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Chapter 16
RAVEN
Hunted
“ARE YOU FUCKING kidding me? We can’t stay here.” I follow behind Elias, trying to ignore the fear tightening my chest. “The angels have a deal with the hunters.”
Elias grabs my hand and forces me to keep up with his brisk pace. “Neither a strong one nor one to the guardians. Some of the Hell-bound were afraid of an angelic smiting after the shit they pulled despite Cass-hole forgiving them. He’s the one who arranged for the hunters to get me from Vincent and to Lucian.”
“That’s why we found one of the holy weapons.” It’s not a question. I just assumed maybe Lucian made the deal since Vincent wasn’t going to give Elias up.
“That’s right. When it comes down to it, all these fuckers really want is to survive and kick some ass no matter the consequences. They also still have the banishing room. We can use it to open a portal for access to the devils.” He sounds so confident in his plan that it settles my nerves, especially seeing a guard wave at us instead of trying to kill us on sight.
“Okay, if this is what you think will work, but if anyone tries anything...I’m cutting their dicks off to offer Dante and Kase a cock bouquet. They like that kind of thing and it’ll stop them from trying to disembowel everyone here.” Twisted? Most definitely. It’s not something I want, but these fuckers would deserve it.
Elias raises his eyebrows, but doesn’t call me out on my psychotic thoughts. “I’ll restrain them.”
I smirk without comment.
Elias slides his arm around my waist and pulls me close, adding, “Preston might be a bastard and can’t grasp the concept of me being anything other than a hunter and his best friend, but he won’t hurt you, so you won’t have to resort to it. I have a plan to keep everyone calm. You just have to trust me.”
I unfasten the strap on the helmet but don’t take it off in case. The fuckers here might not try to kill Elias, but they think I’m Hell’s whore for loving the devils beyond their narrow scope of thought. “I do trust you. It’s just—I fucking hate them all. I can’t promise to be nice. They arranged a ghost to possess me. That shit lingers with me, you know?”
A frown pouts his lips and he subtly nods. “I hate them for that too. We’re only here out of desperation. Don’t think my nicety toward Preston is real, okay? He will pay for what he did. When I take my throne, I’ll guarantee it. I traded my life for his, and he fucking shit on me.”
I bob my head, hugging his side. I don’t want even an inch of space to get between us. “I want him to regret his actions for the rest of eternity. The selfish prick.”
Elias digs his fingers into my hip, slowing down outside the warehouse door to the hunter’s compound. Different marks glow around the frame in both red and white light. I don’t recognize any of them, but they must be the wards. It’s still strange to me how they know how to create them—learning from who knows where. A ghost, for one. Maybe even angels from long ago.
“Elias! What the actual fuck? You’re supposed to be on your deathbed in the arms of the saviors.” Preston’s familiar voice cuts through the room in a part of the building I’ve never seen. The open warehouse has been converted into a huge living space partitioned off into rooms to create more privacy.
Elias lugs me along, half carrying me as I drag my feet. “What? You want to get rid of me so easily? I’m dying but I still have some life left. And so you know, I never made it to Cassius. Fucking Lucifer had other plans in store. We barely escaped those devil monsters.”
Preston’s brows pinch together. “Shit, I knew it. I fucking warned that angel that he has too much faith for this to work out. He swore to me that you’d be safe.”
Elias rubs his hand up and down my arm. “Raven saved my ass, but now we’re in trouble. They’re after us and Cassius has vanished. We need somewhere to crash until I can get him to show up.”
“We won’t stay long. We would hate to put you in the line of Hell after everything you’ve done for Elias.” It hurts me to my core to say the words and play along, but I can tell it’s what Preston needs to believe us. “I have some family we can stay with, but I need to use your phone.”
“I get that, but it’s not necessary,” Preston says, tightening his jaw. “We can handle ourselves. Your family? Why would you risk it?”
Wow. This asshole. What a way to twist my good intent and make me feel like shit.
Elias tightens his hold on me. “Raven’s just worried about them and wants to protect them too.”
I force my lip to pout instead of scowl. “Lucian—Lucifer brought my cousin into this bullshit. I’m scared for her.”
“Oh, shit. You should still stay here. I can send some guys to her place to keep a lookout until things settle down.” Preston’s eyes lock on mine as he tries to figure me out. He reaches into his jacket, and I take an automatic step back. But he only tugs out his phone. “Why don’t you call her? It might make you feel better.”
It takes all my will not to snatch the phone and to accept it politely. I just want to call my devils and get out of here.
“Thank you,” I mutter, flipping the old-ass phone open. I haven’t seen one like this since high school. Good fucking thing I have Kase’s number memorized. “I appreciate it.”
Breaking away from Elias, I finally tug the helmet off and hand it to him, feeling a bit vulnerable. I don’t stroll away for privacy as much as I want to and instead just turn my back and dial the number.
The line clicks but no one speaks. I peer at the tiny screen to make sure I’ve connected.
“Tamia?” I ask, trying not to sound as if I’m on the verge of crying. “Tamia, it’s Raven.”
