4

Helen and Kate were going to walk Shae through how everything started with her and then the angels. So I was on my own for a while, and what I'd discussed made me think of Hunt. I found myself popping over to a florist because the last time I'd watched his wolf run around he was really into sniffing flowers.

Plus, Hunt was really good at showing me his feelings with gifts and reminders that I was on his mind. Even when he bought snacks for me with my money—it was the thought.

I wanted to do that more for him.

I picked up some gorgeous hydrangeas and changed their color to pastel rainbow petals that I thought were lovely. Then I freshened up the flowers in the shop to be healthier and give them more life. I was surprised when the owner thanked me and waved me off from paying.

I did things like that all of the time, and too often people didn't appreciate it, so it was nice when they did.

Popping over to Hunt's office, I smiled when I saw him walking back from the copier to his desk. He slowed down when he glanced up and saw me.

Which made me lose my smile.

He snapped out of it and quickly walked towards me. "What happened?"

"What? Nothing," I muttered, studying his face.

He studied my face. "Are you apologizing or—something with Isaac?" He huffed when I didn't say anything. "Did something happen between you? Or was it someone else?" He leaned in closer. "Should we talk about this later? I can come over after work and—"

It hit me like a ton of bricks right before I caught one of his thoughts. I stepped away and threw the flowers at his desk when my lower lip quivered. "I didn't fucking cheat, you asshole. Your wolf was sniffing flowers in the snow last time I joined you on a run. It made me think of getting you some."

"Soraya, wait," he whispered when I kept moving away from him.

I shook my head and popped away. I skipped lunch and went to check in on what Isaac had told me about. My people were shaken, but we kept locks at all our locations now, and someone smartly grabbed one and tossed it at the demon. So I didn't even have to go hunting, simply clean up this mess.

Others could put demon traps on the factories or other locations I should have already had them, but I did the spots where we stored charms and magical items our coven needed. When I was done, I realized something and texted Tommy to give one of the mal fundido eggs to the angel on the roof.

We kept killing the monsters right away before they ran, so I wasn't sure if the angels had been able to sense them and get a feeling if the demon who made them cheated.

Then again, I still didn't know if they'd do anything if they had.

I shook my head. No, I had more faith in Brax than that. I even did Michelle now.

I swore under my breath. Right, Michelle.

I appeared where I was supposed to meet her and for once didn't have to apologize for being late. She seemed surprised as well.

She let out a slow breath and met my gaze. "I forgive you for always being late. While both of our roles and positions are important, mine is more focused. Yours is varied and chaotic. You're also working hard to correct the behavior and asking for help. I find that admirable."

I opened my mouth but then closed it. "What did you sense off of me that you're being extra nice to me?"

She didn't even hide being busted. "Pain. You're in new and deep pain. I did want to say it anyways. You're not an ant, and your life is more chaotic than I could deal with. Also, I would like gyros today."

Of course, she also wanted something. Still, I needed to eat, so I agreed and brought her to the place I liked best. It was a hole-in-the-wall place, and seeing the great angel Michelle eat there would tickle me too.

"What upsets you?" she asked after we sat with our drinks and waited for our vast food order.

"Men are stupid," I grumbled.

"That cannot be a realization you've only now just had," she drawled.

"No, but it hurts each time it happens when I love them," I whispered.

She didn't say anything for a moment. "Yes, yes, it does, and I haven't been in love as you have." She glanced at me then. "I oddly find myself rooting for you and the wolf even if I want Brax happy and I used to want him at my side. I don't understand that."

"I would think you're growing as a person, but I would not be the right person to help anyone emotionally. I showed up to give Hunt flowers to be nice because he's been so patient with me after what happened and I blew up something small into something so big because of it and he assumed I was cheating. I threw a fit like a child because it hurt."

"I do the same. My brothers say it's why they have treated me as they have for so long," she grumbled.

"I care for Brax, and I've only seen his good side, but Gabriel throws just as many fits. It's sexism."

"As I am learning."

"Thanks."

"For?" she hedged.

"Letting me talk this out and rooting for me. You don't hate me anymore if you're rooting for me." It was actually a bit funny as it dawned on her that I was right. She looked completely gobsmacked.

The first round of our food came and we ate for a bit and I told her about the mal fundidos and what I had Tommy tell the angel on the roof. She nodded along but seemed reserved about it, almost like she was afraid to say anything one way or another.

"Brax said I could have asked him about my mother the moment we became closer, and always asking if someone was where they should be was fine," I hedged after I'd put away a few gyros. "I feel like I'm imposing when I go to him though, and now it's like he doesn't want to start any more trouble."

