Reapers of the Dark (Cora Roberts #4)

Chapter 29

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Cherryade is the new cola.

E veryone breathed a sigh of relief when Lucifer turned up on my doorstep and, with a sweep of his hand, that I was pretty sure was for show, not necessity, put our souls back in our correct bodies. Then, he swiped the key from Maggie and disappeared into the bedroom the throuple had vacated. I was officially full, and that situation wasn’t looking to change anytime soon.

I stepped out of my home and made the brief journey to Dayna’s house. The door swung open of its own volition and greeted me with a quiet groan. It seemed it was a little pissed at being moved.

I found my aunts in the dining room. All of them. Arguing over…what was that? They all stopped talking, and Dayna and Anita edged closer together to block my view. That wasn’t suspicious at all.

“What are you doing?” I asked as I took a step to the side. They mimicked me, and I narrowed my gaze, folded my arms, and arched a brow.

Aunt Liz sighed. “We’re planning your bachelorette party.”

“So why all the cloak and dagger?”

“Because it’s a surprise, silly,” Dayna said with a scowl at Liz.

Liz snorted. “You can’t keep a secret, sister, so don’t look at me like that.”

“I didn’t agree to a party.”

“You don’t need to. You’re getting married, and it’s a rite of passage,” Antia said.

“One I shall not be partaking in.”

“Listen here,” Dayna snapped. “We aren’t getting married, and you are our only niece, so suck it up, buttercup. We’re going to do all the bridal shit because it’s our only chance to do so.”

The door cracked open, and Rebecca and Maggie came in with arms full of decorations. Pink decorations. “Busted,” Rebecca muttered.

“Not you too?”

Indigo rose to peer at the scene. “Is this a meeting of females?”

“Yes.”

“Am I invited?”

“I’m pretty sure I am not, and that means neither are you.”

I felt her pout. “Shame. I’ll save my contribution to your nuptial celebration for the party.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. I was outnumbered. Rebecca quirked a brow. “I am emotionally damaged by my parents’ visit, and this will help me get over it.”

“I’m pretty sure Ezra can help you get off. I mean, over it.”

She scowled. “Don’t deflect by speaking of that overgrown possessive cat. He has issues.”

I grinned. “Then he’s in good company.”

Dayna put her hands on my back. “House, please escort Cora outside.”

A phantom wind picked me up, opened the front door, and gently deposited me on the lawn before slamming the door. I huffed as I jumped to my feet and spun to face the house, wagging my finger at it.

“Is that any way to treat your host? You are on my land.”

The ground beneath my feet rumbled, and the lawn rose, swept me off my feet, and pushed me toward Summer Grove House.

“That is very impolite,” I snapped.

Hudson and Dave came to stand on the porch. “Is she speaking to the house, the lawn, or spirits?” Dave asked.

“We can see spirits now,” Hudson reminded him.

Dave tilted his head. “Sadly, that was the only option that didn’t make your mate sound insane.”

I clenched my fists, and I swore I heard Dayna’s house rumbling with laughter. Rude.

“Where are all the girls?” Sebastian asked as he joined them.

I swung my thumb over my shoulder as I jogged up the steps. “Over there plotting my doom.”

“She means bachelorette party,” Hudson supplied.

“You knew? Traitor.”

“I did. It’s about time you let people pamper you a little.”

I pushed past them and into the house. “Would be fine if I had actually been proposed to,” I grumbled under my breath.

“What was that?” Hudson asked.

“Nothing, sweetheart,” I sing-songed as Lucifer came down the stairs, looking nervous. Why was the Devil nervous? Anyone? This could not be a good thing.

“He’s coming,” Lucifer whispered.

“He who? Be more specific. There are a lot of he’s happening around here, given all the women are over there plotting my demise.”

Lucifer frowned. “What?”

“She means bachelorette party,” Dave said as they joined us in the house. “She’s being dramatic.”

Lucifer pulled the cuffs of his suit jacket straight and checked his tie before eyeballing the now closed front door with a look of determination I’d never seen before. Harry suddenly appeared, looking six shades paler than usual. He opened his mouth, snapped it closed, then disappeared through the ceiling.

Dave and Hudson watched him go and then leveled me with a look. I shrugged.

A hush settled in the air, the clock froze, and the normal electrical buzz ceased, like we’d had a power cut. The hairs on my arms rose, and I fought the panic swirling inside my gut.

