* * *
Roxy sliced her hand, then curling her fingers into a fist, she closed her eyes and let her blood drip on the stones by her feet. They immediately rumbled to life, rolling and reforming, until they created our gateway from the Outer Realm back into Limbo.
I watched from the cage as Rox trembled, her powers still so weak after being surrounded by blessed silver for so long that she was struggling to maintain her hold on it. Seeing her like that lit fire in my gut and sent my fury higher.
Sera grabbed her arm before she could step through and shoved Roxy’s confiscated phone into her hand. “Contact Death’s mate, tell her you and Lothar are passing through, that you have Beelzebub and can’t stop for pleasantries.”
Roxy took the phone. “If I use the word pleasantries, she’ll think I’ve been body-snatched by someone with a stick shoved up their ass, so how about you leave the script to me.”
Outrage transformed Sera’s face. “Watch how you speak to me, handmaid.”
“What are you gonna do, torture me?” Roxy said, not looking up from her phone as she typed out her message. When she was done, she handed the phone back to Sera. “Does that meet your approval?”
Sera read over it. “Send it.”
Roxy took the phone back and hit send. “I forget sometimes how behind you are with technology. I guess when you were last walking the earth, they were still using parchment and ink?”
“Are you trying to anger me, Roxana? Because I assure you, you won’t like?—”
Roxy’s hand shot up when her phone beeped, cutting her off. “We got a reply.” She clicked open the message. “She gave us the go-ahead.” She looked up at Seraphina. “So what’s your plan? We just waltz on through and cross our fingers that Death won’t notice there’s a fallen angel in his realm?”
Seraphina looked as if she were ready to tear Roxy apart. I’d guess it’d been a long time since someone had disrespected her like that. I didn’t know what was going on, but it seemed like Roxy was pushing her, testing her. Either that or she’d developed a death wish.
The beast snarled, unhappy, wanting to get closer, to protect her, but I was able to subdue him without too much effort. Something had definitely changed. He wasn’t as loud, like his thoughts and feelings were muted by my own, especially when we weren’t in full accord. I was sure, no, positive, that we were almost completely one again. It couldn’t happen fast enough for me.
“You’d love that, wouldn’t you?” Sera said, a triumphant look on her face. “But my powers have only strengthened, even during my confinement. Death will only know I’m in Limbo if I choose it.” She turned to Beelzebub then. “Get in the cage,” she snapped, before her gaze slid to me. “You’ll be pulling the cart, and if you or Roxana attempt to escape, I will activate your collars and you will both lose your heads.”
Beelzebub opened the cage and I got out. The buzz in my head and the drain on my powers eased instantly. I stretched and cracked my neck, then kicked the cage shut behind Beelzebub, locking him inside, where that fucker belonged.
Sera let her robe fall then, underneath she wore leather pants and jacket.
“Who are you supposed to be?” Roxy asked, taking in the outfit that was almost exactly the same as hers.
“If we’re stopped for any reason, you will tell Death that I’m one of your sisters,” Sera said.
Roxy huffed out a laugh. “No one would ever believe that.”
“I’m dressed exactly like you,” Sera snapped.
“Yeah, but we’re warriors, and you’re just a cunt playing dress-up.”
Sera’s arm shot out in front of her, and Roxy dropped to the ground. Sera advanced, lifting her hand, and Roxy grabbed at her throat as blood slid down from beneath her collar.
“Stop,” I roared and charged forward.
Sera’s other hand shot up, aimed at me. “Stop where you are, beast, or I decapitate your mate.”
I stopped in my tracks and snarled, watching as Roxy gasped for breath. Then, still holding her throat, Roxy grinned wide, blood coating her teeth. Then she lifted her other hand and flipped Sera off.
“Stop,” I roared again, and not just at Seraphina.
All I wanted to do was tear the angel to bloody shreds, but Sera needed us both, and I had to believe that she wouldn’t be stupid enough to kill Roxy, not yet anyway. I curled my fingers into tight fists as the evil bitch leaned in and said something for Roxy’s ears only.
Rox bared her teeth but nodded.
Finally, Sera released her hold, and going by the way Roxy’s body slumped in relief, Sera had retracted the silver spikes she’d at least partially shoved into Roxy’s throat.
Seraphina straightened, her face a mask of twisted serenity. “This is where we part with our demon companions. Get ready to tow that cage,” she said to me.
