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I grimace, confusion getting the best of me. “What does any of that mean, Andre? I don’t understand.”
He stiffens and digs his fingers into my shoulder, his eyes locking onto mine. Without a word, he shows me exactly what he means by drawing his heavenly sword. It bursts into flames, lighting the world around us even more.
Raising his arm, he aims his weapon at me.
I close my eyes and brace for Hell. “Please, just make it quick.”
Chapter 4
Fall from Grace
ELIAS
ANGEL FIRE DANCES over the long sword of one of the most glorious bastards I’ve ever seen. I don’t know what I was expecting an angelic warrior to look like, but it was nothing like the giant man in front of me, standing at least half a foot taller than my five-eleven frame. I tense in anticipation as the looming man lifts his sword over Raven, her Hell-bound soul quivering as hard as her body. Her aura swirls in ribbons of light and dark, the seductive dance of the devil entrancing even the angel.
I clear my throat, the pain tight in my chest, screaming that I need to sit my ass down and rest before I keel over. “My grace. I’ve waited so long for this moment. Please accept this offering on my behalf. I’ve done everything I could for the chance to earn my place back in Heaven’s light. I—”
Scowling, the angel flaps his wings, knocking Raven over as he launches at me. I duck and cower, hitting my knees to the asphalt. I’m not against groveling and praying. I have nothing else to lose as my soul is tethered to a demon who can’t wait to drag me to Hell.
Bright light illuminates the world so intensely that I have to shield my eyes from the godly being, far more terrifying than I’d expect of an angel. “Please, forgive me. Show me mercy. I’m a dying man who has made mistakes in my life. I—”
“Elias? No. It can’t be,” the angel whispers, his towering body lighting the world around me with his heavenly glow. He knows my name. This must be a good sign.
“Yes, your grace. My name is Elias. You must know I’ve been fighting on your behalf, sending dozens of demons to Hell in Heaven’s honor.” My chest clenches, and I rasp a cough, my ribs and back aching. The pain has gotten worse over just the last month. I can barely sleep as the cancer consuming my lungs tortures me with a slow and painful death. But I wouldn’t wish for a swift end. Not now. I need every second I can get. “I’ve taken Hell’s most wanted soul from its keepers to bring to you. All I ask is for redemption and your mercy.”
The angel folds his wings, cocking his head to stare down at me. His thick brows pinch together, and he remains silent as he processes my words. Shifting on his boots, he swivels and glances at Raven, shaking and crying at his feet, and then back to me. Heavenly light radiates from his very essence. If I crawl close enough, maybe some of it will spill onto me and help me through my final days.
I press my palms together. “Please—”
“Elias,” the angel says, repeating my name. “You’ve been here all along? We thought Lucifer bound you to Hell.” Uh...what the fuck is he talking about?
“Who’swe? And Lucifer? I think you have the wrong Elias.” It’s my turn to frown. I should continue to plead and beg for forgiveness, but the way this angel looks at me has my mind spinning. I thought he knew me from my constant prayers and acts on God’s behalf. Unfortunately, he looks angry. Confused. Like he might backhand me across the country. “I haven’t made a deal with the devil. It was—”
“It’s pointless, Andre. He doesn’t remember shit.” Raven’s soft voice cuts me off, drawing my attention to her. She wipes her hands over her glistening cheeks, settling down faster than I expect her to. “Not me or anything that happened. Humanity took everything from his memory like it had with me. I doubt he’d have done this to me if he did remember...right? Instead, looks like we both screwed up our clean slates.”
“Raven,” the angel, Andre, says. “I can’t speak with you about things I don’t know.”
“But it is Elias.TheElias, right?” she prods.
What the fuck is she talking about? Me remembering her? I’ve never met Raven before I saw that monster fucking her mouth. I’d remember a woman like her. Despite the whole demonic sex slave thing, she’s hot. Definitely fuckable. I can see why she’s been chosen to play with. But as for everything else? She’s mistaken. Even if I did know her—hell yeah, I would’ve still done this regardless of who she is. I need someone I can use to barter with to help regain possession of my soul. Unlike Raven, I really don’t want to be a demon’s bitch for eternity. She looks bendy and tough as nails. My ass puckers at even the thought. Fuck my life.
“Come on, Andre. Just tell me. I heard what Cassius said, you know. He blames me for Elias. You probably do too.” Raven’s black hair curtains her face, blocking her tear-stained cheeks. Andre breaks his ethereal gaze from me and turns to her. Tipping her head back, she stares up at the tall, muscular angel, her mouth puckering in a pathetic pout. And then her bottom lip trembles. Damn. I wonder if that could work for me.
“I could never. Cass was speaking out of hurt, little hellion. He knows even angels can rise and defy, making their own choices if they want them badly enough.” Andre strokes her damp cheek with his knuckles. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he was doing it out of his need to be close to her and not his empathy.
“Then why are you here? You said you wanted to talk.” Raven covers his hand with her own. “You went through a lot. The man...”
“I never wanted that to happen. I’m sorry,” Andre says.
It’s like I’m no longer here, and I don’t know how to feel about it. This was supposed to be my chance to receive salvation, yet he won’t look at me for more than a second. He’s enthralled with her. Keeps stroking her cheeks and getting all up in her space. This is far beyond being close to her for comfort.
I can’t exactly blame him if he wanted her attention. She’s beautiful, even crying. It’s always the hot mortals who get seduced by demons. I don’t get it. Those fuckers are horrendous. But then again, it could be something else with the way they speak as if they know each other.
Does he have a boner? I think he fucking does. No, not think. He’s pitching a damn tent. And I was starting to lose faith that miracles happen. Maybe I have been going about all this wrong. Maybe Hell is after Raven because of this, and I can use her to get through to the angel.
I shake off my curiosity about angelic boners, because fucking A. It doesn’t matter. None of this does.
“I didn’t even know it was you who accepted his grace, but it’s obvious neither of you are truly to blame. You’ve even managed to find each other despite death and time itself,” Andre murmurs, stretching out his free hand to comb her hair behind her ear. He glances at me, and I dart my gaze to the ground. I need him to keep talking so I can plan my redemption accordingly. “And you’re both bound to Hell. I thought perhaps it was more than what you said about your deal with Lucian and that maybe you were drawn to Hell because of your soulmate, but it seems I was wrong since he wasn’t there. I don’t have a good answer for any of this.”
