Page 70 of Hellfire & Tinsel
He let his head fall onto Beau’s shoulder and Beau patted his back in comfort. Like he wished someone had done for him. It felt oddly cathartic.
“Just let it out,” he soothed. “There you go.”
“You’re so precious and good,” Peter got out around his sobs.
“I’ll still be that way,” Beau said, continuing to pet Peter’s ruffled feathers. “Just down here instead of up there. Like Oren.”
Peter sniffled. “It’s different. He wasn’t as good as you.”
“Hey!” Oren said, offended.
Luc covered his mouth and dragged him into his lap to quiet him.
“I’ll still be good,” Beau repeated, then continued softly, “I’ll just be happy too.”
Peter lifted his angelic head to stare into his eyes. His tears were like crystals on his face. “They don’t deserve you,” he mumbled sadly.
“I deserve him,” Beau corrected. “Please? Let me choose for myself.”
It was all he’d ever asked for. The only thing he’d ever wanted. When he pictured paradise the only person in it was Kassel. He just wanted to be happy.
Reading every single one of his thoughts again, Peter sighed, his wings drooping behind him. “I’ve never been deaf to your prayers. We heard them your whole life. I’m sorry we couldn't intervene more. We couldn’t interfere, but I promise I was watching over you when I could.”
“I forgive you,” Beau said, feeling it in his heart.
Peter smiled at him before directing a baleful stare at Kassel. “If one hair on his head gets singed…”
“You’ll know about it,” Kassel said placidly. “Because Hell won’t be here anymore.”
The declaration made Beau’s dead heart do flips. He broke from Peter to rush into Kassel’s arms, even though Peter tried to cling to him.
Kassel gathered him up, warm and loving, one large hand cupping the back of his head.
“I’ll be checking in,” Peter threatened. “Regularly.”
“Okay,” Kassel agreed easily, never taking his eyes from Beau’s face.
Peter seemed to scowl harder at Kassel’s non-combative response.
“And he’ll visit Heaven. Once a week,” he continued. “So that his soul is well preserved and doesn’t get exhausted by Hell.”
Beau was surprised. They still wanted him to visit them?
Kassel growled. “I take care of his soul.”
“I would take it if I were you, Kassel,” Luc said. “He isn’t like Oren. Hell isn’t exactly sunshine and rainbows.”
Kassel glared at Luc before glancing down at Beau’s face and softening. He stroked his ear. “Would you like to visit Heaven, my heart?”
Beau wouldn’t lie and say Heaven didn’t sound nice. That comforting warmth that had called out to him had felt divine. And while he wanted to stay with Kassel, whatever it took, he knew that Hell could potentially make him upset or sad. Maybe it would be good to have a break now and then.
“Can Kassel come with me?” he asked Peter.
Peter grimaced. “Demons aren’t typically allowed in Heaven beyond the administrative buildings.”
“But we can make an exception, right?” he asked hopefully.
“For the good of his soul,” Oren chipped in.
