Page 61 of Underworld
A slow clap sounded as Cole stepped out from the swirling fog. “Bravo. I was wondering how you’d get down from there in one piece.” He grinned. “I would have enjoyed another trip to Purgatory.”
I stiffened, wondering if he was referring to my little field trip.
But, no, he meant that he believed I would return to Purgatory if I died. Perhaps that was his goal all along, but why?
“What’s your deal, Cole?” I snarled. “I thought you said I had a week.”
He chuckled. “Well, I’m not known for my patience.”
I scoffed. “A bastardanda liar, noted.”
His lips lifted into a cruel grin. “You still don’t see it, do you? You’re a weapon, Lilith. That’s all you are to my brother and he would know. He has a little weapon of his own.” He stepped closer to me, making me stiffen. “There’s a reason that weapons are forged in a fire, little angel. It takes heat to become stronger—it takes sacrifice.”
I rolled my eyes. “Dying once was enough for me, thanks.”
He nearly purred. “And look at you now,” he said, spreading his arms as if he himself had unlocked my angelic powers. “You’re a beautiful sight. Imagine what more you could become at my side.”
Glancing at Kaito, I decided I didn’t give two shits what Cole planned on doing. I shoved my way past him, pushing aside his lethal wing to get to my mentor.
“Kaito?” I whispered as I knelt at his side. I pressed two fingers to his throat, relieved when I felt a pulse. “Good, you’re just knocked out.”
“You still think you need them, don’t you?” he asked.
“He’s one of my Virtues,” I pointed out, glaring back at him.
“I’m also one of your Virtues,” he countered.
“There’s nothing virtuous about you, Cole. Perhaps it was a mistake.” I knew I could reject a Virtue, but he had to want to reject the bond, too. Had I not been so stubborn, I probably could have broken the bond before my death.
Now, though, Cole seemed interested in the idea that had once enraged him.
He grinned. “I feel your rage building, little angel.” He licked his lips in a slow, lewd motion. “It’s delicious.”
Colewantedmy rage.
He needed it.
Screams echoed in the distance as Demonspawn filtered through the fog, their talons scraping against the Academy’s streets.
Cole grinned.
“Call them off,” I growled. I didn’t want anyone else to get hurt because of me. Cole already had me where he thought he wanted me. What difference would it make?
He uncurled his fingers. “Only if you come with me.”
Cole manipulated the rage inside of me that his goading enticed. Flames wafted to life inside my soul, easily working from the embers of anger he’d already planted.
Fucking bastard knew how to work me like a fiddle.
I roared and the oily barrier turned a violent dark red under a storm of Hellfire.
Had I done that?
The Virtue bond snapped against my heart as Cole grinned. He thought he could rip me away from them, tear the Virtue bonds to shreds.
My eyes went wide when I realized that was what he’d been doing all along. He’d been beating my Virtues down, tearing at the Virtues bonds while they’d been weakened. It was a miracle that they were still intact.
I grinned, enjoying the flare of confusion in Cole’s ruby eyes.
