City of Gods and Monsters

Hours later, Darien hasn’t returned, but Loren has seen three of the other Devils arrive. Hunger eventually drives her from her room, and she awkwardly introduces herself to Lace Rivera, Maximus Reacher, and Travis Devlin, the three Devils at home. Only Maximus is welcoming; Lace is sneering, and Travis is silent. Loren returns upstairs to cry. Late in the night, Darien returns as Loren frets over how to answer Dallas’s increasingly worried texts. She promises she is well but offers no further details. Darien enters the room without knocking. He is annoyed when Loren reports Lace’s unwelcoming behavior and leads Loren downstairs to find something to eat.

Maximus, Travis, and Lace are still in the kitchen when Darien and Loren enter. Darien reprimands them for ignoring his orders to make Loren feel welcome. He orders the other Devils not to tell Randal, the leader of the Darkslayers, about Loren. Loren, shaking, explains that she has an issue with her blood sugar, but that doctors have been unable to accurately diagnose it. Darien expertly prepares a meal, which she insists he share with her.

Ivyana, Darien’s twin, enters the kitchen and welcomes Loren warmly, though she is clearly curious about Loren’s presence in the house.