Ascending Passion

by Amanda Pillar

  “And what are you trying to blame me for, this time?” Lucifer sat behind an obsidian desk, while Yael-slash-Asha and Hades stood in front of it. The fallen angel’s office was spartan, with only a handful of decorations, none of his antiquities collection in sight.

  “You kidnapped a conduit,” Hades accused.

  “I did not.”

  “Tsk tsk. I may not be an angel, but I know when someone lies to me.”

  Lucifer glared. “Who and what I kidnap are none of your concern.”

  “See, that’s where you’re wrong. Kidnap a regular human, no big deal. Kidnap a demon, again, not a huge deal. But kidnap a conduit? That changes the balance of power, and you know that isn’t allowed.”

  “What are you going to do? Tell on me?” Lucifer sneered.

  “Yes. You have twelve hours to return her, or I’ll get Ereshkigal involved.”

  “I’m so scared.”

  But something flashed in Lucifer’s pale eyes. Fear maybe? Or irritation? It was hard to tell.

  Who the fuck is Ereshkigal? It was the name of some old god, that much he knew. But why was she a threat?

  Raze may have the answer.

  “Twelve hours.” Hades waved a hand and they teleported out of the Hell-lord’s office, appearing in a small wooden boat, just off the shore of a small island. The scent of brine and sulfur were pungent and not particularly pleasant.

  “Where are we?” Yael asked.

  “Just outside of Asha’s domain.” The god clicked his fingers, and Yael’s legs morphed from the long, elegant jean-clad ones of Asha, into his familiar black cargos.

  “She has a domain?”

  “Yes.” Hades began rowing. There was a soft tinkling of bells, and moments later the boat beached on a glimmering shoreline.

  “Yael!” Rowan’s voice cut through the air and then she was in his arms. He hugged her to him, burying his face in her hair.

  Lemongrass and sweat and her.

  Fuck.

  His heart kicked hard in his chest. She was here, she was alive, and she was safe.

  He stared over her shoulder at Asha, relief and gratitude in his eyes. “You got her out.”

  “I did. Lucifer hadn’t amped up his security since I was last there, which was surprising.” Asha turned to Hades. “He’s overconfident. That makes me think something else is going on.”

  Hades nodded. “We will discuss it later.” Then he stared at Rowan. “You’re different.”

  Rowan lifted her head and turned to the god. Her green eyes clouded. “I’ve seen you before, but I don’t…”

  Hades strode over and touched her gently on the forehead. Rowan’s back arched like she’d been electrocuted, and Yael growled low at the god. “What the fuck did you do to her?”

  Hades withdrew his finger. “I gave her her memories back. She now knows magic is real, so there’s no harm there.”

  Rowan shuddered in Yael’s arms. “I remember you, now. And Seraphina, and Trick. They employed me to find the Amenonuhoko. I didn’t just go looking for it on my own. That’s how I met Luke.” She looked at Hades. “They did it for you.”

  “They did. But everyone lived, so I call it a win.”

  Rowan didn’t seem happy about it, and to be honest, Yael wasn’t either. It had sent her straight into Lucifer’s sphere. But she was here now. With him. Safe.

  Hades turned to go, but stopped. “Oh, and did you happen to touch any strange stones lately?” Hades asked her. “Looks a bit like quartz?”

  Rowan bit her lip, then nodded.

  Hades clapped Yael on the shoulder. “Guess you just found the second piece of Heaven’s Heart.”

  The god vanished.

  Chapter 50

  I have Heaven’s Heart? Rowan wondered.

  The piece of rose quartz she’d dropped in the tomb? But where was it? Had it somehow attached itself to her?

  “You found it and you didn’t tell me?” Yael asked, his expression shuttered.

  “I didn’t know what it was. I found it in the passageway on the ground. Then I dropped it and couldn’t find it again.”

  He looked thoughtful. “Now we really can’t let Lucifer get his hands on you again. Can you show it to me?”

  “I don’t know where it is.” She shook her head, holding her hands out from her sides, boots sparkling with black diamond dust.

