Page 64 of Underworld
“Dante, look at me,” I whispered.
I shouldn’t have asked.
His gaze flashed up to meet mine, his orange irises rimmed in Hellfire.
“Why are you here?” he asked, voice cold and flat.
“Dante, I—”
His hands fell away and he turned, leaving me to stare at his broad shoulders, the tattered remains of his t-shirt revealing muscled, scarred flesh beneath.
“You should go,” he said over his shoulder.
“No, Dante. This isn’t you.” Shaking my head, I lifted a hand to touch him.
He flinched away. “You shouldn’t have come back, Lily. Just go before I hurt you.”
“Dante…”
“I saidgo!” he shouted, and Kaito drew his katana blade, a magicked weapon that he could summon due to his powers as a Kami.
Dante laughed at the threat. “Go on,old friend.See if you can cut me before I rip your head off.”
“Stop it!” I snapped. “You don’t get to do this, Dante. You don’t get to let Cole win.”
His lips curled in response. “I don’t get much of a choice in anything, lately.” His gaze slid to my wings. “Do you know why that is,Lilith?”
Anger unfurled in me. I knew that Dante would try to get under my skin right now, he knew me better than almost anyone and he knew what would hurt me most.
“Don’t,” I commanded.
“It’s because I was stupid enough to make a deal with Cole to protect you. You left us, Lilith. You played us all right in Cole’s master plan and now we’re paying the price.” Acid dripped from his words, so this and caustic that I blinked away furious tears. “All of this started with you,” he growled, throwing all blame at my feet. “You’re the one who needs to end it.”
“I’mtryingto end it,” I said, trying to keep my trembling voice steady. “But you need to let me help you.”
“Help?” he asked, his voice turning hysterical. He laughed, a humorless sound that echoed in my chest. “You want to help? Then get out of my sight.” He gestured to Kaito. “The both of you.”
Kaito held his katana steady, his gaze locked on Dante, but I knew he wouldn’t move, not without my order.
Dante was one of us, but he had too much rage for Cole to work with.
“You need to let go of the past,” I said, desperate to find a way to free Dante from Cole’s clutches. I’d deal with the demon, but first I needed to make sure he didn’t have anything to hold over my head.
Like Dante’s sanity.
I’d seen a glimpse of it. My Dante was still in there, somewhere, I just had to help him come out.
Danger flickered in Dante’s eyes. “If you won’t leave, I’ll force you to leave, Lilith.” He approached me and Kaito readied his blade.
“Not yet, Kaito,” I told him as Dante backed me against the wall.
Dante wouldn’t harm me.
I refused to believe it.
My Hunter ran his fingers over my chest, wrapping around my throat. “You should fear me,” he warned, his molten gaze rimmed in red.
“I will never fear you,” I growled. “You are my Virtue. You belong tome.” I spread my wings, curling them around us like a shroud. “I came back from the dead, Dante. After that, what do I have to fear? Not you, surely. Ireturnedto you.”
