He jerked away like my hand burned him. His expression broke something inside me. He’d never looked at me like that before—like I was something vile.
Alexei had known his plan would work. But I would never willingly let Alexei kiss or touch me, so I had to weave a convincing illusion. The only way I figured Ronen wouldn’t suspect me was if Oliver acted like he was forcing Ronen into his fears.
I should’ve been proud. I’d successfully infiltrated the mind of the second-most powerful angel in Hell. Instead, I felt sick.
He couldn’t think it had been real… right? I’d never do that to him.
But if it wasn’t that, then why was he trembling? Why did he clench his fists until his knuckles cracked?
His fear gutted me. His distance made my feet twitch, wanting to comfort him.
“Ronen, look at me.” Alexei reached out to grab his shoulders.
He luscelered back, shadows bristling, and unsheathed a Soul Sword.
“Hey,” Alexei said, palms up. “It’s just me. Alexei.”
Ronen’s gaze darted between the three of us, eyes gleaming with panic and rage. His hands shook, white-knuckling the hilt. His shadows lashed out, forcing us back.
“Come any closer and I will kill you.”
I stiffened.
Kill us?
What had I done? Did something go wrong when I was in his mind?
“Ronen, you’re okay,” Alexei said, voice soft, coaxing. “You’re safe. You’re with people who care about you.”
“I am not your slave anymore!”
His wings burst free in a violent flare of power, and I stumbled back, shaken by the ferocity in his voice.
“Don’t—” Alexei lurched forward.
But Ronen was already gone, shooting into the gray sky.
I stood there, breathless, heart hammering, watching the dark blur of him disappear.
Devastated.
Chapter
Thirty-Nine
LUCILLE
Iwoke up in the last place I ever wanted to be. My chest ached as little firewings zapped around me, their vibrant color warning me back. If they landed on my bare skin, they’d bite and swarm, devouring me in heat and torment. Still, that wouldn’t compare to how I felt on the inside.
“Take me out,” I whispered to my power. “Let me leave, please,” I begged.
Why was I even here?
I dropped my head.
I knew why. Aspen had told me.
He told me how to tap into them because he knew how. Then he covered up his confident words with lies and kisses.
