A Touch of Angel (Cocktails in Hell Book 5), page 1
a touch of angel
cocktails in hell
S.E. Babin
Copyright © 2024 by S.E. Babin
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Cover by We Got You Covered.
contents
Foreword
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Epilogue
Also by S.E. Babin
About the Author
foreword
Thanks so much for loving Violet as much as I do!
If you spot any typos, please do me a solid and send me an email at authorsebabin@sebabin.com. We’re only human around here (unfortunately) and make mistakes. I’d like to know so I can correct them asap.
Feel free to drop me a line there too, any time. I don’t have a PA, so I personally respond.
Happy reading!
prologue
The Devil Gets His Due
He watched Violet straighten the books on the shelves, her fingers hovering over the ones he knew were her favorite titles. Maybe he should have told her demons didn’t read as much as her other customers.
Maybe he should tell his demons to start.
His gaze drifted away and settled on the maddening dark-haired woman in front of him.
“You took something from me,” he said.
Lilith had the nerve to shrug. “You gave it away when you tried to kill me.”
Tried. But he didn’t succeed. Sitting across from her now, he was glad of it. “Does she know?”
“How could she?”
“She suspects,” he breathed, running a hand through his hair. “She’s drawn to me and feels conflicted about it.”
Lilith’s lips curved. “Violet sees you as the weird uncle now. Nothing to worry about.”
He didn’t agree. It didn’t bother him that she was drawn to him. It was that she knew she was attracted, uncomfortable about it, and couldn’t figure out if it was sexual or something else.
She’d be relieved to know it was something else. And yet, he wasn’t sure he could tell her. “She can’t have the light and the dark both. She must choose.”
“Why can’t she?” Lilith argued. “Everything requires balance.”
“Our powers are anathema to each other.”
She laughed softly. “You are them. You forget where you came from. Whose chosen son you are.”
“She must choose,” he said again.
Lilith sighed. “You never realize how good you are. How much potential you have. Violet doesn’t have to choose anything.” Her gaze drifted over to her daughter. “And if I know her like I think I do, she won’t. You know she won’t.” Her lips twitched. “She’ll do something none of us expect, and it will be catastrophic.”
“And funny,” Lucifer said under his breath.
“Always funny,” Lilith agreed.
Angels gathered on the outskirts of all the continents, watchful and waiting. No one had made any suspicious moves yet, and he was unsure who was on Michael’s side and who was waiting to see which side was winning. He still had favors to call in, and they still had to win the vamps and the wolves, but Violet had proven herself more resourceful than he’d ever dreamed.
“You need to tell her,” she said quietly.
“Not yet.”
“They gather. It won’t be too long until Michael makes his move.”
“We don’t have enough yet.” He dragged a hand through his hair.
“She has Solomon’s ring.”
The old anger surged inside of him. “I’m aware,” he growled. “She bears a dangerous artifact and has an unhinged vampire and a hybrid sea king stalling him. It can’t end well.”
Lilith’s chuckle sent a shiver down his spine. After all these years, she affected him the same as she had the first time he saw her. “No matter what happens, it won’t end well. Violet is smarter than you give her credit for. She’s had to survive in our world, and she was successful at it. The Sea King and the Vampire Queen are solid allies.” She shrugged. “Unpredictable? Absolutely. But predictability will get us killed. It’s what Michael expects because he’s too arrogant to realize people grow and change. This is why we will win.” Lilith reached over and squeezed his hand, the warmth of her palm a welcome touch.
Few touched Lucifer. But Lilith had always been able to slide past his boundaries.
“I hope you’re right,” he murmured.
Both their gazes swung back to Violet. Sensing eyes on her, she turned, spotted them, and waved happily.
They raised their hands in a return greeting, but something twinged inside of him. He couldn’t bear it if he lost Violet. At first, he’d been intrigued by her because she was something new, but she’d somehow managed to worm her way into his cold, stone heart.
Exhaling, Lucifer squared his shoulders.
He knew what he had to do.
And he hoped they all survived it.
chapter
one
“You look terrible as a blonde,” Clara murmured, sipping on her martini while she watched the door.
“I’m not here to pick up men. I’m here to help my friend figure out a leak.”
She turned and fluttered her eyelashes at me. “Aw. You said friend. That’s good but not good enough. Soon you will declare to the world you are BFFs with the Vampire Queen.”
I rolled my eyes. “Shut up, Clara.”
She was right, though. I did look terrible as a blonde. Every time I caught my reflection in the mirror behind the bar, I winced. The best glamour is one that changed you just enough to avoid recognition. I’d colored my hair a honey wheat, turned my eyes from green to blue, and plumped up my lips a little. Enough to not look like myself, but not so far that I scared myself every time I caught my reflection.
What was worse was the minidress I wore. Not my idea. Clara insisted there was no way we’d get into this bar if I wore my normal jeans and tank tops. It rode up my thighs with every step, and the underwear she tossed me looked and felt more like a punishment than protection.
