Her Darkest Devils by Ginna Moran
Chapter 23
RAVEN
Kingdom Come
“HEY, SATAN! YOU are so unlucky that you chose now to show your damn face.” I glower and point in Lucian’s direction, but he ignores me to focus on the others.
Dante sets me on my feet on the back lawn. Kase, Andre, Micah, and Lucian stand huddled together in what looks like a dramatic conversation. Lucian and Kase must’ve taken a Hell portal from wherever Lucian has been hiding, because I don’t think me and Dante have been gone that long. I mean, sure, he convinced me to join the Mile High Club with him devil style, but it was a fast and furious quickie—by his standards. It was long enough for me to get off three times.
Too bad seeing Lucian waving hands at Andre steals my good mood right out of me. “Lucian, you better give me a good reason why Tamia called me asking for you.” I storm away from Dante, feeling the heat of Hell radiating from the devils.
Lucian smiles, showing off his perfectly straight teeth. “You’re jealous already.”
Micah punches him in the gut, wiping the grin off his face. “Fucking respect her. You know she isn’t jealous. She wants to keep Tamia safe. I should gut you for continuing with whatever the fuck you think you’re doing.”
“Relax, both of you. I was merely sounding my appreciation over Raven’s possessiveness already.” Lucian breaks away from the circle and makes it all of two feet in my direction before Micah grabs him by the back of the shirt.
“You damn well know it’s not the time or fucking place to bring the Hell out of her.” Micah jabs his ribs. “Whatever you plan to say next better be an apology and an answer that pleases her. You know our agreement.”
Lucian huffs out a breath and yanks himself free. “Like I could ever forget when you assholes will beat it into me every other second for the rest of eternity.”
I slow as Lucian strides toward me and a mixture of emotions threatens to turn my mind to mush. “I don’t want you near my cousin. No calling. No texting. Nothing.”
He lifts an eyebrow. “Why do you think she called you? I’ve been an angel, Raven. It has been excruciating ignoring someone who has information I seek. Did you know she has connections to some of the wealthiest people in the area?”
I never thought about it much, but I guess she would as an event planner. It’s been so long since we’ve really connected, so things were easy to slip my mind. “You’re trying to use her to network? Are you serious? You’re fucking Satan. Don’t you know every bastard?”
“I do in a sense, but...it’s complicated. I’m sure you have far better things to do than listen to me ramble on about devil affairs.” Reaching up, Lucian risks his hand by touching my chin. My first instinct is to bat him away like always, but something about the dark depths of his eyes locks me in place. “I heard you had a confrontation with my brother.”
I slump my shoulders, letting my guard down a little. “I beat the fuck out of him and then kicked his balls hard enough to send them inside of him, which by the way, I’m nearly fucking certain got his rocks off just like your masochistic ass.”
Lucian releases a low growl under his breath, his eyes sparking with fire. His anger isn’t directed at me though. I’d feel it deep in my soul if it were. “Did he hurt you?”
His question surprises me. I can’t tell if it’s because he cares about me or wants another reason to unleash Hell on Cassius.
“He tried to fucking kill me.” The memory explodes through my mind as I replay the bullshit Cassius pulled. “He took me to another plane while the guardians went after Dante. He got pissed off because I called him out on his bullshit, and he can’t see his wrongdoings. Kind of like you.” Low blow? Maybe. Warranted? Absolutely. This little truce is in place as a test. We all need to see if Lucian is truly on board with following through with his original plan when he, Dante, and Kase first abandoned the Higher Power.
“I guess I’ll have to continue making it up to you. How would you like me to catch a guardian, and I can teach you the most effective way of breaking my brother?” Lucian leans in a bit more. “Could be fun.”
Whacking him on the back, Kase nearly knocks Lucian into me. “Don’t let him fool you, angel-girl. The fucker already has captured a featherhead. We were discussing how to proceed. Heaven’s army is up to some bullshit, so we need to get it out of him.”
