Page 42 of Eternal Mate

As I stood there, observing the reunions taking place around me, I felt a mixture of emotions course through my veins.

There was relief in knowing that my family was safe, that they had found their way back to us, but there was also a deep ache within me. A void that could never be filled. We’d had so many losses, and it felt like Jack’s was yet another knife to the gut, more proof that we were screwed beyond belief.

However, a sole light in the darkness was that we could still promise vengeance.

Azazel himself was already dead, but he’d just been Lucifer’s puppet. Lucifer himself—my real father, in a twisted, disgusting sense—was still around.

Something caught hold in my chest, bitter and vengeful and angry. It told me not to be complacent, to not accept this loss lying down. A rousing determination to see Lucifer brought down low had already budded within me, and now it was going into full bloom.

Jack’s sacrifice to make sure my family made it back to us was it. After all of my torment at Lucifer’s hands, this was the straw that broke the camel's back.

For him, for Elias and Ashe, I would do everything I could to help them get revenge.

As the room slowly quieted, the echoes of our collective emotions still reverberating, I knew that our journey was far from over. We had survived the storm, but the aftermath would require strength, resilience, and all the fury I could muster.

Azazel had come down—Tarragon and Lucifer were fucking next.

16

THE BEGINNING OF THE END

ARIA

The next evening, as the moon cast its ethereal glow upon us, we found ourselves alone in a secluded spot, hidden from prying eyes and the chaos that enveloped our lives. The air crackled with anticipation, a palpable energy that mirrored the deep connection that had been building between us.

We'd needed this together. I knew as much when Sariel's eyes shimmered with desire and tenderness, holding mine captive. His gaze was like a magnet, pulling me closer, and I could feel the electricity between us.

My heart raced as he reached out, his fingertips brushing against the curve of my cheek, sending a shiver down my spine.

"Sariel," I whispered, my voice barely audible, but he understood the longing in my words.

His lips found mine without a word, capturing them in a tender kiss that spoke volumes. It was a kiss filled with all the unspoken emotions and desires that had been building between us.

Our bodies moved in perfect synchrony, swaying to the rhythm of our connection, a dance as old as time itself. As our lips parted, a trail of heated breaths lingered between us, our hearts beating as one.

Sariel's eyes held both vulnerability and longing, silently seeking permission.

I nodded, a small smile forming on my lips to give him my unspoken consent. He took my hand, his touch warm and reassuring, and led me to a nearby blanket spread out beneath the starlit sky. We sank onto the soft fabric, our bodies entwined and limbs tangled together, as if they had always been meant to be this way.

His voice, husky with desire, whispered in my ear, "You mean everything to me, Aria."

The intensity in his words sent waves of warmth cascading through me. Our kisses grew bolder, more urgent, each one a declaration of the profound connection that had formed between us.

Lost in the depths of passion, time ceased to exist. We explored each other's bodies with a hunger that only intensified with each touch. Sariel's hands, strong yet gentle, caressed every curve and dip of my body, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. My breath hitched as his fingers traced delicate patterns across my skin, unraveling the barriers around my heart.

Between whispered words of affection, our ragged breaths and the soft rustling of leaves filled the air. In that moment, we were two souls merging into one, a harmonious symphony of desire and longing. The world around us faded into insignificance as we created a sanctuary amidst the chaos surrounding us.

As the night drew to a close, we laid entwined, our bodies bathed in the soft glow of the rising sun. Our hearts beat in unison, a testament to the bond that bound us together.

I traced circles on Sariel's chest, feeling the rise and fall of his breath.

"I never thought I could feel this way," I murmured, my voice filled with awe and gratitude.

Sariel brushed a strand of hair from my face, his gaze filled with tenderness. "You've changed my world, Aria. With you, I've discovered a connection I never knew was possible."

"I really hate to interrupt you two, but…"

Zuzanna's voice broke the stillness. Her unexpected interruption startled both Sariel and I.

---