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He’s damn convincing. If I were an angel, I’d be on my knees and swearing allegiance already.
The angel groans, bowing forward, his back a mess with blood and chunks of his wings still hanging. “Please, I’m following my path. I’m not a warrior. I’m a guide. Please, you have to let me go to heal.”
“We don’t have to let you do anything,” I say, gathering more power in my palms. I chuck it at him, wishing with everything in me that the world would just open up and allow us into Heaven to get Raven. We know it’s possible now. That’s probably why only low-level angels such as this douche get to shift the worlds, considering that we can’t find any of the warriors around.
“The only way you’re going to make it out of here without being chained to the bottom of my fire pits is if you cooperate. Open the fucking portal to Heaven. You have a soul there that doesn’t belong to you. It belongs to us. Open it, and you will have a good place by my side.” Lucian flashes his devil façade, his horns curving up from his forehead. He looks sexy as hell, but I’d never admit that to him.
“That’s not my place to go.” The angel turns to Cassius. “You must understand. I know that you’ve only forsaken Heaven recently. Please. Make them release me.”
I snarl, transforming into my Hell beast. Launching from the ground, I pounce on the angel and shove him back, sending fire bursting around us. “Last chance. This is not open for negotiation. The guardians have fucked up everything, and we’re trying to save humanity. We are trying to save the woman we love. The Higher Power would not have brought you to us had it not been its plan. Open the fucking portal.”
“And take us to Raven. If you can do that, you will be a prince of my kingdom. You will serve us better than you could ever serve Heaven. You could guide souls from one level to the next until they finally have learned enough to move on from Hell. It’s what we’ve been trying to do for all of existence.” Dante stands next to me, resting his big palm on my shoulder blade, stroking it over my heated skin until I sit back on my haunches. I don’t transform back. I need to remain powerful. I need to be prepared for the second he gives. Because I can see it in his eyes. He believes us. He’s going to do it.
“So all I have to do is open the portal and guide you?” The angelic man asks, looking at each of us in need of confirmation.
“If you can do that, you will rise. You will have done the Almighty’s work.” Cassius keeps his voice low and reaches his hand out, offering to help the angelic man up. “Feel it with your entire being. You know we’re right. You know this is what must be done. Please, Gabe. Do this, and everything will be righted. The universe will find its balance again, and we’ll have peace. Isn’t that what you want? Peace instead of war? Because if you don’t, your existence will end here and now. The entire heavenly plane will fall. There will be no home for pure souls.”
Of course, Cassius knows the angel’s name. I guess I should’ve asked the dickwad first. It’s easier to connect with someone on their level if we know something personal. I tuck away my annoyance to unleash on him later once we get Raven back.
The angel, Gabe, tips his head back and stares at the ceiling. He closes his eyes, listening to his emotions, seeking guidance without asking it. “Okay. I’ll help you. But my path must remain on this course until you fix this. The pure souls still need me to guide them. Heaven needs the power.” The angel tightens his jaw as if we might lash out at him.
But I raise my hands to Lucian and Dante, knowing that they want to argue. Cassius remains stoic and silent, letting me take control.
“It’s a deal. You may continue to guide pure souls until the seven sinners take their thrones and hell rises with the creation of Purgatory.” I finally manage to get my boiling blood cool enough to stand before him as a man.
“Fuck yeah! Let’s get you back to our place. You’re going to open a portal where we can control what comes in and out.” Dante surprises the guy by scooping him into his arms. Cassius grabs a hold of Lucian and me, lifting us from the ground and carrying us to the door as if we can’t even walk. I try not to smack him upside the head. But he smiles at Dante, and my heart skips a beat, and I feel hope for the first time since watching Raven take her last breath.
“Lucian, call Andre and let them know we’re coming. We’re going to need Micah to return from Hell. We’re going to need fucking Elias to get ready to join us. He’s our safest bet.” I stare at the hellfire flickering in Lucian’s gaze. He looks ready to take on the universe by my side.
We’ve had our ups and downs, but we are finally coming together as one, just how Raven always wanted and needed. She will have a future. She will not remain trapped against her will for eternity.
We’re going to get her back.
Purgatory will rise.
My heart and very being will be complete soon enough.
This isn’t the end. This is only the beginning.
Chapter 21
ANDRE
Rise
I STARE AT Arabella, picking out the features familiar to Raven. She’ll have the same beautiful shade of midnight black hair like her mom, and I’m sure her eyes will be the same, though right now, they’re more gray than blue. She has petite ears and is smaller than her brother by two pounds. Even so, her wails are louder, and she shines so brightly that I’m sure she can banish a demon away.
“I heard the others land. Want me to take her?” Zade rubs his hands together, stepping in close until our arms touch.
It takes me everything inside me to nod my head. I don’t want to let her go just yet. It feels as if I don’t hold her for the rest of eternity, I’ll lose the best part of me. The part of me that Raven took with her.
“Her brother could use her right now. You know they’re used to being close. Tamia would also love to hold her. You haven’t even let her get within a few feet, Andre.” Zade pats my shoulder, waiting patiently for me to finally shift Arabella from my arms and into his.
As much as it hurts me on a deep-seated level not to hold her, the expression Zade gives makes it worth it. His eyes light up, and his whole face smiles with his happiness. He hurts on the same level, if not more because he is empathetic to every emotion coursing through the room. My sacrifice, giving away my time of just cuddling with Arabella and loving up on her as our daughter brings me relief. It makes it easier seeing how it gives Zade strength.
I clear my throat. “Be careful with her, you two. She radiates with heavenly light.”
“You’re not going to hurt your cousin, are you now, baby girl?” Tamia wiggles her fingers, holding her hand out to Zade. “You’re going to save that for all the assholes that try to hurt us, aren’t you? I bet you could merge your powers with your brother’s and just blast all those pesky, lying angels away, right?”