She raised an eyebrow at me before wiping her mouth after she finished chewing. "And you don't worry about me starting trouble?"

I weighed that for a moment and shook my head. "No, I think you've been left out of it for so long and your opinion ignored that you've become indifferent and resentful to it all. I think—and I say this as someone who lived a lot of years doing the same—you say what you think is expected of you to not cause waves."

"I would need to think on that. Ask whatever irks you and you think one of us needs to make a judgment call," she accepted before moving on to her next plate.

"Did Brax tell you or—do you know about the ciemny tygrys? " I asked. I filled her in when she shook her head. "I know now there's some line you guys can't cross when a demon tricks someone into a deal or like that demon I'm working with that the demon deal was for his girlfriend's cancer to be cured but she never had it. This is different."

"I don't doubt your sincerity and yes, if one of the brothers was possessed by a demon when this was made—they have to declare it's a demon deal," she said as she focused on her food.

"Ikuyo and I worry those souls were dragged to Hell where they didn't belong. Just because they thought or even attempted suicide once—"

"Suicides do not end up on that plane," she seethed, her power ramping up. "I am not so heartless, and—I wish to everything that I had skinned him for ever uttering that and blaming me for such—the decision was not mine and it was that one instance. Not all of them. I would never—I am not—"

"I never thought that suicides went to Hell or Hades, Michelle," I said gently. I nodded when she looked up at me, tears overflowing her eyes. "I never have. Many do not. The person is unwell. Something in them is broken—chemically, now according to medicine. I always thought—the chi of someone near the edge isn't whole. It's not their fault."

She swallowed loudly and quickly used the back of her arm to wipe her eyes. Then she let out a dark chuckle. "We both have many old wounds that were inflicted upon us by the men in our family. What a pair we are."

"I'm sorry you know that pain," I whispered. "The brother you lost?" I nodded when she didn't say something. "But not the sibling who died. You're too angry. Grief and anger are—it's a nasty combination to try and manage. If you ever want to talk about it without specifics, let me know."

"Why would you ever do that for me?" she rasped.

"Because I would have ended myself long ago without support and help," I told her honestly. "I wouldn't be here, and I think a lot of what you have suffered is that you didn't have someone to listen to you who wouldn't give you orders or judge. I would be fucking nuts—well, more than I am—without the help I have received."

She opened her mouth but then closed it. "I think I would feel uncomfortable speaking to you after how I treated you. I will think about what you said and maybe consider talking to someone who doesn't know who I am."

"Always a wise choice." I nodded. "I've done the same. I hid who I was for over a thousand years, Michelle. Do it. Do it and get this off your chest."

She mumbled a thank-you and went back to her food. "What can I take off your chest?" After a moment, she added calling me Sister which shocked the shit out of me.

"Is there some way you could scan or search this last ciemny tygrys I caught? I don't know a circle to hold him until he's already been killing, but—you understand all of this so much more than I do. I can't—you can do lots that I can't and—"

"You do not have to give me compliments when the favor you ask is small," she cut in.

"I wasn't." I waited for her to look at me, but she didn't. "I wasn't, Michelle. This is your area of expertise. I was—your skill, sensitivity—all of it is impressive. I've always felt I'm swimming against the current anytime I touch anything spiritual or demonic, but you put so many pieces together even over the guys like—it was awesome."

The angel blushed. "Thank you." She cleared her throat. "You are impressive in a fight. Even if I regret my rash actions that day, you were so impressive that I was jealous. I am not so quick on my feet like you."

I thanked her, not wanting to stay on the topic of the day she almost killed me and I still had panic attacks about.

Once we were done eating, I brought her to the coven house and to the basement where I had the extra magical rooms. I warned her about them and explained what they were.

"You really can create your own plane," she whispered in awe as she held out her hand to the doorway. "No, I cannot cross into this without touching you. This is—however did you do this?"

I opened my mouth but then closed it, sighing. "This is going to chap your ass, but I don't know. It was like erasing the greater demon. It was sheer desperation the first time and needing to hide people that I couldn't all teleport away in time. I made the room and cloaked the door from the humans seconds before they busted in. I just do things sometimes."

"Astounding." She gave me a worried look. "I would have to take off the dampener to do what you request."

"I figured. Let me get the box he's locked in and we can go to my island. If I'm right, I assume you'll have to speak with the others." I swallowed a sigh when she flinched. "I meant no offense. You've said that and acted that way before."

She seemed to accept that. "Yes, I have, and you're right, that is—no more enabling their stupidity." She shot me a look as if not sure if she had said that right.

"Damn right. Suffer fools lightly and the only fool you'll suffer with is yourself."

