Her Deadly Angels by Ginna Moran
Chapter 19
Addicted
ANDRE
“WHY ARE YOU here, Andre? I thought you were going to stay away from her?” Zade strolls up beside me and stares at the side of my face.
I keep my eyes trained on the devils’ mansion, far more gaudy and grand than anything I’ve ever seen them acquire over the years. “She prayed for help, and I couldn’t deny her of my divine intervention. Lucifer, he—” I scrub my hands over my face, the image of Raven on the ground, her back exposed, and completely defenseless against Lucifer’s wrath hurts me at my very core. Her soul keepers stood there and denied her mercy, proving how devastatingly helpless she is. Anger swells inside me the longer the image of Raven brands in my mind. “I couldn’t let him hurt her.”
Zade opens his wings, his feathers caressing against mine. “I understand. It’s impossible to stand by and ignore such a brilliant soul. I would have done the same.”
Finally breaking my gaze from the flickering light in the living area, I turn and meet Zade’s turquoise eyes. Raven’s mark mars his cheek, the glow of the brand looking as fresh as it had on the day she gave it to him. Like he senses me studying it, Zade massages his fingers to it and offers me a reassuring smile.
“She is unlike anyone I’ve ever met, Zade,” I murmur, nervous to say the words out loud, but I can’t lie to him. He’s been by my side for as long as I can remember.
“Because she is. She carries the essence of grace inside her,” he reminds me as if I don’t know.
I shake my head. “It’s not only that. I’ve been in her dreams. I’ve felt her soul. I wish I could show you what I see. She—”
“Was to be left alone.” Cassius’s deep voice cuts me off, his arrival going unnoticed by both Zade and me. He did it on purpose, sneaking up on us and not announcing his coming appearance. “What have I told you, Andre? We have greater priorities to focus on. As long as we stay away, the devils will not get what they want. It won’t be much longer until things fall apart and they discover they were never a match against the Higher Power’s grace.”
“Lucifer was going to whip her with hellfire,” I say, ignoring his comment. “She needed me. She prayed to me.”
“To you?” Cassius asks incredulously.
I tighten my jaw. “Yes.” The word comes easily, instinctively, despite me knowing that Raven prayed to God. But even so, it didn’t feel like she was praying to the Higher Power. Her soul called to me. It felt as if her very essence wrapped around me, tugging me to her like a force I had no control over. “She prayed for help after standing up to Lucifer.”
“No mortal would stand up to Lucifer,” Cassius says like I’m capable of speaking anything but the truth to him. And who knows. Maybe I am. I haven’t tried much or ever needed to.
“Raven did. She threatened him with our grace,” I add, feeling a wave of something strange pulsing through me.
Seeing her confront the most feared devil did something to me on a level I never knew possible. Remembering the moment triggers the same sensation and need inside me, awakening my body with a desire to be near her.
“I’m not sure I follow.” Cassius follows my line of sight and steps forward to the edge of the sidewalk. He stretches his glorious white wings out, blocking my view of Raven’s glowing soul, calling to me.
“You know she doesn’t truly want to help Hell and has chosen to do so out of self-preservation, but I think being around the devils has reminded her that there is a world outside of her soul. She threatened him with telling you everything.” I bounce on my feet, growing more anxious by the second.
“Perhaps I was wrong about my concern of you being here. It sounds as if your presence might be influencing Raven.” Cassius folds his wings, his comment bringing me far greater relief than I had expected such a thing would.
“I think you’re right, Cass,” Zade says, offering me a smile in encouragement.
“As long as you remain uninvolved,” Cassius adds, turning to peer at me. He motions toward the mansion as Dante, Micah, and Elias emerge. His features harden at the sight of them, and he instinctively gathers heavenly power in his palm. “I will not lose you like I’ve lost them.”
“I promise you won’t,” I say, reaching out to squeeze his shoulder. “I’ll even prove it to you by following the devils. It’s not often they leave Raven. Something must be going on.”
“I think you’re right, Andre,” Zade says, speaking up.
Cassius clenches his hands into fists. “Zade, go with Andre. I need to leave the plane for guidance. If what you say about Raven standing up to Lucifer is true, then I need to find out more. I have an idea that could change things. Can you manage while I’m gone?”
“Yes,” Zade says for the both of us.
I open my mouth, wanting to know what thoughts cross his mind, but Cassius launches into the air and disappears in a flash of light. Zade turns to me and squeezes my shoulder. A dozen thoughts flicker through his gray eyes. He shifts his jaw back and forth, silently waiting for me to give him directions. I know I should do as Cassius commanded. It’s in our best interest to keep watch on the majority of the devils when we can. If only Raven came rushing out the door to join them. I can’t get myself to leave her without finding out if she’s really okay after her confrontation with Lucifer.
“Andre, if we don’t leave now, we might lose sight of them,” Zade says, expanding his wings.
I wet my lips and nod. “I’m sorry. I have a lot on my mind.”
“Raven?” he prods, his brows lowering on his forehead. “Trust in Cassius to work things out for her. She might be hell-bound, but we all know that miracles can and do happen—ones even out of our control. Keep your faith, Andre.”