“The twats are circling and waiting for their chance to grab our prisoner,” Andre adds. His jaw tightens with his words.
“I want to fucking break every bone and pluck every feather to get him talking.” Lucian jerks his head to Andre. “But this soft fucker still carries damn feelings toward them. He wants to take our prisoner to Hell instead and try things his way.”
“I hate—and I really hate to admit it—but I think Lucian’s way would be faster.” Micah rubs his hand over his stubbly jaw. “We don’t have much time to deal with a battle.”
Something about his comment stabs me through the heart. It’s now that I realize that Elias would usually be with him, especially discussing things that will affect his future. I don’t get a chance to ask him though. Lucian’s cocky bastard smile lights up and he holds out his hand and gets Micah to fist bump him, the gesture weird but somehow cute. Who knew I’d love the truce between everyone.
“I think it’s bullshit and will only cause more fucking problems.” Kase’s eyes glow with his red power. “Plus, I know you, Raven. You’d have to hear every second of it. We can’t do it anywhere else except here. We’re the strongest force of protection.”
“She shouldn’t fucking care! This is what we need!” Lucian gets in Kase’s face, and the two of them break into a fight.
Okay, so not so much a truce as it is a sometimes they tolerate each other type of situation.
I step forward against my good senses, planning to separate the two of them, but Dante cuts me off and Micah grabs my shoulders and pulls me back. I spin and look at him, his eyes flicking across my face with thoughts he doesn’t freely let me hear. Once again, my nerves bunch, sensing something unfamiliar but a lot like dread.
“Micah? What’s wrong?” I ask, my soft words sounding through the air.
“Why don’t we go inside? We need to talk.” Micah drapes his muscular arm over my shoulder.
I stiffen, my whole body cooling. Oh, no. Oh-fucking-no.
Pulling away from him, I prepare to bolt to the backdoor, but Kase calls my name. I heave a few breaths as tears fill my eyes. Micah hasn’t even said anything, but I know something is up with Elias.
“You guys figure it out. I have to go.” Panic tightens through my muscles. “And Micah, you shouldn’t even be out here. You should be with Elias. What if—”
Micah cuts off my words with a kiss and pulls me into his arms, hugging me. His heat eases the ice in my veins a little, but it also sends my emotions over, and I can’t control the sob that escapes my lips. Silence fills the air as the other devils stop fighting and focus their attention on me.
“Lucian, bring the angel out and give him to Andre. Now. He will handle it. When you’re done, meet us at the apartment.” Kase points at Dante. “You’re coming with me. We’re going to sweep the area and make sure no one besides Zade lurks around. He’s our next target, and I don’t want anyone scaring him off. He’s already in tune to Raven, and now is the time he’s going to try to use his angelic charm to help her. Everyone understand?”
The others all nod their agreement. Each of them take a second to hug me, including Lucian, and I finally manage to get my quivering mouth under control.
“I can’t do this alone,” I say, swallowing the burning in my throat. “Please hurry back.”
“We wouldn’t miss it.” Kase plays with my hair, tucking it behind my ear. “Just let Micah take care of you two for now, okay?”
My voice stops working, so I only nod and kiss him one more time. Hugging Micah tighter, I let him carry me inside and to the elevator. I breathe in his familiar scent, summoning the comfort he brought to me when he was an angel. The same comfort I still feel with him even as a devil.
“Raven, this might be one of the hardest things for you to bear in your mortal life. It hurts me on the deepest level of Hell that you’re in this position and must face such an act on our behalf,” Micah says, breaking the silence yet keeping his voice at a whisper. “I’m truly sorry, but I want you to know that I’m here to guide you through everything. Elias too. We were once inseparable, and it was fate that your soul brought us back together. I don’t even know where to begin thanking you.”