"I like that." She chuckled. "I will steal it."

"I share well, so it's not even stealing."

She smiled at me for real then.

I did as I said, and five minutes later, we were at my island and she was laying some sort of trap circle for the spirit. When she said it was ready, I put the box in the middle and let out a slow breath to trust her that she was really going to help me with this.

"I would not risk losing what's left of Raphael's love for me," she said quietly. "It's strained enough now that he knows I truly went to kill you and would not have stopped that day. I understand now that he was not choosing you over me with those feelings, but my love for him was not strong if I could hurt someone he cared for."

"But you didn't see it that way," I said, but maybe really questioned.

"I do not know," she admitted. "I saw history repeating itself, and you were the reason instead of…" She cleared her throat. "I lost my mind. I regret it. I regret much. I know this cannot fix things, but I know this is a genuine stress for you and I would like to help."

Fair enough and I believed her.

I opened the box and stepped out of the circle. The ciemny tygrys immediately lunged for me, but it wasn't fast enough since it took a few seconds to get out of the box.

Michelle was quiet for several minutes as she studied the spirit while also seeming like she was looking off in the distance as well. Finally, she seemed to snap back into herself. "He clearly saw his brother with red eyes the moment it happened but not before. Something happened against the rules for the demon to be in the body of one alive like that. They cheated."

"I knew it," I whispered, rubbing my chest. "And the souls?"

"I won't know until we find this demon," she hedged. "Do you have the brother that the demon possessed?"

"I don't know," I admitted, both of us seeming defeated. "What about the people from the last case? Hunt will have the files and the pictures. You can check where they are?"

"Oh yes, of course. That can—that would give us what we needed for sure," she agreed.

I fell to my knees, not even realizing I had until I was blinking up at Michelle. "You don't know—you don't understand how many died as I learned to catch them. How many they killed and—the idea they were all dragged to Hell instead of—" I swallowed a sob as I covered my face.

"You have suffered too much fighting these battles that you should not have," she muttered. "I never considered that. I am sorry we were not the allies we should have been and only help you now."

I nodded as I tried to get myself under control. Then I realized we didn't even need to involve Hunt. We'd have everything at PI. I asked if the spirit would be contained even if we left it and Michelle promised it was fine.

I brought her to Helen and told her what we needed. Her eyes went wide at hearing what we'd learned and she looked just as shaken as I felt. She hadn't been with me for all of it, but the last two.

Helen gave Michelle everything she needed while I sent a message to Ikuyo. She sent one back asking me to bring her over in a few minutes while Michelle went to check on things.

It was time to bring Ikuyo and she had questions. I had just enough time to fill her in before Michelle arrived back.

And with a grim expression.

"They were taking the souls to Hell," I rasped as my knees gave out. "All those people I couldn't save were left in Hell all these years— centuries . No, that—how did this—"

"Soraya, none of this is on you," Ikuyo said firmly even as she was choked up as well. "I hunted them and taught you as well. We cannot know what came next—it's not for the living to know. We cannot stop them from cheating. It wasn't our responsibility."

"No, it was ours and we failed. Again," Michelle accepted. "And we will— I will fix this. I will cleanse the souls with my siblings and get them to where they should be. I will end this demon and handle the other brothers. There will be no more of this ciemny tygrys madness. They did not agree to what they were condemned to."

I honestly thought that was more horrible than the victims being dragged to Hell. I wiped my eyes and met Michelle's gaze. "They won't end up there, right? They were misguided, and—they wanted to save their sister, not become mass murderers."

She swallowed loudly. "I cannot give you the answer of judgment, but the punishment they have suffered is very great."

Meaning it didn't fit the crime. That was enough for me, and I thanked her.

I actually hugged her once Ikuyo helped me to my feet. I thanked her and hugged her to me as if she was saving me.

And in a way, she kind of was. This had been a huge burden on me, and for once something was finally over.

Helen, Ikuyo, and I went to the island with Michelle where she called Gabriel and Brax. She told them the whole story and actually shut down Gabriel when he tried to question her and argue.

"This is what is happening, Brother," she told him firmly. "I am not asking for permission like a child as I am certainly not your child. I am telling you I found our mistake and I am correcting it. You can help or not, but I will ask our siblings to help. If you have questions, by all means, investigate the soul as I did if you find me so untrustworthy and my judgment compromised."

"Wow," I mouthed to Helen and she nodded.

But good for Michelle. Seriously.

I also wasn't surprised when both male angels glanced at me as if clearly knowing who influenced their sister to change like that. Brax seemed impressed and Gabriel… Well, he needed to pull the pole out of his ass.

