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The fog remained thick around us, but as the clouds cleared from in front of the moon, I could see shadows along the edge of the cemetery, trees and shrubs—

Something moved.

Someone was standing there.

“Who’s there?” I called out.

Iris frowned and squinted. “Brody? Is that you?” She started toward him.

“Iris, are you okay? Your house…” He stepped forward onto the grounds. He was one of our trusted friends who we’d allowed a certain amount of access to us, more than almost anyone else.

As she got closer, though, his face changed, darkened. He lifted a hand, his lips moving.

Fuck, he was spelling.

I threw up my own hands, rescinding his access to the cemetery, but it was too late. It stopped him, throwing him back out, but not the flash of light, like an electrical current, that had shot from the tips of his fingers, aimed straight for Iris.

She stood frozen in obvious disbelief before she was thrown to the ground. She screamed, Nia running to her, standing over her, snarling and barking at Brody.

“Iris!” I ran to my sister in shock.

She clutched her face, her eyes filled with betrayal and pain. Fury rolled through me, and I straightened, facing off with the fucking prick.

Cora stepped forward.

What the fuck was this?

She smirked, looking like another person completely. I couldn’t believe it. They were our friends.

But Cora wasn’t alone—

Clayton was with her.

And he had Magnolia.

* * *

Warrick

I waited outside the door to Lucifer’s quarters again, Jagger at my side.

It finally swung open and Ursula, one of his handmaids, stood there. She gave us both a lazy head to toe. “You two again?”

“I need to speak with Lucifer. It’s important.” Somehow, I kept the barely restrained fury from my voice.

We’d been back in Hell for several days and hadn’t been permitted to speak with the king of Hell once. His handmaids wouldn’t let me in. The beast stirred. I was close to pushing my way in. Not a wise move, I knew that, but my control was slipping by the minute. I’d been a free male for a fucking long time, and I liked my freedom a fuck of a lot, we all did. I thought if Lucifer ever called us home, I would return without question. I was wrong. This, being back here, wasn’t going to work for us anymore.

But most of all, I needed to get back to my dove. Right fucking now.

“Who’s out there?” a deep male voice called.

“Warrick and another one. The alpha wishes to speak with you,” she drawled.

“Well, send them in, for fuck’s sake.”

Had she been barring us from him for her own entertainment? Jagger growled, obviously coming to the same conclusion. My beast pushed forward, and I was close to grabbing her throat and shaking the fuck out of her.

The handmaids were warriors, and she didn’t miss my intention. She shook her head and lifted her ax, smirking. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you, hound.” Then she shoved the door wide and stepped back.