Page 41 of Found In Destruction

“Red had to know about the ball. Who told him?” Desmond thought aloud.

“You didn’t, did you?” Luci walked to the far wall as he teased out his thoughts.

“No, I just gave him the information about her training and told him we were considering an allyship with the Faerie folk, like you told me to. He doesn’t use our connection very much, and when he does it doesn’t seem like it’s for pertinent information. I don’t think he trusts it anymore…”

“Possibly. I think it’s someone high up in Judas’ ranks. They’re the only other ones who knew she was gone during the attack. We didn’t announce her ‘mission’ until people noticed she went missing after she failed to show up at the battle. And his people planned this ball…” Mal explained.

“You know who may know…Damon,” Oisín growled, his lips pulled back into a sneer, as if even saying his brother’s name disgusted him.

“Ooo, we’re paying a visit to our favorite punching bag?!” Ares perked up. “I propose some brother-in-law and fathers in law bonding time!”

After we had caught Damon, we interrogated him until a few days after Diana left. We couldn’t leave him in a torture cell—he was too powerful and cunning to take the chance. So, Lucifer and Ares fashioned a cell with just enough nymphwood to keep his power drained, but not kill him. Ares and Oisín paid him visits when felt too bloodthirsty and they needed someone for target practice.

“Sounds like a plan,” Lucifer said as a familiar vampire with white-blond hair walked through the door.

“Sorry for the delay gentlemen, I wanted to get Azazel settled before I addressed Diana. His wing is expected to be fully functional within a few days due to how rapidly Angels heal. Because of his lack of grace, it may take up to a week, but we’ll see how it goes. I have him on a pain management regime, so I think we can lift Diana’s sedation.”

“Will she freak out again?” Luci demanded. “She could have hurt herself.”

“No. I plan on counterbalancing any lingering distress by putting them in the same room to recover, so they can feel close,” she assured him. “We can move her now, if you’ll all clear the room.”

“I’m staying with her, and so is Michael,” he insisted.

Doctor Greene approved his demand, because she knew by now there was no compromising with the Prince of darkness, a lesson I had learned many times, the hard way. She left to arrange Azazel’s transport.

“Come on Penis Parade, let’s clear out,” Oisín commanded, a shit-eating grin on his face.

They all pushed and shoved each other on the way out, tossing insults back and forth. Lucifer moved next to me, taking my hand in his.

“Sometimes I think Oisín and Diana love you more than me. The way he leaned on you, he never does that with me. It makes me realize how much I lost by breaking our soulbond. I had no clue how it hurts you, and I’m… I regret it, Michael. If I could take it back and have you by my side, I would in a heartbeat…” he lifted the back of my hand to his lips, giving it a quick kiss before holding it against his heart.

“Yeah, I wish you didn’t either.” It was the most honest response I could give him without tearing myself apart.

I was trying to get over him and had failed since the day he fell from grace.

18

AZAZEL

Iknew she was with me before I opened my eyes when her sweet, inviting smell filtered through my entire being. Her warm skin felt like heaven as my fingertips ran up her arm. Her presence reminded me why I fought in this war–for her. For a woman who made my heart beat and my entire being glow. I nuzzled my face into her soft hair and threw my leg over hers. She slotted her knee between my legs, and we were a perfect fit, like two pieces of a whole joining together.

“Please tell me this isn’t a dreamscape Bash weaved,” I rasped, holding on tightly to her. After everything that happened between us, I never wanted to let go.

“No, although he dropped by to see us while you were sleeping. He said once we’re both awake and settled, my fathers plan to visit. We should soak up our time together while we can,” she said around a dry laugh.

“Agreed,” I murmured. My wing was shot right where the bone connects with my shoulder blade. The aching pain was manageable as long as I kept them close to my back.

She ran her hand up my arm, her magic seeping into my skin. I opened my eyes to see her staring back at me, her face wrinkledwith worry. She had a dull gold glow that would have looked ethereal if it weren’t for the harsh infirmary lights.

“Talk to me, what’s wrong?” I asked her. She had stopped confiding in me since she left, but I’d always be here if she needed me.

“Zaz, I’m sorry I left and shut you out…” she started to say, then bit her lip. “I didn’t know how else to handle my pain, and if I knew it would fray our bond and allow you to be in so much pain, I would have stayed,” she whispered. Her lips brushed my cheek, and my heart ached knowing she was so upset.

“Angel, you don’t need to apologize to me. I deserved it, and you needed some time to yourself. It’s been full steam ahead into a life you never chose since the day you left Brooklyn.”

“But I’m glad it chose me, Zaz, because it brought me to you. I love you. You’re the most understanding man I know, and I don’t want distance anymore. Are we okay?”

I rolled on top of her, wincing at the sharp pain that shot up my left wing. Her frown let me know she felt it too. Balancing on my forearms, I took her breath away, melding our lips together until she melted into me.

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