I had a question though, and even if they couldn't answer it for me, they needed to know. "Demons have said the souls of children are worth more. How much is a stolen soul worth in this balance versus ones that belong there? I know they shouldn't be there, but I think that's something you guys need to know as we're fighting to keep that balance."

"Agreed," Michelle and Brax both said, Gabriel still hesitant.

"Seriously, do you want the apocalypse?" I asked before I could stop myself. I shrugged when he shot me a shitty look. "Sometimes it seems like you really do to me. Maybe you want the world to reset? I don't know you well."

I left it at that and went to get the other boxes. Michelle set up the circles and I frowned when there were four more. Ikuyo told me they were summoning the last ciemny tygrys , and they could because of the rules broken.

"You were so ready to dismiss this because they were abducted souls basically and that was okay," I said to Brax, confused at the change… But also with accusation in my voice.

He sighed. Heavily. "I misunderstood part of the situation because I was an idiot and assumed certain rules. And yes, in a way, demons can do that. As you set up circles to send souls to where they should be—all of those souls won't go to where you think of as Heaven. They are just moving on."

I nodded, already having figured it out. Then what he was hinting at hit me. "Are you saying some demons have set up the same but tricked spirits to get trapped in Hell?"

"Are you shocked demons would be that horrible?" Michelle grumbled as she took one of the boxes from me and got it set up.

"No, I'm shocked it's allowed," I admitted, not hiding that it pissed me off.

"Dead or alive, souls have free will," Brax reminded me.

"No, I call bullshit on that," Helen cut in. "They didn't have a choice in being called back here or kept here because of rules they might not understand. Or they couldn't move on because of their damn family not letting go. Asking for help—that's not their fault if they don't know demons could trick them into going to Hell when they're good people after they're fucking dead!"

"Yeah, I'm with her on this one," I drawled when all three angels looked at her with matching stunned expressions. "That's an ocean-sized loophole of bullshit. You live your life to be good or bad and end up where you end up. Or you get delayed here before you go where you should. That's the natural order and—why can't you abduct souls then?"

"We wouldn't want the bad ones to taint our plane," Michelle said easily.

"Right, but you could stick them somewhere else so they didn't go to their numbers. You don't do it because it's wrong. You know it is," I pushed.

" I agree," she said firmly, shooting her brothers a nasty look. "I always have. I was not the only one, but agreeing with something even that trivial made some nervous I was on the side of one I should not be instead of logic."

They really did have a sibling "fall," and there was some sort of Devil. That was the only way the puzzle I was starting to put together fit.

But something didn't add up, Ikuyo and I sharing a glance.

"If your sibling who left the service of your plane disagreed with that, why would he allow the plane of Hell to do such things?" she asked, putting together what I had.

Not that it had been hard with the hints we were getting.

Brax snorted. "Spite. My guess would be spite." He gave me a glance practically begging to leave it alone. "I think we do need to revisit the topic especially with the cheating."

"More than that, the souls who lived good lives and were promised that meant something don't deserve eternal punishment and torture because they weren't protected in the afterlife," Helen snapped. "Everything is too fucking fucked up!"

I winced when she teleported away, rubbing the back of my neck. I glanced at the angels. "She does not blow or get that upset. You need to understand that. Helen is—"

"Maybe the most even-tempered and emotionally controlled person I've ever known," Ikuyo praised. "Soraya and I are hot-tempered, but Helen controls the situation and breaks later. Privately. Certainly not in front of those who could obliterate her or make a mess for Soraya."

"I've never seen her so upset," Brax confirmed. "Even with everything else that's been thrown at her." He glanced at me then.

"We've lost people, love," I whispered. "A lot of them over the years. Those we couldn't save, and—my heart is broken at the idea that the ones I was too late to save rot in Hell on top of their lives being cut short. I'm not sure I'll ever sleep again with that guilt on me. Helen's been here for a lot and seen too much as well even if she's not the fighter.

"She's cleaned up the pieces and mess after. She's kept me from imploding when I arrived too late and found women burned at the stake for being so-called witches. The only comfort we've had was they were at peace with you lot. Now they might not be? I'm ready to fucking explode as well, but I'm too fucking tired of everything being so fucking unfair."

My face was wet with tears and I couldn't even see any of them. I waved off what they might say and got the other boxes set up, saying to fix this mistake and help the souls. That was what mattered right then and what my heart needed.

Michelle summoned the last ciemny tygrys once all the boxes were open and they were released. Then she called the demon who had started all of this, getting the name from one of them, and trapped him as well. She promised me she would handle this with their siblings.

And I absolutely trusted her with this.

"Let me know how many I failed and when it's done please," I whispered before teleporting back home.