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“You can keep that truth to yourself. I have plenty of others to share,” she countered.
“Many supplied by me,” I interjected. “The perk of working so closely with your many high-powered campaign donors.”
“There’s no proof.” Harris narrowed his eyes at the both of us. “Not a single paper trail would lead to me.”
“You’re forgetting the kind of influence I have over humans. What I could promise for a few small favors.” I gave him a crooked smile to remind him of what I really was.
“And what am I supposed to do, then? What about all the good I have done for the community?” He was starting to scramble. “The charities or beautification projects that I personally founded to make this state a better place? Were those things for nothing?”
“The thing about ambition is that it can be blinding,” I said. I looked down at Evie and cupped her cheek to bring her eyes to mine for a moment before finishing my last point to Harris. We both needed the moment of connection. “No matter how good your intentions are, you’ve done it out of your own selfishness, not for the betterment of your own kind. You’ve tainted them all.”
“You’re going to resign from all public positions,” Evie said, beginning her list of demands. “Tell them that you’ve decided to pledge your life working with nonprofits. And every day, until the day you’re too old and decrepit, you’re going to volunteer in the name of the family you slaughtered.”
“Evelyn—”
“You owe me a soul, dad.” She was finished listening to him. “You’re going to earn the clemency you reserved for yourself away from the spotlight you’ve craved my entire life.”
“Make the announcement in the morning or I'll be back to assist you,” I added.
Evie turned into my chest, and with that signal, I took us through the void to my home.
Through everything, Evie still loved her father, and who was I to fault her for that.
She’d granted him a kindness that grated on my nerves, but for her sake, a slow burn from the public eye would be the best precursor for the punishments he would receive in Hell.
I couldn’t return her soul to her—the laws of balance would never allow it—but I could take care of her and keep her safe for the rest of her days on this plane, then for an eternity after.
16
EVIE
“Why me?”
It felt like a foolish question that I already knew the answer to. I stroked the wings of the owl tattoo sprawled across his bare chest.
After leaving my father in shambles in his office, Stolas brought us to his house in Santa Monica. I’d taken two steps inside before his mouth crashed over mine and our clothes were on the floor. We made it to his bed and hadn’t left since.
The sun was now rising and filling his bedroom with bright, golden rays that held more than a new day. Rest wasn’t something I could bring myself to do. The full weight of what I’d done to my father and the sadness for myself came in waves. Between my fits of tears and rage was Stolas. Every doubt I voiced, he soothed. When reality felt like too much, he chased it away with passion.
“Because you’ve done the unthinkable.” He rolled onto his side then pulled his body over mine. “You’ve satiated me. You’re everything I’ve ever needed and more.”
“That’s hard to believe,” I said, my cheeks flushing.
“My existence has been plagued with the pursuit of things I could never possess. The power I thought I craved would have destroyed me, and chasing it made me a monster.”
He leaned down, kissed me deeply, and stole my breath once again. “It took one night with you to realize what I really needed was someone worth existing for. And in return, I’m going to love you in ways only the Prince of Greed can.”
“I look forward to it.”
And for the first time in too many years, I felt whole. As impossible as it was, I knew we belonged together.
THE END
