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He also talked me into using the sword not to erase Victus and his people’s memories as he said would happen, but merely to rattle the cave and bury them. He used me to do his evil deed. I unknowingly murdered countless people.
Rage seared through my veins. I almost died countless times to save him. I was a big fool. No more.
“Asmodeus,” I said sweetly. “I will kneel before you and declare your absolute sovereignty. Give me the divine dagger so I can kill Zander.”
The fib escaped my mouth easily, but killing Zander was not a lie. I would never surrender to Asmodeus, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t play him as he had done to me. He had known of Zander’s lies all along.
Victus’s eyes widened, but he looked at me with a newfound respect, and perhaps pride. Though we were strangers, he knew my heart. He knew my mind reeled with schemes and would never surrender to the demon.
“No,” Levia snapped. “Don’t touch Zander.”
Zander shuddered, his gaze pinned on me with no tenderness, but hatred and a promise of death.
Asmodeus had me lifted out of the casket but before I had a chance to kneel, chains rattled and whack, whack. Zander freed himself from the hematite cuffs, his wings expanding.
Not hematite. He was faking it! Saving Grace. Unbelievable. What more surprises would they both throw my way?
All the guards pointed their spears at Zander. He had no chance of escape or to kill Asmodeus.
“Close them, Zander.” Asmodeus raised the divine dagger.
Zander tucked back in the layers of his feathers. “You double-crossed me.”
“I don’t like the idea of you wearing my crown. I like it on my head better. Besides, there can only be one king. Now, no more exposing lies. Though it was so much fun. Eva, come with me.”
I followed Asmodeus to the unconscious Nadira, and Levia scooted over to make room, all the while Victus and Zander watched, unable to move between the guards surrounding them.
Asmodeus rubbed a thumb over the golden handle of the divine dagger. “I asked for the Gate Key so I could bring my people through the portal and make this world all mine.”
No surprise there.
He pushed me down into a chair. “But only the one with golden blood can, so you have to do it, Joleen.”
Asmodeus must be out of his mind to call me by that name. What kind of game was he playing now. But no one in the room seemed shocked except for me.
Asmodeus’s lips spread to a mocking grin and shook his head. “I have to say …” He pointed at Victus, standing twelve feet away from us, then to me next to him. “You both had me fooled. But you two weren’t the only ones keeping secrets. Zander did too. And I also realized Eva had no idea what happened to her.”
“I’m warning you, demon!” Zander curled and uncurled his fists by his sides.
Asmodeus stood behind me and rested his hands on my shoulders. “Only you know what to do with this divine dagger, Joleen.”
“I’m not Joleen.” I shook his hands off me. “You have the wrong person.”
He rubbed my shoulders harder. “I beg to differ. Here’s what I think happened. Victus and you agreed that he use his power of compulsion to erase parts of yours, his, and his people’s memories of your relationship to keep your child safe.”
Victus’s eyes widened, then those pretty eyes of his fell on me with tenderness, and I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. But he didn’t deny Asmodeus’s theory.
Asmodeus continued, “Zander couldn’t stand that you picked a vampire over him, so not only did he rally all the beings that had human, demon, and angel blood, the very warriors created to kill the demons, he made all the OA teams believe they had been ordered to take them down due to their uncontrollable thirst for human blood. Timing couldn’t have been better. Levia was there with Zander, right?”
Levia flinched, but held her chin high as she took a step away from the dining table. If she fled, I wouldn’t be surprised.
Through Joleen’s memory, I recalled Zander and Levia teaming up.
Asmodeus lowered and spoke into my ear, “Zander made you believe the fake divine sword was powerful and manipulated you to bring down the cave to trap Victus and his people inside.” Asmodeus came around and faced me. “Zander used your lost memory to his advantage and not only made you his weapon, but caused you to hate the vampires by feeding you lies that they slaughtered angels, when he’s been the one.” He pointed at Zander. “Am I right Phillip, Luke. Or shall I call you the Angel of Many Faces?”
I startled. My heart lodged up my throat. No. He couldn’t be.
“And …” Asmodeus curled his lips into a smug grin. “Zander is a fallen. His name is Rafael. Those wings on him belonged to a Seraphim he murdered. A well-known scientist of mine did a great job with his operation, don’t you think?”