“What is that?” Dave muttered, glancing around.

I swallowed as a gentle rap sounded against my door.

Lucifer nodded at me. “You should answer, Cora.” My feet were as frozen as this house. I blinked. Lucifer gave me a little shove. “It’s never wise to keep Him waiting.”

I sucked in a breath and tried to remember my uncle’s little speech from earlier, reminding myself I was a force to be reckoned with. I glanced down at my worn jeans and washed-out sweater. Should I change? No, I didn’t want to present a lie.

My hands fisted, and I took the few steps to the front door while the men surrounding me stared. I opened the door and came face to face with the most revered being in the world. Should I bow? Curtsy? Genuflect?

He looked to be somewhere in his late forties, with dark shortish hair sporting a sprinkling of salt and pepper on the sides. He was clean-shaven, tall—but not extraordinarily so—and His sun-kissed skin looked like He’d come from a weekend in the tropics. He wore a pale gray T-shirt, which matched His eyes, and a pair of navy jeans with a well-known brand of white sneakers on his feet. I didn’t burst into flames, no fire rained from the sky, and the world appeared to keep turning.

He opened his arms. “Cora,” He said, His honeyed tone deep but warm.

I’m not really a hugger, but refusing Him wasn’t a choice. I stepped into His embrace and sighed as my heart settled. Tears pricked at my eyes. He held me for a few minutes and absorbed all my pain, worry, and doubt. He took it without judgment, without reservation, and with no demand for anything in return. I didn’t realize how much weight I was carrying until He unburdened me. He rubbed my back as He soothed my soul.

“Your mate is getting anxious, granddaughter. Should we go inside?”

My mate? Oh. I pulled myself away and swept the telltale water from my eyes before spinning around to face the three males waiting with gaping mouths. After we stepped inside, I closed the door and gathered myself.

“Father,” Lucifer said in a flat tone. But I heard the worry, the hidden need for His attention and praise. He smiled at my uncle and opened His arms again. Lucifer licked his bottom lip and stepped into them, and He winked at me over Lucifer’s shoulder.

“We have much to discuss, son, but for now, let’s start easy with Cora. No need to scare her off with all the family drama.”

“She is the epicenter of family drama,” Dave said. He blinked a few times, like he couldn’t quite understand who was here.

He released Lucifer and stepped back. “I would love a cool drink.”

“I have iced tea? Or homemade lemonade?”

“Soda too,” Lucifer added. I’d left that off, because if it was an illicit substance in Hell, I assumed it wouldn’t be a welcomed offering.

“Do you have any cherryade? It’s been years, but I indulge every now and then.”

“I do.” I jerked my head at Hudson, who was still staring. “Hudson, come and help me in the kitchen, please. Uncle, could you show our guest to the parlor?”

I grabbed Hudson’s hand and dragged him down the hallway and into the kitchen.

Hudson’s eyes lost a little of their glaze. “That’s?—”

“God, yes.”

“And He just said?—”

“That I’m his granddaughter.”

“And He hugged you.”

“Yes.”

“He’s—”

“A lot. Can you grab the emergency cookies from the top shelf, please?”

He moved as if on autopilot and plated a selection of flavors while I gathered some ice tea for myself, lemonade for Dave, and cherryade for the rest of them.

“What do we call Him?” Hudson asked as I moved to step out of the kitchen.

I tilted my head and pursed my lips. God seemed a little formal. Gramps, a little informal. Umm. Big G was probably not hip.

“Adon is fine,” a disembodied voice declared. Right. Sees all, hears all.

I hurried into the parlor, with Hudson trailing after me. I placed the tray of drinks down and took a seat on the sofa. Hudson joined me. Dave, Lucifer, and Adon had taken the armchairs.

“Thank you for the invitation to your belated Christmas celebration,” Adon said.

“You’re most welcome.”

He smiled. “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to come, but you can count on me for Thanksgiving this year. Easter gets a little busy.”

“Understandable.” On account of His son dying and being risen.

The White Furry Menace appeared and blinked at Adon. I expected her to make a run for it, but instead, she padded over and leapt onto his lap.

“My, aren’t you a beautiful thing,” He rumbled.

Bella kneaded His thighs with a deep purr and settled into her loaf of bread pose. What an absolute flirt. No one was safe—vampires, shifters, humans, angels, and now gods.

