“Raziel tells me I owe you an apology, sweet thing.”
“Lucifer?” Anael was rummaging in the refrigerator throwing together a snack. Between healing and Zagan’s enthusiastic lovemaking, he’d missed dinner. Now, at just after two in the morning, he was doing his best not to wake his demon who was still snoring in the bedroom. He stood quickly, closing the fridge door and leaning on it, mirroring Lucifer’s pose against the counter. He was so glad he’d thought to slip on his jeans before he came downstairs. “What are you doing here?”
“I told you. I’ve come to apologize. Raziel was rather insistent.”
At two o’clock in the morning? “I think it’s Zagan you should be apologizing to,” Anael said, instead of voicing his thoughts. “The cardinal or fundamental rule of mates, regardless of species, is no one has the right to come between them; not even you or Gabriel. You put Zagan in an impossible position earlier.”
“Yes, well…things didn’t go according to plan.” Lucifer cast a baleful look at the ceiling, before looking back at Anael. “I’m not the bad guy here. Oh, sure, I’ve got all the titles, but I did know you’d be all right. I would’ve rescued you myself if things had gotten any worse.”
Anael could tell the Prince of Darkness was being sincere; as much as he was able to be. But he was still hurt. He thought Lucifer was his friend and when his so-called friend called his bluff and refused to let Zagan accompany him, Anael was rightly, in his opinion, upset about it. “Was this about Gabriel?” he asked, remembering what Zagan had told him. “Do you miss him that much?”
Lucifer tugged on his black gloves and fiddled with his cuffs. “I’m used to the annoying angel blasting into my office and getting cross with me for silly reasons. He’s fun to tease when he’s so stuffy most of the time.”
Most of the time. Hmm. Anael was almost certain the rumors Zagan shared were true especially seeing as Lucifer was carrying a connection. Unfortunately, it was currently one-sided, and he wondered if that was because Gabriel was on retreat or…. There were some things Anael wasn’t privy too, but he would be watching the pair of them carefully if he ever got the opportunity to see them together again. Pushing off the fridge door, Anael opened it and pulled out the deli meat he’d spotted earlier.
“Fancy a sandwich?” he asked waving the package. “You could rustle us up some of that lovely tea of yours and maybe even a piece of that devil’s food cake I enjoyed so much the last time we took tea.”
“You’re happy to make me a sandwich?” Lucifer’s eyebrows almost got lost in the braids that fell over his face.
“Why not?” Anael said, hunting for bread and butter. “We’re not enemies, are we? I rather thought we were friends until you pulled that stunt today.”
“Shit, don’t let it get around, will you?” Lucifer hopped up onto one of the counter stools.
“What? That we’re friends?” Anael grinned as he started cutting the bread. “Is that bad for your street cred or something?”
“No one claims to be friends with me.” Lucifer sighed and rested his head on his hand. “It’s one of the things I have to put up with, being who I am.”
“I can understand, it’s not easy in your position,” Anael said, slathering the bread with butter and piling the slice high with meats. Finishing the sandwich, he handed it to Lucifer and made one for himself. “You hold the fate of all your demons in your hands. I guess people have tried to take advantage of that over the years.”
“You have no idea,” Lucifer shuddered theatrically and then laughed. “Nah, it’s all good. I’m a busy man and most would say I never had a heart so it’s not as though anyone can hurt me. Surely, what I did today proved that to you.”
“You are a good person and you definitely have a heart,” Anael patted Lucifer’s hand as he munched his sandwich. “I’ve heard the negative rumors about you; I’m sure you make sure everyone has. But I never judge a person, no matter who they are and now you’ve apologized, and I can understand why you did what you did, I can’t stay angry at you. It’s not in my nature. I still consider you my friend.”
“Well, I have to say you are far more accommodating than most of the angels I’ve come across,” Lucifer said shaking his head. “You should give lessons to your kind.”
“Ha.” It was Anael’s turn to shake his head. “They all treat me like a baby brother. Someone to pat on the head and made to go away. Raziel and Uriel are my closest friends, but I can’t imagine how Uriel is going to react when he knows I’ve fallen for Zagan.”
“An unusual turn of phrase, considering Gabriel and Uriel both almost became fallen thanks to Botis.”
“No, I have to correct you there. That was not Botis’s fault.” Anael held up his finger and then quickly put it down again. “Uriel’s only crime was giving his heart to the wrong person and failing to see that a gifted artist could hide a dark soul behind his beautiful works. But all of us angels are to blame for not realizing just how badly that impacted my friend. As for Gabriel, he’s like you. It can’t be easy being our boss. It’s not as though he’s close friends with any of us. He cares, and he worries, because of his position and who he is, but he must get lonely too.”
“You’re very insightful and have given me a lot to think about.” Lucifer finished off his sandwich and jumped off the stool. “I must be off. Demons to terrorize and all that. If you can prevail upon Zagan to bring you below tomorrow, we can take care of this Zoltus business. I really need for you to be there. Oh, and I haven’t forgotten.” A wave of his hand and a huge silver tray appeared complete with a large tea pot, matching cups and saucers and the droolworthy devil’s food cake. “Share it with your mate. He’s awake.”
“How did you…?” But Lucifer had already disappeared as quickly and quietly as he came. Anael cleaned up the mess he’d made and grabbed the tray. He wasn’t averse to cake and tea in bed, even if it was the middle of the night. Hopefully, Zagan felt the same way.