35
Luka
After about a thousand apologies, Rhen cleaned herself and the floor up with Elm’s help. I shucked off my vomit covered boots and set them outside in the snow at Kol’s request saying he’d wash them later.
When she’d finally calmed her stomach a bit, I pulled Rhen aside and told her what Baz had told me.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” I told her. “I mean, he didn’t exactly sound like himself. It’s probably a trap.”
She nodded. “Yeah. You’re probably right. But–I know he’s in there, Lulu. I just know it.”
Finally, we all settled down in the living area to discuss what happened while they were away. I found myself staring in disbelief, knowing our theory had been correct.
Kol’s brows furrowed. “So let me get this straight. You were in the Prince of Hell’s house, and you didn’t screw him?”
Elm grumbled, rapidly tearing off the silk shirt the Prince of Hell had generously given him and sending it flying across the room. “Kol—”
“No, no, seriously, man. Which one was it? Because if it was one of the hot ones — Oh, who am I kidding, they’re all hot.” He turned to me, winked. “Or so I’ve been told.”
“Who, Kol? Who told you?” Phyre confidently stepped through the threshold, a blue konari perched on her shoulder.
He cracked a smile. “Hey, Phy. Can you believe these two were actually invited to have a threesome with the Prince of Hell and declined?”
She settled in on the sofa, lazily propping her feet up on the low coffee table. “Oh, that is such a tragedy. Truly, it’s not like we’re concerned with the fact that they went to Hell or anything.”
The konari zoomed past me and right onto Rhen’s lap. He contentedly crooned as she gently scratched him underneath the chin. I witnessed with amusement as he arched his back, soaking in the affection she was providing. He lazily flopped over in her lap, a sight so reminiscent of an ecstatic puppy asking for a much-needed belly rub. I couldn’t help but grin as I watched her give into this tiny creature’s demands.
She appeared to be only vaguely listening to the others, and when she spotted me looking at her, she smiled brightly. Something I’d been terrified I’d never see again a mere hour ago.
“Uh oh,” Kol said, sliding into the seat next to me. “Looks like someone’s jealous. Sorry, man. Looks like she’s got a new pet to scratch behind the ears.” He wasted no time with his next retort to making direct eye contact with me. “But I’ll pet you.”
Suddenly aware of how hot my cheeks were, I focused on my hands. I knew he wasn’t serious. Everything Kol said was a front, a way of hiding how utterly frustrated he was feeling. Yet, he went out of his way to make me uncomfortable with his coquettish comments.
Elm snarled, an angry throaty sound that made all of us jump. “Enough flirting! I still don’t think we can trust anything that daemon bastard said, but if there was even a hint of truth to it—we can’t ignore it.”
“If she can’t be killed, then how are we supposed to stop her?” I asked, still refusing to glance up from my lap. Kol was so fucking close I could taste the faint lemon scent of his soap. Just the thought made me blush again.
His voice tickled my ear. “Well, that’s not exactly new information. I mean, she’s a literal goddess. It’s not like any blade forged on earth can kill her.”
Rhen gasped, and I looked over to see her brown eyes shining. Her hand had gone limp on the konari’s belly, and he squirmed in protest. “What about the Blazing Sword? The gods created it, right? Maybe—” She paused, and I could see the wheels turning in her mind. “Maybe that’s why Athan is keeping her from getting a hold of it. Because he knows it’s the only thing strong enough to kill her.”
An eerie stillness enveloped the room suddenly, quickly replaced by a cacophony of voices as everyone loudly discussed the possibility.
“We have to find it.”
“Why didn’t he let you have it, then?”
“If that’s true, couldn’t the Spear do the same?”
All of which seemed to be valid concerns to me. While the others carried on their conversation, I felt I had no place in it and quietly excused myself to head over to the kitchen.
Finding something to snack on was more difficult than I’d imagined. Ayesha’s supplies were scattered everywhere on the counters. I started stacking them neatly to one side but ended up dropping a glass jar onto the floor. It shattered, spilling a black powder.
I tensed, reminded of Baz suddenly. The sound of wood cracking when my body was sent hurtling into the wall rang in my ears and I tried in vain to push away the memory. Kol sauntered in, finding me staring down at the mess on the floor in complete shock.
“You ok? Thought I heard something break in here.” He glanced down at the shattered pieces of glass scattered across the floor and let out a deep sigh. “Don’t move. I’ll get the broom.”
I stared at the powder intently while Kol swept it up. Transfixed, my body was rigid and frozen as I relived the vivid nightmare of my near death all over again.
“So, the lovebirds are leaving again. They’ve got a meeting with the Hunt, apparently.”
“Oh,” I said, my body starting to tremble. “Aren’t you going with them?”
He dumped the debris into the waste bin and exhaled, swiveling his body towards me. His expression held sorrow and regret, as if he had been hoping for a different outcome. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed again before speaking. “I would, but it seems I’ve been left on babysitting duty instead.”
“I don’t need a babysitter,” I offered, but I was still paralyzed in that moment, the memory of his body holding me, rocking me as if I was a babe needing consoling.
Kol tilted his head, eyeing me intensely. “Uh huh, sure. I’ll be right back.”
He came back in a few moments, but I was still in the same place, unmoved. I could feel his gaze on me as he took in the sight of me frozen still, my own eyes forward and focused. “Looks like it’s just us again,” he said, a playful grin on his face. “You hungry?”