Page 46 of Her Darkest Devils (The Seven Sinners of Hell's Kingdom 3)

“Yeah, yeah. You know my feelings about all this, Cassius. Don’t forget this deal was born from my desperation. Had I not have been railed in my metaphorical ass by this douchebag, I’d be soaking my cock in the magical warmth of Raven’s pussy as she creates paradise for me and my devil comrades, something you and your dry, limp, embarrassingly useless dick will never truly be able to grasp or appreciate.” Elias glowers at me and swats my hand away from his shoulder.

I purse my lips and ruffle my feathers. I hadn’t thought much about his feelings apart from his desire to keep Raven from finding her soul a slave to my brother. He might be right about my naivety over mortal activities, but I couldn’t care less. I find great pleasure in the good work I do for the divine. I don’t need to “soak my dick” in anything but the mighty light of Heaven. That is paradise.

I scrunch my nose at my thoughts. Perhaps my faith and purpose are a bit strong, and I see the accidental innuendo—but no matter. I stand by my convictions that fighting and protecting the sacred is all I’ll ever need.

“What is the phrase...different strokes for different folks, Elias?” I square my shoulders and flick my attention to Lucifer. I can see his judgement blooming across his hard expression. He thinks I might act high and mighty or perhaps am hypocritical, but how could I be when I speak from the truth of my essence? I am above him. He will never rise as high as I can fly without falling and crashing to the ground. But me? I can soar.

“You are one fucking contradictive asshat,” Elias mutters under his breath.

I remain expressionless. “Some things are just impossible for a mortal to understand. Perhaps if you never let things come to—”

Lucifer throws a burst of hellfire at my feet, startling me. I grab Elias and drag him with me the few feet I fly.

“Just get the fuck out of here before someone tracks me down. Raven is on the verge of letting me fuck her hard enough to rearrange her insides if I help her ‘find’ this asshole, which doesn’t fucking matter to me because failing results in the same damn outcome. Raven’s contract will be void.” Lucifer strides forward and jabs me in the chest. “Don’t let the bastards get word of this, got it?” Turning to Elias, he adds, “See you in Hell, fuckhead.”

Lucifer once again tosses hellfire at us, forcing me to carry Elias out of the road. My forsaken brother squeals his tires and leaves us in a cloud of burned rubber as he zooms away. Releasing a breath, I shake off the presence of his lingering darkness and summon heavenly light between my fingers to help push it away. Elias studies me in silence, his pallor washed out with his sickness.

I reach out and press my palms to his cheeks, bathing him in my light, hoping to ease his aching body the best I can. A mortal in his condition in this state of his cancer usually would struggle to stand, but he somehow keeps his strength, fighting everything against him, even his own body. I’d call it miraculous, but it’s not. Some things just happen like this without an explanation from the Higher Power.

For all I know, Elias could live for another month...or he could die tonight. Even angels of high esteem like myself aren’t privy to all of the universe’s answers. All we can do is keep going to see where the Higher Power sets things in motion. And Elias’s path in his existence is winding, rough, off-beaten, and completely unfollowable to most.

Except Raven.

She might now be guiding his way and helping him through the obstacles, but it’s not her job. It should’ve never been her purpose. Her soul should’ve moved on and found peace nearly two centuries ago.

“All right, man. Are you fucking crying? You’re starting to freak me out. Why are you staring at me like that? I’ve had enough of your angelic molestation. I didn’t ask you to help me. Your light doesn’t energize me.” Elias flicks my shoulder and steps back even more, putting space between us. “It’s just creepy.”

I blink my watery eyes and pull myself together. I know he has few memories of his eternity before he fell for Grace, but deep in his mortal soul lies the angelic brethren who fought so fiercely in honor of the Higher Power. I can bring that back if I can just give his soul a little extra push...

Lucifer has stolen too many of my companions already.

It’s in this moment I realize that I will do whatever it takes to ensure Elias returns to Heaven instead of falling into Hell. I know it is what the Higher Power would want.

“Pardon me, Eli. I’m merely helping you. With enough of my light, we can destroy Hell’s darkness around you completely. Your eternity is not lost yet. I’d like you to see as I do and have faith that you and Raven will be together for eternity in the light of Heaven. Hell will never touch either of you again.” I expand my brilliant white wings, setting the dark world around us aglow. “What do you think? You’ve repented enough. I wouldn’t have these thoughts if it wasn’t possible.”

Elias’s frown softens. “What? I’m not sure I understand.”

A wave of soothing warmth washes over me, and for a moment, I glimpse the divine world of my beloved home. I knew I was right. This is the sign I need to push harder at Hell’s darkness. Lucifer thinks Elias will fall to Hell but it seems he’s been granted a miracle for putting Raven before himself and choosing rightly, his actions swaying him toward Heaven.

I smile and close the space again, clutching his cheeks. “Elias, my friend, this sacrifice you’ve made has blessed you. The darkness fades. If you accept my light, the universe will fall back in order.”

Opening my arms, I surprise him with a hug and kiss the top of his head, a rush of relief leaving my whole body zinging. I knew my hard work for the Higher Power would benefit us all. I knew I could do this far better than anyone else. Micah might have been given the task, and then Andre. Zade was too hesitant to carry such a burden, so the job of keeping the devils at bay fell in my capable hands, where it should’ve been all along.

“Feel the power of Heaven. Let it wash you free of your mistakes and sins,” I murmur, smiling wider at the confusion, surprise, and then finally acceptance crossing Elias’s expression. “We’ve done well. You’re rather lucky that the Higher Power led me to you.”

Elias grimaces. “Dude, what the fuck? Are you having a breakdown? You’re glowing so brightly I think I’m getting a sunburn. Chill.”

“Embrace the glory of a new day,” I say, stretching my arms toward the sky. “You and your soulmate will have the peace you want. Now, come on. It’s time to take you somewhere safe to wait out the remainder of your mortal life. Just imagine how indescribable it will be when your soulmate joins you and you can return as one and be whole again.”

Elias groans. “Fuck that shit. I only agreed to Lucian’s deal to get the fuck out and return to Raven. Knock that shit off with your light. I’m going to Hell, and Raven’s going with me.”

The amazing feeling of touching home vanishes with his words. Ice crashes on my head, stealing the glory of the Higher Power away with one comment.

I tense and clench my fingers into fists. “You can’t back out. We had a deal. You are to come with me to die in peace. I’ve already told you that you will join Raven in Heaven.”

“Are you a dumbass or what?” Elias says, meeting my gaze with a stare comparable to that of a devils. “You can’t make a deal with a mortal. You said it yourself that it was Raven’s choice, and I plan to keep it as such.”

My chest heaves, my shock and anger leaving me unsheathing my flaming sword. “Don’t make this mistake, Elias. We have an agreement. You and Raven are to ascend into the Higher Power’s grace. Heaven depends on you.”

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