Book Three: Chapter 54

“So what now?” Lily asked. She still sat at the edge of the fountain, wearing her intern clothing. She had taken off her shoes, her feet soaking in the warm water.

“We wait, I’m afraid.” Naia could feel Mike walking through the home, so close yet so far. She dreaded that disconnected feeling she would get when he stepped into the closet. He would suddenly disappear, and she would be unable to feel him. She took comfort in still knowing he was alive, but sometimes it wasn’t enough.

“You could order me to go with him,” Lily said, her voice soft.

“You would like that, wouldn’t you?” Naia smiled at the succubus. “You are right. I could make you go, as your master. You would have to protect him, maybe die for him. And you would like that, because it would prove that you’re right. It would prove that I put him above you, ergo he puts himself above you.”

Lily didn’t respond, her eyes focused on the water in the fountain. Naia could see the tension in her shoulders,