Premonition of Peace (Her Immortal Monsters #3)

Chapter 30

thirty

NATHALIE

I made one last sweep of the house, checking that everything was in place. The interior designers I’d hired did an incredible job of taking my lists and vision and making them into reality. But still, I wanted everything to be perfect for the big reveal.

The last two weeks of my life had been a whirlwind, but in the turmoil of it all, I found myself more content than not. There were days that Kat’s loss weighed heavier on me than others. There were days when the idea of being the last branch of my family legacy felt like a pressure on my chest.

Sasha had also been something that bothered me and seemed to have no real solution. I hadn’t seen her since that night. I didn’t want to push her. I understood that she needed time to adjust to being back in the land of the living. After everything she’d been through, how could I expect anything else?

I tried not to stress about it too much, telling myself that Sasha just needed time. She’d find her footing again, and when she was ready, we’d figure things out. Until then, all I could do was give her the space she needed.

Aside from that, everything else in my life had found a strange sort of balance. Through it all, I kept finding moments of happiness. My house finally being finished was one of those—even with the last-minute changes I added in directly after the resurrection ceremony.

The keys to the place had been in my possession for a few days now, and I’d spent every spare moment putting in the final touches. Somehow, I managed to maintain the secret from the guys, despite the fact that all three of them tended to be at my apartment all the time.

That was partially why I chose today for the surprise. All three of them had things to handle, and my apartment was finally empty for the movers to clear out. They’d gotten the job done quickly and the unpacking done even faster.

It felt strange to know that the apartment that had been my home for so long was now an empty space, but it wouldn’t stay that way for long. The Se?ora and I had talked and decided that it would become Mist’s apartment. She’d be eighteen soon enough, but had lived through enough horrors to age her otherwise. Mist needed her own space sometimes, and so she’d have it. I planned to take her shopping next week with Piper and the girls to have her pick out furniture and decorations. Whatever she needed to make it feel safe.

And Piper’s bomb would always be there too.

Not long ago I would have worried about her being on her own, but she was far from alone. Mist was still training with the Se?ora every day to get ahold of her death magic, and when she wasn’t doing that, she often spent time with Hallie at Sasha and Sienna’s. This let her keep her regular schedule and a sense of normalcy, even though I wouldn’t be around as much.

I glanced at my phone and cursed, then snapped my fingers a few times. Everything around me straightened. Books righted themselves on the shelves, clean dishes went back to their assigned cupboards, and the area rug that had become crooked righted itself. I smiled proudly. It wasn’t fancy. It was far from what Marcel could do, but it was magic. My magic . And it was actually working for those simple spells that I could never perfect.

Since restoring my memory loci and bringing in Rage and Little, my magic had found its sense of harmony in the chaos. Having access to my emotions the way I did now was still new, but it was also liberating. I’d always been so guarded, so afraid of what might happen if I let myself feel too much. But now, those walls were coming down.

My loci wasn’t back to normal, but just the other day, Ann seemed to fall out of the sky and land on a couch in the library. Bad Nat cackled at her expense while Little helped her up. It wasn’t all my lost selves, but it showed that what Bad Nat said was true. With time, they would return. I just had to be patient.

Then there was Rage. She was quiet and reserved for the most part, but every day she seemed to change a little more. The baby fat that clung to her features shed away. She got an extra layer of hip and ass. She was filling out like all my other selves had, making their bodies identical to mine as I grew up. I couldn’t help but wonder if she was finally getting the chance to grow up too now and find her own version of adulthood.

With everything ready, I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves as I made my way downstairs. I don’t know why I was so nervous to show them. If they didn’t like what I’d chosen for them, they could always change it. Still, I felt some kind of odd pressure about it.

Just as I reached the foyer, a wave of magic hit me, the familiar tingle spreading across my skin. Marcel appeared, his eyes immediately locking onto mine.

“Sunbeam,” he murmured, a slow smile spreading across his lips as he crossed the distance between us in a few long strides. He pulled me into a deep kiss, one that made my toes curl and my heart race.

When he finally let me go, I was breathless, but before I could say anything, I felt another surge of magic. I turned just in time to see Lucifer and August appear out of thin air as if they’d always been there.

Lucifer was the first to reach me, his hands sliding around my waist as he pressed his lips to mine in a kiss that was all fire and heat. I barely had time to catch my breath before August was there, his kiss softer but no less intense. By the time they finally stepped back, I was dizzy with the sheer intensity of it all.

The biggest change in my life had been the solidifying of my relationships with each of them. It was still surreal to think that I had three men who cared about me, who were willing to share me in a way that I’d never thought possible. It was a strange dynamic, but it was ours, and it worked.

Marcel was the first to break the silence, whistling low as he looked around the grand foyer. “This place is amazing. They did such a good job with your house.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “I know, right? I actually wanted to give you guys a tour. Come on.”