  “When worn by a human,” Asha said, “the Heart is absorbed into the flesh. You could only see it if she dies, or if she’s touched by an archangel.”

  Well, she wasn’t going to die any time soon. She hoped. Prayed.

  And it wasn’t likely that she’d be running into any archangels.

  “Are you sure?” Yael demanded.

  “Do I look like I don’t know what I’m talking about?” Asha replied, her voice sharp as a whip.

  “No—”

  “Thank you for helping me,” Rowan said. She didn’t know what Asha was, exactly, but Rowan wasn’t about to risk Yael making her angry. The woman could control shadows, and the slightly skeletal mask she wore—visible from time to time—was no doubt the result of some scary origin story.

  Asha turned cunning eyes on Rowan “You owe me a favor in the future. Unspecified.”

  “Okay.”

  Asha seemed mollified. “Now, this is my domain. No one can enter or leave here without my permission.”

  “Your domain? But isn’t this Tartarus? How can you have a domain?” Yael asked. Rowan wanted to stomp on his foot.

  “This is the Isle of Himiko and it’s mine because I made it,” Asha replied. “But since I answer to Hades, it’s under his direct rule, so no issues there. Now, I have a Wayfarer’s Hut here. You are welcome to use it for twenty-four hours, after that, you’re on your own.”

  “What’s a Wayfarer’s Hut?” Rowan asked, before Yael could make another smartass quip. She loved his humor, but she could see not everyone else did.

  Asha started walking up the beach. At the edge of the sand, blue spiky grass grew, spreading out into a field beyond. There, nestled in the shadow of a peak, sat a timber hut. A small path of diamond sand led to the front door, which was a bright cherry red.

  “Wayfarer’s Huts are safe places in Hell. They were created at its dawn, and they are very rare. I had to lure this one here from Sheol. It wouldn’t leave until it laid an egg.”

  “An egg?” Rowan echoed.

  “Yes, turns out they have chicken legs, and can walk when they want to. It didn’t want to leave the space vacant. One day, there’ll be a new Hut there.” Asha shrugged, like it was a little odd, but there you go. “Anyway, they’re sentient. So don’t piss it off.”

  It’s sentient?

  Thankfully, her manners kicked in. “Thank you for letting us stay here.”

  Asha turned back to them and smirked. “Use your twenty-four hours wisely. Oh, and if you break it, you bought it.” Then she waved her hand, created a shimmering portal, and left.

  Together, Yael and Rowan walked to the hut. She knocked tentatively on the door, and it swung open, silent and smooth. The scent of cherry blossoms wreathed through the air.

  “I’ve been in a Hut before,” Yael said, stepping inside.

  “You have?”

  The interior had a strong Japanese aesthetic, with rice-paper partitions, and a minimalist interior. But after Rowan crossed the threshold, it morphed, changing into her ideal apartment: soft pink, gold and white tones, with a functional kitchen, large living area, and small dining zone. A gray sofa was positioned in front of a glowing fire.

  “This is amazing,” she said. The temperature inside the hut warmed, and every surface seemed to glimmer more brightly. “Thank you.”

  Yael gave her a thumbs up.

  The small bit of praise made her heart swell. I can do this. I can cope with weird. “I need a shower,” she said.

  In answer, a door opened to her left, leading into a decadent bathroom. A sunken bath
sat in the middle of the tiled expanse, with a huge walk-in shower right near the door. Rowan hurried for it with single-minded focus.

  She hadn’t showered in a week.

  “Need help washing your back?” Yael asked, waggling his eyebrows.

  She paused.

  You don’t deserve him. You are the reason Eric’s dead.

  No. Lucifer was the reason Eric was dead. And maybe Hades, or Trick and Seraphina. Not her. And yes, if Yael wanted her, she’d have him.

  She turned back and held out her hand to him, “Yes.”

  His mouth crashed down on hers before they made it to the bathroom. The charge between them sparked to life, hot and needy and hungry. She could have kissed him all day. He tasted like mint and spice and all things nice. She barely had enough time to rip off her dirty clothes before Yael crowded her into the shower. He radiated heat; his body smooth planes of warm muscle. She reached behind her to find the faucet, turning it on so that hot water rained down on them from the ceiling.

