Infernal Games by Jenna Wolfhart

5

“This can’t be happening.” Az paced, brows furrowed.

River lowered me into a wooden chair at the edge of the trees. Whispers drifted out from the dense brush, and I swore I saw the flicker of several yellow eyes. None of the other fae ventured out to join us. It seemed River was right. They didn’t want to greet the demon.

“Mia is human.” He came to a sudden stop before me and peered into my eyes. Zing. “She looks like one, she smells like one, she feels like one.”

River shrugged. “Whoever did this to her is strong. Impenetrable magic, invisible even to demons. Someone as strong as me.”

Az narrowed his eyes. “How many fae are as strong as you?”

“Not many,” she said lightly, brushing my hair back from my shoulders. She gave me a kind smile, but I didn’t miss the eager excitement in her eyes. River might be helping us, but she was getting something out of this. What? I didn’t know. But I needed to stay on guard. “In this area of the world, maybe ten.”

He strode over to us, looming tall, shadows whorling across his skin. “Can you tell who did it?”

“Maybe if I had more time.” She glanced up at him. “But I’m assuming you’d like this done quickly. The garbage smell has faded. If Lucifer hasn’t stopped actively tracking her, he might already have a lock on her location.”

“Do it,” he said, shoving his fingers into his midnight hair. “Go on then. Get it over with.”

“You know I can’t do this for free,” she said lightly.

“Just do it!” He shouted. His voice echoed through the trees.

Smiling, River brushed her fingers along my collarbone, lighting up my skin with the same kind of magic that had melted my brain as soon as I’d stepped into the grove. My body burned like it was engulfed in flames. Wincing, I glanced down at my arms, half-expecting to see the fire I felt. But there was nothing there. Nothing but—

A strange scent wafted into my nose. A familiar scent, but one I couldn’t place. It was harsh and metallic, almost like gold. Ozone. The word popped into my head, though I couldn’t explain where it had come from. What did ozone smell like exactly?

It smelled like this.

Az sucked in a sharp breath and stumbled away from me. River’s hand fell from my arm, and her wide eyes whipped across me in disbelief. She pressed her fingers to her lips. Dread clenched my heart.

“What’s going on?” I whispered.

Az’s jaw tightened. Hell, his whole body did. He shot a sharp glance at River, who still stared at me like she’d seen a ghost. “Are you sure she doesn’t know?”

“It seems impossible, but yes.” River let out a shuddering breath, leaned forward, and peered into my eyes. “She’s been carefully hidden.”

The words sent a boulder tumbling through my belly. My voice wobbled when I finally found the words. “You two are freaking me out. What’s going on and what the hell is that smell?”

Az shook his head, and I could practically feel the hectic thumping of his heart. Though that had to be impossible. I couldn’t hear his heart beating. Right?

But suddenly, I no longer knew what was impossible or not.

“Mia, I need you to stay calm,” he said in a low voice that did little to actually calm me. “What I’m about to tell you is going to be a bit of a shock.”

“I’m a supernatural,” I said flatly, pushing up from the chair. “You’ve confirmed it. But how? Why? When? Did a werewolf get to me when I didn’t know it? Is that even possible? Wouldn’t I have shifted at some point? I—”

“You’re a fallen angel.” He gently grabbed my arms when I stumbled back, as if someone had punched me in the gut. Mind reeling, all I could do was gape at him. I couldn’t have heard him right.

“No,” I said, shaking my head. “That’s impossible.”

He pressed his lips together. The steadiness of his gaze was the only thing that kept me from screaming and running in the other direction. Desperation rose within me like a hurricane. I wanted to get away from this. I didn’t want to hear any more of it.

My entire life flashed in my mind’s eye. A childhood spent running barefoot in the grass. Dancing on stage. Sitting at a desk doodling in math class. It was all there. My very human life. I am not a fallen angel.

“Someone has gone to a lot of trouble to mask the truth of you,” he murmured, still holding me steady. “I can’t begin to explain it, but it’s the only possibility. Someone found you when you were born and made sure you would never know what you are.”

A shudder went through me. “But why? None of this makes any sense, Az.”

“I don’t know.” He ground his teeth and pulled back, casting a glance at River. “Unfortunately, we can’t waste any more time talking about it right now. We need to mask your scent.”

“What?” Brows furrowed, I glanced between them. “Why? If this is what I smell like now, won’t that stop him from knowing who I am? You wanted to change me. Well, I’m pretty sure I’m changed.”

Understatement of the century.

River stepped closer and pushed my hair behind my shoulder. A kind smile softened the tension on her face. “Lucifer knows every angel and demon in this world. While he won’t recognize you as Mia McNally anymore, he will wonder at the sudden appearance of a new fallen angel in Manhattan. It’s not worth the risk. Not until you find out more about your past.”

I sucked in a sharp breath and stepped back. “You think Lucifer is the one who’s done this to me. You think he knows I’m...whatever this is.”

“Maybe,” Az said softly. “It might explain his determination to find you.”

Dread coiled around my heart. My mouth went dry. “I really, really hope you’re somehow wrong about all this.”

He took my hand in his and squeezed tight. Warmth travelled up the length of my arm and settled around my heart, soothing my frayed nerves. Just a little. “I know, Mia. Me too.”

“You ready?” River placed her hand on my shoulder and smiled. “How about we give you a werewolf scent glamor? You feel comfortable with that? Or…I could always make you smell like fae, if you’d prefer…”

“No,” I said, clearing my throat and dragging my gaze away from Az’s piercing eyes. “A werewolf is good. I’ve known Serena all my life. That feels…right.”

