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Chapter 20
ZADE
Demonic Bonds
LAUGHTER FILLS THE air, the glow of fire illuminating the patio of the devil’s estate. It looks as if they’re having some sort of gathering, but only among themselves with Raven. She claps her hands and squeals, letting Dante spin her around and into Micah’s arms. I drink in the sight of her brilliant soul, the chains of Hell barely visible. Something has shifted, and I can feel it deep in my essence. I’m nearly entranced by Raven’s swaying hips, how her dark hair sweeps with her sensual movements, and how everyone, including me and Cassius beside me, watches her shine like the star Lucian was intended to be.
“Is it possible for a mortal to steal angelic light even after they’ve abandoned it long ago?” I ask, keeping my voice low. I swing my legs, feeling anxious in my spot on the wall surrounding the property. “Doesn’t Raven remind you of—”
“Blasphemy. Utter, despicable, blasphemy. I don’t understand.” Cassius cuts off my question with his complaint, but he’s not talking to me. He closes his eyes and summons access to Heaven, lighting his palms aglow. “Why didn’t it work? I gave Lucian what he wanted. He could’ve done as I asked and thought of the world for once.”
I fold my hands in my lap and shrug without verbally responding. Cassius is far too upset to think outside of what he believes is his failure. He was so certain that Lucifer would bring Elias to us that he even managed to get the guardians to fall back already. He had used his knowledge of Lucifer to convince them that he had it under control.
Now, he’s at a loss. I can feel his emotions radiating from him as if they’re my own. Instead of trying to encourage him to keep pushing on, I decide to drape my arm over his shoulders. Sometimes, he just needs to feel I’m here and know I won’t abandon him or grace. He’s always felt responsible for Lucifer’s undoing the same way I feel like there should’ve been more I could’ve done for Andre. Maybe if I hadn’t let him make his own decisions and kept reminding him that there is a bigger purpose outside of one soul. Maybe I could’ve gotten more involved and helped him guide her away from Hell instead of letting him follow her down. I... There is no point in holding onto the negativity that burns my chest. It’s too late. All I can do is continue to follow the light of the Higher Power.
Cassius groans and shoots his heavenly light away, letting it fade on the grass below. “Something must be done. Lucifer cannot lose himself in Raven’s light. We’re doomed otherwise.”
“Cass,” I say, squeezing him. “Don’t think like that. Have faith. Hell cannot rise like they intend unless Seven Sinners take their thrones with Raven and Lucian. I’m not going anywhere, and neither are you.”
“Hell doesn’t need us to put Heaven at risk, Zade. Look at the damage it has already caused.” Throwing his arms out, Cassius motions to something invisible I can’t see. “The guardians have followed new paths, leaving many, many souls unprotected. The legions of Hell will start to notice. They will ruin everything.”
“Give humanity credit.” I frown at his words, watching him drop down to his feet. “The Higher Power does.”
“And look what happened because of it. Because of Lucifer. I need to fix this. It is my purpose. Now stay here and call me if they leave.” Without waiting for me to respond, Cassius launches into the air and disappears into the night like a shooting star heading toward the atmosphere.
I bow my head and clasp my hands together. Please give Cassius the strength and the hope he needs. My prayer hums through my body, igniting me aglow, and I savor the connection to home.
Another melody of laughter trickles through the air, and I watch Raven grab Kase’s tail and draw him to her. He scoops her up into his arms and kisses her, blindly heading toward the back door where Elias holds it open. Dante smacks Kase’s behind, getting him to move, and the other devils shove each other and play-fight, fooling around until Raven shouts that the last one to the couch has to act like a footstool for her as she catches up on her show with Elias.
The roars and growls mixed with swears and chuckles draw me from my spot on the branch. I know I shouldn’t abandon my place at this safe distance, but it’s like Raven’s soul pulls me to her like a magnet. Seeing her interact with the devils and how they treat her like a lover and plaything, and also the most important being in the universe...I must find out why. I’ve kissed her lips and felt her soul. She opens something deep and new inside me, but a part of it scares me. I can’t comprehend just giving up my eternity for another moment of her time.
Yet here I am, strolling across the lawn to peek through the window of the entertainment room where Lucian rests on his hands and knees, glowering in humiliation as Raven stayed true to her word and props her bare feet on his shirtless back.
“You shouldn’t be here, Zade.” Andre’s deep voice rumbles behind me. My heart sinks into my stomach, his familiarity cracking open my essence, spilling out the wave of hurt I’ve done my best to suppress.
“Neither should you,” I say, keeping my back toward him. If I turn and face him, I’ll have to see him for the devil Hell made him. If I keep my eyes on the window and Raven, I can pretend a moment longer that he’s still my angelic companion. “I’m merely keeping an eye out and ensuring Lucifer doesn’t destroy the world. Someone must do it now that you’ve lost sight.”
Cruel? Perhaps. But I’ve been silent for far too long.
“Don’t you ever regret it? You can’t be happy with the eternity you’ve chosen. Look how the other devils relish in the light of Raven’s soul while you remain tethered and bound like Lucifer himself.” I clench my fingers into fists, the heat of Andre’s fire warming up my wings. If he could stroll through the ring of hellfire caging him, he would. I imagine he’d do more than chastise me. He’d try to blaze my wings and make them look like his. Dark, evil, and as far from light as possible.
“The only thing I regret is not claiming my throne sooner.” Andre’s firelight sets the house aglow. It’s a wonder that none of the other devils come looking. “You think I need pity, but really, I’m the one who pities you. You fight a losing battle. You choose a force that doesn’t even acknowledge anything you accomplish, always silent and judging. Never showing anything other than light. We create our own light and kingdoms, Zade. Our purpose is far better than watching humanity fuck up over and over again. And with Raven? You have no idea what’s to come. I won’t be tethered here forever. I’ll get my time on Earth.”
I try so hard not to react but the darkness of his comment stabs me right in the gut. He should regret abandoning grace and leaving me. I know somewhere inside him the capability to see it is there. I just need to remind him. I need to show him that he’s lost and confused. He has no idea what he’s talking about and in the end, his mortal desire and lust isn’t worth it.
Gathering heavenly light in my hands, I scowl and fly forward, risking the ring of hellfire to launch at Andre. He expects me and opens his arms wide. I chuck my power at him, hitting him in the chest and sending smoke wafting through the air. His back hits the barrier, not letting us slide out of the summoning circle, and I land on top of him, straddling his waist.
“How does it feel being so close to me?” Andre asks, his touch alone doing strange things to my body.
With one breath of the air in his space, my body buzzes.
With two? My pants tighten with my lust, and I jerk back and clutch my erection through my pants, the sensation of my hand alone zinging me with pain and pleasure and an undeniable need to rub myself in prayer, hoping my body returns to normal instead of threatening to bust through my clothes.
“You love it, don’t you? The pleasure? Imagine what comes with it if you just accept where your place should be.” Andre pushes from the ground, his form rippling with the movements. “Imagine what it could be like with Raven. You think you know what Heaven is supposed to feel like but what we’ve known is truly a false deity. The divine lingers between her legs. In her mouth. Everywhere on her body. Just one taste and you’ll be on your knees, Zade. You’ll be begging for her affection and love more so than you ever thought possible.”
I fall on my back and lie frozen with Andre towering over me. He expands his leathery black wings and smiles, his handsome face lighting up with the fire in his eyes. I suck in a few breaths, trying to push away my lust and desire. I’m so unused to these things that it makes me question whether or not Andre speaks the truth. That maybe I’ve been misguided all along.
I shake my head, forcing the strange thoughts from my mind. No. That’s Hell talking and trying to lure me into its dark and fiery depths.
