“There’s no sodding way in hell I’m going through that, mate,” Blaise said as he backed away from the archway in the throne room.
Red, jagged rocks formed the arch for the portal as black globs of goo moved through it like a whirlpool. The guys stared at it with disgust while Aziel snickered from beside me.
“It’s a portal,” I told them, and one of the goo pockets popped, making a sloshing sound.
“Yeah, and I’m with Blaise on this one, Lilith.” Kai took another step back. “It’s bloody gross.”
Thaddeus shook his head. “Portals in the living realm don’t look like that.”
Aziel scoffed. “You’re not in the living realm anymore.”
“Don’t remind me.” He speared him with a glare.
Slapping my hand on the warm, black crystal above the archway, a bolt of magic shuttered through me as I set it to teleport to my room.
It was strange how distinctly I remembered how to do things down here. My soul was the same, but I was more whole than ever with my memories intact. It was no wonder I always felt out-of-place growing up.
“Shut up and go through the fucking portal.” I stuck my leg forward into the thick goo, and my jeans suctioned to my skin. Moving in, it took my breath as I walked through to the other side.
Torrid air filled my lungs as I stepped into my old room.
The room hadn’t changed in the last millennium. The walls still pulsated red, giving a soft glow to the space, and the floors were still clay. A king-size bed was positioned in the middle on top of a shaggy black rug. The comforter was black, as were the sheets and pillow shams, just as I preferred.
Black was a comfortable color for me.
The guys stepped through shortly after, each one gasping for air as they stumbled in.
“Bloody hell, that thing is fucking wild.” Blaise raked his fingers through his hair.
“I’ll get used to it...eventually.” Kai looked back at it, his soft voice riddled with uncertainty.
“It’s not much different from the one’s back home, minus the appearance,” Thaddeus said, crossing his arms as he glanced around the room with that scrutinizing expression.
Aziel chuckled, prowling forward and planting a kiss on my cheek before he sprawled out on the bed.
“It’s weird being home,” I murmured, kicking off the tennis shoes and socks before plunging my feet into the dry clay.
The heat bolted through my legs, further pushing the home narrative. I’d never worn shoes prior to my human life, other than for battle. They were constricting, and my feet would sweat. My advanced healing and tougher skin made it unnecessary, anyway.
“I’ve missed you more than you know, my beloved,” Aziel said, eyes glued to my every movement. “It’s been fucking torture without you.”
“I can imagine.” I sucked my bottom lip, padding my feet over the rug, dusting off the clay before sitting next to him. Nostalgia swooped through me.
Aziel was my guard long before he was my lover. He protected me from the moment my father created him, pledging his life to me.
I found him overbearing more than anything and made his life in Hell...well, Hell.
I got into so much shit that he had to bail me out of, but when I was thrown into the arranged marriage, our dynamic changed. Aziel became so much more to me than just my guard, and I ended everything for him.
I’d do it all again, even if it meant my downfall.
“I’m sorry, Aziel.” I trailed my fingertips down his tensed jaw.
His muscles relaxed under my touch. “Never be sorry. It was my fault.”
“It wasn’t.”
“Sorry to interrupt, but I’m still gobsmacked that not only are you the Crimson Demon we’ve been searching for, but you’re bloodyLilith,” Kai sputtered, shaking his head back and forth. His locks swayed with the motion.
