AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I would’ve only done so because I was lost in my light. With Raven and Hell’s rulers, I can see better. You now cast light over the truth.” I heave a few deep breaths and grab his flaming sword, pulling it closer. “If you can’t accept the truth, then do what you need. Cast me back to Hell. But remember, it’s not changing anything. There is nothing you can—no—nothing you will do about it. I know you, Zade. I know exactly what will be your downfall.”
Zade scowls and rips his sword from my fingers only to aim it at my chest. “I don’t want to fight you, Andre. I want everyone to back down.”
“Never. Humanity needs someone who fights for them and not the Higher Power. They need Raven. After being in Hell even this short time, I know that these souls deserve to grow and change and learn. Lucian, Kase, and Dante were right. They don’t deserve Heaven but they also don’t deserve to be trapped in a cycle that allows them to just keep doing wrong. They need the chance to work through things and make it to Purgatory. Why Heaven is so against this is beyond me.” I arch my body, purposefully forcing the tip of his sword to Hell’s tether, glowing in my chest.
“You know why. The balance needs to be in Heaven’s favor.” Zade bares his teeth at me. “It can’t fall in Lucian’s hands. He’ll destroy it.”
“You’re wrong,” I snap. “You have no idea of what the Mortal Realm needs. It is time for Hell to rise. Show humanity mercy, you righteous asshole.”
Heaven is afraid of losing any of its power and strength. Though I get my power from Lust and souls, it will never be as strong as the brightness of pure, light energy that comes with Heaven. The worse the soul, the weaker it is, which is why those who lived moral lives but end up in Hell can be reborn as our army. If we can complete all nine kingdoms, we can grow and thrive. That’s what Heaven’s afraid of. Of letting us be equal.
“That’s what I’m trying to do!” Zade growls, igniting his heavenly glow. Closing his eyes, he prepares to stab me with his anger and annoyance, triggered by my hellish presence. “Why must I remind you who you truly are?”
“This is who I am.” I smile with my words, feeling the agony of his blade sink deeper into my chest. “It’s time for you to realize it. Send me to fucking Hell and accept it. Stop coming back. I will drag you here myself if you do.”
“Damn it!” His swear rings through the air, and he sends his light radiating over me at the same time he jabs his sword deeper as if he wants to punish me.
“Zade! Zade, you fucker! Stop!” Raven’s high-pitched voice echoes through the air, freezing him in place.
I stare in amusement, unfazed by Zade, as Raven crashes into him, knocking him out of the summoning circle. He spins her midair, landing on his back only to use his wings to push up. She looks sexy as Hell, wearing only one of Micah’s shirts, flashing her body at me. I groan and prop up on my elbow, hoping they land close enough to drive her a bit wild. I’d love to see her wrestle him until he can’t resist her. I can already taste the memory of her excitement, even as she slaps him in the face.
“Get out of here! I don’t have time for this bullshit. My soulmate is dying, and I want fucking peace with him.” Raven shoves him away, getting him to release her. “You shouldn’t be here, baiting Andre either. What did you expect to accomplish? He’s been forsaken. He can’t even get his white wings back, and I wouldn’t want him to. So go!” Again, she rams her palms to his chest. “Leave us alone.”
Zade ruffles his feathers, tightening his jaw. “Raven...”
“I said go!” she screams.
Engulfing her in a hug, Zade surprises her by lifting her off her feet and whispering something into her ear. I half expect her to give in to his affection, losing herself to the aphrodisiacs permeating the air around me, but she remains strong-willed and determined.
“Zade, I mean it. I know you’re trying. I know you want to be here for me and Andre, but I can’t take it another minute. All you’re doing is instigating. Just let us be for a while. I mean it. I can’t have you around, knowing you’re never going to even try to understand. All you do is nothing.” Raven wiggles in his arms and puts space between them, backing up until she enters the safety of my Hell circle.
“You know why I can’t,” Zade says softly. “You both know. I just—like I said to Andre. I’m only here to warn you. Heaven’s army is coming and they’re not going to let anything stop them.”
Raven fists her fingers. “Then you try. Give me my day with Elias. Show me you can be an angel of action.”
“I can’t,” Zade repeats.
“Then go. We’re done here.” Raven heaves a breath and turns toward me. “Call the others, will you? Let them know about the bastard guardians. Micah is going to help me prepare a circle inside. You can use that one instead. And then you can give Micah the tether before Elias goes.”
I touch her cheek, brushing my fingers on her jaw. “This is a good thing,” I remind her. I tilt my head and catch sight of Zade still lingering but near the wall and out of hearing range.
Raven shifts and follows my gaze, and we watch as Cassius lands beside Zade. I grab onto Raven, preparing to take her to my kingdom, but Cassius grabs Zade’s hand and forces him away. It’s the only thing that makes Zade go.
“Do you think he was exaggerating?” Raven asks, pressing her lips together.
I shake my head. “No, there is a war coming, little hellion.”
“Shit,” she mutters.
Pulling her into my arms, I hug her and kiss her on the lips, savoring the taste of her mouth for a moment longer. “Don’t stress about it. We’re strong enough to handle it, and once Elias descends, it won’t be long. We will get Zade to his knees.”
She blows out a breath. “That’ll be so satisfying.”
I grin. “For both of us. Just wait. Now go enjoy your soulmate. He needs you. I will handle everything else and be inside shortly.”
“I love you, Andre. I hope you know that.” Pressing her hand to the power in my chest, she feels my heartbeat. “Once you’re free of this tether, I’m going to make some time for us.”
I kiss her once more. “I can’t wait. An eternity with you is all I’ll ever want and need. We’ll have each other for the rest of time.”
