7. GODRIC

Sensing that I no longer intend to vanquish him, Asmodeus hovers closer, and starts circling me, as if examining me from different perspectives.

The last of his tension dissipates on a wry smile as he shakes his head. “What I didn’t know was that you have been humoring me. Humoring us all, evidently. Seems you can end any of us if you wish.” His gaze moves to my sword, and he huffs a self-deprecating laugh. “Now I see why ‘Sword of Heaven’ offends you. It’s glaringly obvious, really, and I should have realized it all along, O Sword of Death.”

With that, he flies down, landing gracefully before looking up and beckoning to me, as if I hadn’t almost beheaded him.

Cursing him and myself under my breath, I put my wings and sword away with a boom that cracks the ground beneath his feet. This time I was hundreds of feet up, and I crash down in a landing worthy of her.

After steadying himself, the bastard has the balls to look reprimanding as he pokes a finger into my chest. “What I still can’t believe is that you took the decision to risk everything, to kill me—to protect her—in under a second!”

His scolding incredulity is well-deserved. I didn’t pause to think of the repercussions. Neither did I consider the ramifications of backing down now that I’ve shown my hand, and this spectacularly.

I’m in worse shape than I even feared.

My lips twist in disgust, at myself more than him or this whole mess. “Since I’m always a second away from making the decision to kill you, I can make it again at any time, to silence you.”

His face relaxes on a sinful smile. “Don’t get me wrong. It was hotter than the fucking Inferno.”

“Even when you realized I actually meant to kill you?”

He flattens his palm over my heart. “Oh, especially then.”

I look down at his hand. If he caresses me …

I don’t know what I’d do, actually. I almost terminated his eternal existence, and it only excited him more. The intractable wanker has left me no wriggle room. I literally have nowhere else to go with him.

His next words prove me right. “That little assassination attempt will surely cure my ‘ennui’ for the coming millennium.”

I zap his hand away. “Attempt implies failure. I would have ended you. I chose to stop.”

The Hellfire in his eyes brightens, and it looks like he is going to caress me.

Thankfully, he shoves me away, throwing his hands up in exasperation. “That was yet another recklessness you committed on her behalf. But it was one that you wouldn’t have been able to explain away, so you should thank your fucking Heaven you pulled that stunt on me. The others already suspect your allegiances, but so far they think your motives for protecting this human are not your own. Only I saw the truth. ” He pauses, before he laughs, sounding bitter this time. “It’s really ironic, how those bitches want her gone for all the wrong, not to mention petty, reasons. They just think she’s Azrael’s toy and want to break it. If only they knew.”

“And you think you do.”

“Oh, I’m certain I do. I can now see what drives you is far more than sex. You want her. All of her. And because you never wanted anyone before, and because it’s you, your hunger is a gathering storm of cosmic proportions.”

Another accurate diagnosis, of an ailment I must find a cure for.

He pats me on the shoulder in commiseration. “You do have much to worry about, but none of it is from me.”

“Certainly.”

His pout is reproach itself. “You know I never lie.”

I scoff. I never do, either. It’s why I recognize a fellow authority on not telling the truth without resorting to lies.

He takes another step into my personal space. “If you don’t trust my word, how about my blood?”

“No, thanks. I’ll leave blood-play to you and your spawn.”

He cocks his head, giving me an assessing glance, before he shakes his head. “No, you would do it. I can see it. You would do anything at all—with, and for, that human.” His disbelief turns to bafflement. “I can’t begin to fathom what kind of being can hold such a sway over you. I’m starting to be truly intrigued by her.”

“In the interests of your continued existence and genital integrity, stop your intrigue in its tracks.”

His chuckle is delighted again as he says, “It’s not my intrigue you need to be concerned about. Even if it’s for all the wrong reasons, she’s in their crosshairs now. But I will do my best to misdirect their ire elsewhere.”

It’s my turn to give him back his incredulity. “Why would you do that?”

“What are allies for? It should buy you time to concoct whatever plan you need to.” He wiggles his eyebrows at me. “Not to mention to find out what kind of magic she’s working on you. You must come to realize she can’t be worth not only your uniqueness, but the miracle of your first passion. Failing that, to work her out of your system, and move on to superior pursuits.”

A huff escapes me. “That’s more like it.”

“You can’t blame a demon for trying.” His expression sobers as he puts a hand on my shoulder. “But, seriously, I’m doing this for you. And now I’ve seen the lengths you’d go to, to protect her, if you ever think it has become too dangerous for her on your ‘turf,’ she has an open place in Pandemonium.”

That surprises me so much, I snort. “Where you wanted her since that first day? And where she’ll be safe among thousands of demons, many of which consider her a delicacy?”

He raises me a guttural sound right out of the depths of the Pit. “She survived all her life among my kind. How many times has she almost perished among yours?”

