Page 79 of Underworld
“You tormented Evelyn’s guardians?” I gasped. That was where I knew this place from.
Her vampires had been trapped here until she’d engaged the spell to free them.
“It’s what I do,” he said, his ruby eyes flaring with sin.
“And the witches?” I asked, curious. “You said they sold their souls to you. What did you do with them?”
His lips lifted, showing his teeth. “I ate them.”
My stomach dropped.
Of course he did.
“Does Dante know that?” I asked. Maybe the witches he was looking for had already turned into a snack.
Cole paced the long circle of the platform, kicking up more of the fog, forcing me to breathe it in. “He does,” he confirmed as his intoxicating musk made me dizzy. “Although, if you’re concerned your Hunter is on a fruitless plight, I assure you that the witches he seeks are still in Hell. The witches who specialize in the formation of his kind had sold their souls to Balthazar, a demon who is no longer with us. Even if he ate them, their essences will be in Hell, somewhere.”
“No longer with us?” I repeated. Demons were immortals, like angels. They didn’t just disappear, right?
Cole chuckled. “It’s sweet how innocent you are, Lilith. Demons are manifestations of Hell’s realm. What has been created can also be destroyed, given enough power.”
I wanted to hear about this Balthazar, but that would be a story for another time.
Cole approached me and I stiffened. He stayed on the platform, but a clawed finger reached out and traced my cheek, the sharp edge made me flinch. “You pretend to be fearless, but I sense your conflict, Lilith.” He wrapped his wings around us, boxing me in. “You beat death once. If you should die before you wake, I warn you, the second round won’t be nearly as easy for you.” He licked his lips. “There’s no Purgatory anymore. If you die, you’remine.”
“Please.” Rolling my eyes, I crossed my arms over my chest. “You already made a deal with Dante not to hurt me. And demons are many things—but they don’t break deals.”
And Dante wouldnotbe making another one with him.
“True…” Cole said slowly, nodding. “But my hold on him has been broken, thanks to you. Shouldn’t that negate the deal?”
“Perhaps,” I agreed. “But do you have it in you to slice my throat, here and now?”
The arch of his wing twitched in response, the deadly talon pointing my way. His tail lashed as if he was trapped with the temptation. “You think you know me so well,” he murmured, reaching up to close a hand around my neck. His talons scraped my skin. “Perhaps I should kill you. When I find you in Lucifer’s territory, you’ll beg for my mercy.”
My heart jumped into my throat. “That’s not how you operate, Cole. You won’t harm me.”
This was my test.
One I hoped he would pass, for both our sakes, because if I died and had to put my Virtues through that shit again? I would be taking him with me.
“What makes you so sure?” He murmured the words against my hair, the burning scent of him now completely filling my senses.
“Because I terrify you.”
His dark eyes narrowed on me.
Lifting my chin, I stared him down. “I make youfeel, Cole. That intrigues you, but it also scares the shit out of you. After eons pretending consequences don’t exist, you’ll have to face all the sins you’ve committed, including tormenting my Virtues.”
He bared his teeth at me. “I fear nothing, little angel.”
His response only supported my theory. “Do you think I can’t feel your frustration?” I demanded. “We have a bond, Cole. I can feel your emotions as if they’re my own. You don’t want to live in Luc’s shadow forever. He's not King anymore and even when he was, he used you.”
“I fail to see the difference between you and my brother in that regard.”
I flared my wings. Heat billow around us, enticing me to lift off. “I’m not trying touseyou, Cole. I’m trying to save you.”
Cole jerked back, a growl rumbling out of him. Without speaking, he started to pace, striding into the inner circle carved around the alter.
