Her Deadly Angels by Ginna Moran
Chapter 23
The King Sinner
RAVEN
“RAVEN.” ANDRE’S SOFT voice trickles through my mind.
It’s like how Micah speaks telepathically to me, but yet, it’s somehow different. I feel the shadow of his presence lingering inside me. I don’t know if it’s because the pain of Lucian’s weight crushes my chest, pinning me beneath him as he speaks to Vincent or if it’s because we’re truly bonded. I guess it doesn’t matter. The small blip of light brings me relief.
“Raven, will you allow me control? Give me permission to possess your body. I can fight with you,” Andre pleads.
I blink, trying to clear the haze from my vision. Lucian presses his hooved foot into my ribcage hard enough to hurt but not with enough pressure to kill me. I don’t think he can. I’m sure in this moment if it were possible, I’d already be dead.
“What is it you want for her body? You’ve summoned me here, so I assume you expect the reward for bringing me her soul, yet you delivered her with her tie to the Mortal Realm,” Lucian asks, peering down at me. Fire lights his eyes. “So what is it you want for her body?”
“Nothing. I’m keeping her alive for my enjoyment. Your brethren haven’t been able to pinpoint me, and I thought it would be entertaining to leave behind clues for them until no piece of her remains.” Vincent paces back and forth outside the circle. “I gave up Elias’s soul for this. I’m going to reap the benefits as long as possible. Now release her.”
A throaty growl escapes Lucian’s mouth, his devil form shifting into a man until his bare foot holds me down. He stands naked over me, his cock swinging with his movements, reminding me of the first day we met where he sunk his darkness into my soul and touched me on an intimate level I try not to think about—not because it was bad, but because I still can’t forget it. He shouldn’t have this sort of power over my headspace. It’s like being at the mercy of Joel all over again. Micah claimed that Lucian might be a douche because of the circumstances, but hearing him declare wanting to abandon the plan he, Kase, and Dante formed together proves otherwise.
“What is it you want in exchange for her body?” Lucian repeats, ignoring the demon’s comment. “You won’t be able to enjoy your throne for long if you think I’m going to allow you to keep her. You have far too much confidence in yourself. My brethren are already on their way.”
“As I said. Nothing. I’ll take my chances.” Unsheathing a long spear from his hidden hellish façade, Vincent jabs me in the calf and drags me from beneath Lucian.
Agony burns through my leg, and I scream in pain. I jerk upright, locking my hands around the pole, but I can’t yank it free. Snarling, Lucian sets the room aglow with the flames of Hell. All Vincent does is smile, watching as the barrier of the summoning circle traps the devil and all of his power.
Standing over me, Vincent twists the spear harder, listening as I scream and wail. I blackout and find myself in a world of pure white. Cool relief soothes my soul the longer I remain lost in this world of light. A shadow emerges out of nowhere in front of me. I reach out, sensing Andre, and caress my being to his.
“Please, Raven. I can’t stand it. Give me control. I want—no, I need—to protect you from this hellish evil,” Andre says, materializing more clearly in my vision with his words.
“I don’t know how to let you.” I’m also afraid. Not of Andre but of the pain. Will I still feel things with him possessing me? What will happen if Lucian and Vincent figure it out?
“Just say yes. Give me your consent to possess you and use you as a vessel. I vow to protect you, no matter the cost. Please, Raven.” Andre’s glorious light radiates across my skin, igniting me aglow with a pure goodness that eases the fear traveling across my soul.
“Okay. Yes.” The words come out before I even think about them. What he means by cost? I have no idea. I don’t even care. All I know is that if I don’t get the strength that Andre can bring me, my living life will turn to Hell. I know it. I feel it in the agony stirring through my body as I break through and regain consciousness.
But the pain doesn’t last long.
Utter and complete peace soaks deep into my bones as a pure, familiar presence fills me up and bathes me in faith, love, and protectiveness. Where pain once burned, now only remains the soothing sensation that banishes my misery. Light glows from my skin and fades with my control.
