Page 80 of Dancing With Demons

“Damn,” he said, finally breaking it. “That speech was unbearably sexy. I swear, you’ve got me packing a semi right now, darling. Are you sure you won’t reconsider having my bastard—?”

“Will you cut that out!”

Dora poked her head out of the bathroom. “Is everything okay, Hathor?”

Seriously, where is she getting these names?

“Everything’s fine,” I told her.

“Everything is not fine.” Lucifer crowded into my ear. “But it will be... when you deliver unto me the power of the All Hallows.”

I froze.

“Speaking of, tell me how much progress you’ve made. Have you identified the hallows?”

“I... I, uh...”

“If Lucifer Lightbringer becomes a god, he will lay waste to all realms. The mortal realm he despises, the demon realm that pulled him off his throne of blood, and the heavenly realm that threw him out and slammed the gates. In his eyes, mortals, demons, supernaturals, angels, and gods have all wronged him... and we’ll all pay.”

“I haven’t but I’m close,” I finally said. “I think I have a way to narrow down the list.”

“You think, you might, you’re close.” That jaunty, light, devilish tone crept back into his voice... which was bad news for me. An angry Lucifer was out of control, but a mischievous one wasn’t. Right then, Lucifer was feeling fully in his element. “So, what you’re saying is, you’ve not only thrown my House into upheaval, but you’ve done it all while frittering away your time and ignoring the task I’ve set you.

“I guess I was hasty in giving you that gift, sweet Charlotte. I’ll just take it back now.”

“Take it back? What do you mean—?”

Snap.

A thud sounded from the bathroom, snapping my head around. “Dora? Dora!” I raced to the door, threw it open, and saw...

...no one.

“Dora!”

“There’s no need to scream, darling.” Lucifer laughed. “Little Adora can hear you just fine.”

“Dad— Daddy?” Dora’s voice came through the phone, stilling my heart. “What am I doing here? How did I get here? Where’s Margaret?”

“Margaret has been very bad, my beautiful child.” Lucifer sounded soft—almost sweet. “But I’m afraid, you’re the one who’ll be punished for it.

“The three weeks you’ll stay in the pit with no food or water ought to communicate to your sister just how serious I am.”

“No!” I screamed. “No, stop!”

“Take her,” Lucifer barked at someone.

“Stop it! Leave her alone!”

“Charlotte!” Ronin was at my side in a blink, taking me into his arms. “What’s going on?” he cried, checking me all over. “What’s wrong?”

“He took my sister is what’s wrong!” Tears flooded my eyes and shredded my throat. “Give her back!”

“Hmm,” Lucifer hummed. “Nah. Don’t want to.”

“Fuck you, you evil bastard!” I clung on to Ronin. I don’t know why. Every good sense told me to push the other evil bastard away, but if I did, my legs would spill me to the floor. His arms around me were the only thing keeping me upright—keeping me anchored. “Just tell me what you want!”

“Ahh, now that’s more like it. That’s what I wanted to hear.” His voice hardened. “I want the identity of a hallow—right now!”