Azagoth by Larissa Ione

Chapter Fifteen

Azagoth hated that they had to return to his realm. Especially just seconds after the best sex he’d ever had. He’d barely withdrawn from Lilli’s wet heat when the pull of the chronoglass dragged them back into the cold darkness of Sheoul-gra.

But this time, the well of emotional turmoil didn’t writhe out of control like before. This time, he was able to grasp each one and wrestle it into submission as he wrapped Lilliana in a blanket and carried her to his shower, where he spent half an hour washing her.

And another half an hour making love to her on one of the benches.

He loved listening to her come. Loved tasting her as she orgasmed in his mouth over and over. And when he’d entered her again, it had been like the whole world was right.

For the first time since creating his realm, it now truly felt like home.

Even better, the necklace he’d given her hadn’t been needed. Oh, it was still beautiful on her delicate, creamy skin, but its true purpose hadn’t played a role at all.

When he’d decided he wanted a mate, he’d been concerned that he and the female would need an emotional connection, something he couldn’t give her, nor she him. So he’d had the jewelry special made to operate within Sheoul-gra to transmit thoughts and emotions from his mate to him. He’d hoped he could feel her. Understand her.

All of that was happening naturally, and damn if that wasn’t a miracle.

“I have a surprise for you, Soul Boy.” Lilliana said as she slipped her feet into flip-flops. She’d chosen a pair of shin-length white pants and a bright orange T-shirt, all of which would have been perfect for the beach earlier. He wondered if she was still basking in the tropical glow.

Because he sure as hell was.

“I like surprises,” he said. “Good ones.”

Smiling, she took his hand and led him out of the bedroom. “It’s a good one.”

He let her lead him outside the palace and onto the stone steps. “Where are we going—” He broke off with a breathless gasp.

The landscape had transformed. It still looked like a nuclear blast had devastated the area, but signs of rebirth and recovery were everywhere. Green grass was punching up through the blackened soil, and colorful buds were sprouting from tree branches that were no longer gnarled and as dark as licorice. The pulsing vines climbing the buildings had withered and died, replaced by grape vines that were spreading even as he stood there.

He stood, speechless, as a breeze, something he’d not experienced here in centuries, brought a light floral scent with it. He couldn’t remember the last time the air out here had smelled of anything but decay.

“How,” he croaked. “How did you do this?”

“I didn’t. I think it’s connected to your emotions. As you start feeling them, your realm is reflecting that.”

Of course. The place had died as he’d grown more and more corrupted by evil, until there was nothing left. His domain had been as dead as he was, but now that he could feel life pulsing inside him once again, the world around him was feeling it too.

But Lilliana was wrong on one point. “You did do this, Lilli,” he said, as he framed her face in his palms. “Without you, this wouldn’t be happening. This is your doing.”

Lowering his mouth to hers, he kissed her softly, drinking in the sweetness that was Lilli’s soft, welcoming lips.

“Thank you,” he murmured. “You’ve brought more to my world in a few days than anyone has given me in a lifetime.”

She went taut, and he was about to ask what was wrong when the sound of a clearing throat interrupted his thoughts.

“My lord.”

“Dammit, Zhubaal—”

“It’s Hades,” Zhubaal said from where he stood on the temple’s bottom step. “He has another situation.”

Fuck. Ever since Azagoth had authorized the reincarnation of Lucifer’s soul—at Satan’s insistence—things in the Inner Sanctum had been chaos. Now every fallen angel wanted to be reincarnated, born as an emim—the non-winged but still powerful offspring of two fallen angels. The demon souls in the Inner Sanctum were antsy, sensing Lucifer’s coming birth, something that could affect all of the realms...demon, human, and Heavenly...in game-changing ways.

The doors at the top of the stairs blasted open, and Hades strode out, his face and bare chest streaked with blood. His seizure-inducing color-shifting pants were oddly clean, but his boots were covered in stuff Azagoth didn’t want to guess at. His blue Mohawk was pristine, though. The dude never let anything mess up his hair.

“Did he tell you?” Hades growled. “Riots. I’m dealing with riots. I think it’s time you went Grim Reaper on a few asses.”

“I’m sorry, Lilli,” he sighed. “I have to go.”

“Duty calls.” She smiled sadly, and he shouldn’t be thrilled by that, but he was. She was sorry to see him go. How great was that? Most people would sell their souls to get him out of their lives. Literally.

“I’ll be back soon,” he swore. He’d take care of whatever Hades was whining about, and afterward...there was something he needed to do. With his emotions coming back online, he wanted to connect with his children. Oh, thanks to Methicore, seeing any of them in person would be impossible...for now. But the bastard couldn’t take away his ability to care for them, and maybe even to love them.

Because now he knew he could love. Knew it for sure.

He was in love with Lilliana.