“Enough with the fucking marks!” he roared. The floor vibrated with his voice. “They control no one. Your siblings—” He scoffed. “They’re being led to believe they love thesematesyou keep calling them. But the truth?” His eyes burned hotter. “Those marks are nothing more than an anchor the angels created to counteract my curses.”
He grabbed my wrist, his grip like iron.
“So why,” he hissed, “aren’t you bent over in agony right now? Gluttony should be tearing you apart.” His gaze searched my face like a blade against skin. “Is it me?”
I didn’t answer. Couldn’t.
The moment hung heavy between us.
His expression twisted into something darker—suspicion bleeding into something primal.
And my stomach dropped.
“Just because you could never love me doesn’t mean the marks are anchors,” I snapped. “Whatever they are, my siblings found something beautiful in the hell you gave them—and that pisses you off.”
“I don’t care about your siblings.” His tone was empty.
“You don’t care about anything,” I shot back. “Except some hollow obsession taking over the human world. For what? You said it yourself—you’ve lost touch, taste—”
“Kara.” My name came out low, a warning growling from his chest.
But I didn’t stop.
“I’m trying to understand, damn it. Why is unleashing evil some twisted thrill for you and Harvest? Does it really make you happy? Ruling over a world where no one is happy?”
He recoiled like I’d slapped him. His eyes flared, and the fury was instant.
“You think happiness exists without the pain?” he hissed. “I assure you, it doesn’t. There is no pleasure without suffering. No joy without sorrow. One defines the other.”
“All of those things existed before the end,” I whispered, shaking my head. “Now it’s just torment. All the joy—gone. And you’re fine with that?”
A twisted smile tugged at his lips.
“I’ll find joy in one thing,” he said, voice like poison. “Your father realizing his existence didn’t matter. And the angels?” He leaned in. “I’ve waited centuries to show them everything they did—all their efforts—meant nothing.”
My eyes widened as I studied the Devil. There was a frantic gleam in his expression, something raw and unguarded. It made me sad—and I wasn’t sure why.
“So, it’s just payback then?” I asked quietly. “You want to destroy what’s left of the human world…for revenge?”
He flashed those wicked fangs at me, teeth sharp as his tone. “Of course.”
“Why?”
His gaze intensified. “Come on. Look at me—and tell me you don’t see why.”
I frowned, trying to follow his meaning. Because he was…a monster? A prisoner? I didn’t understand. He must have read my confusion because he swiped his claw-tipped fingers through the air and let out a low growl.
“I’m trapped here. I have been since my exile.”
“But... you came to the woods to get me,” I said. “And you’ve shown up in other places. My dad said—”
“Brief spells,” he interrupted. “Always brief. I’m always pulled back.” He stepped closer, voice harder now. “Tell me, Kara…would you spend eternity down here, alone?”
I held his gaze. “I’m sure you weren’t always alone.”
He stopped in front of me, looming like a storm. A beast in every sense.
“You’re right,” he said coldly. “I’m eternal. I’ve had many partners over the centuries.”
