Page 35 of Sinful Obsession

“Apparently, this one was strong enough. Or Asmodeus prepared her in ways we couldn’t foresee. Regardless, she is here, and she’s stronger than we anticipated.”

Gabriel leans back, his golden eyes narrowing further. “What about the horsemen? Their connection to her is amplifying the cracks in the portal, isn’t it?”

“Of course it is,” I hiss, resuming my pacing. “But separating them at this stage will be nearly impossible. They’re drawn toher, and she to them. It’s part of the design—an inevitability we’ve been fighting since the beginning.”

Raphael speaks, his voice heavy with conviction. “Then we kill her. Or at least one of the horsemen. It will break the cycle.”

I stop dead in my tracks, glaring at him. “Do you have any idea what that would do to the balance of this world? Killing Lilith—or even one of the horsemen—would tear the fabric of reality apart. It would be far more catastrophic than the apocalypse we’re trying to prevent.”

“Then what do you suggest, Michael?” Gabriel asks. “She’s here. Asmodeus has awakened her. The portal is cracking. The world is already tipping.”

I rake a hand through my hair, my frustration mounting. “We keep her contained. We reinforce the barriers. We isolate her from the horsemen and from Asmodeus until we find a way to close the portal.”

Raphael snorts. “Containment? We all felt that shift in power. Medication won’t work anymore. Restraints won’t hold her if she decides to unleash herself.”

“Then we’ll make sure she doesn’t decide to,” I snap. “We’ll control her environment completely. No contact with anyone. No stimuli. If we can keep her weakened, keep her second-guessing herself, we might be able to stall her long enough to reinforce the seals.”

Gabriel folds his arms, his gaze unyielding. “And if we can’t?”

I meet his eyes, the weight of the question settling heavily on my shoulders. “Then we lose. And the apocalypse begins.”

The room falls silent, the gravity of the situation pressing down on all of us. For centuries, we’ve fought this battle, maneuvering in the shadows, pulling strings to maintain the fragile balance of the world. And now, it’s slipping through our fingers. I know that we will rebuild but I hate the destruction that always has to come first.

“Raphael, monitor the horsemen. Any sign of them attempting to reach her, and you report it immediately.”

He nods, though his expression is grim. “And Vienna?”

“She is not to see anyone, until we figure out how to contain this, she is to remain locked in her room. No exceptions.”

I turn to leave, my wings shifting against my back as I stride toward Vienna’s quarters. My frustration boils over as I approach the door, its edges glowing faintly with the energy radiating from within. She’s more powerful than I ever imagined and the thought of what she could unleash if left unchecked sends a shiver down my spine.

I reinforce the locks with a sharp gesture, the sigils flaring bright before settling into the metal. The door won’t open—not for her, not for the horsemen, not even for Asmodeus. Not until we’re ready.

29 – Vienna

Iwake with a start, my heart pounding in my chest as I slowly sit up. My head throbs with the new power surging through me, the nameLilithringing in the back of my head. It feels so surreal, like it happened days or weeks ago and not a few hours ago in my bathroom. I call out to Asmodeus and find no answer, confusion settling in my expression as I head for the door. The little bit of sunlight spilling into my room means that it’s still morning or at the latest the afternoon.

Inches from the door, I stop, staring at the faintly glowing edges. I can’t read the symbols etched into the door but I quickly connect them to some angelic language, which means they’re from Michael himself. I press my hand against the cold but the second I make contact, a sharp jolt shoots through me. I yelp, stumbling back as pain radiates up my arm.

"Stupid door," I mutter, glaring at it like it’s an enemy.

The anger rises, hot and fierce, and before I can stop myself, I press my palms against the surface again. This time, somethingchanges. The air around me hums with power, my vision sharpening as my frustration boils over into something darker. I feel it building in my chest, twisting and writhing like a living thing.

“Open,” I whisper, my voice low but commanding.

The door cracks.

It’s not much—just a thin line that spiders across the metal like a fissure in stone—but it’s enough to make me freeze. My breath catches as I stare at it, disbelief mixing with a flicker of excitement.

“What the hell?” I murmur, stepping back.

I turn and scan the room, desperate for something—anything—to help me figure out what just happened. I wish I had a phone, or a way to contact someone, but then I think of Kaua. The thought of his strength and steady presence makes my chest ache.

And then he’s here.

One second the room is empty, and the next, Kaua is standing before me, his nostrils flaring as he takes in his surroundings. His eyes lock onto mine, wide with confusion, and I stumble back further, my heartbeat hammering in my ears.

“Vienna?” he asks. “What the hell just happened?”

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