Chapter 40 #2
Still, her blood is like a beacon of delight, urging me to taste.
I run my tongue over her palm, and the most divine flavor explodes within my mouth.
A contradictory mixture of sunshine and savagery, of violence and virtue.
Images flash in my mind—tangled limbs and black fabric.
Growling, I shake it away, my lips pulling back in a snarl as, once more, I open my mouth to devour her.
And still…she does not cower.
“I’d face all the dangers of Hell to find you before I’d choose peace in Heaven without you.”
Her words are a sledgehammer to chains as the man within me screams and breaks free of his prison. I grip my head in my clawed hands, releasing my own pained growls as he fights and pushes for control.
More images flash before my eyes: a chess match; ice cream in dorm room; her in a black dress pinned against a wall, seductive music blaring; dark tendrils laced with gold splayed across my chest as she sleeps…
My body trembles as it shrinks and returns to that of a man. The beast roars at having been caged again, but where it was loud and unmanageable before, it now feels distant. I collapse to my hands and knees, dry heaving as bones and tendons stretch and snap, shifting back to normal.
Cool air brushes along my naked spine before gentle fingers sweep hair from my eyes.
“Nick?”
I nod, raising my eyes to her face. Tear stained and smiling, Rhi throws her arms around me just as someone drapes something heavy over my body.
“I know you are very proud of your physique,” Baal jokingly says, “but you’ve got quite an audience, so I thought it best to cover you up.” He then hands me a pair of breeches, shirt, and boots.
“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice hoarse.
Rhi helps me to stand, and I quickly dress before facing my father. I expect him to look pissed or at the very least forlorn, but he wears that same intrigued expression he’d had when watching us earlier.
“I’ll be damned.” He tilts his head, considering. “Well, damned again. Congratulations. You’ve won our wager.”
Rhi squeezes my hand, a breathy exhale falling from her lips.
“Belial will marry Isadora. We will announce the union tomorrow, as well as Isadora’s ascension as Queen.”
My mouth parts in shock. I exchanged a wide-eyed glance with Rhi. Surely, it can’t be that easy.
“What the fuck just happened?” Zo calls from the far side of the room.
Rhi releases a breathless laugh. “We’ll explain later.”
“That’s it, then?” I address my father. “I’m free?”
“You may take your wife, her friends, and your sister and return to your mother,” Lucifer answers.
I don’t question how he knew Scar was my sister. He is Lucifer, after all.
“Will you be returning to her as well?”
Lucifer bestows me a cold, appraising stare. “In time, perhaps. But remember, son, I can make your life Hell on Earth should you interfere in my business with Victoria in any way.”
“I promise not to interfere, so long as you mean her no harm. She is my mother, and—”
Lucifer prowls toward me on angry, purposeful steps. Rhi’s Scylla hisses, and her hand tightens around mine to let me know she will attack if needed.
“Twenty-one years, I have waited. And yet, even upon my release, I did not run to her. I wanted to take my time. To allow her to grieve her son.”
“A son you stole, by the way,” Rhi interjects.
His fiery gaze slices to her.
“Keep your focus on me, Father,” I warn.
Lucifer inhales deeply, the fire in his eyes cooling. “I would never harm your mother.”
I nod. “Then we are in agreement. Rhi and I will leave, along with my sister and our friends. No one who shares my heart nor my blood will ever step foot in this realm again.”
Lucifer grins wickedly. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”
Before I can respond, my father gives us his back, waving his hand flippantly as he retreats. “Be gone. I have much to do in little time, and as such, your presence is no longer wanted.”
Rhi and I exchange perturbed glances, but Belial and Baal rush toward us.
“Isadora—” I start.
My uncle places a hand on my shoulder. “I swear to you, I will let no harm come to her.”
“We can’t say goodbye?” Sadness bleeds into Rhi’s voice.
“I’m afraid not,” Baal answers. “My advice is to take your friends and leave quickly. Who knows what else might unfold to keep you from escaping? Enter the Black Woods. Hecate will meet you. You must return the same way you came.”
I blow out a shaky breath before pulling Baal into a hug. “Thank you for being my friend.”
When he draws back, he’s smiling. “I liked you better as Raphael, though.”
I shake my head, my mouthing pulling at my own smile.
“It was lovely to meet you, Rhi. Take care of our boy for us.”
“Always,” she replies, grinning.
I bring my attention to my sister and the girls. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Thank the gods,” Astrid mumbles.
“Finally,” B answers.
Catching my father’s eye, I give him a slight nod as I tug slightly on Rhi’s hand to usher her forward.
“Not so fast,” a chilling voice commands from behind us.
My blood ices in my veins. Much like his unannounced arrival in my room, my skin crawls with trepidation.
Rhi and I both turn, facing the Angel of Death.
He wears a smug grin, the sharp curve of his mouth lethal. His moonlight hair is windblow, his golden wings splayed out behind his back, edged in onyx points. Steeled armor encases his body, the breastplate etched in a golden sunrise.
Azrael leans against his mighty sword, a black-hilted blade known for destroying entire armies with one swipe.
Three more bodies join us against the Angel of Death: Baal, Belial, and, surprisingly, my father.
“I don’t recall granting you an invitation to this Court, Azrael.” Lucifer’s tone is entirely uninviting. “Unless you are here to gather a soul, I would advise you to leave.”
“That is exactly why I am here, Lucifer. To gather a soul, one that belongs to me.”
The ice in my veins morphs into liquid fire.
“And whose would that be?” Lucifer asks.
Flashing eyes move slowly, the colors changing so rapidly, it’s impossible to make out their hue, before they settle on an unnerving, pure silver and rest on the woman who brought me back not once, but twice. On the woman who holds half of my soul and the entirety of my heart.
“Hers.”