I watch in fascination as my fingers curl and uncurl without my command and then proceed to grab my boobs and strum my thumbs across my nipples.
“This is so strange and exhilarating,” Andre thinks, his thoughts echoing around me as if they’re my own.
A growl vibrates through the air. “What the—”
Summoning heavenly light, Andre gathers a radiant orb between my palms, smoldering my skin over Lucian’s mark. I can’t feel the pain, but I know Andre does, because he’s quick to chuck it at Vincent, sending the demon crashing across the room. Throwing another blast of heavenly light, Andre sends it flying at Lucian, but misses him by inches. Streaks of electricity crackle in the air as the heavenly power ricochets back to us, knocking my body off its feet.
The world spins, and my soul tries to evacuate my body. Lucian bares his teeth with hellfire shining brightly in his eyes. Locking his claws to the front of my nightie, he hoists my body higher into the air. Smoke wafts from his devilish features.
“Release her!” My own voice echoes through the room as Andre commands Lucian as he uses my body to protect me. “Raven will never be yours.”
Two horns cut through Lucian’s skin with his hellish transformation. Not a single inch of him holds onto his mortal façade, and he glowers, capturing my soul with his burning gaze. “Get out of Raven, or I will cut you out myself.”
Igniting heavenly light in my palm, Andre uses my vessel as if it is his true body, and slaps Lucian across his face. A smoldering handprint glows red, and Andre kicks, trying to break free of Lucian’s hold over my body. But he can’t. I don’t know if he’s afraid of hurting me or if he can’t manage to embrace his power. Whatever it is, Andre’s fight falters, and Lucian smacks my face so hard that Andre’s presence shoots right out of me.
I scream in dizzying agony, my chest tight and refusing to suck in enough air. It’s like my body betrays me, trying to kill me instead of giving me any sort of strength to challenge this infuriating devil.
Swinging me toward the wall, Lucian tosses me through the fiery barrier and toward the wall. The world darkens once more, the sweet nothingness a relief that doesn’t last long. I flutter my eyes and open my mouth to scream again, but a hot hand silences me as Vincent pins me to the floor and climbs on top of me.
“Keep screaming, and I’ll rip out your vocal cords. The only thing you can say is my name as I find out what the devils enjoy so much about you,” Vincent says, leaning into me.
I couldn’t scream if I wanted to. The weight of him on my chest suffocates me.
“Kill her and I will give you control of the Mortal Realm,” Lucian says, his voice bellowing through the air. “Kill her and send her soul to me, and you’ll be a king.”
Vincent nods his head and grins, his demeanor suddenly changing with Lucian’s deal. “Done.”
Fiery pain explodes in my heart as he impales me with his spear over and over again.
I lose consciousness, the world melting away once more.
Instead of Andre’s light, cacophonous yells of agony and regret explode in my ears, and I gasp and stare at the fiery pool of souls in front of me. Claws dig into my shoulder, whipping me around, and I face Lucian in all his hellish glory.
Oh-fucking-no.
I died.
My body couldn’t handle the trauma. The possession. It couldn’t handle the thought of getting raped and tortured by a demon who would’ve kept me alive to keep me from Lucian’s hands just to show him that he’s not the all-powerful being he thinks he is.
“Despicable.” Lucian leers, capturing me in his fiery gaze. “I knew Kase and Dante were lying, trying to tell me that you were a worthy soul. I knew otherwise. You are nothing but a desperate, shameful whore who will spend eternity on her knees unless you would prefer to burn.”
Fuck my life. Sucking off Satan or burning? My knees will never recover.
“You’re full of shit, Lucian. If you thought that then you’d have never wasted your time with me.” I clench my teeth, summoning my anger at the situation. I still can’t believe it. No, I won’t believe it. “I was doing fine before this mess. You’ll be the reason your damn mission fails.”