Stopping outside his bedroom door, Micah sets me on my feet. Music hums through the air, trickling into the hallway. I grab his hand, stopping him from opening the door right away. The uncertainty scares the living shit out of me.
“Being here is enough for me.” I hug him, sinking into his embrace. “I’m scared. More than scared. I’m terrified. Is he really that bad? He was still joking and laughing with me this morning.”
Micah sighs. “Sometimes things happen so quickly. A disease like his is unpredictable, and no matter how much you think you’re prepared, you might never be. He’s conscious, but he’s not speaking vocally. Just in my mind.”
I steel myself, trying to keep my eyes from spilling a waterfall of tears. Micah is right. Nothing could’ve ever prepared me for this. No amount of reasoning with myself or assurance that things are going to work out. Even knowing that Elias suffers in this state and once his mortal life ends, he’ll finally regain his health and power, does nothing for my grief. He’ll be stronger than ever. A devil. But he’ll never be the mortal man who kidnapped me, pissed me off, and somehow still managed to make me fall in love with him in this life. What if things change in the next?
“Oh, God. Help me,” I whisper, my silent prayer humming through the hall. I slap my hand over my mouth and stare at Micah with wide eyes. “I’m sorry.”
He chuckles, his voice helping to lighten the heaviness of my mood. “My beautiful heathen. I might have turned my back on the Higher Power’s grace, but it wasn’t because Heaven and the almighty are my enemies. I’m here because of you. It doesn’t bother me if you feel the need to find faith in the light of your soul. It was born from Heaven, after all.”
“You should still punish me later for that. I don’t want them to think I want help. Their kind of help is shittier than the torture Kase and Dante plan for Cassius when they find him.” My voice stops shaking with my comment, and I manage to get myself completely in control. I’ll just have to summon some extra strength by thinking about all of my devils. They swore I won’t go through this alone, and I believe them with my entire being. They’ve been the ones to prove their worth and they haven’t let me down yet.
“I’ll think of something if that’s what you truly want,” Micah murmurs, his voice turning breathy and sexy as Hell. “Maybe you can help me teach Elias what it truly means being a devil.”
I lick my lips and nod. “I bet he’d love that.”
Sucking in a deep breath, I finally turn the doorknob and ease it open, peering into Micah’s room. It’s smaller than Kase and Dante’s but still large enough to feel more like an apartment rather than a tiny guest room.
“Darlin’.” Elias’s soft whisper sounds out before he groans and wheezes. Lying on Micah’s big bed, he looks so frail and weak. I hate seeing him like this. I hate that he’s going through any of this, especially because of a man who never deserved such a gift he gave him.
I rush to the bed. “I’m sorry I took so long to return, but I’m here now and I’m not going anywhere, okay?”
His chest heaves as he tries to respond, but he gives up and offers a small smile instead.
“He says don’t you apologize and what he wants most is for you to cuddle with him.” Micah comes up behind me and rests his hands on my shoulders. He leans forward, staring at Elias’s heavy-lidded gaze for another moment. “And...I’m not saying that Elias. You’ll get the end you want when the others return.”
I raise my brows. “Tell me what he wants.”
Elias’s smile widens and he wheezes with another cough.
“He wanted to perform cunnilingus on you in hopes that you’d suffocate him and let him descend into glory.” Micah’s voice remains even. “He’s over his mortal life and is ready.”
“Fuck,” I whisper, trying not to sob and laugh at the same time. “Elias. I’m...just let me cuddle you for a bit.”
“That’s a good idea, heathen. I wanted to talk to you both anyway.” Micah remains expressionless, though it does nothing to ease my worry. No one likes hearing that phrase. It’s usually followed by something negative like a breakup from someone you love or reprehension from an employer.
I climb into bed beside him and try my best to hug him without touching him too much. I know he wouldn’t let me know if I was hurting him. “Micah, he’s cold. Will you take his other side? You’re like a giant heater.”
