91. Levi
LEVI
My balls ache. Somehow, even more since my change.
Every one of my muscles is tense as Violette and I descend the stairs, beckoned by the scent of Azrael’s cooking.
He’s shirtless and in another pair of his black silk pajama pants.
His shadow is nowhere to be seen. When we enter the kitchen, Azrael gives Violette a grin so winsome, you’d think nothing at all was the matter.
It further stokes my rage and sense of betrayal.
Master of lies.
I want to fucking strangle him.
When his eyes meet mine, however, I am mildly relieved to see his grin falter—like an ankle rolling beneath its owner’s weight.
“Good morning, my loves.”
My loves.
Plural.
I barely manage to stifle my growl.
Violette sidles up to him, pressing a kiss to his cheek as he wraps an arm around her waist, while masterfully flipping a pancake by jostling the pan.
You don’t deserve her.
She beams up at him.
Innocent.
Unknowing.
Naive.
Trusting.
Kind-hearted.
All the things I am not, and just a few of the many things that inspire me to protect her with unparalleled ferocity, and have now brought me a hairsbreadth away from snapping his neck.
As if he can sense it, his eyes slide to mine.
Violette follows his gaze, frowning at the sight of my barely restrained rage.
As much as she deserves to know the truth, I will not risk her well-being by breaking her heart before we travel into treacherous territory where she will eventually attempt to kill a god—and thus whoever will attempt to stand in her way.
“Levi mentioned something about you two having a little disagreement. It’ll only make things more dangerous for us if we’re distracted by unnecessary hurt or resentments, not to mention turning what could be an enjoyable experience into something excruciating.
Why don’t we settle this before we begin our journey together? ”
My hands ball into fists at my sides.
Azrael holds my gaze.
He draws in a deep breath before turning off the burner, plating the pancake, and delicately using a pair of tongs to collect a variety of other pristinely sliced, diced, and prepared accoutrements such as fruit, sausage, and an omelette.
He hands it to Violette before pouring a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice and ushering her towards the booth with a view of the valley.
“What a splendid idea, darling. Why don’t you go ahead and eat without us before it gets cold, while Levi and I head outside to settle our qualms?”
Violette narrows her eyes, darting between each of us, and then her food. Licks her lips. Hesitates. Lifts her head to glare at us.
“Fine. I don’t care what you have to do to get it out of your systems. Just make sure that the moment we step through the portal into Selcarim, you leave whatever this tension is behind, or I’ll kill you both myself. Understood?”
Pure adoration shines in Azrael’s eyes, lingering on Violette before pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “As you wish, precious seraphim.”