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Andre growls from behind Raven, stealing my attention from her. “If you dare reject my beautiful hellion because of some mundane bullshit, you better get your ass out of here. I’ll not let you steal an ounce of her light with upsetting words. You were only welcome here because Raven desires you.”
I huff a breath. I should go. I really should. But Raven’s soft kiss to my jawline begs me to stay. So I hug her a moment longer, basking in just her presence as she gathers the thoughts on her mind to speak them aloud.
“Don’t let the big dick get you down, Zade. I know you don’t want to reject me,” Raven murmurs, brushing her lips to my ear. “But I want to know, why? Why are you resisting something that will be so perfect and powerful between us? Your companion is here and would enjoy having you around. I don’t even think he thinks you’re rejecting me. I think he feels it.”
I close my eyes and droop my shoulders. “I still care very much for Andre. It pains me in the depths of my being not being able to turn to him whenever I need him...but this life?”
“It’s not evil like you think, Zade. It’s only different. The devils want a way to help humanity as a whole. I mean, look at me. Look at how quickly the Higher Power forced you to reject me. Look how Andre had to abandon grace to save my life. How Micah only wanted to save my soul. Those aren’t acts that should damn someone, but here they are. You have to see what I see, Zade. Andre wasn’t a bad angel. If anything, he was better. Braver.” Raven tickles my ear with her breath. “I need you to help me understand why. Why fight for something so unfair? Why not take your eternity into your own hands and do something that feels good and right, even if it’s unholy?”
Her words stab into me, tightening my chest. A part of me wants to deny the truth she speaks. If I do, I’d just be lying to myself.
“I—I can’t answer your questions, Raven. I’m sorry.” Sliding her off me, I set her gently on the ground. “I need to leave. Please be careful. I think something dangerous is heading your way.”
Raven tries to snatch my leg, but I stumble out of her reach and flap my wings, propelling myself into the air. I soar higher and higher, losing myself to the night and the beauty of the world around me until the midnight sky shifts to azure, and I land on a sparkling, rainbow prism-like pathway leading into my home away from home.
Soft murmurs sound through the tranquil air, the beautiful hum of a melody from long ago strummed on strings of the most precious lines of creativity from some of history’s most talented souls. I stride into my sanctuary and slow, inwardly groaning at the intrusion when I’ve come here to find tranquility. My emotions run far too hot and wild, and I just wanted some peace.
“You ignored my first call, Zade,” Cassius says, tightening his jaw. “Is something the matter?”
I shake my head a little too furiously and slump into a seat made of light and ethereal stone but feels like the sky engulfing me in the lightest clouds. I didn’t ignore his call. I never heard it. My ears still ring with Raven’s laugher. Her breathless moans. I can’t get her out of my mind even with Cassius penetrating me with a nearly painful gaze.
“Nothing is the matter. I’m sorry if I wanted to make sure the devils weren’t causing havoc.” I cringe at the snap of my voice.
“We won’t have to worry about them much longer.” Mikail’s voice strikes me like lightning, and I straighten my back to peer at him. I nearly tuned him out with my arrival, my disconnection to the grace of light taking a bigger toll on me than I had realized.
Cassius plops onto the seat beside me and bumps me with his shoulder. “The time has come, Zade. The devils are far beyond reason. It’s time we take them down by force.”
I blink a few times, the strange feeling of danger hitting me sharply in the gut. How could I have known to warn Raven? I just hope she heeds my warning and doesn’t put all of her faith in the devils.
Because with Cassius’s words, I hear the thundering sound of Heaven’s army gathering. I sense the static of heavenly power crackling in the air.
“It’s time for war, Zade. The devils must be sent to Hell. It must be done. The portals to the Mortal Realms will finally be sealed off and guarded how they always should’ve been. Our universe depends on it.” Cassius stands and unsheathes his dagger. “I’m going to need you by my side. Can I depend on you?”
Does he know? Does he feel my hesitation?
I open my mouth to convince him that there has to be another way, but the sound of Heaven’s army turns deafening. It turns all-consuming and unavoidable. This isn’t just a war. It could be the end. Whether it’s Heaven or Hell? I pray for neither. I pray for the Higher Power to shine a new light over us, to guide our way.
“Zade? Are you with me?” Cassius repeats. “I can’t do this without you.”
I clench my fingers into fists and dip my chin in agreement. “I’m always with you.”
Cassius flaps his wings, launching up, breaking through the ethereal ceiling created out of pure light. Standing in my spot, I look up at his silhouette in the shining world.
Dear God, please have mercy on all of us.
Please have mercy on my fallen brethren’s and Raven’s soul.