I led them through the first level, showing them the living room, the separate dining room, and the large kitchen. We stepped out onto the patio that connected to a back door in the kitchen. My backyard was something else I was proud of, with a pool sparkling in the late afternoon sun and a beautiful garden tracing the outline of the fence.

“I can think of several things that can be done in that pool,” Lucifer commented, shooting me a heated smirk. “None of them involve a swimsuit.”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t hide my grin. “Well, it’s freezing in there right now, so no.”

“I’m surprised it’s not heated,” Marcel said casually, and I smirked.

“An oversight. I can have it installed.” As much as I wanted to linger there, I led them back inside and up the curved staircase, my heart pounding in my chest as we reached the second floor.

“There are six bedrooms in the house,” I explained as we reached the first three rooms at one end of the hallway. I opened the doors to show them the two guest rooms, each decorated in a neutral, calming palette, with a bathroom between them. Then I led them to my bedroom, pushing open the door to reveal the space I’d put the most work into.

“Thank the gods your bed is bigger,” August commented, taking in the Alaskan king bed. “Marcel hogs space.”

“It’s called starfishing,” Marcel retorted, shrugging unconcerned. I laughed at that because it was totally true. For three guys that didn’t much care for sharing, they’d spent most nights in my bed. Not always in that way, but we always ended up asleep together. Well, August, Marcel, and I did. Lucifer couldn’t sleep and the possibility of losing me plagued him. He’d taken to becoming some sort of vigilante enforcer at night, something I wasn’t thrilled about but couldn’t deny that he needed. I found it was best not to think about it too much.

It wasn’t long before we were filing out of my room and heading past the stairs, down the other side of the hallway where three other rooms were. I led them down the other side of the hallway, stopping in front of the last three doors. Each one was painted a different color: a cool slate blue, a deep red, and simple black one with gold accents.

“This is the part of the tour that’s a surprise,” I said, my voice a little shaky as I started to ramble. “If you don’t want it or don’t like it, I won’t be offended. And if you want to keep them but want to change anything, they’re yours.”

They exchanged confused looks, and Marcel came to the right conclusion first. “You’re giving us rooms. . .”

I nodded, taking a deep breath before telling each of them which door to open. “August, you take the blue one. Lucifer, the black, and Marcel, the red.”

The doors swung open, and I held my breath as they stepped into their rooms. Each one was decorated with them in mind, a space that I hoped would feel like home to them. I stood in the middle of the hallway, twiddling my thumbs awkwardly as I waited for their reactions. But as the silence stretched on, my nerves got the best of me, and I turned on my heel, heading downstairs to make myself some tea.

As I made my way to the kitchen, I chewed at my bottom lip. I’d put a lot of effort into each of their rooms and I hoped I captured what they would each want.

Marcel’s room had been the easiest to design. I knew him well enough to understand that he would appreciate something functional yet personal. He had his own private library, and I’d lined the walls with floor to ceiling bookshelves, filling them with a mix of magic and non-magic literature. Some were volumes he already owned, but I’d also taken the liberty of adding a few rare tomes I knew he’d appreciate. The fourth wall framed a king-sized four-poster bed, the wood dark and rich, draped in deep red curtains. The bed itself was dressed in luxurious yet understated linens. I could almost picture him now, sprawled across the bed with a book in hand, the soft light from the bedside lamp casting a warm glow over him.

For August’s room, I’d taken inspiration from his apartment in Paris. The room was filled with art showing abstracts and impressionist renditions of couples and bright sunsets. True love and new beginnings. It felt appropriate. The bed I’d chosen for him had a metal frame that mimicked the intricate ironwork you’d find on Parisian balconies. And of course, I had a miniature replica made for Estrid, placing it near the window so she could sunbathe. A hidden door had a room decorated right out of Bliss , where we’d met. A place for us to . . . indulge.

Lucifer’s room had been the hardest to decorate. What do you get for a desire demon who’d had nine thousand years of wants fulfilled? The question had plagued me for days, and I’d gone back and forth on several ideas before finally deciding to keep it simple and sexy—just like him. I’d opted for a king-sized circular bed dressed in black silk sheets. The walls were painted an inky black, but instead of being oppressive, the color was offset by raised black accent molding that added texture and depth to the space. There was only one wall that deviated from the others—it was metallic gold, adorned with black cabinets and a custom tantra chair. The cabinets were already stocked to meet his sexual appetite . . . and mine. I added a few of my favorite romance novels on the nightstand. He still read them, even if it was behind the other guy’s backs.

As the kettle whistled, pulling me out of my thoughts, I poured the hot water over the tea leaves and watched as the liquid darkened. I took a deep breath, the aroma of the tea calming my nerves. I wrapped my hands around the warm mug, letting the heat seep into my bones. And then I made my way into the living room just as I began to relax, I heard the sound of footsteps descending the stairs.

Steady and familiar.

I looked up as they entered the room, my heart skipping a beat when I saw the looks on their faces. August was the first to reach me, sitting down beside me with a big smile, while Marcel and Lucifer draped themselves over the edges of the loveseat, their gazes warm.