“So, my son tells me you are to be wed?”

I glanced at Hudson. Come on, big man, time to impress the in-laws. Hudson froze, and I sighed. “We haven’t set a firm date, but yes, soon. You are, of course, invited to that as soon as we decide on a date.” And have an actual proposal.

“That would be most welcome. I haven’t been to a good wedding in centuries.”

I grimaced. “It might not be in a church.”

He waved a hand at me and collected his glass of red fizzy soda. “The act of becoming married varies across countries, factions, and time. Your union is yours, and no one else’s. Where and how you say your vows should be important and reflect the two lives coming together and the future you want to share. Just because you aren’t at a traditional altar doesn’t make your marriage less than a pair who say ‘I do’ in a cathedral.”

Hudson relaxed next to me. That’s what he was worried about? God forcing us into a church? “I’m pleased to meet you,” he finally settled on, like we hadn’t been here for several minutes.

Adon chuckled. “Sometimes it can take the mind a few beats to catch up.” He took a sip from His glass and smiled as He closed his eyes. “Amazing.” His eyes flicked open, and He looked at the plate. “Are those lemon cookies?”

I slid Lucifer an amused glance. “Yes, please help yourself.”

Adon picked one up and bit into it. He hummed. “Please tell Maggie these are the best cookies I have ever tasted.”

What an endorsement.

We all grabbed a cookie because it seemed the polite thing to do.

“Not that I am not grateful to meet you, but why are you here?” I said. I didn’t want to offend Him, but I was also curious.

Adon’s gray eyes found mine, a wealth of knowledge shifting behind them, the answers to every question in the universe at the tip of His fingers. “Your existence has caused a stir among my angels.”

“Because they are judgmental purists,” Lucifer muttered.

Adon smiled and tilted His head in acknowledgment. “I agree there are those among your kind that still fail to understand time has moved on. It is a cultural change, and those take time. However, Abaddon has made it clear they will face his wrath if they try to harm her.” So my father was telling the truth that he put a protection order out on me. Color me flattered. “I wanted to ensure they knew she was also on my radar, so no one gets any bright ideas.”

God and the angel of death were in my corner.

“Why?” Lucifer said. “There have been Nephilim before, and none warranted this attention from heaven.”

Adon finished the last bite of His cookie. “None of them had her bloodline.”

“None were elemental?” Dave asked.

Adon narrowed His gaze and then flicked it to me. “No,” He said slowly. “None of them were elemental.”

While His words rang true, the fact He meant something else wasn’t lost on me. I could ask, but if He’d wanted to share in front of everyone, He would have done so. I would either have to wait to get Him alone, or I would need more answers about my family tree.

“I’m afraid this is just a fleeting visit.”

“Do you have any advice regarding Donn?” Hudson asked.

Adon frowned. “There’s an unwritten rule among us. We don’t interfere unless it is our own getting attacked.”

Hudson leaned forward. “Cora is your own.”

“But no one is attacking her.”

Hudson’s mouth slammed closed.

“If we went to war every time a god did something we didn’t like, your world would be a decimated wasteland. Trust me, it’s better if I don’t interfere.”

“Not even when your greatest creation is being threatened?” Dave asked.

“Not even then.”

Adon gave Bella a scratch behind her ears before lifting her off his lap and onto the floor before standing. “Cora, Lucifer, see me out.”

His tone wasn’t a query—it was a quiet demand. I rose to my feet and gave a subtle shake of my head to Hudson when he tensed.

Lucifer and I followed Adon outside and closed the door. Adon glanced at the cloudless sky. “Lucifer, I forgave you centuries ago. If you want to come home, then we can put a rotation on the burden of Hell. You have my number.” God had a number? Adon slanted me an amused glance. “You wanted advice, Cora?”

“I do.”

He squinted like He was doing a complex mathematical equation. “Be sure of your chosen mate. Secure the bond before you head into battle, and when all seems lost, remind yourself his heart beats for yours.”

That wasn’t cryptic at all. “Thank you?”

He chuckled, leaned down, and placed a kiss on my forehead. “Stay safe, Cora. I have big plans for you.” And then He was simply gone.

The door to Dayna’s house smacked open, and my aunts, Rebecca, and Maggie poured out. “Who the hell was that?” Liz snapped.

I smirked. Time to unbalance them. “That? My grandfather. You know, God.”