” by Cowboy Junkies, I said urgently.

  Got it.

  A harmonica started moaning along with a guitar and Raphael's frown deepened.

  “Elaria, what are you—”

  I cut him off with the soft lyrics. A woman in love with a rebel; longing for the light inside him while accepting his darkness. I pushed the power out of me and into Raphael along with the love I still bore him. Come back to me, Raphael, I begged with the words. The chords came strong and steady, and Raph fell to his knees before me as a battle began to rage inside him; my love against Lucifer's. And yes, it was love. The God loved the Angel, but Lucifer's love strangled Raphael while mine offered him true salvation.

  Raphael reached for me as the hold of Lucifer's poisoned fruit burned away. I helped the Angel to his feet with a relieved smile as I let the song go. Raphael shook his head like a dog shakes off water and swallowed convulsively as he stared at me.

  “He did it again,” Raphael said brokenly. “I remember now. Lucifer came into my room and shoved the fruit down my throat. He knew we didn't trust him.”

  “But he's done pretending, Raph,” I said. “He's at my suite right now, looking for me, and he'll come here next; I'm certain of it.”

  “We're leaving!” Raphael's wings extended as he wrapped me in his arms. “Both of us.”

  I clung to Raphael and shivered. There was no explaining away Lucifer's actions this time; he'd lost control to his darker side. I'd been wrong; so very wrong about him. Or perhaps I'd been wrong about his devil. The darkness inside him had used Lucifer's desire for love to manipulate him. I had no doubt that the Devil had offered Lucifer the same thing he'd once offered Raphael; me. Except this time, the Devil would make good on his promise. Instead of fighting his darkness, as I'd hoped I'd inspired him to do, Lucifer had made his own bargain with it. I couldn't stay now. Escape was my only option.

  My heart raced, pressed against the equally fast pounding of Raphael's, but the halo glow of his magic surrounded us and his wings shot powerfully downward. We were going to make it. We would escape and return with an army to destroy the Devil.

  Satan slammed into the room just as Raphael's magic took him away. Him, not me. Raphael surged above me as he went transparent and then faded completely; a horrified look on his face while his hands clutched at me uselessly. I fell through Raph's misty embrace and landed on the cold floor. The Devil strode over—each step like the crack of thunder—and loomed over me with a satisfied smile. His legs spread to either side of me, his taloned hands set on his hips, and his shaft started to harden.

  “How?” I whispered as his stare locked on mine.

  Kyanite, tell the men to attack Heaven! I shouted in my head.

  I will, my love, I—and then he was gone. Both Kyanite and the RS disappeared.

  “You made a deal with the Devil, Elaria,” Satan rumbled. “You can't escape me.”

  The Devil bent down and lifted me into his arms. Magic—dark magic—rushed into me and washed my terrified mind in calm. I went limp in his arms, and his grin widened as he turned around sharply and carried me out of Raphael's room.

  Chapter Fifty-One

  By the time we reached Lucifer's bedroom, he was back to his old self; starlight hair and feathered wings, glowing with magic and happiness. He smiled down at me tenderly as he stepped over Aza's ashes and laid me on his bed.