  It felt opulent, like they were standing beneath a warm waterfall.

  Yael’s hand swept up over her stomach, then up, up, cupping one of her breasts in his palm. Yes. God, it felt right. She moaned as he stroked her nipple, and then he bent down, taking the hardened bud into his mouth, licking and sucking on it until she was panting, clutching at him like she’d run a marathon.

  Why does it feel so good?

  Her fingers dug into his shoulders, and then she lowered them, letting them run wild over the smooth skin she could feel for miles. Over his back, his ass, and then around the front, playing with the hair just above his cock.

  He pulled away from her breast for a moment to breathe, “Tease”, before taking her other nipple in his mouth. She reached down, running a gentle hand along his length. It jerked against her touch, burning hot and hard. Oh, it was so hard. She looked down, taking in the view of him at her breasts, her hand stroking his cock.

  This is so hot.

  She’d never felt so aroused in her life.

  He stepped forward, pushing her against the tile wall. She gasped at the temperature contrast; freezing cold on her back, burning heat at her front. Yael stood, resting one arm on the tiles behind her, sheltering her from the waterfall. “You are so beautiful.”

  His gaze was intense, his gold-flecked eyes burning. And for the first time, she truly did feel beautiful. To him.

  His free hand swept her body, sliding right down between her legs, cupping her core. She moaned, arching against the tingling sensation. He ran a finger along her sex, then pressed in, finding her so wet and needy it hurt. His finger moved to her clit and started stroking, fast, then slow, fast, then slow. She kissed him, her tongue thrusting into his mouth, demanding more, demanding everything. “And you called me a tease.”

  He slid two fingers deep within her, and she bit his lip.

  He grinned against her mouth.

  Yael pulled away, sliding down her body, until he kneeled between her thighs. She mourned the loss of his weight, his heat. Then he lifted her leg up, placing her knee over his shoulder. She was utterly exposed to him, vulnerable. He licked her, one long sweep of his tongue that had her body clenching in ecstasy, on the verge of orgasm.

  She grabbed his head. “More!”

  “Demanding woman.” When his mouth finally latched onto her clit and sucked, she screamed, an orgasm crashing through her, the pleasure so intense, so intimate, she thought she’d die.

  Stars fading from her vision, she rested, panting, against the tiles while Yael stood, grinning widely. “That’s number one.”

  Pushing up on her toes, she kissed him, moaning as his arms closed around her. He lifted her up, his cock wedged between them, and she squirmed, trying to get access to it.

  His voice was low, rough with need. “Wrap your legs around me.”

  She did, and it pressed her against his erection. She arched, the friction making her gasp in pleasure. He cupped her butt, titling her pelvis forward. With her free hand, Rowan guided his cock through her folds, then further. “Mmmm.”

  He thrust home in one slow, burning stroke.

  She gasped at the sensation of being filled, being one with him. And then he was moving, each stroke elevating her desire, bonding to her him, tying them together. The pleasure kept building and building, until she screamed, “I’m coming!”

  He hiked her legs higher around his waist and pounded into her, out of control. His muscles corded as he kissed her, and she felt a third orgasm crash through her as he came, groaning through his release. She clutched him to her as his essence filled her, hot and intense.

  They stayed like that after, pressed together, still joined, heartbeats riding out an exhausted rhythm. He pressed his forehead to hers. “I love you, for as long as I have you.”

  She hugged him, happy in this moment, with him, her heart full. “I love you, too.”

  Chapter 51

  Their twenty-four hours up, and his limbs as limp as overcooked spaghetti, Yael opened a Devilsgate and brought them to Rowan’s apartment. She’d wanted to go there first, to grab her essentials before she’d return with him to the mansion.

  They were officially making a go of it.

  And they’d had sex. A lot of it.

  Totally worth it.

  Rowan packed some clothing into a suitcase. She was much more methodical than he’d been. “So, what are you going to do, now that you have the second piece of the Heart?”

