by Cassie Ryan
As searing heat flowed through her steaming off her fingertips, she bit back her rage before it conjured forth her fire and ended up burning down Ashford House around her.
Being a fire demon had its perks, but not many she could use while trying to blend into society as a well-bred human. It would probably feel amazing to just let loose and vent her anger right now, but it would definitely set back her plans, which made it an unacceptable option.
As the rest of her expended energy left and the room slowly quieted, Caldriel ground her teeth to contain the rest of her ire and straightened her dress.
She’d given Obediah every opportunity, had saved his dukedom for him all these years, and yet he still chose to walk away.
Being a practical woman, she didn’t bother to try to convince herself that she’d done it all selflessly. She’d wanted her place in the upper crust of British society and she’d gotten it. But Ashford had been only a human and had died long ago. She’d shared his hope that his son would live a long and prosperous life as the duke, but she’d also hoped for the added benefit that she could enjoy the perks of such a life by her son’s side.
Here he had everything—money, status, power. He would never be alone or want for anything. But instead, he walked away and made his own fortune and life separate from those he’d been born with.
Why? What could have enticed him from her side a second time?
Something very akin to jealousy burned through her along with the very natural urge to destroy whatever it was that had stolen her son away from her and her well-laid plans.
When Obediah had walked into the drawing room dressed impeccably and using polite manners, hope had blossomed that he’d seen the light and was ready to take his place. He’d obviously survived the meeting with Raphael, and since the Archangel had yet to show up on her doorstep, she had to assume things had turned out well.
Other than Obediah learning all the backstory about his life and hers.
What did all that matter? She had to admit that as a demon, her perspective on parentage might be skewed, but how someone came into existence was surely less important than the mark they ended up making on their own.
A soft knock sounded against the door and Caldriel startled. She had no illusions this time that it might be Obediah. His leaving made it quite clear where he stood. “Yes,” she snapped, and waited with a raised eyebrow for Jenkins to open the door.
“Madam, there’s an Amalya Lilith at the front gate to see the duke.” He stared straight ahead and made no reaction to the obvious destruction that had taken place inside the room.
Lilith. The word lodged inside her mind and she cocked her head to the side as she studied it.
When Obediah had summoned her, he’d been inside a farmhouse with a human male and a succubus. And now a woman came calling for him with a last name that matched the Queen of the Succubi and Incubi?
Much too coincidental to be ignored.
The jealousy that had curled inside her gut roared to life licking its fangs in anticipation. Maybe she’d find a way to release some of her pent-up anger this afternoon after all.
She allowed a slow smile to curve her lips as she stared at Jenkins. “Show her into the second drawing room.” She gestured around her at the skewed furniture, smashed porcelain, and scorched curtains and floor where she stood. “This one needs straightening.”
20
Levi neared the distortion in the air that marked the edge of Uriel’s property and stopped short. Lilith had told him if he ever needed to come back, he could find Uriel’s lair by using the amulet she’d bade him to keep for now. The same amulet that had given him immunity to Amalya’s succubus nature.
She’d been right about finding the property. He’d just focused on finding it and ended up here. The fact that it was on the outskirts of London surprised him. He’d expected to have to travel halfway across the world since the property moved every week.
Not that he was complaining.
He had left Ashford House more confused and angry than ever. All he wanted now was to get back to Amalya and make sure she was all right. He would have to try to make sense of his life later.
But he’d have to find time to sort it all quickly. He owed it to Amalya to know himself before he muddied the waters with proposing any type of long-term relationship between them.
Amalya deserved better than that.
Hell, she probably deserved Jethro who would be a loyal and devoted puppy at her feet until the day he died. Anger curled inside his stomach at the thought of Jethro with Amalya, but he shoved the disturbing images aside, surprised that thoughts along those lines still taunted him.
It wasn’t as if he hadn’t tried to settle his life. Logically Levi knew his mother was hurt. She had never been good at giving up her grudges, and forgiveness wasn’t big on her skills list either. Apparently, she’d now added guilt and victimhood to her list of tools. Not that she needed any more to find what buttons to push to anger him and push him away.
And anger him, she had. The bloody woman could drive a priest to murder.
He stopped short as he realized he was talking about his demon mother, which totally ruined his comparison. He’d walked away from her twenty minutes ago and she was still taunting him like a sharp pebble in his shoe—relentlessly annoying and persistent.
He saw a wavy distortion hanging in the air in front of him bisecting the park and cutting through the middle of a large Elfin Oak. It reminded him of oil floating on water, fluid spirals of subtle color morphing into shiny metallic versions of themselves before disappearing and making the seer think they’d imagined them.
This had to be the place.
Taking a deep breath, Levi hitched his travel pack higher on his shoulder and stepped through the distortion.
When the first wave of icy water hit him, Levi sputtered and sucked in a lungful of seawater.
After a quick moment of disorientation, he surfaced, shook the water from his eyes, and glanced around, treading water against the strong, icy waves.
Who the fuck had put ocean where solid ground had been just a step ago?
He bit back his anger and impatience and tried to get his bearings. Couldn’t anything in the supernatural world be simple?
