Page 7 of Give a Devil his Due
“Take it easy, Hel,” Eric murmurs in my ear, molding his body to mine until I feel surrounded by him. “As much as I would love to kill them, sometimes we do need their help.”
“I don’t want to kill them.” The words rush through my lips, and I drop the dagger like it’s hot coal. “What the hell?”
“Step away from my daughter, Shadow.” My father goes right for Eric, his snarl still in place. “Unhand her now.”
“Stop,” I snap at him, and he freezes in his dash to hurt my mate. “Unhand her? Really?”
“It is a human expression, is it not?” Satanael’s arms cross over his chest, and he glares down his nose at Eric. “My daughter has lived among humans all this time, and I do not wish to scare her. I will tear you limb from limb for handling her like she is cattle.”
My groan sounds pained to my own ears, but he keeps going.
“That is what I need here so she can visit more often instead of entertaining ludicrous ideas the jinn plant for her.” Like he sees his space for the first time, he looks around while a line forms between his brows. “I need to bring humans to do everything she needs.” His eyes turn on my face. “Do you wish them to be male or female? Young or old? It matters not because it shall be done.” His hand slices the air with finality, and he gives me a reassuring nod like he is expecting me to shop for humans like I used to shop for shoes.
“This should be interesting,” Beelzebub mumbles from his spot on the sofa he is yet to vacate.
“Stop growling.” I nudge Eric when the motor in his chest kicks up. “And let’s get this one thing straight before we move on to important things.” My finger stabs the air in front of Satanael’s nose. “We are not stealing humans so we can bring them to Hell. Are we clear?”
“Why ever not?” My father seems taken aback, while the other four wisely shake their heads and look at anything but me. “They will be honored to serve me, and you too.”
“Because it’s Hell.” Spelling it out slowly for him doesn’t help.
“I do not understand, Helena.” He honestly looks puzzled by the concept that no human ever wants to see Hell.
Mind spinning on how to say what I need to say so he can grasp it, I almost give up when the idea hits me. “You haven’t seen what the battle with the jinn did to Earth. There is not enough humans left for you to take even one, little less more of them.” And because he doesn’t seem convinced, I hurry to reassure him I’m right. “You just can’t, okay? It’ll upset me very much if you touch whoever is left there. I need them to stay where they are.”
“They help you by simply being there?” One of his eyebrows cocks as if calling me a liar.
“Just don’t touch the humans.” My angry hiss makes him nod reluctantly. I have a feeling this insane conversation is not over. “Now, back to what I accidently said. It wasn’t the jinn who spilled the beans that my mother was alive.” With a sigh, I rub the back of my neck. “I think that’s what they said at least.”
I expect Raphael to jump on it, and he doesn’t disappoint. From one breath to the next, he is in front of me, taking both my hands in his. Eric and Satanael stiffen, but no one says a word. My glare might have something to do with it, though.
“Theywho, Hel?” The Archangel’s tone is filled with so much hope it nearly chokes me, and I can’t speak for a moment. “Who told you that Zdakiel is alive?”
“The Fates.”
It takes two tries to swallow the lump in my throat, and I reluctantly lift my gaze from our hands to his face. If there was any doubt how much Raphael cared about my mother, it’s erased the second our gazes lock. It’s like I’m looking at myself in the mirror when Eric was hurt and wouldn’t wake up when we escaped from Hell. The torment is plain and clear in the swirl of his irises. That wretched feeling when you are too scared to hope but terrified to accept the horrible truth that you have to give up on someone you love.
“Raphael.” Chewing on the inside of my mouth, I pick my next words carefully. Eric steps at my back, lending me his strength, and I’m grateful the rest stay silent. “It was a situation that ended with me having wings, horns, and a tail. A clusterfuck of epic proportions, if you will. I was close to death and dizzy from blood loss when everything went down. A lot of things were said as well as promised.” His fingers tighten painfully on mine. “And I meana lotwas said.It’s obviously enough for me to go searching, and I have every intention of turning all the realms inside out to see if it’s true. But, I also want you to keep in mind that I could’ve heard wrong. In all the mess, I could’ve heard what I wanted to hear and not what they said.”
“I understand.” My heart cracks open at the sad tilt of his lips. “I will help you search no matter how long it takes.”
“As will I.” Satanael shoves the Archangel away, making him stumble to the side as he takes his place. “As long as it shall take, Helena.” My father is oblivious to the incredulous look that’s no doubt plastered all over my face.
“You don’t even love my mother.” My tone calls him an idiot without me saying the words.
“Love is nonsense meant for humans.” Dismissing me, he shrugs unapologetically for his behavior. Zadkiel is a strong warrior and needed for holding the jinn back and away from our realms. Besides, she is your mother, and that alone is enough for my aid in your quest.”
“How compassionate of you.” He also misses the dryness in my voice.
“I do wish to please you.”
“Thanks … I think?” Turning away from him so I don’t punch the pleased look off his smug face, I dart my eyes over the others. “Well?”
“The plan was to find Lucifer, Michael, and whoever else is imprisoned by the jinn,” Beelzebub muses, and Colt nods in agreement. “If Zadkiel is indeed alive, we will find her.”
“Now that you mentioned it, I do need Lucifer’s aid myself.” My father moves around the room, shoving things in a leather satchel I didn’t see him pull from anywhere. “This was a good plan, daughter.”
“I aim to please, too.” My eyes roll at his attitude, but as long as he tags along and brings more muscle in case it comes to a fight, he can make everything about him for all I care.