  “Find the third.” He leaned against the doorjamb of her bedroom. Inside was all cream modernity, just as the Hut had mimicked.

  “And then?” she asked.

  “I don’t understand.”

  “They said you’d have to kill me—”

  He approached her. “Or get an archangel. They never said we had to unite the stones. They just said we had to find the three pieces, bring them back to Heaven.”

  She smiled, although it looked strained. “I just—we just found each other. I’ve just lost two people I cared about. I can’t lose a third. And I don’t want to die.”

  She was worried about him, he realized. About them. And her fears for her future were totally justified. “I am not giving you up, not while there is breath left in my body. Don’t worry.” He cupped her cheeks and kissed her.

  “Isn’t this touching?” The new voice was like a cold slap.

  Yael spun around, pushing Rowan behind him for protection. His jaw dropped.

  “Mother?”

  There, just outside the doorway, stood Iliane, her pure white wings rising behind her back in a sweep of arrogance. “You always were a disappointment.”

  What the fuck is happening?

  Had Hell frozen over?

  “Why are you here?” he demanded.

  “It is shameful to admit, but there is always a bond between mother and child, no matter how much she might wish it would vanish. I used it to find you. Do you know what your fall did to us? If we hadn’t already publicly distanced ourselves from you, it would have damaged our reputations. Didn’t you think about what it would mean? Your grandfather was speechless.”

  Considering Yael’s grandfather had been meditating for several hundred years, the latter wasn’t a surprise.

  “You should be ashamed of yourself!” Rowan shouted, scrabbling past him to see Iliane. “Yael is wonderful and you’re nothing but a nasty piece of work.”

  His mother drew herself up, wings splaying out behind her. “You dare talk to me in such a fashion? You scum.” Scorn burned in her hazel eyes—eyes identical to his own—and then the room vanished around them.

  Yael stumbled back as he appeared in Heaven, Rowan behind him. They stood in an open area lined with gold pillars and clouded-filled walls.

  We’re in the archangels’ section of the Celestial City.

  “What the—?” His mother had never had that power before.

  “So, you found a conduit.” Another cool, scorn
ful voice.

  Yael jerked around, careful to keep Rowan partially hidden by his body.

  He took in the two large forms.

  It wasn’t Mother’s power.

  “Michael. Uriel.” Yael nodded.

  When will this shit just end?

  Couldn’t they have their happily ever after already?

  The two archangels stood side by side, wearing identical expressions of contempt. Gold-threaded wings flared, as if to show their power and his utter lack of it. This wasn’t a good sign, not a good sign at all.

  “You thought you could use this conduit to try and sneak back into Heaven?” Uriel demanded.

  Yael’s jaw hung open in shock. “What? No.”

  He wasn’t about to use Rowan for anything. And he had no idea he could have.

  “Conduits are a danger to the power balance of the world. Lucifer has already taken her once, and Satan tried to before that. She must die.” Michael appeared in front of them, hand closing on Rowan’s shoulder before Yael could wrench her out of the way.

  Yael tried to free Rowan from the archangel’s grip, but Michael had stopped dead, his face taut. “I see you found the second piece of Heaven’s Heart,” he spat. “We will take it now.”

  Michael pulled Rowan toward him.

  Yael growled low and conjured a sword. “Let her go.”

  Michael flicked a hand, conjuring his own blade of fire. “You can’t stop us.”

  Yael reached out mentally and called to the one person who might step in, who might help. But he had no guarantee.

  Grandfather! Help!

  Nothing.

  His thought had reached the target, but there was no response. Desperate now, he considered calling Trick—the bastard might be able to intervene. Might be able to do something as Rowan was slowly pulled from him.

  Please, Grandfather. I need you.

  Oh, how that had hurt to admit.

  A heartbeat later, white light blasted through the room. Yael shielded his eyes, keeping a tight grip around Rowan’s arm, all that he had left. When it faded, a gray-haired archangel stood in the center of the room, his wings so threaded with gold there was almost no white left. Power pulsed from him, steady and strong.