Just over his left shoulder he spied the shore. It wasn’t too far off. He swam toward it, allowing the powerful waves to help propel him forward.
When he reached solid ground, he tossed his soaked travel pack higher on the shore and then rested on all fours, taking a minute to catch his breath as the gentle breeze cut through his wet skin sending gooseflesh marching over him.
He forced himself to his feet, rinsing the sand from his hands before grabbing his travel pack and walking up the beach toward the brick Victorian mansion he saw in the distance. Lilith hadn’t specified how to find her lair once he’d made it to Uriel’s property, and Levi cursed the fact that he hadn’t thought to ask. He’d had his fill of dealing with supernaturals lately, even if he was more part of them than he was human.
Levi was curious as to how the mechanics of an entire property appearing in a different earthly locale every week worked, but for now he needed to concentrate on other things.
A quick glance around assured him no one else was in sight and he set off at a brisk pace, allowing his anger and eagerness to see Amalya to push him forward.
He made it as far as the front steps of the mansion before he ran face-first into the intimidating Archangel who appeared from nowhere. He stumbled back and scowled, unused to having to tip his chin to look up at anyone. At six foot five, Levi was usually the tallest man in the room. But Uriel had at least two inches on him, which only added to Levi’s discomfort at having just been caught trespassing on the Archangel’s property.
“Levi, isn’t it?” Uriel asked almost absently. “What message has Lilith sent you with?”
Levi stopped short and met Uriel’s gaze. “Message?”
“Lilith didn’t send you? Then what are you doing
here?” The “on my property” was left unspoken but was clearly understood between them.
“Lilith left me with her necklace,” he said as he pulled the sterling silver necklace chain out of his shirt so Uriel could see it. “And told me if I ever needed to return to her lair, I could get there through your property. I apologize if I’ve intruded.” He noticed the churning anger that still laced his voice, but it was too late now to temper his words.
Uriel reached out to touch the round disk that hung on the chain. He ran his thumb over the Hebrew characters that meant “Temptation,” and something like pain flashed across his features before he raised his gaze to Levi’s. He kept eye contact for several long seconds before the Archangel’s eyes widened and he gently dropped the necklace so it hung around Levi’s neck once more.
Levi watched Uriel’s expression as the Archangel realized that a soul gaze wouldn’t work on him. Rather than anger or frustration as Levi had expected, Uriel’s expression turned thoughtful.
“Who are your parents, Levi?”
Levi frowned. “You mean you don’t know?” The words were out before he could think better of saying them. Apparently, he’d given the Archangels too much credit. He’d thought they knew every human and how they interconnected with everyone else. But now he supposed there was some type of supernatural computer somewhere that kept track of all those things instead. Talk about ruining the mystery!
Uriel smiled. “I must rely on information I pick up from people’s minds as well as soul gazes. Although you probably won’t be surprised to hear soul gazes don’t work on you. Which makes me very curious about your parentage.” He cocked his head to the side studying Levi as if he’d just become very interesting. “I have means of finding out, but it’s usually much easier to ask.”
Levi snorted. “Do you want the official version or the long version?” Sarcasm dripped from his voice, so he was surprised when Uriel’s answer was calm and even.
“The pertinent recap will do.”
“My mother is Caldriel, a demon.” He watched Uriel for a reaction, and when he received none he mentally shrugged and continued. “My father by conception is Thomas Levi Spencer, the Duke of Ashford.”
“Father by conception implies there is another.”
Levi had to give Uriel points for being quick. “I nearly died as a baby and my mother begged healing from a supernatural.” Raphael had warned Levi to keep that relationship private from those who might use it to his disadvantage, so he kept his explanation very general.
“And by healing, you mean he gave you enough blood so barely any human trace remains within you.”
Since it wasn’t a question, Levi didn’t bother to answer. After all, he couldn’t deny the Archangel blood running through his veins. Being half demon wouldn’t explain his resistance to a soul gaze to someone like Uriel. The Archangel was too perceptive even without all the relevant details.
Uriel studied Levi for a long moment and then a slow smile curved his lips. “As impossible as it sounds, you have his eyes. You’ve met him, I take it?” Levi knew immediately they were speaking of Raphael.
He nodded. “We’ve met.”
“Is that why you’re running?”
Levi bristled at the soft question, his anger flaring back. “I’m not running from anything.”
“Aren’t you?” Uriel met his gaze squarely. “You’ve obviously not come to terms yet with being part demon, and part Archangel. Are you afraid that makes you someone different from who you already are? From the man you’ve made yourself all these years?”
Levi wasn’t sure what to respond, so he remained silent, especially since the Archangel had just succinctly cut through to what had been bothering him. It was like suddenly finding himself on quicksand after years of trusting where he stepped would be solid ground.
Uriel continued to study him as if all the answers to life were written on Levi’s forehead. “And there’s more. You have the look of a man who is walking away when he knows he should stay.”
This last observation surprised him and Levi frowned. “I’m not walking away from anything. My mother and my responsibilities there can be sorted out later.”
Uriel gave a derisive laugh. “I’m not speaking of your past but your future.”
