Page 151 of The Bonds of Indigo

“Kayn?”

I’m not someone who cries, but heat burns behind my eyes, and a painful ache blooms in my stomach at the sound of my name on his lips again.

I lean in closer to him, even as his hands press weakly at my shoulders in some half-hearted attempt to push me away.

One of my hands stays steady on him, gripping as though I fear he’ll just vanish again, while with the other, I drag my touch up the side of his neck. My fingers slide into his black, tousled hair and tighten there.

When I smile, a quiet, breathless laugh escapes me. “There you are, little deviant.”

“You can’t be here…” His jaw tenses, highlighting the sharp lines of that perfect fucking face. His jawline is strong, angular, with high, defined cheekbones. “Kayn, how are you here?”

I step back just enough to give him room to stand, and when he straightens, he has to tilt his head back to keep his eyes on mine. It’s impossible not to look at him—brooding brows, that regal nose—he is the definition of male perfection.

And I’ve fucking missed him.

It kills me, the way he looks at me, because it tells me he doesn’t feel the same.

“Can’t even say hi?” I slip back into my playful tone. “It’s been, what, four hundred years?”

His hands move to my chest now, pushing with actual strength behind them. I could counter it easily, but I don’t. I let him go and take a step back.

“How… Why are you⁠—”

“Lucifer?”

It’s not that I forgot Amarah was here, my vision just tunneled to him. But when she says his name, everything snaps back into focus.

I cut a glance over my shoulder. My little slayer is trembling; her eyes blown out, pupils so small they’re swallowed by the indigo hue. She’s staring at him, really hard, and I have no idea why she looks like she’s seen a ghost.

Until he says, “Amarah? Is… is that you?”

Slowly, so fucking slowly, I turn back toward him. He’s staring at her with the same stunned expression.

“Luce… Luce… oh… my… Gods.” Amarah breathes out the words like a chant.

The room stops. Time itself stops. Everything suspends all at once as the reality settles in that I am not about to introduce these two to each other.

Lucifer’s gaze drifts between the two of us before it settles on my little slayer. His mouth parts, but nothing comes out. His double-edged fangs flash as he starts to speak and then stops himself.

When he finally finds his voice, he whispers, “What… are you doing here?”

“Lucifer. Luce. Godsdamn—how was I so stupid not to make that connection?!”

“Bloody Beyond, I hate that damn nickname.” His accent sounds thicker than before. “Did you open the gates for him? Isn’t that against your God’s code?”

“Yeah, alright, and you’re one to talk!”

Her footsteps tap softly across the floor as she closes the distance. She stops just far enough away that I can’t reach her, and I know she’s doing it on purpose.

“Don’t speak to me about codes or laws, Lucifer!”

Her voice breaks with pain at the end, and I don’t know whether I should look at her… or keep trying to understand what I’m seeing reflected in Lucifer’s eyes.

Those same eyes now filled with pain. And regret.

“I didn’t…” His chin drops as shame shadows his face. “I’m sorry⁠—”

“It isn’t your fault, but don’t try to scold me for bringing your partner⁠—”