Page 71 of Absolved In Death

Vaulo shakily exhaled, as if it pained him to even think of being stripped of his power. “Alright.”

He extended both of his hands. Diana took one, her father the other. Then he took her free hand, so everyone was joined.

“You agree to only use your powers on our enemy and pre-approved targets. Myself, our leadership, our military, and anyone we consider under our protection who resides in Pit 13 is off limits. In exchange for your obedience, you’ll receive a position in the Morningstar army on the special teams unit, and we will protect you from the Princeps Council and Red. If you break this deal, you lose your power and we end your life,” Diana clearly stated.

“I agree to your terms.” Sparks erupted from their hands, and the deal was sealed.

There was another knock at the door. Lucifer waved the door open, allowing Judas in. His leather pants and half buttoned white shirt were lackluster compared to his usual rockstar chic style. Dark circles under his eyes and a strained face didn’t bode well for his emotional state. Usually he was the life of the party, but his expression was blank.

Is he okay?Diana asked me.

I’m not sure. I can do some recon and find out,I promised her. He had been a good friend of mine for centuries. I had my suspicions as to why he wasn’t himself, but I’d confront him about it later.

“This is Judas Costa, the leader of the Costa Vampire Coven. He’s one of the people you just agreed not to harm. He’ll show you to your apartment and update you on how things work around here,” Lucifer offered.

Vaulo’s jaw dropped and his eyebrow hid in his hairline when Judas smiled, revealing his gleaming white fangs. Vampires were known to hunt and drain serpent shifters for their blood because of its unique and rich taste, almost driving the already rare shifters to extinction. The practice, although frowned upon in modern times, wasn’t illegal. And as the old saying went,anything goes in Hell.

“Don’t worry, I won’t bite…unless you sign a consent form,” Judas said, winking at him. “Come on, I’ll show you to your apartment. We gave you one on the ground floor in case you want to slither outside.” Vaulo cautiously followed him out of the room, keeping several feet of distance between them.

When they were gone, I felt Lucifer touch up his wards, ensuring a contained room.

“You’re devious,” he told his daughter, giving her a prideful smile. “Good instinct, serpent shifters are known to have questionable ethics regarding their power.”

“I was serious when I linked you. I would have killed him myself if he didn’t agree to the deal. Our leadership team is exceptionally powerful, but our soldiers may not be. I’m not letting him take advantage of anyone. And if he does—” Diana slashed her finger like a knife across her neck.

“Atta girl,” I said.

“How is Angela?” Lucifer asked Diana.

“She’s good. Quelier has kept her company. He visits hereveryday,” Diana said in a scandalous voice.

Lucifer rolled his eyes, huffing in frustration.

“So I’ve heard. It’s not bad enough you brought him on board and made a Fae Deal with him, but now he’s trying to join the family,” he groused.

“Whatever history you have with him is your fault. Don’t blame him,” Diana said. “She seems really taken with him, so I don’t think you can do much about it.”

“Neither can Judas, apparently,” I added in, crossing one leg over the other. “She refuses to see him, and she blocked his mindlink…”

“We gotta fix that before it backfires on her,” Lucifer said.

“Um, no we don’t. Ang has a lot of complicated feelings, and Judas has to give her time. He was an asshole to her before he created her, Dad,” Diana defended her aunt.

You missed all the gossip because you were being a punk ass bitch, but he played the hot and cold game too much. Was sorta a jerk about it. Angela shut that shit down,Ares filled me in.

“Yes, we do. Judas is her fated mate and her sire. The longer they’re apart, the longer they suffer. If Judas suffers, his fighting suffers. He leads a major section of our army, and he needs to be on his A-game,” Lucifer explained.

“And Angie’s transition will suffer. She needs guidance,” I explained again, but gentler this time.

“She seems fine. Quelier keeps her fed and happy. Judas just needs to stop being a cry baby and up his game,” Ares said, like it was so simple.Simple is as simple does.

“Her lack of suffering is probably because she’s drinking Fae blood daily. That shit is rocket fuel for vampires. Technically Judas doesn’t need to do anything—he just needs proximity. If she can stomach him being in her general presence, it’ll keep him from going off the deep end,” I suggested.

“I’ll have a talk with her,” Lucifer said, rising from his seat. “I can’t afford to have any part of this army suffer right now. We may have won the last battle, but all it takes is one fuck up to turn the tide.” He faded out, leaving the rest of us behind.

I felt unease slithering down the claimbond I shared with Diana. My first instinct was to fix her feelings—make her feel happy, or fuck her to exhaustion as a distraction. A toxic part of me, the one I pushed deep down, wanted to pick a fight with her so she’d have something else to focus her nervous energy on but none of that would help her. She needed somewhere to just exist in her feelings. And even though I sucked at feelings and sappy shit, I could try to be her safe space.

Sorry A-Bomb,I linked before taking her hand and fading away.

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