Devilish Mate

12

“Her powers are coming back too quickly,” Jophiel said, before turning to me with urgency in her voice. “You need training to control them, or you’ll hurt someone.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Zel said, her eyes never leaving my face even as she addressed Jo.

“This is only something an angel can help with,” Jophiel replied in a frosty tone.

“I was an angel,” Zel snapped. “Once.”

“That was thousands of years ago!”

“Enough,” I yelled, holding up my glowing hands. I couldn’t seem to make them stop.

“Stay with me,” Jophiel said. “I will help you regain control of your powers and remind you about your angelic side. You’re the daughter of two Archangels. You belong with us—not with the demons.” “No. I don’t.” I stared at my sister, who’d lied to me so many times and stolen so much from me. If Lucifer hadn’t killed me, I’d still be a clueless human with my powers locked away. I wasn’t sure where I belonged, but it wasn’t with her. It wasn’t with Lucifer either though. Not after what he’d done.

The two people who claimed to love me the most had hurt and betrayed me, all supposedly to protect me. They’d left me broken. Shattered. Alone.

Well, not entirely alone. Zel stood beside me, even knowing what I was. And Brandy, back in Vista—she’d always been a loyal friend. My heart clenched thinking about her. She was my real sister, and she was the one I needed now. Maybe with Zel she’d find a way to put me back together again.

I went into the bathroom and cleaned myself up, changing into fresh clothes, and then headed back out. Zel and Jophiel were still there in the guest room, glaring at each other. I grabbed the rest of my things.

“We’re leaving,” I said to Jophiel. “And we’re taking your car. Don’t try to follow us.”

“No, you can’t go,” Jophiel started, but I brushed past her without listening and headed for the door. Would I ever be able to forgive my sister? I wasn’t sure. But it definitely wasn’t happening today.

As we headed outside, Zel grabbed the keys. “Where are we going?”

“To Vista.” I drew in a deep, shuddering breath. “Back to Hannah’s life.”

7

Hannah

T

he drive took nearly all day, and I spent a good bit of it telling everything to Azazel, detailing all of Lucifer and Jophiel’s crimes. She listened to everything without complaint, and weathered all of my crying without making me feel any less for it. When I was done, she simply said, “That’s some messed up s**t,” and the brutal truth of it actually made me laugh through the tears. Messed up s**t indeed.

I was comforted by the thought of seeing Brandy again, and when we pulled up outside the sand-colored ranch house she owned, relief settled over me. It all looked the same as when I’d last seen it. So familiar. So simple. I was a different person now than when I’d left—many people, really, and holding far too many memories—but I craved this return to my normal, ordinary life.

“Hannah!” Brandy yelled, after throwing open the front door. She must’ve seen the Lamborghini pull up. It wasn’t exactly subtle in a quiet suburban neighborhood like this one.

I jumped out of the car and met her halfway across the yard. She wrapped me in her arms and I breathed in, so happy to be home I nearly started crying again. At least Brandy was still my friend. Something constant in a world that had turned completely upside down.

“I’m so happy to see you,” she said, as she pulled back to look at me. I stared at her too, trying to suss out how she was doing ever since returning home from her ordeal. Her kidnapping in Las Vegas had started all of this, but surprisingly she looked better than ever. Her dark skin glowed, her brown eyes danced, and her curly hair gleamed. I could only imagine what a wreck I must look like in return.

She looked over my shoulder, her gaze resting on Zel. The Fallen had stepped out of the car, looking dark and dangerous, though luckily her knives were hidden.

I gestured back at my companion. “This is Zel, my...friend.”

“Nice to meet you,” Brandy said, then grabbed my hand. “Come inside so we can catch up. I want to hear everything that happened after you went back to Vegas.”

That seemed like a lifetime ago, even though it had only been a few days. I tried not to think about that as we walked in and I glanced around the familiar living room with its cozy furniture. Brandy’s son, Jack, was sitting on the gray couch, playing video games with Asmodeus, who I recognized instantly. Not only from the brief time I’d met him in Vegas, but from before that. All the times I’d known him during my past lives flickered through my head, threatening to overwhelm me. I rested my fingertips on my forehead as I sucked in a quick deep breath and shoved the memories back down.

“Hello, my queen," Asmodeus said with a dashing smile, and I tried not to cringe at the reminder of who I was. With dark hair, bronze skin, and the facial structure of a god, he was still incredibly hot but...something was missing. He seemed different. Dialed down somehow.

I was surprised to see him here, especially in such a casual position. Asmodeus was an ancient, powerful incubus, and though he’d obviously developed feelings for Brandy while they were both held captive together, it was impossible for them to be together. As demons of lust and s****l energy, Lilim could only sleep with a human once without killing them. Yet somehow he was here, playing video games with Brandy’s son like it was a normal thing for an incubus to do.