Page 29 of Absolved In Death

Ares’ tattooed arm rested over my face as the weight of his enormous body crushed me. I caught a sniff of his armpit, and it was zesty. Manly. As much as I enjoyed the scent, I was super uncomfortable with his weight on me, so I bit him to make him move. He only snuggled us harder, burying his face in Azazel’s hair like a complete creep.

“Pack your things, gentlemen. We’re moving to Pit 13 tomorrow,” Bash announced.

Are you going to be okay?Azazel linked me. Despite our ability to mindlink, we rarely directly linked each other outside of group conversations. I almost forgot we could.

I think so…I answered him honestly. If I wasn’t, I knew he’d be there for me.

“So everything is done?” Azazel shifted, taking more of Ares’ weight, thank the moon.

“Yes, the key was for Lucifer and Quelier, the people who created it in the first place, to use their magic in tandem to fix it. You should have seen him needle your beloved F-I-L over the exit placement, and the protection wards. I’ve never seen Michael laugh so hard in my life.” Bash rolled his sleeves up before dragging Ares off us, much to his dislike. “I guess he doesn’t have a boring-stick up his ass, afterall.”

“Y’all may not realize it, but Michael is actually crazy on the inside. I’ve seen him do some out of control shit before I got disgraced. Anyone who’s voluntarily with someone like Lucifer can’t be mentally sound,” Azazel commented.

“Excuse you,” I cut in. “Marilyn Rossi is an absolute saint. The mother we all want and deserve, and if you dare ever say anything ill about my favorite in-law again, I will bar you from joining the Marilyn Rossi Fan Club.”

“Trust me, my sister is an absolute lunatic. She hides it better than Michael,” Angela laughed.

“How did none of us hear you coming?” Bash gave her a weird look.

She sat next to me on the gigantic bean bag, putting her book in her lap. “I am a witch, you know. I may not have the same level of magic you all do, but I can cast a halfway decent silencing spell. You’ll never hear me coming. Anywho, y’all are so loud, Iheard you all the way from my side of the library. How long do we have to pack?”

“We leave at 0700 sharp,” Ares complained.

“Oh, wow. It sucks that I have to pack my stuff all by myself! Packing is so hard, and I feel so overwhelmed!” Angela dramatically said in a louder tone than usual. Apollo appeared with a loudpopand a huge smile on his face.

“Omorfiá mou, you are never alone, for I am your shadow,” he practically purred in his thick Greek accent. No wonder he was considered the god of poetry. He had some game.

“Can you take me back to my room and help me pack?” She fluttered her eyelashes, and Apollo drooled, his heart eyes comically large.

“Anything for you,” he cooed before taking her hand and fading her out.

“We aren’t that bad with Diana, right?” Was Bash seriously inquiring? It was cute he didn’t know he was way worse.

“No,” Azazel said with a straight face. “We’re all so much worse. Besotted, obsessed, however you want to say it. Seems you have a contender for your Best Stalker Ever award…”

“You little shit,” he pulled Azazel off the beanbag, then faded him out of the room.

Ares and I followed them out, choosing to walk instead. I wasn’t excited to go to Pit 13, even if Quelier and Lucifer renovated it to be the perfect paranormal military compound. But I’d suck it up.

Our safety depended on it.

9

LUCIFER

My entire body felt as if it was going to combust into flames. I wasn’t sure how Quelier had the energy and magic reserves left to not only locate Diana on the compound, but assist her in packing her things after we finished renovating Pit 13. I was so exhausted I had to go to the Infirmary for a power boost. As I sat in the chair, hooked up to my stardust IV, I remembered how ridiculous he sounded.

“I checked on your daughter, and she had her things packed halfass. Four suitcases with everything shoved in there—can you believe it?! I bet I can fit everything into two. Fuck it. I bet I can fit everything into one, if I magically enhance it.”

He was a fucking shit-stirring brat, but he was a good PA. And a magical genius, but I’d never tell him that to his face. The way he weaved the new compound was a poetic use of space. The layout and placement made more sense than Judas’ original one, and everything had a place. I was just there as a power source, honestly. The only things I chose were the color scheme for the main strategy room and the apartment Michael, Marilyn, and I would stay in.

I didn’t tell Michael we’d share an apartment yet. I knew Marilyn would be on board, because she took turns staying at our places most nights. A doubtful voice in my psyche told me Michael would be hesitant. Ever since I made my declaration of love to him after Marilyn’s revival, things had been great, but he never stayed overnight. He never kissed me first. He seemed reserved in a way he never did when we were having late night trysts. He didn’t seem…close?

He was here, but somehow far away…

Before I resolved to get Michael and Marilyn back, I would have bulldozed into his space, demanded he tell me what was wrong, and then use sex to fix it. The old me used sex to avoid words, feelings, and accountability. Not anymore.

I was going to let Michael tell me when he was ready. If I kept being a steady presence in his life, he’d know I really changed. Actions spoke louder than words.

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