When I wondered aloud about taking them off and going commando instead, Clara gasped, “Ooh. Dirty.”
I decided to keep them on, but every time I took a step the string masquerading as underwear dove further into my nether regions until I feared they’d be lost forever.
“Stop squirming,” Clara snapped. “You’re going to make the vampires nervous.”
Vampires, as a general rule, were already nervous. We sat at a downtown bar named Marnie’s. It’s a known vamp hangout, not because they catered to vamps, but because they catered to pretty young things wearing mini dresses … and uncomfortable underwear.
Aka yours truly.
Clara wore a glamour, too, but she’d kept her dark hair. It took a lot of work dampening her power signature to a low-level vamp rather than the badass she actually was. I’d turned her eyes from dark to green and shifted the structure of her face and hair to give her a sharp, hungry look. We were, for all intents and purposes, two low level paranorms out on the town, looking for a little fun.
Gross.
We were actually here to sniff out a potential coup. Dave wasn’t pleased we’d gone undercover, but he also knew we could take care of ourselves. Since he had a plethora of vampire assassins coming after him over his relationship with Clara, we decided it was best he sit this one out.
Even if we could have used those powerful arms to Hulk Smash some naughty vamps.
I had a wedgie the size of Houston and the perfect two fingers to pick it out with, but Clara slapped my hand down on the bar. “Naughty girls do not pick their butts,” she hissed. “You wear that piece of floss like it’s the biggest diamond you’ve ever seen, you hear me?”
I blinked. “Yes, Clara.”
“Good. Now act like the good little slut you’re supposed to be.”
I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing. She hated this as much as I did. A fine line of tension strung from her neck down to her back. Her posture was rigid even as she kept that vapid smile hovering over her lips.
“Do you think they’re actually here?” The music boomed so loud we were practically plastered to each other’s ears so we could hear each other.
“They’re here,” she said ominously.
I spotted a few vamps here and there, walking by scoping out all the potential meals. We weren’t meals more than sport. I wore the scent of a vampire, too, one I had to work with Clara to get right. This meant I shouldn
Maybe assaulted if the looks some of these douchebags were giving me came to fruition, but not bitten.
I wasn’t really into biting. Or I hadn’t found the right partner yet. Something about sharp, glistening fangs coming close to my most vulnerable parts gave me the serious icks.
What was I even saying? I hadn’t had a partner get anywhere close to my bits in so long I was afraid they’d all dried up and fell off. Lachlan and I had some serious smoochies, but nothing had escalated to hands yet.
Or ever.
He’d gone back to the fae lands after Ariel went missing thanks to my father, aka Michael, aka super major jackass.
I sighed. Clara glanced at me, a smile hovering on her lips. “So,” she drawled. “Have you taken that dragon not dragon for a ride yet?”
I choked on my drink. “Clara!” I snapped.
She snickered. “You should. I bet he’d be a roller coaster you’ll never want to get off of.” Clara wiggled her eyebrows. “Because you’ll constantly be getting off anyway.”
“Dear god,” I whispered.
Her bark of laughter made me snicker. “You’re disgusting,” I said fondly.
“What can I say? I’ve got a man with twelve arms.”
I laughed even harder, but I had to admit, I was curious. I narrowed my eyes.
Clara waved a hand. “Ask. You know you want to.”
“Those … hands,” I began.
Her smile widened. “Everywhere, all at once.” She shuddered. “He can even form them into different shapes. It’s glorious.”
I blinked. “Shapes? Like…?” Words were having trouble finding me. “Like spoons?”
She snorted. “Spoons? What the fuck? Do spoons turn you on?”
Crimson hit my cheeks.
“No, idiot,” she said fondly. “Like huge dicks. Medium dicks, even small dicks if the hole is right.”
“Nooooo,” I breathed.
She clinked our glasses together. “You never know. Our bodies have a lot of orifices. Only seems right we fill them up every once in a while.”
“No more,” I begged, holding my hands out. “Please.”
“You should find yourself an ocean man.” Clara shrugged. “They probably won’t be as good as Dave, but Dave is top tier, so even if you get one 75 percent as good, you won’t complain.”
“I’m good,” I said faintly.
“But Alistair.” Clara wiggled her eyebrows. “All those delicious shadows and darkness.” She shivered. “If Dave wasn’t so amazing, I’d strongly consider letting his shadows violate me.”
“I’m not letting anyone violate me,” I grumbled.
“I know,” Clara said solemnly. “I think that’s part of the problem.”
“Subject change, please,” I growled.
Clara straightened, her eyes zooming toward the door before she snapped her attention back to me. “Major power signatures. Two. Keep an eye on the guy in the red satin shirt.” Her lips turned down. “Despite his awful fashion sense, he’s got a shit ton of magic.”
“And the other?”
