Page 58 of Replaced Mate

Ifelt it the moment she realized it.

Finally.Finally, finally, finally.

Her power burned through our bond like wildfire—for a second, I was worried that it’d be too much for her to handle.

The screens were acting like they had a bad signal, but I saw her white, glowing, gorgeous wings and her eyes. I knew it was done. The moment I stepped out of this cage, our bond would be complete.

“Lucifer, let me out! She did it! The bond is done!”

I was shouting, hoarse, but he didn't come immediately.

I banged on the barely visible bars. While I knew it did nothing, I needed the release as her rage pushed through me like a river.

“Lucifer!”

“I heard you, Sariel.”

He looked a bit frazzled, his suit a little rumpled, but he still glared at me when he arrived.

I glared at him. “Send me back.”

I was trying to be calm, but her feelings were blending into mine, leaving me a bit of a mess.

Lucifer’s eyes were flickering around the screens in my cage as he circled it, lips pursed. “Barimuz, bring her here,” he said aloud.

He snapped his fingers, and the cage opened; I didn’t hesitate to throw myself out of it.

Before I even hit the ground, I felt… cleaner. Better. Like I hadn’t just spent the better part of however long in a cage being tortured.

My angel was furious and eager, pushing all my broken bits back together as he came to the forefront.

Kill him.

I blanched.What?

Kill. Him. He will hurt our Aria; trap her here.

My angel—I should really come up with a name for him if he’s going to talk to me like this all the time now—made a good point. Barimuz eithercouldn’twhisk Aria into Hell, or was holding off; either way, I definitely need to get outof Hell.

Could I kill Lucifer?

The idea took root as soon as I acknowledged it.

I couldn’t look away from the fallen angel.

His eyes met mine, and he grinned. “Well, hello there, little beasty. Look atyou.”

It wasn’t until he spoke that I realized I could feel my canines elongating, my fingers growing claws, my entire being shifting—ohshit.

A growl tore from my throat when he threw his head back and laughed. “Oh, how fun! You even have the red eyes.”

Swiping a fake tear from his eye, his grin turned almost frightening, showing more teeth than I was used to.

I couldn’t even speak as my mouth lengthened to accommodate the sharp teeth now settled into my too-human mouth, but it didn’t matter. I didn’t need to.

My attention was focused on the way my body was morphing despite my best efforts to control it. When I was suddenly on all fours, snarling up at him, he didn’t even look alarmed.

“Your fur is speckled, too; how cute,” Lucifer gave a mocking coo, reaching out to me, and I snapped at his hand.

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