Thud!
We make impact. Azrael’s wings release me, and I fall, rolling into a skeleton pile. I feel the smack as my head collides into a hard bone, and my world goes black.
When everything settles and the world rights itself, I squint, opening my eyes slowly. Everything is dark. Only a faint glow of magic seeping from my fingertips lights the space where I’m trapped. I reach out to push against the darkness and am met with silky feathers.
“Azrael!” I shout, panicking.
It’s okay. I’m here. You’re safe, tucked away inside my wings.The words drift down our bond.
I’ve missed the sound of his voice in my head like that. A smile forms on my lips. Shuffling my feet with my hands outstretched, I search for where Azrael’s wings meet his back. Every time I brush against his feathers, he stifles a groan. Once I finally locate his back, I run my fingertips down his spine. Azrael hisses. His muscles spasm, and a soft moan escapes his lips.
Don’t do that, my love.His voice is strained, muffled.
Did I hurt you?
No. It just felt really good, and I can’t think about feeling like that right now.He sighs as if he’s still thinking about it.
I chuckle, stroking a singular feather sensually. Allowing all my senses to absorb his reaction. He moans. It sends a jolt of excitement through me. Butterflies dance in my stomach as I hold my breath and do it again, enjoying the way his body reacts to my game.
Fuck. You’re teasing me. I’ll make you pay for that later.
I hope you do.
Azrael suddenly goes rigid. Every muscle in his body tenses. There’s a loud thud as the earth shakes beneath us.
What’s happening? What was that?I shout through our bond.
The Ringmaster is here to avenge Malicor,he answers, anger rolling off his body.“When you killed him you committed sin. I don’t know why, but hell opened up and swallowed you both.”
“I had to.”I try to explain, but Azrael cuts me off, and our connection fizzles. He’s blocked me out.
The Ringmaster’s voice echoes from outside of Azrael’s protective wings. “I see you’ve figured things out,” he taunts.
I don’t know what he’s talking about, so I strain my ears to listen.
“I have.” Azrael admits. “But tell me—why’d you do it?”
“Because he promised me freedom, and only the ancient can pass into the mortal realms. Someone had to steal you from Hell and move you to the mortal realm to control the Kingdom. We never planned for the rift between the worlds to happen,” he confesses casually, without any remorse for his actions.
“So all this time you’ve been using me to keep your powers and release monsters into the mortal realms to assist the divine in tipping the scales. But why?”
“Because you ruled for far too long, and the Divine made the new Lucifer a more lucrative offer than being chained away and imprisoned. Did you really think you could keep Wrath under control? You should have never trusted him. You should have never welcomed him into our folds. Maybe then he wouldn’t have corrupted us.” His confession comes easy and fast.
Azrael was under a spell of control for so long he lost all sense of identity. I cover my mouth to keep from gasping.
“How, Leviathan? How did you and Wrath pull this off, brother?”
The Ringmaster laughs an eerie, gloating chuckle. Slow. Deep. Maniacal. “Isn’t it obvious?” he glowers. “Envy did it. Wrath convinced me to be so envious of you that I had no choice but to join him in his plot to dethrone you and seize control over all of Hell.”
“Why did you try to keep me from my mate? And why demand an heir if you knew you were leading me away from—“ Hiswords taper off as realization hits him. “You wanted me to defy the Fates and create chaos. You plotted to create an illegitimate heir,” Azrael accuses.
“We would have gotten away with it too, if only you were more obedient. You’re unfit to rule. Hell is better off with Wrath at the controls. You don’t stand a chance against him.” The Ringmaster taunts.
“Enough,” Azrael growls, magic trickling off his body in a low hum as shadows sweep around us.
Magic crackles and shadows surge around me. I imagine them racing to suffocate the Ringmaster and trap him. I allow my imagination to run wild with the vision. Anger boils within me. How could his own brothers betray him?
My thoughts seep into Azrael’s. He answers them before I can speak.They killed me. Then when I was reborn they forced me into the mortal realm, where my powers would be dull and slow to develop.
