Chapter 12 Chaos Runs in Our Blood
Dean
A towering tree rises before us, its thick branches twisting into a magnificent doorway. At the center of its hollow trunk, a vivid purple glow ripples with ancient magic that allows us to travel between realms.
Every portal has its own unique beauty, but this one steals my breath. Rooted deep in the forest, it feels both natural and impossibly out of place.
With Hazel’s hand in mine, I step through. The world around me blurs into flashing lights, and when we reach the end, the stunning castle Diablo Towers comes into view.
The dark-bricked castle is impossible to look away from. Above it, a crimson sky fractures with violet lightning, breathing life into the night in a way no magic ever could. There’s a reason Hell is one of my favorite realms.
The first Lucifer poured his Divine magic and resilience to build this realm from scratch after he and his brothers were cast out of Heaven for accepting the Fates’ gift of soulmates.
The Heaven-bound Archangels thought they were getting rid of weak-willed traitors for deviating from their mission and choosing soulmates to live a life only meant for mortals, but in reality, their rigid rules only drove out the ones with a heart right out of the pearly gates.
Heaven was not the same after that.
The irony was that God never agreed to the banishment. He raked Archangel Michael over the coals for it, but even he knew the two sides couldn’t exist in the same realm anymore.
So he watched Heaven split in two. For the greater good.
Some still believe God abandoned Lucifer for choosing what was never his to claim, but the truth is far from it. It broke something in the Almighty, All-powerful being to watch his first son leave.
At the edge of the cliff, ready to make the final ascent, I glance at Hazel. She’s glaring at Diamond until he lowers his head and nuzzles her stomach in apology.
Hazel sighs, her icy glare dropping before she drops my hand to mount Diamond. The traitor kicks his back leg, taunting me.
When Hazel pats his head, he launches forward. The fire lapping at his legs, tail, and mane burns brighter as he climbs invisible steps in the air toward the Diablo towers. Anxo and Nevaeh are right beside them on the Conquer horse.
Khatri follows on his horse, holding August tight so the kid doesn’t wiggle himself off mid-flight.
I wait until they’re reached safely before letting my shadows teleport me to Hazel’s side.
The guards startle when I materialize before them out of thin air, but recover quickly, bowing us inside.
We climb the polished gold steps, but an older knight steps in our path.
“Apologies for the interruption, ladies and gentlemen, but all weapons must be surrendered before entry. The King’s orders.”
Anxo rolls his eyes when Nevaeh snorts. Everyone knows we can summon our weapons at will, so this rule doesn’t exactly protect anyone, but it’s non-negotiable, and we’re not in the mood to argue.
Anxo and I conjure our weapons and drop them onto the table at the side. The knight barely blinks. He knows they’ll disappear within ten minutes anyway.
Khatri places his sword and two daggers down like the obedient soldier he is. The knight nods as Nevaeh walks past without submitting anything, wiggling her fingers at him with a cheeky grin.
He must be damn good at his job to know my daughter doesn’t carry a weapon, considering it’s not common knowledge.
I step away from the pile, ready to head inside, when the knight clears his throat, eyes fixed on Hazel.
“Oh, she doesn’t have any…”
The rest dies in my throat when Hazel rolls her eyes and pulls two daggers from behind her. I lean back, trying to figure out where she had hidden them, but there’s nothing to see except her corset hugging her like a second skin.
I distinctly remember telling her to leave her precious daggers at home. More than once. I should’ve known better. When has my fiery siren ever nodded her head and agreed to do what I asked?
When the demon keeps staring expectantly, Hazel groans and pulls the long pin from her bun, which is, of course, yet another dagger.
What the fuck.
I nearly swallow my tongue as her bun falls apart, dark glossy waves spilling over her shoulders in smooth waves. Her hair is pin-straight, which means she curled it. How cute. I barely hold back the way my fingers itch to run through the soft curls.
My hand finds her lower back, ready to leave, but the guard stops us.
Again.
“Apologies, Horseman Blackburn, but… the future Queen still has more weapons on her.”
She’s already given up three daggers. There’s no way—
Hazel huffs, placing a hand on my shoulder and hiking her trousers up before removing two more daggers from a garter strapped to her thighs.
I clear my throat and snap my gaze to the sky, but the image of her milky smooth thighs wrapped in lace will be permanently burned into my brain.