“Would you mind if I caught up with you?” I break his gaze and turn back to the mansion. The lights turn off in the living area, turning the property completely dark apart from the glowing moon overhead. “I’d like to peek in one more time to assure myself she’s okay and then I also need to return to the hunters I abandoned. Some could be of use to us—at least, the ones not already hell-bound.”
Zade ruffles his feathers and rubs his palm over Raven’s brand on his cheek. “We can call upon someone else for that. I’ll go with you to look in on Raven, and I’m sure we’ll still have time to catch up. The devils are on foot.”
Until they reach the shopping center they abandoned their vehicle in. How I know? I watched them myself. I don’t know why they do strange things like that, but I’m sure they have their reasons.
“I need to do this alone, Zade. She’s been scared enough, and after what happened with Micah...please. I’m still earning her trust.” I silently pray for Zade to agree. If he knew how desperately I wanted a moment alone with Raven and why, he’d try to intervene. He’s not as worried as Cassius, but his reluctance shines clearly in his gaze.
“Andre...” He scrubs his face again. “Are you sure everything is okay? You can tell me anything on your mind.”
Except this. I can’t tell him this.
“I know, I can, and I will if something were wrong. I just—please let me go. I need to know the miracle the Higher Power granted me to give to her hasn’t gone to waste. I know truly and deeply that it was my purpose tonight, and I must do this alone.” Opening my arms, I engulf my dearest companion in a hug. “I will catch up, Zade. Be safe.”
“The same goes to you. Call upon me for anything. I will listen.” Zade gives me one last look and launches into the air, spreading his ethereal white wings, glittering with tips of gold, wide overhead.
I wait until he disappears from view, watching the dark mansion as if it’ll come alive with the flames of Hell, but it remains quiet. Gathering my nerve, I remain on foot and cross the street to the vast property. I hop over the wrought-iron fence, using my wings to give me height, and sneak around, narrowing my vision to gaze past the exterior in search of Raven’s soul, the only thing I can see in my heavenly view. The bright light of her soul shifts and moves on the upper floor, drifting across the room. I blink my eyes, clearing the light and replacing it with the mansion’s sturdy walls once more in search of the nearest window I can peer in.
The soft click of a door closing draws my attention away from the window directly above me, and I still at the sight of Raven wagging her finger at Kase. She flicks her fingers at him, motioning for him to go back inside. My heart picks up pace as he leaves her alone on the balcony, and a huge part of me knows that he does so on purpose. I haven’t been exactly stealthy in watching over Raven, and despite my good senses not to mistake Kase’s dark thought-out plans as small mercies to visit with Raven, I can’t help myself. I will take advantage of it. I know as long as I remain clear-headed and aware of what the devils want from me and expect from Raven, I will never fall to their darkness.
There is nothing wrong with getting to know the most tragically beautiful soul like this. If there was, then it would feel as such. If anything, staying away will be the only cause of my downfall. She needs me. She needs my grace and my company to remind her that there is more to her life than completing the devils’ deeds. There’s me.
“Andre? If you’re going to be a creep, at least come up here and be a creep I can see,” Raven says, clutching the railing to peer over the side.
I smirk at her silly comment and bend my knees, flying the short distance to where she stares at the backyard below. My boots thump on the balcony, and I fold my wings, concealing them from sight. A wave of something strange washes over me at the sight of this breathtaking mortal in a silk robe over a nightie, the sheer fabric tight and revealing, showing off the curves of her body. I never noticed how perfect she was before this moment, and I can’t stop my feet from shuffling me closer.
My heartbeat pounds, and I raise my hand, feeling the thuds in my chest. “I’m sorry for the intrusion but I couldn’t get myself to leave until I knew for certain you were okay. What Lucifer almost did—” I snap my mouth closed and shake my head. I shouldn’t remind her of the dreadful moment I’m sure will remain present as an invisible scar on her very soul. No one can face Lucifer’s anger and not feel the aftermath, even if he never touched her.
Raven surprises me by sliding her fingers through mine and squeezing my hand. “I’m okay because of you. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you for risking your life and wings to save my ass.”
I pull her closer to me, wanting her to feel the thumping of my heart like I do. She catches herself against me, pressing her free hand to my chest, steadying herself. Her bottom lip quivers as whatever thoughts or comment she had planned to say disappears with one look into my eyes. Like her body and soul call to mine, I give in to my deep-seated need to close the space, and I kiss her softly, her lips against mine being the only thing to stop me from scooping her up and flying away. I can sense Kase lurking nearby, but he remains out of sight.
Easing away, Raven smiles, her whole face lighting up brighter than the silver moonlight. “What was that about? It should be me who kisses you,” she says, sliding her hand up to my shoulder.
The thought of her lips on mine again awakens my body. “I’m unsure exactly. I can’t seem to keep away from you. And after tonight? After you prayed? I’m not sure I will ever leave again. Who else will protect you?”
Her smile falters, and she flicks her gaze toward the balcony door. A rumbling growl trickles through the air, and usually, I would heed to Kase’s warning, but a shift inside me weighs me down, keeping me in place.
