Chapter 27
SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES
SUYIN SPENT THE REST OF THE DAY WITH IRIS. THEY stayed downstairs at the coven for at least four hours, catching up and reading The Book of Gamigin on the computer. When they got hungry, they went out for a late lunch before finally walking together back to Suyin’s place.
It felt like the friendship Suyin had so valued was rebuilding. Now that they were free to speak openly again, she remembered why they’d become close in the first place. Iris was fiercely loyal to those she cared about, and Suyin admired her dedication to protecting her loved ones.
When they reached the base of Suyin’s staircase, they stopped.
“Want to come up?”
“Nah,” Iris replied, “I should get back. I kinda blew off Meph to catch up with you. He’s gonna be mad jealous.” She grinned like she liked the thought. “It was good to see you, Su. I mean it. I hated not speaking to you. It sucked, but I thought it was what I had to do.”
“It’s all right. I get it.”
They smiled at each other. Neither of them had ever been the touchy-feely type, and this was about as intimate as they got. But it was enough. Suyin saw the apology in her friend’s eyes, and she let her friend see the forgiveness in hers.
“Are you going to tell him?” Suyin asked suddenly.
“Who? About what?”
“Meph. About everything I told you today. About Murmur.”
Iris winced. “Yes. I’m sorry, but I have to. I’m going to be completely honest with you because I’m sick of lying. I lied to Lily for years, and then I lied to you, and now that everything is finally out in the open, I never want to lie to anyone ever again.”
It was understandable. Iris had hidden that fact that their parents been killed by a demon from her sister for years, and Suyin knew their relationship had suffered as a result.
“And I tell Meph everything,” Iris continued, “so I’m going to tell him this. And he’s going to tell his brothers because Murmur poses a potential threat they need to be prepared for.”
“What threat?”
“I mean, they can’t be forced back to Hell now that they have permission from Heaven to live on Earth and an angel on their side.
But Murmur is dangerous. I don’t know what he’s up to, but it’s wise to be prepared.
Plus, Bel owes him two favors, and I think they’re all waiting to see what those will be. ”
Suyin winced. She knew what one of them was, but the vow prevented her from telling Iris about it.
She’d also learned today that Belial was Meph’s “brother”—along with Asmodeus, Raum, and Mishetsumephtai. Small world. Or something like that.
“He’s a backstabber, Su,” Iris continued. “I already told you how he sold me and Meph out. But he also swore another vow to Belial that he wouldn’t fuck with him, his brothers, or anyone important to them. And then not a month later, he showed up here and took you.”
“Did Belial specifically say my name in that bargain?”
“Well, no, but—”
Suyin had to laugh.
“Why is that funny?!”
“Murmur probably went into that negotiation already planning to take me and being careful to word it in a way that he could still do it without violating the terms. You have to respect that kind of forethought.”
Iris’s mouth dropped open. “Oh my god.”
“What?”
“You like him.”
“Well, yeah, like I said—”
“No, you like like him. You’re into him!”
There was an awkward pause.
“It’s not like that,” Suyin protested weakly. Except she was pretty sure it was.
“It so is. I can see it in your eyes. Oh my god, did you sleep with him?”
Suyin winced.
“Holy fucking shit!” Iris shouted so loud that someone walking past on the opposite sidewalk shot them a concerned look.
“How could you—He’s creepy as hell. He looks like a vampire.
He’s like a giant, undead goth elf, with that white hair and those freaky eyes, and—Okay, never mind.
I totally get why you’re attracted to him. But still!”
Suyin shrugged. “It wasn’t planned, trust me.”
“Lemme get this straight. He knocked you out, dragged you to Hell, locked you in a dungeon … and then you slept with him.”
Suyin mentally added, Starved me, threatened me innumerable times, scared the living daylights out of me with his creepy soul army …
Instead of voicing that, however, she pinned Iris with a bland look. “Are you slut-shaming me?”
“What? Fuck no, I’m not slut-shaming you. I’m worried for your goddamn sanity!”
Suyin crossed her arms. “You don’t get to tell me it’s not hot to fuck a seven-foot-tall monster with horns. I don’t know what Meph’s demon form looks like, but I bet he’s not any prettier.”
Iris visibly winced.
“So don’t act all shocked that I would be attracted to Murmur.”
“I’m not, but—”
“I’m not saying I think he’s some great guy, because believe me, I know what he’s like.
He’s part psychopath, part evil genius. But I learned more about magic from him in the month I spent in Hell than I have almost my entire life.
