Page 31 of Sinful Obsession

Michael’s voice follows. “We’ve known this was a risk. The portal was never meant to hold indefinitely.”

They’re close, just on the other side of the door. We freeze, pressing ourselves against the wall to stay out of sight.

“And the patients?” Raphael asks.

Michael sighs. “They’re free roaming for now, but we’ll have to reevaluate. If the portal opens fully, they’ll gain their powers back. That’s not a risk we can afford.”

Raphael scoffs. “You think any of them could manage that?”

“Vienna,” Michael says flatly. “She has access to Asmodeus. That alone makes her a threat.”

“You said before that she’s human,” Raphael counters, though there’s doubt in his tone. “How could she possibly—”

“I foolishly believed that a human couldn’t open the portal but her connection to the four horsemen is suspicious. They’re too close, too fast.” Michael interrupts. “Asmodeus is planning something. We need to separate them. Soon.”

We’ve been careful, but it’s not enough. They’re onto us, onto her.

I glance at the others, their faces mirroring my own alarm. Ewan’s jaw is tight, his pale eyes narrowed. Kaua looks ready to charge through the door, his hands flexing as if itching for a fight. Nevan is unreadable, his gaze fixed on Vienna, who stands frozen, confusion and determination warring in her expression.

I gesture for us to leave and we slip back down the hallway as quietly as we came. The tension is thick, a silent understanding passing between us. I don’t speak again until we get back to the room.

“They know. They’re planning to separate us.”

Vienna’s hands tremble, but she clenches them into fists, her eyes darting to the others. “What do we do?”

Nevan steps forward, his expression calm despite the storm brewing behind his eyes. “We go to the library. If we can’t get to the portal, we need information. Now.”

There’s no argument. The plan is set. As we move, Vienna stays close to me, her body tense but her steps steady. My need to protect her grows with every step as I throw an arm around her shoulder and pull her close. I know it won’t be enough. The delicate balance rests on evening the scales and we’ve been roaming free without any hinderance for just a little too long.

25 – Vienna

I’m not sure why I think a sudden bout of information will help us thwart the angels but I’ll do just about anything at this point. Knowing that they’re bracing for us, preparing to block us from our purpose is reason enough for to be here right now, running my fingers along the binds of the books like I did before. I’ll be punished for skipping group therapy but this is more important.

The four horsemen fan out around me. Ewan and Kaua take the far shelves, their tall forms moving like shadows in the dim light. Vito and Nevan stick closer, their presence grounding even as the tension in the air crackles between us. It’s comforting and unnerving all at once. The library is vast and the silence only adds to the eerie atmosphere.

The worst part is that I have absolutely no idea what I’m even looking for.

My fingers trail along the spines of the books as I walk, my mind swimming with questions. Why did no one stop us? Whydidn’t anyone check in our rooms to make sure we were ushered to breakfast?

As if reading my thoughts, Vito catches my eye, leaning casually against a shelf. “I handled the surveillance,” he says, his tone low and laced with amusement. “No one’s watching us here.”

I pause, blinking at him. “You did what?”

He shrugs, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Convinced them this wing wasn’t worth their time. You’re welcome.”

“Thank you,” I murmur, my voice softer than I intend.

As I move past him, I catch Ewan and Kaua out of the corner of my eye. They’re standing close, too close, their heads bent together as though sharing some secret. And then it happens—Ewan’s hand grips the back of Kaua’s neck, pulling him into a kiss that’s anything but subtle. It’s raw, intense, and startlingly intimate.

My face burns, and I whirl around, intending to escape before I see more, but a strong hand wraps around my wrist. I’m pulled back between them, my breath hitching as their heat surrounds me.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Kaua’s voice rumbles, low and teasing.

Before I can answer, Ewan tilts my chin up, his pale eyes gleaming with something dark and playful. “You’re not getting away that easily,” he murmurs.

And then they’re kissing me, first Ewan and then Kaua, his warmth a stark contrast that leaves me reeling. It’s overwhelming, and yet I don’t pull away. Their touches are fleeting, teasing, before they let me go, grinning like they’ve won some unspoken game.

Flustered, I stumble back, my heart racing as I try to catch my breath. “You’re both impossible,” I joke, brushing past them as I head deeper into the library.

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