They cut their palms and spoke the vow, and that was it. With a single nod of farewell, Raum shifted into his enormous demon form, spread his four wings, and took to the red sky, leaving Murmur behind with his prize.
He crouched and picked up Raphael’s head by the hair, lifting it to his eye level.
“Do you think he’ll regret making that deal with me after what I’m about to do?” Murmur asked the head. “I made him swear not to trespass on my territory, but he never made me swear not to trespass on his.”
Raphael’s contorted features gave no response, of course.
“Come now,” he told his new friend, rising to his feet. “Let’s get you situated in your new home. I’ll chain you up nice and tight once you regrow a new body.”
Murmur’s blood stirred with unhealthy anticipation, and he allowed a perverse smile to twist his lips. “I think we’re going to get alongverywell.”
33
A Match Made In Heaven
When the hellgate dropped Raum back in the living room of his apartment, Sunshine was waiting for him.
“How did it go?” she asked. “Did he accept the gift?”
Instead of responding, he gripped the back of her neck and pulled her in for a kiss. She flattened her hands on his chest and made a soft humming sound against his lips.
He pulled back. “He took it.”
Sunshine fanned herself and smiled, and that was when Raum noticed the rest of the people in the room. Everyone, in fact, including Daniel. And they were all staring at him.
Eva was curled up with a blanket on the couch, Ash at her side, Dan across from her. Mist, Meph, and the twins were seated at the dining table, and Bel occupied the kitchen. Even Faust was there, sitting at Iris’s feet, tail thumping when Raum looked at him.
Someone—likely Bel—had finally cleaned after his and Raum’s fight, though there were still scorch marks on the ceiling. All the furniture was back in place and the broken items had been discarded, which meant the space looked pretty empty. The only decor that had survived was the little row of plants on the shelf in the window.
“Have you met everyone?” Raum asked Sunshine. Later, he’d mumble a thank-you to Bel for cleaning up.
“Eva was kind enough to introduce me while you were gone.” Sunshine was wearing a white strappy blouse and leggings, and there wasn’t a trace of blood on her. She must have flashed back to her place to wash and change while he was gone.
He hadn’t had time for that luxury yet. “I need a shower,” he told her.
“Yes, you do.” The look in her eyes didn’t match her innocent smile, and he knew immediately what she was thinking.
He opened his mouth to suggest she accompany him, but Bel had to go and ruin the moment. “What did Murmur say?”
Raum filled him in on what had transpired in his meeting with the Necromancer. Near the end of the explanation, he hesitated, glancing at Sunshine. He didn’t even want to think about her going back to Hell to get her book, but he knew it would happen eventually. And in order for her to plan her next steps safely, she needed to know what was at stake.
He took a breath. “If any of us go onto Murmur’s territory to steal from him, the deal’s off, and he’ll consider us at war.”
Strangely, Sunshine didn’t look concerned. She smiled reassuringly and nodded for him to continue.
“And you still owe him two favors, Bel,” Raum added, looking at his brother.
“I’m still not averse to killing the bastard,” Bel growled, echoing Raum’s own thoughts. “I’m sick of being manipulated.”
“I can’t believe you just handed the most famous archangel in history over to a half-mad demon,” Dan mumbled, dragging a hand through his hair. “I have a bad feeling about this.”
“It was the only way,” Sunshine reminded him. “He threatened all of us, and it was you who vetoed the idea of killing him.”
Dan stared at her. “I’ve known you longer than I can remember, yet I feel like I don’t know you at all.”
Raum bristled, taking a step forward and pinning Dan with a glare.
The Grigori held his hands up. “It’s not a bad thing. I just always thought you were a rigid rule follower, Sunshine. I never had a clue you were having a secret relationship with a demon, and you’d be the last person I’d expect to do…what you did at the warehouse.”
