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Lucian is sexy as all get out in this moment. What he says is completely true. And I can tell from the look crossing Cassius’s face that he might believe that about himself as well. I can see him questioning his entire existence, and it pains him. It pains him because he might finally see that he’s been wrong this entire time, resisting turning his back and joining us as the sinners of Hell by not only his brother’s side, but by his companion’s. And by me.
He realizes just how alone he is, because even though the guardians are around, he is still alone. He is not like them. Far from it, actually. He is more like a devil than he knows.
“Is that what you want me to say? You want me to tell you that I am weak and pathetic? I’ll say anything as long as you allow me to use Raven to get to Elias. I will gladly bow down and ask in the name of the Higher Power.” Cassius drops on his hands and knees and does a deep bow in front of Lucian. “You can’t see what I do, Lucifer. If you did, you wouldn’t be such an asshole. It is more than about our past and what you want to do with the power of Hell. This is about Heaven and the changes that are happening because it no longer has the power of the saviors guarding and protecting it.”
Lucian clenches his jaw, remaining silent as he stares at Cassius. A strange heaviness settles through the room, and I shift on my feet, wondering what everyone is thinking about. I wonder if maybe this is more serious than I had expected. It’s not often that the devils would hear an angel out like this.
“If what you say is true, then Heaven will take care of itself.” Lucian shifts back into his human façade and glances around at the other devils. “I don’t want to put Raven at risk.”
“Our rise can wait.” Dante glances at me, his face remaining expressionless. “Elias isn’t in any danger, pretty soul. It is merely inconvenient for us. We will be able to get to him once you are no longer carrying our babies.”
“I’m going to have to disagree,” Zade says, stepping closer and challenging Dante and Lucian with his intense stare, crackling with purple power. “Elias might not be in danger, but Raven needs him more than ever. He is your soulmate, and his being helps her to thrive.”
“I have to agree with Zade.” Andre flexes his muscles, opening and closing his wings. “But I think there has to be another way besides using Raven. I can reach his soul through her. Perhaps we can use that to our advantage.”
“Hell yeah.” Kase strolls toward Andre and whacks him on the back. “That sounds fucking better than trusting our girl with that asshole. Because I’m with Dante and say no. But I trust you.”
Cassius throws his hands out while spreading his wings. “That’s not going to work. I can’t even get to him.”
“You doubt my power?” Andre says, his eyes lighting with fire.
Cassius gets to his feet and squares his shoulders. “No, but you underestimate the guardians. Something has changed. It is enough to make me feel as if the end is coming.”
I frown. “What? The end? As in the apocalypse?”
“Don’t let him scare you. It’s not what you think, little hellion. There aren’t four Horsemen or demonic legions rising to Earth to fight against angels. If that were the case, we’d already be in the apocalypse.” Andre shifts on his feet and stares at Cassius, but Cassius refuses to look at him. He doesn’t look at anyone except for the ground before him.
“Which means I want to know what the fuck he’s talking about,” Kase says, his eyes lighting red.
Cassius finally lifts his gaze from the ground to look at the devils. And then, he whips his attention to me. “I can show you.”
No one has a chance to respond or react as Cassius gathers light in his palms and shoots it at me. I scream in shock, my body zinging as I absorb his heavenly light.
The world changes around us.
Cassius uses me to shift to a strange plane I’ve never been in. My devils remain by my side.
I twist on my feet, unable to see anything through the strange light.
But I guess my devils see it. Because they fall silent. Lucian swears.
And then the world around us shatters.
Chapter 23
CASSIUS
Beaten Path
I GASP IN pain, the fires of Hell feeling as if they consume my very being as I use Raven to take us from my vision and back into Zade’s kingdom.
My eyes well with painful tears. Pushing to my feet, I protect myself by summoning heavenly light. I use it to banish the residue of Hell clinging to my soul by connecting with the devils. I expect them to come after me and beat me into submission for using Raven as I had, but it was the easiest way considering she is bound to all of them by Hell power.
It still pains me to see the tattoos on her body. She shouldn’t have had to resort to this. I know what the devils intended by doing so, but it doesn’t make it any less agonizing as her light constantly siphons to them while their darkness leashes her all the same. It is far worse than a deal. She got nothing out of this. With deals, it’s understandable. Mortals can’t help themselves if they want something. But Raven? She did this by her own free will. It’ll make things worse with the angelic army once they find out. I don’t think they will standby and plan to just take her away any longer. I have a feeling that they will just deem her and the new beings that she carries complete abominations and try to remove them all from existence.
I can’t let that happen. Not after I felt them within Raven’s soul. The balance between the light and the dark was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. It was so powerful even at such a stage of their souls’ growth, that I know that with proper care and guidance, they could really solidify the balance between Heaven and Hell. They could be the perfect anchor for the whole Mortal Realm.
“That was only a vision. You know damn well that it could change. Look what happened with the vision we had that created Hell in the first place. You were supposed to be by my side, Cassius. Look what happened. You changed everything.” Lucian’s deep voice reverberates through the room.
