Chapter 13 The Fine Art of Bullshit
Dean
I’m still riding that high when the woman who was glaring at Hazel makes her way toward me, and I finally realize why she looked familiar.
Thellia. The succubus who lured Eros—the minor god of love—with her charm. He was so infatuated that he became her ‘love pet’ for weeks before his mother, Aphrodite, dragged him out of it.
Thellia bows before me. I wait for her to straighten, but when she doesn’t, even after several awkward seconds, I clear my throat, scratching the back of my head.
She blinks up at me like it’s deliberate, but I have no idea what she’s trying to achieve. I hate people bowing to me, and dragging it out for an uncomfortably long time only makes it weirder.
Hazel shifts beside me, her arm pressing into my side, and I forget how to breathe. I don’t hear a word the succubus says, and honestly, nothing is more important than my mate willingly standing this close… touching me.
Fates, I’m on fire today. Maybe I’m giving off some kind of pheromone only Hazel can scent, driving my usually stoic mate a little crazy.
Wait… what if this isn’t my grumpy siren at all but a shapeshifter pretending to be her?
I snap out of it when I catch Thellia reaching for me, but before she can touch me, Hazel grabs her wrist.
“Did no one teach you that touching someone else’s mate is disrespectful?”
I expect Thellia to pull back and apologize like a decent being, but I forgot to factor the succubus in her. Instead of doing the polite thing, she coos at Hazel like she’s a child, and I know she’s fucked before she even opens her mouth.
“It’s alright, silly. Dean knows who I am.”
Hazel’s sharp gaze snaps to me, and I’m already shaking my head like a maniac, hands up in surrender.
I quickly link my mate before she explodes. “I don’t know her. I’ve only heard about her and seen her at these meetings. From a distance. And I’ve never touched her. Hell, I haven’t touched a woman in ten years. Except you, of course.”
That’s when I see it, the barest hint of a smile, and I’m instantly tongue-tied. I should be convincing her or trying to save the poor succubus from death by a siren, but I’m too busy drooling over how possessive my mate looks. And how much I love it.
Before I can react, Hazel snaps Thellia’s wrist in one clean motion. The succubus shrieks in pain, but Hazel doesn’t even flinch; her expression stays cold as she shrugs.
“Consequences are a bitch.”
Khatri wedges himself between us and the wailing succubus, trying to smooth things over, but Thellia runs away with a cry.
I ignore Khatri’s glare and turn to Hazel. “That was so hot. Please don’t stab me, but I’m really hard right now.”
Hazel groans, her nose wrinkling. “You’re disgusting.”
She storms off, but this time, watching her leave doesn’t sting as much because my mate just broke a woman’s wrist for trying to touch me.
Hazel slips back to Anxo’s side in a practiced move. He checks in with her, probably asking about the commotion, but she brushes him off.
She’s definitely not telling him the truth.
I’m still staring at my mate, my cheeks aching from how hard I’m smiling, when Eijah steps up beside me, a teasing smile in place.
“She’s adorable.”
Khatri and I burst out laughing.
“Don’t let her hear you, or she’ll skin you alive and cook you for breakfast.” I shake my head, my smile refusing to fade. “But you’re right, she’s fucking adorable. I just want to wrap her up and hide her from the world… but I’m pretty sure she’d gut me if I tried.”
He nudges my shoulder. “Violent and beautiful. Exactly your type.”
“Oh yeah, I’m in love.” I laugh, clinking my glass against his.
The former Angel of Death calls my name, and before I can turn, he pulls me into a hug. “It’s so good to see you, son! Have you tried the eink potion? The Pixie court outdid itself this year.”
Azrael talks so fast I barely understand him, his words slurring together.
“Looks like you started the party without us.”
“Elijah told me you finally found your mate, so I decided to celebrate properly.”
“Sure you did, old man.” I laugh, patting the arm he has slung around my shoulders.
Ever since his grandson Elias was crowned, all he’s done is get trashed and enjoy retirement. He might miss the work sometimes, but his mate is thrilled to have him all to herself.
I can only imagine how good it must feel to not deal with the dead every single day. I only reap the souls, but the poor Archangel had to deal with them after they’re sent to hell.
Thank Fates I only deal with humans. I don’t think I’d survive handling both human and supernatural souls whining about not getting into Heaven or Azure.
“If it isn’t the famous Grim Reaper himself!”
I curse under my breath at the voice.
I love mingling with leaders from other realms, but I’ll never understand why Elijah insists on inviting Heaven-bound Angels to the mix.
All they do is strut around peacocking and spoil the mood.
Hutriel, the Angel of dumbassery—oops, I meant the Angel of punishment and destruction—strides toward us with a confidence he wouldn’t possess if he knew the thoughts running in my head. His beady eyes gleam with mischief, and I can already tell he’s here to cause chaos.
I sigh. “How are you, Hutriel?”
“Fantastic. Though I have to say, these events weren’t as fun without you. I heard rumors that you were running around Purgatory.” He laughs. “Tell me that’s not true.”
I might be biased, but I fucking hate the sound of his voice.
He notices Archangel Azrael leaning against me and sneers. “I see you’re enjoying the perks of your war with the Crescent Moon coven.”
I know I’ll regret this, but I ask anyway, “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“The Horsemen nearly destroyed the entire coven, not to mention so many others that fell in the aftermath. The Fates themselves witnessed the destruction your kingdom caused.”
Just like that, I’m in the mood for murder.