Lucian sets me on my feet only to tower over me. “I won’t fail. Now that I have your soul in my possession, I can use you to get my brethren in line. I don’t need all seven sinners. All I needed was for them to lose their sight on the universe and fall to mortal desire. They will bow to me. They will do anything for a moment with you. You’ll see.”
Anger bursts through me, and I swing my leg up and kick his monstrous devil dick as hard as I can. Apparently he enjoys the pain, because all he does is laugh and grab my wrist, forcing me to touch the appendage that looks like a mortal man’s cock but is bigger, thicker, and the same shade of velvety dark skin as the rest of him. Thick dick veins glow with molten color, joining the rest on his beastly body as they gather and radiate power in his chest, sending his evil heart aglow.
His cock flexes in my fingers, hardening even more, and I gawk at how my nail polish sparkles in the fiery light around us.
“Feels good, doesn’t it?” Lucian asks me, his deep voice turning husky. “You want it. You’ll beg for me over everyone else. I own you, Raven. You might fight it now, but I will break you in a way you’ll enjoy. You’ll beg me to feed your soul with my darkness.”
My mind jumps from thought to thought, my insides a jumbled mess. How the fuck do I respond to his words? Micah once told me that he’s such an asshole because he wanted me in the same way as Kase and Dante. Maybe he was right. Maybe that’s the only way I’ll manage to save my soul from suffering. I guess I’ll find out.
Without responding, I gather my resolve and shove my fear away. Lucian was once an angel. He might now be a devil, but I’m sure there must be a way to get to him. I might not have to make him fall from grace, but maybe, and this is a longshot, maybe I can make him fall for me. Crave me. I know there is something about the lightness of my soul that attracts darkness. The fucked up part of me will do anything to save myself. If it means sucking Lucian’s cock and calling him master until the rest of my devils destroy him...fuck. Here I go.
I tighten my fingers, unable to close my hand completely, and stroke the length of Lucian’s cock from the base and to the tip. His fingers loosen on my wrist, and he remains silent as I rub my palm over the head, exploring the smooth skin.
“I knew you wouldn’t fight. You’re as weak as I suspected,” he mutters, shifting from his devil form and into the achingly beautiful angelic façade he carried before he abandoned his grace. “Unfit for ruling Purgatory.”
Still, I don’t respond.
“Tell me what it is you’re good for, Raven,” he continues. He trails his fingers up my arm and pushes my hair over my shoulder. “Right now, I think it’s nothing...unless you want to prove to me otherwise.”
My soul buzzes with his words. I never expected to be standing in Hell in front of Lucian with him trying to get under my skin. He thinks I’m going to break. He thinks he can push me until I lash out, so he can punish me. But he doesn’t realize that I might be just as fucked up as him. I’m not afraid of his cock. I’m not against doing things I have to, even if it means demeaning myself. I’d have to care enough about that kind of thing for it to get to me. I’ve already come to terms with the lust and mortal desires both angels and devils crave. It’s how I can get on my knees for angels like Andre. How I would get on my knees with my ex just to get him to shut up. I have complete control over my body and have learned long ago that I will not give up my power. So fuck human standards. Fuck the shame that comes with embracing my sexuality. Lucian’s an asshole. He’s a monster. But so am I.
Clearing my throat, I tip my head back and gaze into Lucian’s wicked eyes. “I am good for nothing.” I shake my jaw, making my lip tremble. “I don’t know what you want from me to prove otherwise.”
Fire sparks in his eyes. “Undress for me.”
That’s not what I was expecting. I thought he’d demand I get on my knees.
I blink a few times and inhale a small breath. “What do you plan to do?” I can’t help it. I would prefer to prepare for whatever he plans to do to my soul.