On top of that, he’s great in bed.” She lifted her hands. “What’s a girl to do?”
“Murmur. Is great in bed.” Iris raised her brows.
“Let’s just say …” Suyin took a breath. “I’m used to calling the shots. But he’s the biggest control freak I’ve ever met, and apparently …” She shrugged.
Iris shook her head. “Well, I’ll be damned. You learn something new every day.”
“What?”
“I always thought you’d have dominatrix vibes in bed. I mean”—she gestured up and Suyin’s form—“look at you.”
She laughed. “I’m not a dominatrix.”
“Apparently not, if you want Murmur to boss you around.” Iris waggled her brows and then dragged a hand down her face.
“I’m having a hard time picturing it. I’ve only seen him once, but all I remember is him decapitating a shitload of gargoyles, being totally covered in blood and wielding a sword, acting like a complete lunatic, and making a bargain with Mist that he wouldn’t come after us—which he promptly ignored. ”
“You’re only making him sound hotter to me.”
“You’re fucked in the head.” But Iris laughed.
“So are you.” They exchanged knowing grins.
“Look, I gotta go. Are you sure you’re going to be okay home alone? No demons coming to kidnap you?”
“Yeah, I’m good. I’m just gonna crash early.”
“All right, just … call me tomorrow? I gotta hear more details about you getting demon dick.”
“That goes both ways, slut.”
Iris laughed. “We’ll see.”
Suyin turned to climb her stairs but stopped, glancing over her shoulder. “Can you do me a favor?”
Iris raised her brows in question.
“I get you have to tell your man. But if they decide to go after Murmur, can you let me know first? Give me a chance to warn him?” Because of the damned vow, she couldn’t explain to Iris that she wanted Murmur to have time to finish his spell and free her father’s soul.
And maybe she wanted to protect Murmur too, no matter how absurd that notion was.
Iris frowned like she was still concerned for Suyin’s sanity, but she nodded. “All right. Bel’s gonna be pissed he twisted the terms of their contract. Again. But I’ll keep you posted.” She turned to go with a smile, waving a dismissive hand. “Murmur, though? Really?
“Says the girl dating the fuckboy,” Suyin shot back with a grin.
Iris scoffed as she strode away, calling back, “You need therapy!”
“So do you, bitch!”
Laughing, Iris raised her middle finger over her shoulder.
Suyin’s apartment was still covered in expired wards from before she was taken, but she couldn’t be bothered to clean them up yet.
She wasn’t going to reactivate them. If her demon came back to grab her, she wasn’t interested in keeping him out.
She’d be more likely to greet him at the door with a smile on her face. Naked.
She spent the rest of the evening trying to read and getting nowhere.
She’d picked up a book on defensive Temporal magic last month and had been excited to dive in, but that was before her stint in Hell.
As she leafed through the pages, she found that she already knew most of what they contained, and her thoughts kept returning to Sheolic magic, where everything was still so new.
She went to bed earlier than usual, trying to recover from Hell jet lag. She didn’t feel tired at first, but she was eventually lulled to sleep by the sound of wind in the trees through the open window.
She woke late in the night as she felt a weight dip into her mattress. She blinked and found herself staring into ice-blue eyes.
“Murmur.”
In the darkness, his white hair gave off an ethereal shimmer. He sat on the edge of her bed, twisting to lean over her.
“Witchling,” he purred, and the sound of his gravelly voice made her pulse race.
She drank in the sight of his features—those high cheekbones with dark shadows beneath them, his proud nose and full mouth. She could see that he’d recovered from the spell. His face was back to its normal complexion, and the black veins beneath his eyes were gone.
She couldn’t deny that she’d missed him. They’d spent every waking moment together for a month, and after only one day apart, she was happy to see him again. She’d never felt that with another person in her life, and frankly, it scared her.
The air crackled with their connection. He bent his head, and she didn’t hesitate, pressing her lips to his as soon as he was close enough. He tasted amazing and smelled even better, and she groaned as he deepened the kiss.
And then she took a chance. Pulling her arms out from under the blanket, she reached up and slid her fingers into his hair.
He stiffened immediately and pulled away.
“Let me,” she whispered.
He stilled, watching her with narrowed eyes, and then leaned back in. Her fingers dove into his hair, and this time, though the tension in his body was evident, he allowed her to touch him. Knowing what he fought for her made her heart swell.
He kissed her again, his dexterous tongue sliding between her parted lips. Her fingers tightened in his hair, and a low growl rumbled up from his chest.