“Bruh, I might be able to get you a sword to use, too. It totally sucks up the soul of afterlifers. Wicked shit, dude, and it would take care of the demonic dickhead in charge of this clusterfuck,” Ari speculated.
“Yes,” Michael said, “but first they need to figure out who they’re going after, and I think that’s why we’re here.”
“Aww, my little s’more. You’re so smart. Of course we can start a list of who is a giant demonic dickhead. It might be kindalong though,” Ari mused, tugging Michael in closer to him and leaving his arm wrapped around the guy.
“Just because a demon doesn’t find your pranks funny doesn’t mean they want to disrupt the order of the universe,” Michael responded, but he leaned comfortably against Ari’s side, and then Ari was kissing Michael, and Michael was kissing Ari back, and Cass was wondering if it was really a great idea to ask a demon of chaos for assistance.
Cass looked over at Kushiel, who was staring at the two soulmates with a look that Cass couldn’t quite place.
“Hey. You alright? I know they’re chaotic, but we’ll get some answers,” Cass reassured him.
“Of course we will. They are always helpful,” Kushiel agreed, but he was still staring at them with… longing?
Heaven and hell, Cass realized he could be an idiot sometimes. He let go of Kushiel’s hand, and before Kushiel could do more than look over in surprise, he reached over with both hands, dragged Kushiel’s chair closer, and swung his arm around Kushiel’s shoulder. Kushiel looked surprised but pleased, and he turned to stare at Cass, at which point Cass gave him a peck on the lips.
At least he meant it to be a peck, only Kushiel’s mouth was heaven itself, and his angel tasted of cinnamon and chocolate from the coffee, and next thing he knew he was licking at Kushiel’s mouth while his angel melted like butter next to him.
“My god, you guys,” Steph’s voice interrupted, “we aren’tthatkind of shop.”
Cass laughed as he drew back from Kushiel, and he saw Mike and Ari break apart as well. Steph was smiling at them all despite her comment, and she put down some more snacks from the kitchen.
“Tone it down you guys. A girl can only take so much while she’s at work,” she winked. She walked off, muttering, “Four hot guys all making out and not a guy or girl in sight for me…”
They all chuckled a little at that, and Michael and Kushiel both looked embarrassed, but Ari just gave him a knowing smile across the table. It was kind of shocking to think that perhaps he and the demon had more in common than he’d thought.
“Anyway,” Cass said, clearing his throat and turning back to the topic. “I don’t just see ghosts. I also… have visions.”
“Dude, me too!” Ari cried out, holding his hand up for a high five.
Ari’s reactions kept surprising Cass, although you couldn’t expect anything predictable when it came to Ari. He high fived the demon, because why not?
“And I also can talk to gods. Or angels and demons, I guess,” Cass added in.
“Dude! Me too!” Ari cried out again. He started to put his hand up for another high five, but Michael grabbed it.
“Of course you can talk to angels and demons. Youareone. And maybe we could not call any more attention to ourselves? Now let Cass tell us what’s going on. Hopefully without someone calling the cops thinking we’re all crazy. Because I do not want to run into anyone from the department,” Michael murmured.
“Dude, I totally warded this corner so we can’t be overheard,” Ari defended. “But little dude is right. Spill the tea, bruh,” he said, looking at Cass.
So Cass delved into his story, giving them all the details of his little visit with the devil.
Chapter 22
Kushiel
Kushiel knew he was staring at Cassius as he explained everything to Michael and Ari, and he knew he probably looked like an adoring puppy dog, but he couldn’t seem to help himself. He also knew he should be paying attention, despite having heard the story before. But he couldn’t stop replaying that kiss in his head. He had been a little sad when Cass had dropped his hand, but then Cass had hauled Kushiel closer and kissed him, and Kushiel certainly wouldn’t complain about that.
Right along with the kiss, he also couldn’t stop thinking about what Cass had said. Because when he had been doing the dishes, Cass had forgotten one important detail.
Angels and demons had excellent hearing.
Cass had told his aunt that he waskeepingKushiel. He had saidforever. Kushiel couldn’t get those words out of his head. Of course, humans said things like forever all the time, and they didn’t really mean forever when they said it, because they had no concept of such a thing.
Cass had said he could see it, and Kushiel didn’t know what that meant, either.
Of course, he could just ask. That would be the intelligent thing to do. The practical thing to do. But Kushiel held some distant hope in his heart that maybe Cass had meant they were soulmates. He didn’t know any angels who had soulmates, and he surely wasn’t even worthy of getting such a gift, but still… He hoped.
If he asked Cass, and it didn’t mean that, then he wouldn’t be able to hide his devastation. Cass would be hurt because Kushiel was upset, because Cass was just that nice of a person. Or even worse, Cass would pity him for thinking that, and Kushiel couldn’t abide that. Cass looked at him like he was bright and sexy and wonderful, and he didn’t want Cass to feel sorry for him.
