Page 84 of Endless Terrors
My confusion cleared. Damn, I thought. They did things a little differently in Hell. I hesitated, peering down into the glass as if I could see magic shimmering on the surface. “Will the wine force me to perform dares, too?” I asked.
Lucifer held my gaze. “No. I will never take your choice from you—free will is much more entertaining. In that, at least, my father and I can agree.”
My interest was piqued. Lucifer didn’t talk about God, or his past, or the dimension he’d been cast out of. However adamant I was about not wanting to know him, I couldn’t deny that I was curious.
But now wasn’t the time to satisfy a little of that curiosity. Lucifer had fallen silent, and I realized he was waiting for me to make a choice. I’d already made it, though. I wanted to see my family again, and there was nothing I wouldn’t do to achieve that.
Even a game of truth or dare with the devil.
Stillness hovered around us again. Just like that moment in the library, I didn’t want to agree too quickly. Lucifer might know I was up to something, but I could still hide the depth of my planning from him. The fire popped and sent a flare of light across the room, bathing one side of Lucifer’s face. Without looking away from him, I finally picked the glass up and raised it. “To the truth,” I said.
Lucifer’s eyes gleamed. “And to daring,” he replied.
Our glasses clinked. It felt like the small vibration traveled through my entire hand, and the sound was like a bell in the big, quiet room. Apprehension filled my throat, so I washed it down with wine. I couldn’t bring myself to meet Lucifer’s gaze, so I looked up as I drank, absorbing the unexpectedly sweet flavor. We set our glasses back on the table at the same time.
I waited, expecting to feel the spell take hold. But everything seemed normal. That didn’t mean the spell hadn’t worked, though—sometimes magic was subtle, or virtually undetectable. The game had probably started the moment I swallowed. Trying to hide my reluctance, I settled against the back of the chair and brought one knee up to hug it. “I guess I should go first, since I was the one to suggest this.”
Lucifer quirked a brow. “I’d be happy to break the ice, my lady.”
“Okay, great,” I chirped. The spell had made this game more dangerous, and I wasn’t about to turn down a chance at avoiding one turn. “Truth or dare?”
Lucifer appraised my expression. “You expect me to say ‘dare.’ Why?”
“Because you’re temptation. You’re supposed to be this wicked, wild creature. Of course you would want to do something on a dare,” I said dismissively, taking another sip of the wine. I’d already had some, so the damage was done. Might as well enjoy it.
Lucifer looked sad. Sad, and maybe a little angry. “I am not temptation” was all he said.
Do not feel bad for the devil, Fortuna. He was just trying to make me sympathize with him, and get me on his side. I wasn’t going to fall for it. I took another drink of wine and raised my eyebrows. “Well? You never chose. Truth or dare.”
“Truth.”
My first instinct was to ask him something about magic, or the prisoners below the tower. I opened my mouth to do exactly that, but then I heard myself say, “If you’re not temptation, what are you?”
Lucifer sipped from his glass. I couldn’t get a read on his expression, and he matched my matter-of-fact tone when he answered, “I am desire. I am a reflection of what you want most.”
My eyebrows shot up. “So you’re like a Nightmare?”
“Ah, but I already gave you one truth. It’s your turn. Truth or dare?” Lucifer asked, giving me a look that said, Uh, uh, uh.
It had been worth a shot, at least. As Lucifer waited for my response, I was tempted to finish the glass of wine for some liquid courage. This was another part of the evening I’d carefully considered from all angles. The truth was too dangerous, I’d decided during all my plotting in the library. I didn’t know what sort of questions Lucifer would ask, and now I’d just had wine that made lying impossible. Which only left one other option.
I ignored a flutter of fear in my chest and answered, “Dare.”
Lucifer grinned. His entire face lit up when he did that, and it was like sunlight—beautiful and golden and too bright. I looked down quickly, trying to control my reaction. He plucked something off his plate and held it out to me. It looked like cheese. “I dare you to eat this,” he said.
I frowned, automatically taking it from his fingers. I was careful not to make any skin-to-skin contact. “That’s it?”
Lucifer gave me a single nod. “That’s it.”
I kept frowning at him, convinced there had to be a catch. But the devil just looked back calmly, his hands folded on top of the table. Firelight danced over his features. I popped the small square into my mouth, intending to swallow it immediately. But then the flavor registered. Holy shit, that was good. Like cheese, but … sweet and spicy at the same time. Damn it.
“There. Happy?” I said tonelessly. I looked at Lucifer with flat eyes.
“Very.”
The warmth in his voice, and the intent way he was looking at me, made my entire body flush. “Your turn,” I said quickly. “Truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
