16. Eris

ERIS

The mate bond had withered away nearly to the point of no existence. I could have let it, over the centuries I spent fighting for my life as an angel cast out of the heavens and into the dark depths of the celestial realm. I refused, though. I would not let Aeternaphiel take my best chance to deliver him to justice, so I held tight to it. I held onto the mate bond even as my celestial soul, once full of righteous fury, turned dark and tattered from the corruption of darkness.

All that effort of keeping that bond there, maintaining the last delicate strings tying me to the angel who was supposed to love me, is worth it now. That spiderweb-thin connection pulsates with the powers of fate. Gods, divinities, nature—whatever it is that creates the bonds of mates. Consuming Aeternaphiel’s soul revitalizes the bond between our bodies. Because my mate’s soul is within me, I can track him in a way I couldn’t since he threw me into the pits of the underworld and slammed the grate shut.

I’d sworn to have my justice that day, as he didn’t even bother looking at me while closing the grates and leaving me to the denizens of our enemies. I had been a high-ranking general in the celestial army, fighting and killing demons and the rest of the creatures of rot and ruin. Life had not been easy in those first few months, but I survived. I became a demon after once being renowned for killing them.

Fuck justice. Now I only want revenge.

“Where?” Cassandra asks, the poor witch. Even though I’m no longer possessing her body, I can feel her concern for her mate. One of the worst parts of possessing her for so long was enduring the love of her mate as it spread through our connection. I would never allow myself to feel such love for another. It’s impossible, anyways.

I incline my head towards the east. “That way,” I say, turning and striding along the drive. The home Aeternaphiel had settled in as William Egress burns behind me. The only sadness I feel about that is that he isn’t hog-tied in the middle of it.

Cassandra races to catch up to me, her heart erratic as she strains to keep up with my stride. I could be there within the next heartbeat, so she should be grateful I’m leading her there.

Ambrose follows, along with his pet Kasar. So long as they don’t interfere, I don’t give a fuck what the vampires do.

“Leave Aeternaphiel to me,” I growl. “Don’t be stupid and try to go right to Ashe. He’ll use him for leverage and if you want your precious mate alive or mostly intact, I suggest you hold back that temper I know you have.”

I grin at her sputters but don’t bother looking at her. She doesn’t deny it. She can’t. I know her better than even her mate at this point.

A single-story, long barn with shiplap siding comes into view as we cross the manicured lawns and weave between leafless trees. Cicadas buzz in the night and the heat of the day lingers even as the moon moves higher into the sky. It’s fitting that I confront Aeternaphiel in the dark of night, since he’s the reason I’ve become a creature of chaos and darkness. The only lights are the two barn lights illuminating the area in front of the door, insects swarming the yellow light.

“He has basic wards up,” Cassandra says. The brush of her magic is familiar as it ripples out from her and seeks out weaknesses in Aeternaphiel’s protection. “Want me to take them down?”

“Not yet. Not until we’re about to go in. I want to take him by surprise.”

“No doubt he’s aware of the house going up in flames,” Ambrose observes as he and Kasar arrive on either side of us.

I incline my head. “Nice of you to join us,” I say first. The vampire king walks easily beside me, hands in his pockets as if he’s on a midnight stroll with his own queen. “Aeternaphiel will know his fire trap was triggered, but he is likely to assume whomever triggered it has perished in the flames. That fire was spelled to consume anyone that was not him.”

Kasar snorts. “Clever.”

Cassandra nods in understanding. “You ate his soul, so the fire let you pass.”

I click my lips, pointing at her. “Exactly.”

When we approach the area illuminated by the barn lights, I incline my head to the witch. She steps forward, raising both of her palms. The air swirls around us, the sound of nonexistent leaves rustling in the wind drowning out the real world. With a hard tearing motion, Cassandra’s magic rips down the bright magic coating the building. Brutal but effective.

“Remember, he’s mine,” I say once more for the vampires.

“Our brother is our priority,” Ambrose states, readying himself, daggers in hand.

I don’t wait another moment. I raise my knee and slam my foot in the center of the barn door, sending it splintering inwards. Ambrose and Kasar are on my heels as I sprint inside. Cassandra follows behind us, her magic writhing around her and eager to be released. I find my target immediately, baring my teeth and hissing.

“Eris. How unexpected.”

Aeternaphiel, the male who’d once meant everything to me, greets me as if he hadn’t destroyed my life for his personal gain.

