18. Azazel

Iknew she was with me before I opened my eyes when her sweet, inviting smell filtered through my entire being. Her warm skin felt like heaven as my fingertips ran up her arm. Her presence reminded me why I fought in this war–for her. For a woman who made my heart beat and my entire being glow. I nuzzled my face into her soft hair and threw my leg over hers. She slotted her knee between my legs, and we were a perfect fit, like two pieces of a whole joining together.

"Please tell me this isn't a dreamscape Bash weaved," I rasped, holding on tightly to her. After everything that happened between us, I never wanted to let go.

"No, although he dropped by to see us while you were sleeping. He said once we're both awake and settled, my fathers plan to visit. We should soak up our time together while we can," she said around a dry laugh.

"Agreed," I murmured. My wing was shot right where the bone connects with my shoulder blade. The aching pain was manageable as long as I kept them close to my back.

She ran her hand up my arm, her magic seeping into my skin. I opened my eyes to see her staring back at me, her face wrinkled with worry. She had a dull gold glow that would have looked ethereal if it weren't for the harsh infirmary lights.

"Talk to me, what's wrong?" I asked her. She had stopped confiding in me since she left, but I'd always be here if she needed me.

"Zaz, I'm sorry I left and shut you out…" she started to say, then bit her lip. "I didn't know how else to handle my pain, and if I knew it would fray our bond and allow you to be in so much pain, I would have stayed," she whispered. Her lips brushed my cheek, and my heart ached knowing she was so upset.

"Angel, you don't need to apologize to me. I deserved it, and you needed some time to yourself. It's been full steam ahead into a life you never chose since the day you left Brooklyn."

"But I'm glad it chose me, Zaz, because it brought me to you. I love you. You're the most understanding man I know, and I don't want distance anymore. Are we okay?"

I rolled on top of her, wincing at the sharp pain that shot up my left wing. Her frown let me know she felt it too. Balancing on my forearms, I took her breath away, melding our lips together until she melted into me.

"We're always okay. I love you too," I assured her as I kissed down her neck.

Her soft, breathy sigh had desire pooling in my stomach. She ran her fingers through my hair, pulling my mouth further down until it hovered over her hospital gown.

"There's a tie keeping the gown together on the side…" The suggestion was clear, and I ran the tie through my fingers, pulling it until it fell open, the top sliding down and exposing her breast. I nipped at her pebbled nipple, then sucked it into my mouth and teased it with my tongue, relishing how sinful she tasted. I wanted to devour this woman—take her apart with every kiss and scrape of my teeth against her skin—until she was nothing but a desperate, babbling mess who couldn't exist without my mouth pleasuring her.

Someone cleared their throat behind us, and without thinking, my wings fanned out to cover her nudity. The pain shot through us both, but I didn't want anyone seeing her like this who wasn't supposed to.

"Calm down, it's just me," Ares said. My wings retracted, giving him room to cram his massive body next to us in bed. He rolled onto his side, propping his head in his hand. His bicep bulged under his shirt, straining the fabric.

Diana giggled, looking between us. "Ares, what's up?" she asked in the patient voice she only used for him.

"Well, now that I caught you two smooching, I want one too," he said before he leaned down and kissed Diana. He threaded his hands through her hair, kissing her until she was a panting mess.

"Maybe two," he amended.

He leaned over her and kissed me, his lips unyielding as his hands roamed up my abs and over my pecs. Ugh, his hands. They're so rough. He threaded his fingers through my hair, pulling me toward Diana's lips. I kissed the corner of her mouth. She squirmed beneath me, and the feel of her body under mine drove me wild. I needed this woman more than I needed air.

The footfall of sure, steady steps interrupted me. "You three, break it up. Lucifer is on his way. We have shit to discuss," Desmond ordered. His bossy tone hit me right in the groin.

"Sure thing, Des," I said casually, shooting him a playful glance. He smugly grinned at breaking up my fun.

"I'm warding the room next time. Just because you haven't gotten any from any of us since Diana left doesn't mean you have to ruin our threesome," Ares grumbled.

"There's always later," Diana sighed as she shoved Ares out of bed. "If Desmond doesn't act like a jerk, maybe he can watch…"

Desmond misstepped, catching himself before it was noticeable. Rolling his eyes, he checked his tablet. Diana stood and snapped her fingers, changing into black joggers and a plain white tee. I stayed in bed, opting to just wear sweatpants because of my injury. And because being shirtless would catch my Angel's attention—she had a thing for shirtless men in sweatpants and I had no guilt about exploiting her kink. Ares was right, I had to chase her.

A knock at the door was all the warning we got before Lucifer and Bain came in. Lucifer sat in the second chair next to Diana and Ares, but Bain eyed Diana like she was a rabid animal, keeping his distance from her. I hadn't seen what she did after I was shot down, but I heard the nurses talking when they thought I was asleep.