Micah smirks and nods, easing onto Elias’s other side. He helps him readjust, positioning him on his side to keep weight off his back. I hold Elias’s cool hands between mine while Micah plays the big spoon. Any other time I’d be amused as fuck, and maybe even tease him, but all I want to do is kiss Elias and fill him with my love.
Micah chuckles and nuzzles his face on Elias’s shoulder. “He wants me to tell you to behave because he’s afraid you’re going to give me an erection—er, a boner.”
My laughter fills the air, and I bow in and kiss Elias. “And to think I was going to strip naked so you could use my boobs as pillows. Sucking my nipples might distract you for a bit. But if you’re that worried—”
Again, Micah chuckles. “He’s changed his mind and will accept the risk as long as I promise not to rest it between his legs and tuck it up.”
I smile against his lips and ease back just enough to peer into his beautiful gray eyes. He blinks them slowly, the effort to keep them open obvious. He’s out of it, but manages to remain a bit alert, which helps. If he wasn’t, I wouldn’t be able to maintain composure. There is definitely no way I could give him the end he wants.
Reaching over Elias, Micah surprises me by running a flaming finger up my back, burning my shirt in half before doing the same to the short sleeves. I’m not sure if it was Elias’s idea or not, but I can’t stop grinning, seeing a new spark light in Elias’s eyes.
“Your tits give me life,” Elias whispers, his words coming in gasps. “You give me life.”
“I told him you were worried that he wouldn’t be up to having sex as he goes,” Micah thinks to me, keeping it between us.
I’m still not sure about the whole thing. I realize that I’m kinkier than I thought, but to ride him until he dies...? I might need a couple shots of tequila to make his dream come true. Maybe a venom bite from Dante. Possibly some edibles on top of it all.
I don’t get much of a chance to think about it, because Micah tugs me a bit higher onto the pillow and jiggles my boobs, caressing them to Elias’s face. The two of them have way too much fun with this, and I squirm and laugh until Elias gets a burst of energy and sucks my nipple into his mouth at the same time he reaches between my legs and strokes my clit, my panties long gone, ripped off by Dante on our flight home. Luckily, the horny bastard pulled out to make sure I didn’t drip.
“You’re right, Elias. She’s so beautiful and sexy. We’re lucky to have her.” Micah murmurs, keeping my eye contact as I fall into the sensations Elias creates on my body. “I’m incredibly thankful to you, my friend. Your leap of faith in this irresistible soul brought her to me. To us. Which is why I’m going to accept the tether to Hell as a thank you. I want to be here for both of you through this the best I can. I will ensure your kingdom rises.”
I gasp at both the pressure of Elias’s fingers rubbing my clit and Micah’s words. “What? I thought you all made an agreement to swap places yearly?”
“Things changed. I believe that you’re in need of Andre on this plane. I’d like to personally see to Elias as well. It’s time for me. Being here...it’s hard, heathen. I struggle with many things, and you don’t need the stress.” Micah leans over and touches his fingers to my chin, guiding my chin upward. “You will never miss me. I will be here upon your request. Always.”
“But Micah—” A sharp zing of pleasure steals the words from my mouth as Elias slides his fingers into me.
Micah groans. “No buts and no more discussion. Let Elias take care of you, okay? It’s what he wants today and until his descent is about him.”
They’re lucky that my body trembles and my mind numbs, stopping me from arguing.
“I love you,” I murmur, taking turns kissing each of them. “If this is what you want...”
“It’s what we need. What you need.” Micah cuddles close to Elias’s back, smiling at me from over his shoulder. “We’re going to be amazing, you know. You’ll see. Maybe by tonight, Elias’s kingdom will finally come.”
I can’t stop thinking of the familiar prayer my parents would say at bedtime when I was a kid.
Elias’s kingdom...Zade’s. Cassius’s. Once their kingdom’s come, I will be done. With Earth. With Heaven.
Purgatory will win.
The angels will see.
