Page 15 of Absolved In Death

“So how exactly did you convince Quelier to let you escape? You never told us the whole story,” Az asked.

“I didn’t. In one of the torture scenerios Pit 13 manifested, Red had me magically bound and he was ranting about how he’d destroy me—how he’ll rebalance the world so that the strongest of magical beings were in their rightful place ruling the world. I think that put things into perspective for him, and he agreed to join us.”

“Or he saw it as his ticket out of the pit. There was probably a reason FIL trapped him down there,” Ares groused.

At least he and I were on the same wavelength when it came to Diana’s newFae PA. We didn’t appreciate having another man near her, especially one who was exiled from his realm.

Diana sighed, rolling her eyes like she would rather be discussing anything else. “Let’s get this out of the way, before it festers or you all try to jump him in a hallway.”

“Try? We could totally jump him in a hallway. His ears can be additional ornaments on our Christmas tree. We can even put sparkly earrings in them to make it extra festive,” Ares suggested.

“Oh, Like mistletoe or snowflakes? That would look cute,” Mal added on, pushing his hair behind his ear. “Oh, we can even use the real plant and use an evergreen spell so it stays fresh all season…”

“Put your violence away, Ares.” She whipped her head toward Mal. “And stop encouraging him! There is no way we could have left Pit 13 without Quelier. He wanted to leave, and I saw an opportunity to add someone to the team with an unparalleled magical skillset and the ability to organize chaos. I don’t have to explain my decision to any of you.”

Before I could respond, Az said, “I trust your judgment. I’d rather have someone like him on our side than against us.”

Fucking traitor,Ares spat at him.

Yeah, Benedict Angel,I teased.

I hate to say it, but I agree with Az. You two weren’t tortured in that pit. I know he didn’t come up with the torture scenes, but he and Lucifer created the magic that did it…Bash trailed off, his stare becoming distant.

What happened to him in his personal hell?

“Can you all stop mindlinking about me while I’m right here,” Diana snapped. “This is part of the reason I left you four. You don’t make decisions for me anymore.”

Her anger unleashed like a crack of lightning, growing in ferocity until the whole room rattled. Little perfumes and cosmetics tumbled off her vanity as the ground quaked. The bed was a boat tossing in a churning sea, with Diana’s anger the wave that would finally take it out. Thick plumes of steam billowed from her ears, and her face tinted red.

“Little Goddess, I promise I will not participate in any unwarranted physical attacks on your new, pointy-eared assistant. I will make sure to have evidence of his transgressions first.”

“That sounds reasonable, Ares,” Bash agreed, weaving an arm around Diana’s waist. He nuzzled his nose into the crook of her neck, kissing the sensitive spot below her ear. “I’ll try to tolerate him, too.”

Az and Diana locked gazes, and I wondered what they discussed. He always knew exactly what to say to her, how to connect with her on a deeper level. Despite my power of emotional manipulation, I couldn’t reach that pinnacle.

I felt her anger subside and turn to acceptance. His words were enough that her face softened, the steam clearing from around her head. That’s the best compromise she’d get from those two.

The shaking stopped. Mal levitated her toiletries off the ground, placing them neatly back on the vanity. She smiled at him in a silent thank you. The kind she rarely gave to me.

“There’s nothing for you possessive, jealous monsters to worry about. He’s interested in Angie and Judas. He literally saw them in my torture scenes and said he’d ‘keep an eye on them’.”

I planned to keep a close eye onMr. Fae PA Extraordinaireuntil I knew exactly who he was and why he was here. Judas could take care of himself, but Angie was my woman’s family—which meant she was mine too. I’d be damned if I let her get caught up in one of his faerie shenanigans.

“I can’t believe Lucifer kept Pit 13 open, even after the Princeps ordered him to shut it down…” Az mused. “Some of the beings trapped there may be even worse than Red.” Smooth subject change.

If Quelier can get them out of Pit 13, maybe he can free the other prisoners, too. We can commute theirsentences if they’re willing to fight with us,Ares linked me.Sometimes you have to fight bad with worse…

It's worth pitching in tomorrow’s meeting.I doubted Lucifer would be comfortable with the prisoners he left there to rot walking free, but it was something to consider.

“I still feel uneasy about Red’s attack. He sent a small troop of forces here to attack us after closing the portal on you…that seemed unnecessary, like a distraction,” I thought aloud. The whole scenario didn’t sit right with me.

“There was no way you’d be able to open the portal without Michael to retrieve us. It was a one way ticket,” Mal added.

“Which means they were keeping your attention away from something else…”

The question was—what?

5

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