“Visha and her coven got what they fucking deserved. She kidnapped my daughter. Tortured her for a decade. Killed dozens of kids, all because they were chosen by the Fates for a destiny far beyond what your tiny brain can comprehend. Are you really that blinded by hate that you’re willing to excuse the atrocities her coven committed? ”
I tilt my head, clicking my tongue. “But look who I’m talking to. Heaven has been killing Angels for centuries in the name of tradition. Of course, you don’t see the difference between defending what’s yours and slaughtering innocents.”
Elijah covers a snort with a cough. I’d bet anything he’s rooting for me to tear the fucker apart… and not just with words.
Hutriel’s face twists with anger, but instead of backing down, it only worsens when he takes in the way Elijah is standing at my right and Azrael at my left.
Elias steps in with a chair, nudging it behind his grandfather and insisting he sit before taking his place at my side. The gesture makes it very clear that Hutriel isn’t just outnumbered, he’s on the “getting his ass beat” side.
“You act all high and mighty, Dean, but everyone here knows how many corrupt souls Hell gained from that war.”
My brows shoot up at the sheer audacity, but he keeps going.
“Come on, are you seriously going to deny it wasn’t a ruse to give Hell an advantage over Heaven? Your kind is supposed to act as a link between the two realms, but it’s clear you favor one side.”
“Don’t mistake my friendship with Elijah for betrayal. I’ve never stolen a single soul from either side, and no matter how much I hate you mindless, obedient dogs, I’m above screwing with my duties.”
“Just like you were above stealing our Divine to play house?”
That’s it. I’m done playing nice.
I cup my ear, tilting my head toward the ceiling. “You want me to do what? Oh yeah, for sure, ladies, I can get that done.” I turn to Hutriel, who’s staring at me, brows furrowed. “The Sisters of Fate want me to cut your string short. In fact, they insist.”
Khatri steps between us, pushing me back before I can grab the Angel by the throat and drag his body back to heaven. I’d throw him to the hellhounds here, but I doubt they’d appreciate rotten flesh.
“Step aside, Khatri. I’m going to kill this rat.”
“Unfortunately for you, Reaper, I’m immortal.”
The bastard laughs like it’s funny, but the reminder of how he rejected his mate to remain immortal only makes my blood boil.
He watched his mate die of heartbreak right before his eyes and didn’t blink. No remorse. No regret. It’s rare for rejected mates to die, but his was a selkie. Her Divine never stood a chance.
This is why I hate the Sisters of Fate for giving every supernatural a soulmate. Not everyone deserves one. Even when it was clear from the very beginning that Heaven-bound Angels were never going to accept the gift, they still split their souls in two.
I don’t care if they thought the knowledge of their mate’s existence would make them change their minds over time. It was still cruel. It gave assholes like Hutriel the power to break someone’s heart and walk away with theirs intact.
“You can’t kill him, Dean,” Khatri murmurs.
“I can torture the bastard for eternity.”
Khatri hesitates, his expression saying he agrees it’s a solid plan, but he still holds me back like a wise second-in-command.
A crowd gathers around us, but all I see is Anxo stepping beside Khatri, backing him up in case I decide to push past and break Hutriel’s jaw.
And I won’t stop there.
Hutriel laughs behind Anxo, using my Conquer as a shield for his cowardice.
“Give it up, Reaper. How many things can you defend? First, the abomination you call your daughter destroyed an innocent coven, and now the infamous bitch you’re mated to is aiming to ruin the Mermen king and his kingdom.”
Anxo sighs, his breath short and controlled as he tries to rein in his temper.
Anxo straightens his suit, a vein pulsing at his temple. Just when I think he’ll ask me to stand down, my son-in-law steps aside.
Fuck yeah!
Hutriel pales instantly. It takes a lot to break my Conquer’s patience, but once you cross that line, there’s no coming back.
Before I can reach into Hutriel’s throat and pull his heart out, he drops to his knees with a scream, clutching his head.
The crowd stumbles back with gasps as Anxo feeds Hutriel’s mind horrors I don’t even want to imagine. Some are watching like me, entertained by the show. Others shrink away, terrified of catching Conquer’s ire.
After ten minutes of Hutriel twitching on the floor, screaming, Anxo finally stops torturing the Angel for insulting our mates. He cracks his neck, satisfied, then nods at me to finish however I want.
My smile turns wicked as I release my shadows. Gasps turn into panicked screams as they coil around the crowd before slithering toward Hutriel and swallowing him whole.
I swallow his existence, my Divine burying him under my magic as it drags him straight to the dungeon in my kingdom.
When I get back tonight, I’ll rebuild him limb by limb… just to tear them apart again. He’ll feel every ounce of pain my daughter did, the same pain he mocked so easily.
I can’t kill him, but I can make him beg for death.
Heaven has been sheltering its Angels for too long. They’ve made a habit of stepping out of line, relying on Heaven to bail them out. Sometimes it’s good to remind them why they shouldn’t mess with us.
I only wish his mate could’ve seen him writhe like the weakass loser he is.
Men who can’t handle pain shouldn’t spew so much bullshit.
“Now that the entertainment is over, how about we start the meeting?” Elias says, not even trying to hide his amusement.
Hazel rolls her eyes before grabbing the end of my sleeve and dragging me behind her.
Anxo falls into step beside me, giving me a look that promises a lecture on self-control and diplomacy as soon as we get back home. Worth it.
At least he can’t say I was the problem this time. I behaved. I used my words. Not my fault that Hutriel prefers fists.