Lucifer's Cage (After Dark Book 6) by Sarah Bailey (short story to read .txt) 📗

“It’s okay, it’s just complicated. Don’t say anything to Jax. He doesn’t know.”

“So, this is another thing to go in the ‘we’ll never speak of this incident again’ tank?”

She took another sip of whisky, twirling the tumbler around in her hand.

“It’s just really fucked up.”

“When is your life ever not fucked up?”

Yeah, well, that drunken incident between us also involved spilling all our secrets to each other.

She knew about his grandmother and her visions. How he was meant to be leader of his aunt’s coven. And he knew what would happen on her birthday.

“Touché.”

“Come on, Candace, if you want to talk about it, you know I won’t give you any shit for it.”

She threw back the second tumbler of whisky and poured another for both of them. The alcohol numbed her senses. What if she confided the truth? Would she feel better having it out in the open?

“Will you give me shit for it if I tell you I accidentally fell in love with the Devil when I’ve got two more weeks before my life pretty much ends?”

He knocked back his own glass, pouring another one.

“Fuck. Does he know?”

“Are you crazy? No. It was never meant to happen. None of it. Why do you think I’m in a bar drowning my sorrows by myself?”

He put a hand on her shoulder, giving it a squeeze.

“You can drink with me.”

“Don’t you have a girlfriend to go home to? Why are you in here anyway?”

He shrugged.

“Gavin wants something, but as you can see, he’s not here yet.”

She rolled her eyes. When were vampires ever on time?

“Getting dragged into vamp shit again? Lucky you. I thought you disliked them.”

“Looks like it. I did, but after you go through the end of the world with them, kind of hard to keep being all ‘I hate you so much’, you know.”

She grinned.

Well, I wouldn’t know, but I can imagine.

She didn’t much mind vampires. Neave was an all right sort and she’d met Gavin on a handful of occasions. It was hard not to run into the man who ran London when you hung out in the bar owned by his second in command.

“How’s your goddaughter?”

He dug out his phone, scrolling through and showing her photos. Him and Luna in the park with Grace. Him making stupid faces at Luna. Grace showing Luna a picture book.

“You two will make awesome parents one day.”

“Don’t tell Aunty Grace that. She’ll have another fit and say it’s too soon. Luna stays with us during the full moon so Izz and Rex don’t worry about her.”

She smiled at him, reminded again how glad she was he’d found someone to settle down with. It also made her sad. Her life was such a mess. She downed another whisky, feeling the burn again on the way down. If only she could stop thinking about the Devil for one minute, things might be easier. She knew she’d have no such luck.

I miss him already. I want him so much it hurts. I’m an idiot. A huge fucking idiot.

How was she going to deal with being away from him when all her heart wanted was Lucifer? She wanted to see his mesmerising eyes staring down at her and that deliciously wicked smile of his. It’d barely been twenty-four hours. This was a nightmare. One she needed to end.

“I need to get so drunk I can’t remember my name any more,” she said.

Alistair poured her another whisky, clinking his glass against hers.

“Bottoms up then.”

Chapter Fifteen

Candace walked up the drive towards the huge mansion. She hated the dress that had been picked out for her. It was blue, skin tight with a long slit up the side, far too revealing and not something she’d ever pick out for herself. She couldn’t help thinking that Lucifer would’ve loved to have seen her in this. She shook herself mentally.

Stop thinking about him. Just stop.

She’d turned twenty-five today. It was meant to be a milestone, but it just meant her life was over as she knew it. She spent last night and the morning with her father. Neither of them mentioned their previous conversation.

The afternoon was given over to preparing for the ball her mother was holding. Her blonde hair was braided. Her make up perfectly applied. And now it was time for her to face her duty.

She was greeted by two guards at the door, who let her in with a nod. Walking through into the ornate ballroom, she felt a little awkward. Several prominent members of the fae milled around. It was quite a crowd, but her mother’s balls always attracted attention.

There was a group of girls nearby, looking her up and down with disdain written all over their faces. She ignored them, taking a glass from a tray which a waiter was carrying around. She knocked it back in one.

I hate fae wine, but I need something to get me through this evening.

In the corner near the doors which led to the private household rooms, one of her mother’s handmaidens waved to get her attention. She dumped her empty glass and walked over.

“It’s time,” Pervinca said.

“Fine, lead the way,” Candace replied.

She followed Pervinca through the doors and into a long corridor. The handmaiden brought her up the stairs at the end and into a large room. There were a fair few fae milling around. Raoul stuck out like a sore thumb. Arrogant dickhead. She hated him with a burning passion. His predatory grin when his gaze fell on her made her skin crawl.

“Well, if it isn’t our special guest,” he said.

“Hello, Raoul. Not out harassing poor unsuspecting girls this evening?”

“And miss your debut. I