Unknowing.
Naive.
Trusting.
Kind-hearted.
All the things I am not, and just a few of the many things that inspire me to protect her with unparalleled ferocity, and have now brought me a hairsbreadth away from snapping his neck. As if he can sense it, his eyes slide to mine. Violette follows his gaze, frowning at the sight of my barely restrained rage.
As much as she deserves to know the truth, I will not risk her well-being by breaking her heart before we travel into treacherous territory where she will eventually attempt to kill a god—and thus whoever will attempt to stand in her way.
“Levi mentioned something about you two having a little disagreement. It’ll only make things more dangerous for us if we’re distracted by unnecessary hurt or resentments, not to mention turning what could be an enjoyable experience into something excruciating. Why don’t we settle this before we begin our journey together?”
My hands ball into fists at my sides.
Azrael holds my gaze.
He draws in a deep breath before turning off the burner, plating the pancake, and delicately using a pair of tongs to collect a variety of other pristinely sliced, diced, and prepared accoutrements such as fruit, sausage, and an omelette. He hands it to Violette before pouring a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice and ushering her towards the booth with a view of the valley.
“What a splendid idea, darling. Why don’t you go ahead and eat without us before it gets cold, while Levi and I head outside to settle our qualms?”
Violette narrows her eyes, darting between each of us, and then her food. Licks her lips. Hesitates. Lifts her head to glare at us.
“Fine. I don’t care what you have to do to get it out of your systems. Just make sure that the moment we step through the portal into Selcarim, you leave whateverthistension is behind, or I’ll kill you both myself. Understood?”
Pure adoration shines in Azrael’s eyes, lingering on Violette before pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “As you wish, precious seraphim.”
LEVI
The front door shuts behind me with a click. My heartbeat is a steady thump, but I can feel the effects of cortisol trickling in. With a relaxed gait, Azrael strides out towards the treeline—away from the gravel and earshot of Violette. I follow him.
Even after drinking Violette’s blood, I’m still a few inches shorter than him, but am slightly broader. He stops at the edge of the forest, turning to face me. “Shall I hold back?”
A bark of surprised laughter rumbles out of me. “How about you don’t hold back, and I won’t use any weapons or magic? Sound fair?”
Azrael chuckles. “You’re an absolute delight.”
He patiently awaits my approach, looking me up and down as he licks a single fang.If I weren’t so angry and disappointed, the sight might have thickened my cock…
Said appendage twitches its disagreement.
Apparently, my cock doesn’t care about my resentments because it’s already half-chubbed.
Azrael flashes me a grin and, for the first time, I get a glimpse of what might be the blood-thirsty monster leashed beneath his charming facade.
“Oh,is that for me?”
“Fuck you.”
His grin widens, his stance following suit. “Do you promise?”
As soon as I’m within half a body’s length away, I dive forward, feinting right. Azrael anticipates it, sidestepping, but my arms swing wide to collect his waist. Driving my shoulder into his diaphragm, his body hits the ground beneath us with a thud, and the airwheezesfrom his lungs.
“Fuck me, you weigh as much as the godsdamned Titanic.”
My voice is reduced to a snarl. “Duplicitous fucking snake.”
We scramble for dominance, but I succeed in mounting him—my legs splayed across his waist—as my fist connects with his face. A sickening crunch follows, followed by another. Somehow, despite the pain, he’s able to bridge his body and reverse our positions before I can land a third.