“Careful, Andre. Lucian put us in a terrible position tonight. My devils wanted to help me, but it was impossible. It was either watch me be punished or watch me die.” Her voice cracks with her words, the darkness of her thoughts stealing away her beautiful smile completely.
“I do not need a warning, little hellion. I need you to know that I’d never stand by and watch you suffer as they had. I do not fear the dark deeds of Lucifer. I fear that you can somehow accept that it is all your life could ever be.” I unfurl my wings, my muscles rippling with the foreign emotions crashing over me. I dislike how they make me feel, so I do the only thing I know can shoo them away. I bow down and cup Raven’s cheek. “I’m sorry for speaking my mind. Being near you does strange things to me. Will you kiss me? The closeness of your body seems to be the only thing that forces this disconcerting emotion away.”
Raven doesn’t hesitate and stretches on her tiptoes, brushing her lips to mine again. Parting her lips, she glides her tongue into my mouth, sending a new wave of feelings exploding through me. I devour her offering as if her affection is the only thing important in this moment and the only thing that’ll keep me fighting for her for the rest of existence.
With her body so close and the sweetness of her soft tongue exploring mine, the chaotic world around us settles. My heart stops racing, and I can finally think clearly and without the dark rage threatening to consume me.
I release a deep breath and bow my head, resting it against hers. “I’m sorry. I should go. Your soul keeper will grow tired of this game he plays, and I don’t want you getting hurt if you get trapped in the middle.”
Grimacing, Raven pops out her bottom lip as if my words pain her as much as they pain me to say. “Kase would never put me in...” Her voice trails off with her words. She won’t lie to me about something we both know might not be true, even if it might not be intentional. “Fuck me.”
My eyes widen at her words, and I lean back and meet her gaze. “Raven, I don’t think that is the best idea right now.”
Her frown melts away and she gasps a laugh, covering her mouth to stifle the sound. “Andre, you sweet angel. I wasn’t asking you to have sex.”
I blink in confusion, warmth burning up my cheeks as if the gates of Hell open nearby. “I’m sorry. Your comment...I don’t understand it. I thought...” The heat intensifies, and I step back and touch my cheeks, making sure I’m not on fire.
She releases another breathy laugh, the sensation of her whispery voice sending goosebumps prickling over my body. “Don’t be embarrassed. It was cute. So...innocent and honest. And now I want to know if you won’t fuck me now, when were you planning to?”
“I—I—” I ruffle and expand my wings, growing flustered as she continues to beam her radiant smile. “You’re teasing me.”
She laughs. “You’ve made it so easy. I couldn’t resist.”
“Like I can’t resist being near you, especially seeing how much happiness joking with me brings to you.” I push away my embarrassment and return her smile, losing myself in her gravitational pull that reels me in to keep me close to her.
“I love it more than I thought I would. I look forward to corrupting you, Andre. It’s already so much fun.” She flicks my shoulder.
I grab her hand, pulling her flush against me. “You truly are my little hellion, aren’t you?”
“You haven’t seen anything yet.” Once more, she stretches up and kisses me like it’s now impossible for her to resist. Maybe it’s the both of us unable to keep from each other.
I can’t help myself, and I slide my hands around her, lifting her off the balcony and into my arms. She hugs her legs around me, kissing me deeper as she slowly rolls her body against my pelvis, creating explosive tingles over the hardness of my erection.
She feels so good in my arms, everything about this moment stilling the fear that had clung to me after my confrontation with Lucifer.
“Andre, no. No. You can’t be doing this. You told me you were only going to check in on her.” Zade’s voice sounds from behind me. “Please, stop. We have to go.”
Raven tenses in my arms and pulls away. “Oh, shit. Ka—”
I cover her mouth with my hand, silencing her call. “It’s okay, Raven. Zade would never hurt you. He’s my most trusted friend.”
Raven locks her fingers around my wrist. “You probably say the same thing about Cassius.”
I turn to Zade. “Please, just go.”
“I’m not leaving without you,” he argues, folding his arms across his chest.
Shimmying out of my hold, Raven drops to her feet. I prepare to cover her mouth again if she screams, the last thing I want is her calls to summon the rest of the devils back from wherever they might be.
“Please, Andre. Come with me. We can talk this through. I can help you,” Zade says, offering me his hand.
“I don’t need help.” I nudge Raven to my side, pulling her to me protectively.
“You do. You can’t see it because of the light of her soul, but she’s not good for you.” Zade straightens his shoulders. “You saw for yourself what she did to Micah.”
Raven huffs and steps forward, poking Zade in his chest. “I did nothing to Micah, you asshole.”
Zade’s turquoise eyes narrow. “He fell because of you. I won’t let Andre face the same fate. I won’t.”
I can’t move fast enough. I can’t even tell him to stop.
Hooking his arm around Raven’s waist, Zade restrains her against his chest.
He takes flight.
Glass explodes from the door behind me, and the weight of Kase’s heavy hellish form crashes into my back. I stumble forward and fall over the railing. He launches into the air, lunging at Zade and Raven.
I collide into the ground, the wind knocking from my lungs.
Staring up at the dark sky, I try to clear the haze from my vision. I watch in shock as a dozen of my feathers scatter on the wind.
