Page 11 of Underworld
It didn’t work well.
I shoved him aside. I knew that voice.
Cole.
Acquiescing, he rested a hand on my shoulder as we both faced the rage demon.
“I knew I smelled something sweet,” Cole said, emerging from the shadows as if they’d created him. His tail flicked around his ankles. “You’re on the wrong side, Lily.” His gaze fell to my bloodied claws, an undeniable display of my Demonspawn nature.
Screams carried on the warm breeze and I instinctually searched my Virtue bond. My mates battled elsewhere on the campus, but they were alive.
For now.
“Perhaps you’re the one on the wrong side, Cole.”
A faint smile, saturnine in its beauty, curved his lips as he held my gaze. “I’m the only one who can lead you to your full potential, little angel. Come with me. Let’s finish what we started.”
“Lily doesn’t take orders from you, Cole,” Orion said, his tone easy, but I could feel the fury vibrating inside him. “Or anyone else, for that matter.”
Cole didn’t even look at Orion. “What’s it going to be, Lilith?” he asked, a twinkle of violence glittering in his eyes.
“I’m not going anywhere with you,” I ground out. “Youare the reason the Dean killed me, or have you forgotten?”
The Dean had used me as leverage, hoping to protect her lover Lancelot from being returned to Hell where Cole had tormented him for the gods knew how long.
Cole had called her bluff… only, she hadn’t been bluffing and had ripped my heart out.
My chest stung with the memory.
“I did what had to be done,” he said. “It didn’t turn out so badly for you, did it?” he asked, his gaze flicking to my dark wings.
Cole wasn’t an idiot. Ancient knowledge glimmered behind his violence.
Was it possible that he knew what would happen? That dying was the key to unlocking my angelic side?
That I would become stronger from it?
“You can’t trust him, Lily.” Orion said. “He’s spent the past year tormenting us, playing head-games and getting his rocks off by seeing how miserable he could make us.” His freckles shone with brilliance. “I had it easy compared to Dante.”
Several taut seconds passed as I glared at Cole before finally seeking Orion’s gaze. I knew he had suffered, but there was one of my Virtues who’d been bound to Cole at the time of my death. “Tell me what happened to him.”
“No.” Orion shook his head, eyes haunted with grief and fury. “That’s Dante’s story to tell. He’s taken the brunt of the demon’s influence—him and Hendrik. But I will tell you that Cole enjoyed every second of misery he could drag from us. It was like a drug for him.”
A scratching sounded along the streets and I turned as I watched Demonspawn huddle behind Cole’s wings, watching us like tame hounds awaiting orders.
“I did what had to be done,” Cole repeated as he crossed his arms. His ruby irises glimmered with impatience. “I don’t need you to trust me, Lily. I just need you to obey.”
I barked a laugh, making the demon glower. “Go fuck yourself, Cole.” I gave him a saccharine smile, knowing an attack was eminent. Lucifer’s brother would not be used to being toldno.
Cole bared sharp teeth as his tail whipped behind him.
“Stop it with the foreplay,” Orion said, bracing himself.
Cole launched, his wings flaring like deadly shadows.
They came at us and Cole’s orders rang out over the sudden onslaught and snarls. “Bring her to me!”
Like hell.