“And you know this how? Soul gazes don’t work on me, remember?”
Uriel waved away the comment. “Call it experience from watching humans since they were created. What you’re doing is called running away.”
Anger flashed through Levi. He didn’t care if this was one of God’s Archangels. The damned man didn’t know what he was talking about. How could he? He was a pure Archangel, his paternity and where he came from were very clear.
Not to mention that Levi had no right to ask Amalya to be with him until he knew who he was. What could he truly offer her at this point? Even if he came to some arrangement with Lilith so he could be with her, what kind of life would they have? “You don’t understand.”
The first hint of impatience creased Uriel’s expression and power flowed off of him in waves. “Don’t I? You’ve been given possibilities and yet you throw every one of them away. You’ve spent your entire life railing against the unfairness of living longer, healing faster, not being quite human—which is something thousands of others would kill for.”
Uriel’s animated gestures showed more than anything how angry he was. “You wasted an entire mortal life wallowing in self-pity instead of living life to the fullest with what you’d been given. And now you’ve been given even more, and you’re ready to throw that away as well. There will always be challenges and hurdles to be overcome, but that’s no excuse to run from what you’ve been given.”
Uriel’s words stabbed deep and adrenaline fueled with anger curled through Levi. “It sounds like you’re very familiar with wallowing in self-pity.” It was a total shot in the dark, but when Uriel’s hands clenched into fists, Levi laughed. Apparently, the Archangel had definite chinks in his own armor.
“Are you going to strike me down for disagreeing with you? You’re one of God’s enforcers, aren’t you?” He held his arms wide in open challenge. “What are you waiting for? Smite me for my blasphemy.”
Tension crackled between them for a long moment and then Uriel broke it with a small huff that might have been a laugh. “If you’re waiting for me to kill you and give you the easy, coward’s way out of this, you’re going to be waiting a very long time.” The Archangel took one step back, the tension lessening with that one action. “We all must deal with the life we’re given to the best of our ability. And the sad fact is, we can usually see another’s path more clearly than our own.”
The condescending lecturer’s tone snapped Levi’s restraint on his temper and he swung forward, aiming a right hook toward Uriel’s jaw. When his fist connected with a surface harder than granite, pain radiated through his fingers and wrist, and then down his arm.
He stumbled forward.
Uriel stepped back, allowing Levi to fall on his knees onto the grass.
Levi just caught himself from kissing the grass by bracing his uninjured hand on the ground.
He cradled his broken fingers, wrist, and arm close to his body, sucking in large breaths to combat the rising nausea and dizziness that came as a reaction to the sudden pain and stupidity.
Uriel knelt next to him but didn’t touch him.
Levi cast a wary glance toward the Archangel. Not that he’d expected Uriel to heal him after he’d just taken a swing at him, but he couldn’t be sure what purpose this close stance could have.
“Some advice, Levi. Take all that anger and passion and instead use that energy for love and acceptance. Be brave enough to do whatever it takes to make yourself and those around you happy.”
Levi frowned through the pain. The words were spoken in a way that implied Uriel wasn’t that brave. He opened his mouth to ask, but Uriel cut him off.
“Life, even one as long as yours, is fleeting and must be savored. Don’
t waste it.” Before Levi could think of anything to say in response, Uriel touched Levi’s temple and the world spun for a long moment.
In the next breath, Levi found himself in the same position he had been, only rather than grass underneath his knees and uninjured hand, it was cold, polished marble. His clothes were now completely dry, although they still felt stiff and uncomfortable from the encounter with the salt water. As the vertigo disappeared, a pair of white tennis shoes edged into his line of sight.
Levi tilted his head back and looked up at a dark-haired succubus he’d never met before. She stood with her hands on her jeanclad hips and a scowl on her beautiful heart-shaped face.
“I’m Jezebeth, Amalya’s sister. You must be the jackass she calls Levi.”
“Excuse me?” His voice was tight with pain, but he forced himself to slowly stand. Amalya had spoken of her sisters, but he wasn’t sure why he was currently on the receiving end of a very cold shoulder from this one. After all, he’d brought Amalya back safely, hadn’t he?
She raked a dismissive gaze over him. “Can you walk, or do I need to find someone to carry your sorry ass?”
He huffed out a short laugh, not sure what to make of the little spitfire. He had no problem seeing this headstrong beauty being related to Amalya, but he wasn’t sure where the hostility came from. “Excuse me?”
“You already said that. All the pain endorphins steal your cutting British wit?” She rolled her eyes skyward. “Come on then. I’ll get someone to look at your arm.”
He thought he caught the mumbled words “before I break it again” as she walked away from him.
“What seems to be your problem?” he called toward her, retreating back as he cradled his injured arm close to his body.
“You are,” she said as she rounded on him. “Amalya woke up to find out you’d left without even a word. She’s still weak but recovering, no thanks to you, you selfish prick.”
He met her brown, unforgiving gaze and resisted the urge to wince under her intense scrutiny. After all, he had left Amalya without speaking to her. Looking back he now realized he’d rationalized that the sisters would want to spend time together so he could wallow in self-pity, as Uriel had so succinctly said it.
