Page 20 of Witch's Rite
"So you're remembering more," I said.
"I am," she said, sitting up in bed and rubbing her eyes. "I saw Ash before he fell too. Although there's still a big gap of time in between."
"But it is coming back to you and that's amazing," I breathed, unable to contain my relief. "Do you remember who you were when I was Alexander?"
"Roxana, his first wife," she said as if still in a daze.
"Yes," I confirmed, trailing my fingertips down her arms. "I went against the advice of all my generals and friends when I married you." I grazed my teeth against her ear. "And I'd do it all over again."
She flashed a wicked smile up at me. "Do you know what I did after you died?"
"No, what?"
"I killed those two bitches you married after me."
"I see my murderous influence may have rubbed off on you," I chuckled. "You know I married you out of love. The other two were for political reasons. It was normal at the time."
"I know. It's crazy how I justknowthat." She rubbed her temples. "It's like seeing a movie in my head but it's different because I wasthere. But that is so freaky to me because it was so long ago. I'm only twenty-eight years old for fuck's sake."
"It's a lot to take in," I agreed, pressing my lips to her forehead. "But it will get easier. And you'll remember even more."
She sighed as she curled up, snuggling into my side. I could've spent eternity just holding her while she did that.
"How did I forget all of this information in the first place?" She traced the lines of my tattoos. "How could I forget all of you?"
I stiffened slightly, unsure of how much to tell her. The three of us didn't know if she remembered that event or if it had been wiped from her consciousness altogether. Not even Lucifer knew if she would ever recall it.
"Something happened," I said hesitantly. "A catastrophic event, at least for us. Someone deliberately set out to undo all the progress we made, thatyoumade. They almost succeeded. It nearly broke all of us."
"Who's someone?" she asked in a small voice.
"The brainwashed angels who have not yet fallen," I said with more than a hint of bitterness. Ash spent centuries trying to recruit more of his winged brethren to our side, but the turnover was incredibly low. Fallen angels made up a small minority of Hell's residents. Most of them were created there, like me.
Deja let out a frustrated groan as she wrapped around me tighter.
"It still feels like we're speaking in riddles," she lamented. "I feel like I know half of what you're talking about and maybe-kinda-sorta understand some things but I'm still not getting it."
"You will," I promised, tilting her head up for a kiss. "And if we go another round, you might even learn more."
She grinned wickedly, throwing a leg over to straddle me. "You don't have to tell me twice, handsome devil."
I clicked my tongue and tapped my finger against her lips, shaking my head slowly.
Before she could respond, I lifted her up and flipped her over, laying her out on her back as my cock grew to full length between her legs.
I pinned her wrists next to her head and brought my face down to her neck while she squirmed in delight underneath me.
"This time I'm in control, beautiful," I murmured against her skin.
11
DEJA
Is it possible to be hungover from sex?I wondered as I stumbled into work the next day.
My body ached but deliciously so, like after a good workout. It felt more like the opposite of a hangover, like nourishing my body with exactly what it needed.
I wondered if Sal felt the same way. He switched between being dominant and submissive at the drop of a hat and it constantly kept me on my toes. I never thought I'd enjoy a more dominant role in the bedroom but he drew that hidden side of me out like it was always there.
