FOURTEEN
Kai
“After what Aziel told us…” Blaise trailed off, clenching his fists in his hair as he stared at the pulsating wall of Hell from the edge of his bed.
We’d just gotten back from pouring over documents Baylor had found regarding any possible angels residing in the living realm, and we only had one lead. But that was a dead end since Aziel was already back from checking it out. Priamos had insisted we take a break, but none of us could rest. Not when we didn’t know where she was or if she was safe.
“I know.” Irritation and desolation swept over me. It’d pretty much been an entire month with no word about our Lilith—our love, our soul, our light, and the air we bloody breathe.
The blood oath ceased to be effective in two days, and then we’d scour the realms for anyone or anything that could get us into Heaven. “I hate the thought of her locked away at the mercy of Gabriel.”
“Something always felt off about that bloody angel,” he said for the millionth time since he’d taken her. “But knowing we’ve taken so long...and we still haven't found her…” Desperation laced his tone, and I wholeheartedly understood.
“It weighs on all of us,” Thaddeus muttered, pacing the room like a caged animal. Which, in every sense of the phrase, we were. “We’ve exhausted all our contacts. It’s almost like she just bloody disappeared.”
“But she didn’t,” Aziel growled, shoulder trembling with immense anger. “She’s in Heaven with Gabriel. We just need to find out how to get there.”
Fury laced through me as my heartbeat sped up. Gabriel was as good as dead. The wanker had no bloody idea what was coming to him. There was nothing he could say or do that would spare his life.
Aziel still behaved like a feral beast, but he kept us in the loop when it came to Lilith. I hadn’t seen him sleep a wink since she’d been taken, and it was only a matter of time before the bloke exploded.
“I fucking heard something, and you’re not going to like it.” Titan materialized in a blast of black flames in the center of the room.
“What?” Aziel snapped, his posture erect as he gave Titan his full attention.
They’d been getting along slightly better. Lilith would be happy, but I knew it was because they had a common goal. Once we had Lilith back, I was sure they’d be back at each other’s throats.
Titan’s brows pulled together as he hesitated, like we wouldn’t like what he had to say. And my gut told me he was right to be cautious.
“Just tell us, mate,” Blaise encouraged him, and a sinking feeling took root in my stomach.
“Kalyke reached out to me,” he started. “Selene has let it slip that she’s in love with Gabriel.”
“Why do we give a fuck about that?” Aziel asked dryly from his perch on the bed.
“Because jealousy makes people stupid.” He huffed. “Apparently, Selene wouldn’t shut up about how Gabriel is obsessed with Lilith, and how he’s kept her locked away in a room only for him.”
My heart twisted before heat encased it and I clenched my teeth.
“Only for him?” Thaddeus rumbled the question. “What the bloody hell does that mean?”
Titan’s jaw tensed. “He’s only been having Lilith feed off him. From what Selene told Kalyke, Lilith starved herself for a long time before she finally gave in and fed off him. She’s pissed about it, and Kalyke warned us that Selene is a danger to Lilith. Damn fae doesn’t like to get involved in anything, but Selene’s rant didn’t sit right with him, so he passed it along.”
Raw, unadulterated fury bubbled over all of us. How dare he force her to feed off him?
“When I get my fucking hands on that prick…” Hellfire lit up Aziel’s body, and Thaddeus’s pacing became incessant.
“He’s dead,” Blaise finished.
“Kalyke is trying to get more information from Selene,” Titan assured us, but I could see the frustration in his stance. “I don’t fucking get it, honestly. Selene and Lilith used to be best friends.”
“I’ll kill the mutt too,” Aziel growled. “How could she hide this from us? Lilith was nothing but nice to the bitch.”
“Gabriel,” Titan answered like it was the only answer, and maybe it was.
I knew I’d do anything for Lilith, and if someone had hurt her in the past, I’d have no qualms about hurting them if that was what she wanted to do. I wasn’t sure what pawn Selene was in the bigger picture, but she’d made one grave mistake. She was messing with our Lilith, and she would pay for that.
“Brann and Oren better fucking have something.” Blaise let out a roar before stalking out of the room and into the portal.
“Lilith…” I rubbed my forehead with my palm. “Hang in a little longer, sweetheart. We’ll get you home.”