“What’s wrong?Is there something on my face?”I swiped at my mouth, horrified at the thought that I might have smeared chocolate across my cheek or something equally embarrassing.
“No, but…do you know him?”Jack asked hesitantly, his focus on someone behind me.
I turned, and my stomach dropped.Of all the people I could have imagined standing there, he was the last.Because according to Deidre, he was supposed to be in Hell, enduring endless torture.
Rathiel.
He stood silently, as though he’d simply been waiting for me to turn.He looked almost exactly as I remembered him.The same dark, tousled hair, and the same piercing pale blue eyes that all angels possessed.But there were two stark differences.One, a scar I didn’t recall him having—a violent slash that cut a cruel, jagged path along his jawline.And two, no wings.Both of which raised so many questions.Where were his wings?Had someone sheared them off, like mine?What had happened to his face?And who did it?
But there were twofar morepressing questions to address.What was he doing here?And how had he escaped my father?Even as the questions came to mind, I quickly answered them.I’d destroyed the Infernal Eye and killed Deidre—though my father didn’t yet know that—so he must have sent Rathiel to finish the job and drag me home.
It took every bit of restraint, but I didn’t react.I couldn’t.Not in public.Not with Jack here.My mind scrambled for options.I sat in the middle of a crowded restaurant, surrounded by humans who had no idea the danger that had just stepped inside.And poor Jack, who had no idea who—or what—I was.This wasn’t the time or place to engage in a little light stabbing.So, I did the only thing I could—I waited.The right time would come to me, I merely needed to be patient.
“Rathiel…” I breathed.
His eyes shifted from me to Jack, who now stood protectively next to me.Rathiel’s jaw clenched, and if I wasn’t mistaken, a flicker of something dark crossed his features.A flicker that vanished so quickly, I must have imagined it.
He turned his attention back to me, and I fought the urge to pull away from Jack.Odd, but there was something about seeing Rathielhere, in my realm, while I was on a date, that unsettled me.
“Lilith,” Rathiel replied, his voice a deep growl.
Jack touched one of my shoulders, a move Rathiel noticed.His eyes narrowed dangerously.I considered shrugging off Jack’s touch before deciding otherwise.
“Friend of yours?”Jack asked.
I shook my head, voice flat.“Not particularly.”
Rathiel’s gaze snapped back to me, and a flash of something—anger, annoyance, pain—twisted his features.
I frowned.Rathiel and I had never been friends.He’d been my mentor, sometimes my guard when my father ordered it, but that was the extent of our relationship.
“We need to talk,” Rathiel said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
And that was where we disagreed.As far as I was concerned, I had nothing to say to him.I wasn’t going back to Hell—end of story.Hopefully, I wouldn’t have to make my point the same way I had with Deidre.Not that I was armed—stupid dress—but I had other means at my disposal.If he pushed the issue, we’d soon find out how well he handled the heat outside of Hell.
“Kind of in the middle of something here,” I replied, eyeing the surrounding patrons.
The corners of his mouth lifted in a humourless smirk, a dark shadow passing over his face.“Now, Lilith.”
I leaned back, closer to Jack, and crossed my arms.I was Lucifer’s daughter.I commanded demons.They didn’t command me.
Rathiel closed his eyes and drew a slow breath, and I imagined him counting to ten in his head.After a long, awkward pause, he opened his eyes and met my gaze.“I’m not in the mood to play your games.Either speak to me now, or—” his sentence drifted off.
Yeah, I knew thatorwell.Once again, I reminded myself that we were in public, surrounded by humans.I couldn’t afford to let him unleash hisor.
Sighing, I rose to my feet, and Jack’s hand slipped off my shoulder.I threw him an apologetic look.“Give me a sec to talk to him.I’ll be right back.”
Jack’s expression darkened, his concern clear.“Are you sure?Do you want me to come with you?”
Oh, that wouldn’t work at all.I waved him off, hoping to keep things light.“It’s okay.I’ve got this.I just need a minute.”
Rathiel’s expression twisted into something murderous, his jaw clenched so hard I thought I heard his teeth grind.The possessive anger radiating off him was palpable, though confusing.For some reason, he didn’t like Jack.Not one bit.But Jack didn’t notice.He hadn’t taken his eyes off me since Rathiel arrived.
“Alright, but if you’re not back in ten minutes, I’m coming to find you,” Jack said, his voice firm.
I nodded.“Deal.”
I stood and followed Rathiel toward the front door.The second we stepped outside, he gripped my arm and steered me away from the streetlights and into the nearby shadows.I yanked myself free and wrapped both arms around myself.He’d dragged me outside, into minus thirty temperatures, sans jacket.Yeah, I was cold.But that didn’t stop Rathiel’s gaze from sliding down my body, male appreciation alight in the eyes.