She commanded the spirits…and they almost ate Red alive.

My brother told me he thought she was going to send the entire place crashing down… She made the entire compound earthquake.

Her body…disappeared. I can't say it…so disturbing.

I had thought they were exaggerating… but if a man like Bain was keeping his distance, there had to be some merit to their claims.

"How are you feeling, Azazel?" Lucifer asked in a no nonsense, direct tone.

"Like I got shot out of flight," I answered dryly as I used the band around my wrist to pull my hair back.

"That's to be expected." Bain's hollow voice made me flinch. I don't think I'd ever get used to it the way the others have.

"Dad, put me out of my misery and chew me out already." A bit of impatience bled through her steady tone, but I silently commended her for cutting to the chase. You had to be direct with the Prince of Darkness sometimes.

"You didn't do anything wrong, per say. Bain and I want to have a conversation about what happened–and how it happened."

"How does someone who, no offense, could barely get an orchid to bloom harness the power of a powerful Bone Whisperer?" Bain interrogated her. "Make it make sense, Diana."

"I was angry…I thought he killed Zaz," she trailed off, most likely not knowing what else to say. She stared at the landscape painting on the wall, not making eye contact with any of us.

"When I was monitoring Diana, before we took her to her new home, she got into a fight with Nonna and Angie. She caused an earthquake then, too. I think Bain's power and the spirits' residual magic is why it was so strong," Ares suggested.

"That tracks, but it's not what I'm concerned about," Lucifer started, but then Michael came in, taking all of the man's focus with him. Anyone within a hundred mile radius was suffocated by the sexual tension between these two whenever they were around each other.

"I apologize for being late… I had an impromptu call." He sat on the edge of my bed, smiling at me. "Good to see you're on the mend, Azazel."

"A call with who?" Lucifer frowned.

"God… Diana's magic was felt all the way up…" the two men gave each other a knowing look and turned to their daughter.

"I'm concerned that you didn't just tap into Bain's magic. You channeled his form. Your body flickered and we saw your skeleton through your skin," Lucifer explained.

"She what?" I had to hear that wrong. Practicing necromancy, even at a high level like Desmond's didn't make you straddle the veil–only a Bone Whisperer could do that.

"I can play the memory for you if you want to see. It was some of the strangest, most astounding magic I've seen," Ares offered, in awe of Diana's abilities.

Well fuck.

"You scared Red's forces…and our own soldiers. The optics weren't great, but it got the job done…" Lucifer mused.

"Fuck the optics. She could have done some serious damage. I checked the veil, and there was no permanent impact or tearing. It's a fragile balance, Diana. You could have altered something you weren't able to fix," Bain snapped at her.

I knew Diana was a good woman, but her temper and emotions had a habit of amplifying her magic, which could be dangerous if it wasn't controlled. That didn't give Bain the right to talk to her that way though.

Ares stood from his seat and squared his shoulders. "You watch your tone. She didn't know what she was doing," he growled.

A charged energy crackled through the air, the two men's magic feeling each other out like a supernatural pissing match. I hated male posturing usually, but Ares made it look good with the way his muscles flexed and the cunning tilt of his head.

"Doesn't change the fact that her actions and lack of judgment have consequences." Bain wasn't as large as Ares, but he had an unmistakable air of danger that set my teeth on edge. I didn't want to see these two fight, especially in my small room with Diana in the crosshairs. Her anxiety was mounting, drowning our soulbond.

Ares took a few steps, but before he attacked, I interjected, "I think we can agree that Diana didn't mean any harm, and that there's no need for any misplaced anger or fighting. I'm recovering and prefer a quiet, stress free room." I laid back in my bed, sighing for effect. They backed off, and Ares sat back down.

Thank you,Diana linked me.

"Agreed, but I think we need to explore how Diana is even able to do this," Michael reasoned. "I'm not even sure how we'd do it. Usually, magical beings grow up with their magic and it has time to develop with them throughout their lives. But you're accelerating at such a fast rate, it's hard to keep up with you."

Diana shrugged, leaning her hip and shoulder against the wall. I patted the bed, and she sat next to me.

I know that look. There's nothing wrong with you, and we'll figure out how to navigate this like we have with every new change,I assured her, wrapping my arm around her side.

I hope you're right, Zaz.She buried her face in my neck.

"I may know someone. She's Judas' old friend. I'll see if she can be of service." Bain said, then faded away.

"I don't think this is anything to worry about yet, but we'll keep an eye on it. Michael, can you fill me in on the call you had?" Lucifer pointedly asked.

The two faded out with Desmond, leaving Ares, Diana, and me behind. Ares carefully squished his way back into bed, practically smothering Diana. "No worries, Little G. We'll make it work. This is going to be a battle-changer. I'm going to check in with Judas. You two rest up, and I'll stop by later today for some more kisses." He waggled his eyebrows at us before slowly fading from the room.