“Black on black. Typical TV Dracula. He’s got some power but nothing like the other guy.”
I shifted on my seat, turning about thirty degrees until I spotted him. Clara was right. He did have a shit ton of power. The crowd of bodies on the dance floor parted like the Red Sea.
I turned around before he sensed my perusal. “Think he’s the guy?” I murmured.
“No idea. Could be. Someone powerful is behind this. My people wouldn’t follow someone weak.”
“They shouldn’t be following anyone but you anyway,” I growled.
“When you’re the queen for as long as I’ve been, people get restless for change.” Her eyes darkened. “I’ve made mistakes.”
“Everyone has. It doesn’t mean you’re unworthy.”
She nudged me. “Talk about something inane,” she whispered in my ear.
The vamp’s power signature tickled my back. “Oh my gods,” I squealed. “This pink luster lip gloss I’m wearing is divine!”
Clara chewed on the side of her lip, hiding a smile. “It looks sooooo amazing on you.” She tossed her hair. “Like so good, girl. I mean, your lips look super ready for blow jobs.”
A snort burst from me before I clamped my amusement down. He settled next to Clara, elbows on the bar, and gave us both an up and down look that sent all my alarm bells clanging. Pretending to ignore him, I flopped my chin into my hand. “So ready.” I sighed. “I don’t see any dicks I’m ready to gobble down.”
Clara’s eyes glimmered with barely repressed hysteria. “You’re right. It has to be just the right dick. Like not too big and not too small. It’s hard finding a knob you want to slob.”
Our earpieces crackled. “Ladies,” Lucifer drawled. “Are you fucking serious right now?”
I ducked my head. “You can’t slob too hard. It has to be the right kind of slob, you know what I mean? I picked this lip gloss out especially for slobbing.”
The vamp shifted, his eyes lighting on me. Maybe I should have done a better glamour. The one I wore wasn’t all that flattering, but I was in a bar talking about knob slobbing, so maybe he wouldn’t care.
“What are you having?” he asked, well-manicured fingers flicking at the immense wall of liquor in front of us.
I widened my eyes just a hair, enough for him to know I thought he was hot, but not enough to tell him I was ready to throw myself at him. He’d have to work for it at least a little. This lip gloss didn’t just slob for anyone.
Like most vamps, he was stunning. Dark hair, expertly mussed, framed a chiseled face and light brown eyes. With a straight nose, full lips, and cheekbones that could cut glass, he was underwear-model gorgeous. Since most paranorms were abnormally pretty, I’d grown immune over the years. My true form was beautiful, I guess. I didn’t see it much, though my regular form had morphed into more of my true one due to my magic, but I toned it down as much as I could. I don’t think I could pass for human if I left the bar.
“I’ll have another martini,” I said, waving my glass at him. “Chocolate, please.”
Clara grinned. “Same for me.”
The vamp turned away, but I sensed his disgust with our order. He sent it to the bartender, though, and we waited for him to further engage us.
“So,” the vamp said, edging a little closer to us. “I haven’t seen you before. Where are you two from?”
Clara and I had discussed this earlier. “The Houston Seethe. We’re on a bachelorette party trip. Starts tomorrow!”
“We had to ask the queen and everything,” I said solemnly. “She’s soooo pretty,” I said with a sigh.
“Yeah,” Clara breathed. “I want to be her one day.”
I dug my heel into her foot. Too far.
The vamp snorted. “Our queen isn’t much to see,” he said. “She spends most of her time at a demon bar. It’s unbecoming behavior from our sovereign.”
“Demon bar?” I echoed. “There’s one around here?”
The bartender set our drinks down. Chocolate martinis weren’t my favorite, but this guy had a magical touch with booze. Plus, we needed a drink that made us look like targets. Men and male paranorms were the same in that many didn’t love women who shot whiskey.
“Thank you!” I smiled vapidly at him.
He winked. I had to disguise the shudder rolling down my spine. “So good,” I said, leaning over and sipping from the pretty glass.
“It’s called Swan’s.” He jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “On the other side of town, but Clara is one of the few vamps who hang out there.”
“Do they have better drinks?” I asked.
His eyes flashed. “No idea. We don’t sully ourselves mixing with demon kind.”
Clara stiffened just a hair. I twirled one of Clara’s long locks around my finger. “I’ve never met a demon,” I said dreamily.
“You don’t want to. Filthy beasts are what they are.”
Clara sipped her drink, but I sensed her control on edge.
I stood and sidled closer to the vamp, placing one hand on his chest as I gave Clara a moment to get herself under control. “I bet you could beat one of them,” I sighed. “You’re so big and strong and handsome.” Every word I said disgusted me, but he had to think I was stupid and easy. We needed him to lead us back to his lair. Or wherever he lived. I just assumed it was a lair because wasn’t that where douchebags lived instead of apartments? A lair just fit this guy’s oily personality.
