Page 65 of To Crave Deeply
What the Hell?
She walked closer and then I saw it. A monstrous crown of amethysts and rare purple diamonds.
“Is that what I think it is...?” I asked, staring at the towering monstrosity.
Selene giggled and nodded, her bright golden curls bouncing round her face. “Yup. I just stole the Witch Queen’s crown.”
Boy, was she going to be pissed.
Selene placed the crown on her own head and turned to us, a smile beaming across her face. “How do I look?”
Like a crazy person. “Great,” I muttered non-committedly.
She clapped her hands and squealed. “Ooh, goody. I’ve always fancied being a Queen. Don’t worry, I’ll give the crown back to her. Eventually. Oh, I almost forgot. What was it you both wanted from the Witch Queen?”
“I wanted my friend’s heart put back and Iveri wanted to destroy my soulbond with Lucifer. She seems to be quite attached to this body.”
“Well, that was before you came back from the dead,” Iveri said with a mocking edge to her tone. “Now, I don’t know how to get rid of you.”
Selene fixed those penetrating eyes on me. “If you died, what happened to Lucifer? Is he dead?”
“No, only my soul died.Someonemanaged to keep my body alive to claim it as their own, which meant that the soulbond remained somewhat in place. But I think it’s killing him now.”
“May I see it?” Selene asked, a genuine curiosity in her eyes.
I pulled the collar of my top down and exposed the mark. It still looked angry, and the edges were all raised and the skin pink and raw, but at least it wasn’t bleeding anymore.
“Could you fix it?” I know Lucifer didn’t want me to talk to her about it, but I was here, and she was looking at it and when was I ever going to get another chance to ask?
“Yes, but not while Iveri resides in your body. Andnotwhile I’m stuck down here.Andit definitely isn’t something I would be doing for free.”
“I’d do anything to save Lucifer. I can’t lose him.” I didn’t care if I sounded desperate, or if Iveri stood there rolling her eyes at me for being so honest. I loved him and I needed him, and I would sacrifice everything to save him.
“I’m counting on it,” Selene replied darkly and gave my cheek a careless pat. Fuck knows what I’d just signed myself up for, but in the grand scheme of things, if it saved Lucifer, I’d do it. Consequences be damned.
“Now then. Don’t you think it’s time we left this place?” Selene said, her voice finding that charming note again.
“What about the others?” Iveri asked, casting a glance behind her.
“I was wondering when you were going to ask about Iver,” the witch said smiling.
I frowned.“What does she mean, Iveri?”
Nothing. Don’t listen to her.
The witches smile grew, and I got the distinct impression she was about the stir the fucking pot.
“Didn’t she tell you?” Selene gloated.
“Don’t say another word,” Iveri warned but Selene only laughed.
“This little Sin Reaper was created by Lucifer’s own hands as a companion for his favourite creation. Iveri is Iver’s wife.”
Shut. The. Front. Door.
What?!
Chapter 21
