Page 66 of To Crave Madly
“Something is going on in the Upper Realm, Darius. Something they don’t want us to know about. Michael is missing, and the way the Camael kept trying to keep me away from the subject of the Divine One has me thinking he knows more than he says he does.”
“It does seem like there is a sinister undercurrent among them up there, Sire.”
“It does indeed.”
The descent back to Hell was quiet and my thoughts churned over what they could be hiding. Why would Michael be missing if there was something upsetting the Council? Why was the Divine City so empty? Where were all the Celestials? There was no doubt in my mind that Camael knew more than he was letting on. Perhaps the Divine One had charged him with a task directly. Had I been right? I knew that the Council was there merely as a pretence to democracy. The Divine One had all the power. He might like to let his angels think they were in charge, but they didn’t know him as I did.
I was there at the beginning. I used to be his favourite, back before Camael and Jegudiel and the Council. I had seen the Divine One’s wrath, witnessed his judgement on his people and I knew exactly what he was capable of. Of what he did in the name of Divine Retribution. If he wanted something done to right a world of sinners, he would see to it that the world suffered in equal measure to the sins he had deemed them responsible for.
And they say I’m the bad guy.
By the time the elevator came to a stop, my anger was quietly bubbling beneath the surface. I needed to speak to Jasper and let him know what I’d discovered. I wasn’t usually one for sharing information, but it seemed like Lori had changed quite a bit about me since dropping into my life. I had still yet to decide whether that was a good thing, but I knew one thing. The walls around my broken, cold heart were starting to crumble.
I had started this interaction with Lori as a tool for my own ends. I wanted her so I coerced her into the bond. But, little by little, she was working her way into my soul. I just had to hope that when she finally saw the real me, she didn’t run away screaming.
We hopped off the elevator and headed back towards my office. The walls and corridors of this place felt more like home than the Upper Realm ever did. It wasn’t lavish and it certainly carried an air of an underground city with its walls made of smooth stone, carved archways and intricately sculpted wooden doors. But it felt warmer than the Upper Realm did. I hadn’t realised how cold and unfeeling the gaudiness of the Divine City was until I’d seen it again with my own eyes. Had I really changed that much?
We made it back to my office and I turned to Darius. “That will be all for today. I need not warn you not to tell anyone of what you have seen today. I do not think telling the demons that the Upper Realm seems to be in a spot of trouble would be wise. I, for one, am in no mood to stop a revolt.”
He bowed deeply and clicked his heels. “Yes, your Majesty.”
He turned to leave but I stopped him. I flicked my wrist and magicked up a black keycard from thin air. I didn’t use magic very often, but it did come in handy from time to time. “I never go back on a deal, Darius. This will allow you to access my elevator so you can go and see your little angel.”
I held it out to him and smiled when he finally took it from me.
“Thank you,” he said with genuine gratitude in his tone. Something warm and tingly fizzled inside me and I realised I felt joy at giving someone something good without really gaining anything in return. I’d always been responsible for giving pain or making deals that always brought a reward for me. But doing something nice for someone else felt… good.
Ifelt good.
“Don’t get caught,” I chuckled. I felt so happy I could jump for joy, or dance or sing or fuck. Yes. Definitely that last one. I felt electric. Why had I refused Lori permission to come to Hell? I was certainly beginning to regret that decision.
“I won’t,” replied Darius, smiling like a kid on Christmas.
“Go on. Be off with you. I will not require you further this night.”
He bowed and clicked his heels before scurrying off with a spring in his step. I, meanwhile, had a Sin Reaper to get hold of. I wanted to enjoy her and the only way to do that at the moment was in a dream. Leaving my office and my duties behind me, I set off to my quarters. I didn’t fail to notice that I too had a spring in my step as my thoughts rapidly delved into dirty images of Lori and all the things I could do to her in her dream.
Chapter 22
LORI
Cassian had deposited me back at the base. He didn’t speak a single word to me all the way back and then, as soon as we’d crossed the threshold of the building, he’d left me and walked straight to his basement. I’d never felt more alone than I did right now as I stood in the empty hallway and watched him disappear. I felt like such a horrible person. I had rooted through his personal things and stolen something from him. But not only that, I had snooped and gawked at that photo like I had a right to. And now he hated me. Well, hated me more than he already did.
I didn’t know why I cared so much. He’d never liked me so why did I care if he hated me even more? Urgh. I’d made such a mess of this and now he wouldn’t even look at me. I needed to put this right. I needed to apologise. And I needed to not think about how fucking hot that kiss was. Where the hell had that come from? Who knew ice dragons could be so hot?
My core zinged with the sudden memory of how he’d kissed me. I’d tasted his dislike of me, felt how hot his blood ran for me and now that I’d had one taste, I kind of wanted more. Oh, god. What was wrong with me? Why was the thought of angry sex with Cassian turning me to a puddle of hot need?
Because it would be hot and dirty and so good.Iveri popped into my head unceremoniously, but I’d gotten so used to her unannounced entrances that I didn’t even flinch.
“Ew. No. Stop it.”
He wants you. He’s just too scared to admit it.
I rolled my eyes at her.
Keep rolling your eyes like that and you might actually find a brain.
“Ooh, someone’s eaten their bitchflakes this morning.”
