Page 75 of Her Deadly Angels (The Seven Sinners of Hell's Kingdom 2)

I blink a few times and inhale a small breath. “What do you plan to do?” I can’t help it. I would prefer to prepare for whatever he plans to do to my soul.

Fury twists his features, and he grabs me by the throat and lifts me up. My body reacts by hooking my legs around him. It’s strange feeling his fingers around my neck. Pain sizzles over my skin, but I can breathe. I’m dead. The way I see things as if I’m physically here is all in my head.

Sparks fly as our essences connect more securely, my ankles locking me in place around his waist. Something comes over me, and I fight against his restraint on my throat. Lucian’s eyes capture mine and he shifts his hand to hold my ass, allowing me to overpower him and kiss him. I kiss him with my entire being, merging my light with his dark, doing the only thing I can think of to fight against his control without him fighting back. I don’t kiss him out of desire. I kiss him in desperation, stealing his focus over his control to give into his innate need to fall to mortal desires. I kiss him to hold onto my control. This kiss will cement my place above him and not as a soul he can destroy. He won’t want to.

I can feel it. I can taste it in the sweet, spiciness of his lips.

“Fuck me,” I murmur against his mouth. “Let me feel what kind of power the most notorious devil has.”

Lucian releases a deep growl-like moan, the noise vibrating from his chest. He wants me. I can feel it on a soul-deep level. I just need to give him a push.

“Fuck me anyway you want, Lucian. Fuck me until I can’t walk. And then after, let me serve you. Let me show you that you can use me to get what you want.” I kiss him again, sliding my tongue into his mouth.

“I want the saviors annihilated. I want Hell and Earth to be solely mine. I want my brethren to bow down to me,” he mutters against my lips, his desires escaping him as if my kiss and body pull them out of him. He can’t resist me. I’m the one with power over him, and I will use it.

“I want that too.” I reach between us and open my soul to him, my clothes suddenly vanishing as if they were never there. “Now fuck me and let me help you. I will bring the saviors to their knees for you. I never wanted Purgatory. A part of Hell. I just never wanted to suffer.”

I expect him to fuck Hell right into me, but he doesn’t. He meets my gaze, his dark eyes searching mine. “And what of my brethren?”

“What about them? I know why they’ve kept me away from you,” I murmur, my body aching at even the thought. A lie has never felt so painful.

“Why?” he prods. “Tell me, and I’ll give you what you desire. You will feel my power in your soul.”

I lick my lips. “They’ve kept me from you because they’re weak. They’re afraid. They—”

Bright light ignites the world aglow around us, and Lucian roars, dropping me from his arms. I hit the ground, my soul screaming. Spinning, Lucian rips a flaming sword from his back and flings it inches away from me.

I scramble away and stare in shock at the sight of Andre unfurling his brilliant wings before Lucian.

“You can’t take that soul before her time,” Andre says, gathering heavenly light. “I’m taking her back to where she belongs.”

Summoning hellfire, Lucian transforms into his devil form. He unleashes his fury on Andre, engulfing him in the fires of Hell.

My soul erupts in agony.

My very essence weeps.

A cool hand touches my cheek, pulling me from Hell and the fire engulfing everything. I snap my eyes open and find myself in Andre’s arms in the now empty room, lying in my own sticky blood.

What the fuck?

“It’s okay, Raven. You’re okay. I healed your body and brought your soul back. Lucian can’t have you,” Andre says, stroking his fingers over my cheeks. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get in as fast I should’ve.”

I open and close my mouth, my body exhausted, my mind whirling.

He leans down and kisses me. “Just relax. You’ve been through a lot. Your soul keepers are coming.”

I nod, savoring the sensation of his arms around me.

If only I could be sure this is all over, but I can’t. I might’ve made things worse with my attempt at controlling Lucian.

God, what have I done?

Andre winces, and I search his face, confusion battling inside of me. I know I didn’t say the thought out loud, but I know he felt it. But why did he react the way he did?

And then I see it. The spark of fire in his eyes.

“Andre,” I whisper, touching his cheek.

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