Although, if I were being brutally honest, nothing about this felt right. It felt like the ground itself had been ripped out beneath my feet, and all I could do was swim in the open air and hope I didn’t plummet into the boiling core of the earth. There was no time for my mind to wrap itself around this new development. No silence to think.

Because if I stopped now, Lucifer would find me.

River squeezed my shoulder, and that strange fiery heat blazed across my skin. Moments later, she stepped back and cocked her head with a smile. The scent of ozone whispered away. “There you go. You’re all good to go.”

And now we owed her one.

After we said goodbye, Az led me back into the streets. The hidden grove of trees melted from view as soon as our feet hit the grimy alley pavement. The old, dilapidated building shuddered back into place, hiding the fae’s secret home from prying human eyes. Az’s entire body was tense, his surging emotions matching mine. I could tell by the way the shadows roared across his skin.

Silently, we strode out of the mouth of the alley and hightailed it across the bustling street. I didn’t know where he was leading me now, and I didn’t care. I was a fallen angel. One hidden for years. How could that even be possible? How could that be me?

It seemed impossible. Maybe all of this was a mistake.

“Az.” I grabbed his arm and stopped him before he kept rushing through Manhattan as if nothing strange had happened. “We need to talk about this.”

“I need to get you out of here first.” He towered over me, his muscular body rippling beneath his fitted suit. “If Lucifer was the one who did this, I can’t risk him getting anywhere near you, even with your new scent. There will be a reason you’ve been hidden. And it won’t be a good one. I can guarantee you that.”

Chills swept along my bare arms. “And it’s why he wants to marry me.”

His gaze went dark. “Most likely.”

“I don’t want to leave.” Lifting my chin, I fisted my hands by my sides. “I want to stay and figure out what the hell is going on. None of this makes any sense. I have no powers. I don’t even have heightened smell or anything. I grew up in Tennessee with human parents and a human sister. I was born in a small town outside of Nashville. There are photos of me. If I’m a fallen angel, how could any of that be true?”

Az gave a hard shake of his head. “He’ll have done something. I don’t know what. But something. And he’s one of the few beings powerful enough in this world to have done it.”

“So let’s—”

“Hello, Asmodeus.” A dark voice slithered into my ears. My heart lurched into my throat, and my entire body went hot. An eerie, unsettling sensation raced down my spine. Sucking in a breath, I slowly spun on my feet to face the demon who had joined us on the sidewalk.

All I saw was death.

Dark, piercing eyes. Tense, cutting jawline. Vengeance and anger swirled around him like a storm cloud. Invisible, but it packed a punch all the same. Or maybe I was just imagining things.

“Lucifer,” Az said slowly, drifting toward his King so that his body blocked mine like a shield. “What are you doing here?”

A lazy smile lifted the corners of Lucifer’s full lips. “I might ask you the same thing. You rarely leave Hell’s Kitchen, particularly for a street like this. No fancy restaurants. No lounges. No luxury shops. I know how much you like shiny things and your little toys you like to play with.”

“I was taking a walk.” Az’s words were short and packed a punch.

Lucifer’s eyes drifted to me. “With?”

I cleared my throat. “Sansa.”

Shit. The name popped out before I could stop it, and I really wished I could turn back time and take it back. Why, oh why, did I give him the name of a freaking Game of Thrones character? Surely he would see through that.

Did Lucifer know about Game of Thrones?

He chuckled. “Nice to meet you, Sansa.” Then he sniffed. I tried to hold back my cringe. These demons and their weird sniffing thing. “Tell me. Have you ever been to Infernal?”

Az stiffened.

“Um.” I wet my lips, unsure of how to respond. Probably best to be as honest as possible so that the lies were easier to track. “Once or twice.”

“Good.” He nodded. “We have an opening there for a dancer. You have a nice figure and beautiful red hair. Quite unique, your look. I’d like you to come work for us.”

My brows shot to the top of my forehead. What the fuck?! “That’s…a great offer. But don’t you want to see me dance first?”

His smile stretched wide. “Sure. Why not? Come dance at the club for one night. If you’re terrible, you’re fired. Otherwise, you can stay as long as you’d like. How does that sound?”

“Erm, well, I don’t know. I—”

“Sansa,” he purred, stepping closer. Az stayed firmly between the two of us, but it felt like it hardly mattered. If Lucifer wanted to get to me, he could. I had no doubt about that. “You know who I am, don’t you? Every supernatural does. Don’t pretend you don’t all whisper about me behind my back.”

I swallowed hard. “Lucifer. The King of Hell.”

“That’s right.” A wicked smile curled his lips. “And no one says no to me, especially not a little wolf. You will come dance at Infernal. Tonight. If you’re good, the job is yours. And I will not take no for an answer.”

Well, shit. So much for Az’s plan to keep me as far away from Lucifer as possible. Of course, maybe this wasn’t such a bad thing. I’d been dying to step foot inside the club. I’d have a chance to find out more about what was going on. And…

Wincing, I glanced up at Az. I’d forgotten one very important thing. I couldn’t step foot in Infernal. Not without losing my soul. And I couldn’t say no to Lucifer, either. I had a feeling he’d make his displeasure very, very clear if I did. By ripping my spine from my body? Or tossing me into the Hudson River? That didn’t sound appealing, but neither did losing my soul.

I’d have to convince Az to destroy the contract. It was the only way.

I gave Lucifer a tense smile. “I guess I’m in.”