I turn to the knight, praying to the Fates we’re done, but he’s still staring at Hazel like his patience is hanging by a thread.
I know the feeling, man.
“Please tell me you don’t have more.” I turn to Hazel, her adorable heart-shaped face has guilt written all over it in capital letters.
Oh, for fucks sake.
Where is she even hiding this many weapons?
I can only gape as my mate pulls out three more daggers, one from the front of her corset, two from her boots.
She catches me staring at her with my jaw on the floor and smirks. Of course she does.
The demon finally nods, and Hazel saunters off without a word.
The moment we’re out of earshot, she glances back and leans into me, her fresh citrus scent pulling me in.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got two more.”
Why?
How?
Why?!
“Where?” I whisper, afraid of the answer.
Her eyes narrow. “Close enough. So you better be on your best behavior.”
I don’t know if I’m scared or in love. Probably both.
I find Elijah in the hallway, playing host. He pulls Nevaeh and Anxo into a hug, pressing a quick kiss to August’s head before one of his knights guides Nevaeh and August to where his mate is waiting for them.
He shakes Khatri’s hand and ushers him inside.
Then it’s our turn. Elijah nods at Hazel, clearly familiar with her as Anxo’s Warriorhead, but freezes when his eyes land on me standing right beside her.
A strangled sound escapes him. “She’s your mate?”
I’m not surprised he caught on so quickly. Angels can see the red thread the Fates use to bind soulmates.
I laugh at his stunned expression. “You have missed quite a lot, my friend.”
Elijah pulls me into a tight hug before turning to Hazel. “It’s a pleasure to see you again, Miss Seagrave. I’m deeply sorry the Fates dumped this idiot in your lap.”
I’m surrounded by traitors.
Hazel laughs, and Elijah immediately puffs up.
I don’t know why she’s laughing so hard. He’s not even that funny.
I’m funnier, smarter, clearly more charming. Everyone knows I’m the whole damn package… except my mate.
When Elijah doesn’t move, I elbow him in the stomach and drag Hazel away.
Thank Fates, she doesn’t question the abrupt exit, falling into step beside me.
We stop at the entrance of the grand ballroom. Deep crimson curtains cascade in heavy waves, stark against the gleaming gold walls. Crystal chandeliers cast a soft golden glow across the marble floors, lulling you into a false sense of calm in a room full of predators.
The moment I’m spotted, I’m pulled into a flurry of introductions and forced pleasantries. I’ve missed the last two gatherings, and within seconds, it’s clear the politics have shifted.
When the crowd around me finally disperses, I can focus on Hazel again, who is not standing with arms folded, glaring at a woman across the room, draped head to toe in sapphires. Bold choice.
“Wow. We’ve been here ten minutes, and you’ve already made an enemy.”
“She’s looking at me funny.”
I laugh. “You just emptied an armory at the entrance. Of course, she’s looking at you funny.” Hazel only rolls her eyes harder. “Now I see how you make mortal enemies everywhere you go.”
“Hey, it’s not always my fault. I didn’t know ‘suck my dick’ was a trigger for men until the god of thunder struck me with lightning.”
I throw my head back, laughing loud enough to draw attention. Hazel’s lip twists before she schools her expression and goes back to glaring at the woman.
I lean closer, lowering my voice. “Personally, I think you look hot when you glare.” Her eyes snap to me, a flush spreading across her cheeks in seconds.
Hazel opens her mouth, but nothing comes out. She’s speechless.
How fucking adorable.
She looks away, avoiding my eyes. “You’re so weird.”
“Says the woman who brought ten daggers to Hell.”
“You’ll thank me for it when we have to stab our way out of here.”
“Are all pretty girls this delusional, or is that just you?”
A deeper blush floods her face, and this time, Hazel turns away completely to hide it.
I grab two glasses from the server walking by and pass one to her. I purposely make sure our fingers brush as she takes the glass, and Hazel doesn’t miss it. She stops herself before she can glare at me, because now she knows just how much I like it.
“I love it when you blush.”
“I think I threw up in my mouth,” My hellfire grumbles under her breath as I raise my glass to my lips, feeling stupidly pleased with myself.
It’s about time she started feeling even a fraction of what I do every single time she looks at me. One day, she’s going to be just as obsessed with me as I am with her.