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“Anything for you, heathen.” I smile at her as she shoos Elias away to go upstairs.
I lick my lips and test the openness of his mind, seeing if he’ll let me in. He does. “I think Raven needs a bit of a distraction. Might I suggest you undress to cuddle with her? She enjoys that.”
Elias peers over his shoulder at me. “You just want to see my naked ass, don’t you? It’s off limits, Mic.”
I try not to react with a laugh, feeling the intensity of Raven’s gaze. It takes her lacing her fingers through mine and tugging my arm to get me to move from my spot to follow her into the kitchen.
It doesn’t take her more than ten seconds to turn to me. Her blue-green eyes dart back and forth as she searches my expression.
I sigh and hang my head. “Raven, I’m sorry. I know things have been hectic and a bit strenuous between us after...our act of love.”
Cutting me off with a kiss, Raven stops me from apologizing. She brushes her lips softly, sliding her tongue across mine to ensure I don’t continue. Confusion swirls through my mind, but I don’t question her intentions or need.
Raven pulls away and puffs a breath through her pouty lips. “Micah, I can’t fault you for what you did and how you handled things. I know this whole life is new for you. It’s new for me. I never expected to find myself in this position. I care about you. I care about Kase, Dante, Elias, and Andre too. I might even care a bit about Zade. I can feel his shift. It’s like how it was with you before you abandoned grace. And it’s all so fucking crazy.”
I swallow and play with her hair, pushing it behind her ear. “But is it? I’ve known since the second you begged for help that you were extraordinary. You have so much light and love that I believe deep in my very being that it’s impossible for you to only give it to one person despite my dark desire to keep you all to myself. I know it’s wrong. I know it’s something you don’t want. I just—I can’t stop questioning my worth and being enough.”
Raven drinks me in, taking a moment to gather her thoughts before speaking. My heart pounds, my whole body buzzing in anticipation. Perhaps I was too honest. I know she appreciates the openness, but she’s mortal. She’s been trying to save her soul and I haven’t been helpful for my own selfish reasons, but I’m done with that behavior. Seeing the ring I gave her still glittering on her finger gives me hope.
“I know it’s wrong,” I add, breaking the silence. I can’t help it.
She offers me a whisper of a smile, her nose scrunching. “Oh, Micah. You are absolutely enough and everything I need you to be. And I know this is hard. It’s hard on everyone, but like you told Elias, it won’t be forever. We’re going to learn and adapt to things, and once I can stop worrying about Elias and Heaven, I think things will get better.”
“You mean even better. Because they’re all I can hope for right now. I was concerned that you’d turn away from me because of my actions.” Heat burns through me as I think about how selfish I was to take initiative to change Raven’s contract without her permission. “But even so, I want you to know that I will stand beside you regardless. You’re my purpose and always will be.”
She laughs breathlessly, her surprise over my words obvious. “All right, you sweet, sometimes naïve devil. Listen up. People make mistakes. Devils too. My ability to forgive might be seen as a fault, but I don’t give a fuck. I’m far from the perfect soul you all talk me up to be. If you think that I’m going to give up on you because of the bullshit with my contract, then I should bend you over and spank you with Dante’s spiky paddle. This is more than about me. It’s about all of you and Hell. About humanity and the souls. It’s more than about just saving me.”
“I love you, Raven,” I say, the urge to declare my feelings in this moment all-consuming. “I love you more than anything. It’s unfathomable.”
“And to think I’ve spent who knows how long being afraid of the devil. You are all just a bunch of squishies.” She steps closer and hugs me, resting her head against my chest.
I chuckle. “Don’t let the others hear you. Kase would love to prove you otherwise.”
“It’s impossible. I figured out how to make him purr. He’s lost to my light forever.” She bites her lip between her teeth.
“We all are.” If only she knew the extent of it. “You’ll make the rest of the angels fall in no time.”
She kisses me again. “After I get Lucian to drop to his damn knees.”
“I’ll help you with him, even if I have to break his legs to force him.” I flare my nostrils, trying not to breathe out fire.
Something indecipherable crosses her beautiful features. “You might have to. I’m afraid that if he continues this bullshit, he’ll fight until my very end for control. We need him on our side. I know it’s possible, but damn it. He’s stubborn.”
She has no idea.
I ease away from her and guide her to follow me to the fridge, hearing Elias’s thoughts in my mind as he wonders what’s taking so long. “It’s hard to break something already broken.”
She bobs her head, her eyes suddenly lighting up. “Micah, you’re brilliant. I think I know how to get to Lucian. I’m not supposed to break him and force him to bow. What I need is to pick up his pieces and help him get himself back together. But how?”
I don’t respond. Breaking angels is one thing, but trying to fix a devil who doesn’t see his faults?
Impossible.
“I’ll do what I can,” I say, trying not to giveaway my true thoughts.
Standing on her tiptoes, she kisses me once more. “I’m going to need all of you to work together for me. He’s broken now, but I need him shattered. It might be the only way he’ll ever truly give in to my light.”