“So,” I began, my voice betraying just a hint of nerves, “what do you think?”

They exchanged glances before August was the first to speak. “You’ve outdone yourself, sunling. The rooms are perfect.” His eyes darkened a fraction as he added, “ All of them.”

Relief washed over me, and I couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips knowing he’d found the hidden door. “I was worried you might not like them…”

“Oh, I love mine.” Lucifer chuckled, the sound low and rumbling, as he leaned forward and nipped my ear. “I see my room being incredibly useful.” His smirk was downright sinful, and I felt a blush creep up my neck, heat pooling in my core at the thought of what he might be planning.

Before my mind could wander too far down that path, Marcel’s fingers found their way into my hair, scratching my scalp in that soothing way he knew I loved. “Does this mean you want us all to stay here together?”

“Not if you don’t want to. We can all live here, or you can live in other places. I’m all right either way. Regardless of if you decide to be here or somewhere else, each of you will always have a place in my home.”

August was the first to respond, his voice soft but firm. “I stay wherever you are, Nat. Always.”

Marcel nodded, though there was a slight hesitation. “I’m already used to having August as a housemate, so what’s one more?”

Lucifer, never one to be outdone, added, “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, but it better stop at the three of us.” Marcel made a sound of agreement, and I couldn’t help but laugh a little.

“I never meant to fall in love with one person, let alone three,” I admitted, shaking my head in disbelief at my own life before teasing them. “Managing the three of you is a lot, especially with my work.”

The guys quieted a moment, looking at each other as though they were having some sort of silent conversation.

“What is that look for?” I asked.

Lucifer’s expression softened, his eyes dark with concern. “We’ve been talking . . .”

“About?”

“You, sunbeam. What else?”

“Elaborate.”

August patted my thigh. “You have a tendency to . . . take on too much.” As soon as I opened my mouth to argue, he said, “Let me finish. You take on the weight of the world. You look after everyone. You don’t have to do that anymore. You have us.”

“You have support,” Marcel added, and my eyebrows shot up.

“He started seeing a therapist,” Lucifer whispered. “He’s full of new words, like ‘trauma,’ ‘support,’ and ‘bandwidth.’”

August shot him a look, while Marcel’s nostrils flared and he cleared his throat.

“Okay,” I started slowly, thinking to think of how to manage everything they’d just said. “So, that’s new information about Marcel. And explains where you go when you have ‘things to do.’ And I’m happy about it.”

“But this is about you,” Lucifer added. “The dreadful business with The Morrigan is resolved. You don’t need to keep overworking yourself, little witch. You can scale back.”

“I . . . I don’t know how to not work.”

“We’re not saying don’t work,” August said quickly. “Gods, you’d be bored as hell. We’re just saying you don’t have to do it all anymore. Delegate. Outsource. Build an even bigger team and network. And lean on us when you need to.”

I hesitated, the familiar tension of responsibility tightening in my chest. But when I looked at the three of them, I knew they were right.

“I’ll try,” I promised, my voice softer. “I’ve been thinking about taking on a second personal assistant to manage more of the businesses.”

“That’s a start,” Lucifer said, then he shrugged. “I don’t mind being in charge of the hiring process. I can run the background checks.”

“You mean follow them around and decide if they end up crossed off that list you don’t think we know about,” August said with a chuckle.

“Same difference.”

I groaned. “You keep an actual list?”

“I’m a busy man. It’s hard work keeping the city clean.”

“You’re like a blonde Batman,” Marcel said, smirking. “You even lower your voice like him. ‘I’m Lucifer,’” he said, moving his arms around and lowering his voice mockingly.

August watched the interaction with disappointment. “Maybe group therapy is something we should look into . . .” he said quietly, watching the other two banter.

I barked a laugh, instantly feeling sorry for the poor soul that would take us on as clients. Even though they didn’t sound like they were actually fighting, I knew if it went on too long, it might get tense. Clearing my throat loudly, they stopped the chattering and looked at me. “How about this,” I began, looking at all of them one by one, “I will get a second assistant, full-time, and that person and I will begin the process of expanding my team, as you put it. And Lucifer, you can run the ‘background check’ but cleanly . I want to know the good, the bad, and the ugly about each candidate.”

“I find that more than agreeable,” August said, taking my hand and kissing the top of it. The simple action sent delicious chills through my veins.

Marcel and Lucifer both nodded in agreement.

I patted their thighs and stood up. “Good. Now, if you don’t have any objections,” I said, pulling my shirt over my head as I walked out of the room. “I’m going to go for a swim . . .” I dropped the shirt on the floor and turned to leave.

“I thought you said it wasn’t heated?” Marcel said, though he couldn’t hide the hint of arousal in his voice.

A salacious smile curled up August’s lips, and Lucifer’s eyes glowed with desire.

I stopped, taking off my bra and letting it fall. Looking at them over my shoulder, I winked. “I lied.”