Hating that he’s right, I give him a tight nod. “Thank you for the offer. I will keep it in mind. So—if getting that ten percent confirmation of your theory was all you wanted?—”

He takes a step closer, his expression as urgent. “It wasn’t. I got you here to extend another invitation. An unequivocal and earnest one this time. And to make sure you’re not refusing me out of some repressed homophobia.”

It’s my turn to sound bitter. “I wish it was that simple.”

“Yeah, me too. If it were, I would have cracked your resistance like an egg.” He looks almost wistful as he surveys me, before he sighs. “I have to do this …”

He reaches up and grabs my face, dragging it down.

Then he seals hot lips over my cold ones.

I don’t know why I let him get that far.

No, I do know. I’m that desperate to find a way out of what I feel for her.

His lips move over mine, with expert coaxing, surprising tenderness, and most of all, an echo of my desperation. I recognize that his taste should be intoxicating, would be even enslaving to anyone else. But I can only relive how her lips felt beneath mine. How she tasted as I plundered her stunned surrender, how it tore away every barrier I have ever erected, until there was only her, and the need to devour her, finish her.

With a dejected sigh, Asmodeus lets his lips cling to mine for one last moment before pulling away.

I look down the slight difference in our heights into eyes gone Pit-black, and almost feel compelled to apologize.

His gaze pans down. “This Heaven-proportioned boner isn’t for me, is it?”

I make no response. For what would I say? That she has me like that almost always, and I go around Glamoring myself?

Maybe it is some form of sorcery.

I sigh. “Believe me, Asmodeus, I wish it was.”

He blinks in surprise. “You do?”

“There are far worse things than being the object of your excessive desires, or being embroiled in your passionate wargames.”

“It’s not a war, nor a game, never with you. But it’s certainly excessively passionate.” He bites his lower lip for a moment, before he adds, “I do know my reputation, and I admit it is thoroughly earned. So if that’s what’s stopping you?—”

“It isn’t,” I interrupt him before he makes it even worse by further coaxing and concessions. “I never thought you were earnest, and now—I’m simply incapable of it.” We’re silent for a moment as he looks despondent, increasing my discomfort. Then I exhale forcibly. “I know almost killing you probably made me more desirable to you?—”

“You can’t even imagine.”

I grunt at his fluttering lashes. “But shouldn’t you have already known my answer? Are you not the one who doles out the sexual preferences every being is burdened with? At least have a hand in assigning them?”

His mouth twist is self-blame itself. “And I will kick myself unto eternity for being absent the day they assigned yours, my sweet.” He gives my cheek a lingering caress.

I give him a warning look. “No more of that. You used up all your free—passes.”

“Do I get paid ones?”

My lips twitch as I consider his expectant grin, and realize something. That literally damned bastard is irresistible. In every way but the one he wants.

I feel obliged to explain, again, to let him walk away from this without lingering hopes. “Whatever you think you’re pursuing in me, Asmodeus, you would have never found it. I’m only the window-dressing for a power that’s far more voracious than even yours.”

His gaze grows dreamy as it encompasses me in much more intimacy than a tactile one can achieve. “Death and Desire. We’re a true pair.”

I can’t help it. My lips tug again as my mind streaks back to her. If ever there was a true pair …

Asmodeus whistles, a slow, incredulous whit-whee. “Wow, you really are taken. You should pay the world of hopefuls the mercy of updating your relationship status on your social media.”

“I don’t have any. And there is no relationship.”

“Far worse than there being one, is you wanting one.”

“It’s irrelevant what I want. I will do what I must.”

“Yeah. Keep telling yourself that. But I’m telling you that you shouldn’t fight it. Have your fill of your human, for a year, ten, thirty. Why not? If there’s any being in Existence who’s all for self-indulgence, in every way, it’s me.”

Before I can retort, he reaches for my hand, taking it to his chest and pressing it there with both of his. I feel a heartbeat.

Is he making his heart beat to demonstrate his feelings for me, or is it doing so of its own accord, under their influence?

As I consider both disturbing options, he holds my gaze as if with a pledge. “As for me, I’ll wait. A century, a millennium. You’re worth it, worth anything at all.”

I have nothing to say to that.

It’s clear he’s not expecting an answer, as his wings flame out of his back, and he rises into the air.

He gives me a last yearning look, before he winks, and switches back to being the master of manipulation and debauchery that he is. “See you in the trenches, darling.”

As he shoots away, I watch him disappear into the cloudy sky, and come to the same conclusion all over again.

It’s a bloody shitty world.

If it were a different one, if I were a different being, this demon could have been a peer whose company I relished, and whose council I relied on.

But being forced to be the scheming, murdering bastards we both are, it’s out of the question.

Even more regretful is that if my plan succeeds, he will be one of my victims.

I would have rather spared him.

But when the time comes, none will be.

As for her, I’ve let her derail me enough, and I must now resume my trajectory.

No matter what she makes me feel, I must always remember how this started. It is how it must remain.

With her as a pawn in my game, and a means to my end.

If I don’t abide by this objective, I wouldn’t have to worry about the budding interest in ending her from all sides.

From all evidence so far, I will be the one who destroys her.