I breathe deep, settling myself. Aeternaphiel wants me to lose control. It was the only way he could ever best me in training. I cock my head, ignoring Ashe’s bloody body hanging limply by his wrists behind him. “Why? Because you cast me to the depths of Hell for your crimes? Or because you thought that siphoning blade of yours would have drained me of my life force on your behalf?”

Cassandra is tense beside me but I can’t look away from the archangel for a moment. Not when he’s so unpredictable. Any suggestion of distraction and he could strike out. He was the master of patience when it came to combat.

Aeternaphiel purses his lips in disappointment, but then raises a brow as he sees the witch. “Perhaps I was too hasty when I judged you innocent of this demon’s aberrations.”

I’ll give Cassandra credit. She doesn’t cower.

“Release my mate. You’ve no right to keep him.”

The male watches her, then looks at Ambrose and Kasar. He shrugs, indifferent. He takes three steps to the side where a long industrial cable hangs with a button box at the end and presses it. “He’s more trouble than it’s worth, it seems. Pity. We were having fun.”

Ashe, his bindings suddenly released from where they were attached to the chains, crumples to the floor. His body hits the cement with a loud thud, drawing a gasp from Cassandra and twin snarls from the vampires. When she steps forward, I catch her arm, keeping her back.

“Step away from him,” I order Aeternaphiel.

He backs away, hands raised, with an expression of innocent cooperation. I keep ahold of Cassandra while Kasar and Ambrose approach the injured male. Kasar keeps his gaze on the archangel the entire time, while Ambrose rouses Ashe enough to get the male to loop his arm over his shoulder. Ambrose hauls him upright; Kasar steps into Ashe’s other side under his arm. Ashe is weak but conscious enough to attempt walking. Broken, haggard stumbling is more accurate in my opinion.

When they finally turn their backs on the archangel, Aeternaphiel slowly resumes his place at the center of the room, hands in his pockets. He’s wearing expensive tailored pants and a shirt, the shirt sleeves rolled neatly up. No doubt to try to spare his clothing the stains of Ashe’s blood.

I let go of Cassandra when the vampires are in front of us. She goes to Ashe, cupping his bloodied face with her hands. She murmurs something I make a point not to hear and meet Ambrose’s eyes. He nods once in silent understanding. With a nudge, he moves them forward. Cassandra sends me a concerned look, an offer in her eyes to stay. I decline in a quick, sharp shake. This isn’t her fight. It never was.

In the end, it was always going to be just me and Aeternaphiel.

I return my attention to the male I’d loved as the four make their way out of the barn. The sounds of engines and then doors opening and closing let me know that they weren’t alone out there.

“I never intended for you to suffer,” Aeternaphiel states when it’s only us.

I cut him off with a snort. “Save me the bullshit. I know you as you really are. You were willing to sacrifice your mate to gain control over the celestial realm.” I tilt my head with a sickly-sweet smile. “Doesn’t look like it worked out too well for you.”

Aeternaphiel’s once beautiful face twists in rage. “You could have been my queen!” he spits out. “You were the one who betrayed me. Going behind my back to whisper in the council’s ears. Poisoning them against me. I saved you. They wanted your head on a pike.”

I scoff. “Only because you’d convinced them I was the one planning a coup. Better my head than yours?”

He raises his chin in arrogance, the righteous anger I used to admire burning in his eyes. “I was meant for more. I could still help our people, even if it cost me you.”

I raise my hand to idly inspect my sharp talons, then turn the hand palm out and study my nails. “All for nothing, as it seems. Else you wouldn’t be here on Earth, turning to dark magic to prevent your death at another celestial’s hand.” I drop my hand, looking at him with wide eyes. “Oh, right. That hasn’t worked out for you either.”

He furrows his brows, eyes flicking in the direction of the house. His nostrils flare with agitation and he takes several steps closer, only stopping out of reach. “What did you do this time?”

I drop the act and meet his glare with one of my own. I’m done playing this game. “Cassandra severed the protective spells on your soul. Interesting thing about demons, Ae. We eat them. Yours was surprisingly better than I expected. Not much taint of rot.”

“You lie.”

I cock my head. “Do I?” I let out a humorless laugh. “Why don’t you let me slit your throat and you can find out.”

Either my taunt pushes him too far or he’s determined to truly kill me, but Aeternaphiel snaps his hand to the side and summons his celestial blade.

I don’t have mine, thanks to him melting it away when I was still in Cassandra’s body. I do have the bone-hilted obsidian blade Ambrose passed me when he clasped my hand.

I roll my neck with a pleased sigh, before raising the dagger and meeting Aeternaphiel’s stony face. “I’m going to enjoy this.”