Fury twists his features, and he grabs me by the throat and lifts me up. My body reacts by hooking my legs around him. It’s strange feeling his fingers around my neck. Pain sizzles over my skin, but I can breathe. I’m dead. The way I see things as if I’m physically here is all in my head.
Sparks fly as our essences connect more securely, my ankles locking me in place around his waist. Something comes over me, and I fight against his restraint on my throat. Lucian’s eyes capture mine and he shifts his hand to hold my ass, allowing me to overpower him and kiss him. I kiss him with my entire being, merging my light with his dark, doing the only thing I can think of to fight against his control without him fighting back. I don’t kiss him out of desire. I kiss him in desperation, stealing his focus over his control to give into his innate need to fall to mortal desires. I kiss him to hold onto my control. This kiss will cement my place above him and not as a soul he can destroy. He won’t want to.
I can feel it. I can taste it in the sweet, spiciness of his lips.
“Fuck me,” I murmur against his mouth. “Let me feel what kind of power the most notorious devil has.”
Lucian releases a deep growl-like moan, the noise vibrating from his chest. He wants me. I can feel it on a soul-deep level. I just need to give him a push.
“Fuck me anyway you want, Lucian. Fuck me until I can’t walk. And then after, let me serve you. Let me show you that you can use me to get what you want.” I kiss him again, sliding my tongue into his mouth.
“I want the saviors annihilated. I want Hell and Earth to be solely mine. I want my brethren to bow down to me,” he mutters against my lips, his desires escaping him as if my kiss and body pull them out of him. He can’t resist me. I’m the one with power over him, and I will use it.
“I want that too.” I reach between us and open my soul to him, my clothes suddenly vanishing as if they were never there. “Now fuck me and let me help you. I will bring the saviors to their knees for you. I never wanted Purgatory. A part of Hell. I just never wanted to suffer.”
I expect him to fuck Hell right into me, but he doesn’t. He meets my gaze, his dark eyes searching mine. “And what of my brethren?”
“What about them? I know why they’ve kept me away from you,” I murmur, my body aching at even the thought. A lie has never felt so painful.
“Why?” he prods. “Tell me, and I’ll give you what you desire. You will feel my power in your soul.”
I lick my lips. “They’ve kept me from you because they’re weak. They’re afraid. They—”
Bright light ignites the world aglow around us, and Lucian roars, dropping me from his arms. I hit the ground, my soul screaming. Spinning, Lucian rips a flaming sword from his back and flings it inches away from me.
I scramble away and stare in shock at the sight of Andre unfurling his brilliant wings before Lucian.
“You can’t take that soul before her time,” Andre says, gathering heavenly light. “I’m taking her back to where she belongs.”
Summoning hellfire, Lucian transforms into his devil form. He unleashes his fury on Andre, engulfing him in the fires of Hell.
My soul erupts in agony.
My very essence weeps.
A cool hand touches my cheek, pulling me from Hell and the fire engulfing everything. I snap my eyes open and find myself in Andre’s arms in the now empty room, lying in my own sticky blood.
What the fuck?
“It’s okay, Raven. You’re okay. I healed your body and brought your soul back. Lucian can’t have you,” Andre says, stroking his fingers over my cheeks. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get in as fast I should’ve.”
I open and close my mouth, my body exhausted, my mind whirling.
He leans down and kisses me. “Just relax. You’ve been through a lot. Your soul keepers are coming.”
I nod, savoring the sensation of his arms around me.
If only I could be sure this is all over, but I can’t. I might’ve made things worse with my attempt at controlling Lucian.
God, what have I done?
Andre winces, and I search his face, confusion battling inside of me. I know I didn’t say the thought out loud, but I know he felt it. But why did he react the way he did?
And then I see it. The spark of fire in his eyes.
“Andre,” I whisper, touching his cheek.
“I’ll never leave you, Raven. I swore I’d always protect you,” he replies, offering me a sad smile.
My heart fissures and breaks. Fuck. Andre has abandoned grace.
He has fallen.
