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“Raven, I—”
I cover his mouth with my hand. “I’m not done. You’re going to let me speak. What you’ve done is take things too damn far. You know, trying to manipulate me and seduce me into having a physical relationship is annoying but whatever. Trying to use my cousin to do so? If I find out that you’ve even so much as thought of fucking her—” I point between us. “This will never, and I mean never, fucking happen. You can’t prove you want me this way. You know my place and what I’m trying to accomplish. You can agree or disagree in building an eternity alongside me and the other devils. But just know that I draw a line.”
He blows a hot breath against my palm and snatches my wrist. Fire burns over his face eating away his handsome features and turning him into his monstrous form. His horns jut out from his forehead and he snarls. My hair flies from my face, leaving me eye-to-eye with him.
“You hypocritical little soul,” he mutters, stretching to tower over me. His dagger nails carve lines into the counter at my sides. “You want everything yet want us to share. You tell me that I have a chance, yet you put rules in place that will always leave me the bad guy in your eyes. You make assumptions about things without asking. But guess what? I’m not wasting my time on a mortal who will never benefit me or be able to handle me in all of my sexy glory. Tamia isn’t here to push you closer to me. She’s here because I want to make a point.”
His words sink into me. With the heat in his voice, he should warm me up but fear cools me from my heart outward. “What point, Lucian? Haven’t you made enough already? You’re here not because you demanded to come but because I’ve allowed it. I’m trying to reason with you.”
“You’re trying to play me!” he shouts, growling in my face. “All of you are damn liars, standing against me. I know that Elias managed to escape my brother and is now in hiding. You think you’re smart in that regards, but guess what? You’ve only pissed Heaven off. Do you have any fucking idea what your soulmate has put at risk not following through with the one damn mercy I granted him? Your soul was going to be free no matter what. Now, you face Heaven’s vengeance.”
“You’re a fucking lying bastard. I don’t believe you. There are stipulations to Elias’s deal. I know you will try to see him fail.” I ram my hands into his hard chest, trying to force him back but he doesn’t budge. “You’re mad because he outsmarted you and your asshole brother.”
“You know, I no longer care about possessing your soul. You will be mine by your own free will. When you fail, and you will fucking fail to bring the rest of Heaven to its knees, your unbound soul will be coveted and fought for. The rest of the devils and demons alike will battle for it. They will tear you apart and make you wish you’d have just given in to me.” Lucian’s skin ripples as he calms his devilish nature and shifts back into his normal form. “Heaven will never be able to save you. You will beg me.”
Rage explodes through me and I swing my arm, slapping him across the face hard enough to startle him. “Fuck off. I’m done trying to crack through all your darkness. You’ve stolen enough of my light. I’ll create a new contract with my devils and be theirs, even if I fail.”
A smile twitches across his mouth, turning his sharp features more handsome. “Which brings us back to the reason why Tamia is here. You might change your mind about your decision when you realize what I have in store for her soul. Perhaps offer it to whoever thinks they’re most powerful.”
His words steal my breath. “You fucker. I’m not going to let you do that.”
I manage to push past him and run through the kitchen and back into the bar. Lucian’s heat follows behind me as he stalks me like the mouse he thinks I am. But he’s wrong. I’m not a mouse to his cat. I’m a fucking snake and I’ll attack. I’ll bite.
Tamia sits across from Dante, who watches my every movement as I storm toward him. I reach the booth and blink, trying to keep my anger from making me cry.
I suck in a few breaths and hold out my hand to Tamia. “Come on. I want to catch up. Go somewhere else.”
Tamia frowns. “What, I—”
“Now. Seriously. We need to go. Trust me. You don’t want to be around Lucian.” I snatch her hand and try to pull her from the booth but she resists. “Tamia.”
“You can’t pick who I hang out with, Raven.” Tamia glowers. “Sounds familiar, right? Except Lucian isn’t a fucking possessive psycho. He arranged this for us. He’s trying to help us mend things Joel fucked up. He’s a nice guy, and I don’t know why you have such a problem with him. He’s probably better than your boyfriend.” She motions to Dante. “Or are you with the other guy? Lucian said you didn’t want to be with him because you—”
I scream in frustration, spinning on my feet only to slam against Lucian’s chest.
With one look into his eyes, I know he’s already brought Hell to Earth for me. He’s going to force me into an impossible decision.
I jab him with my index finger. “I meant what I said. If you even so much as touch her soul, her body, or even get to her mind, any chance you think you’ll have will be over.”
He can’t manipulate me anymore.
I’m stronger than that.
My devils taught me something I never knew before I met them—everything I’m capable of. Everything I’m willing to do.
They taught me how to fucking win.
