SEVEN
Lilith
I must’ve fallen asleep after many attempts of trying, and failing, to use my powers. I racked my brain with so many fucking ideas to escape from an inescapable room. It was bullshit. I tried summoning Aziel, Titan, Priamos, and Baylor to no avail. And because of my shitty healing, my palm throbbed with an annoying pain. Running my fingers over the spot where my fang sliced into it, the wound was still there.
“Fuck.” I knew the guys would be worried sick, and I tried reaching out to Blaise’s mind, willing my thoughts to reach him as a last resort. Obviously, it didn’t fucking work. But I was more than desperate.
I hated the thought of Gabriel being able to reach me whenever he wanted and overpower me if he decided to.
I have to get out of here.
As I stretched my stiff limbs out, the soft comforter moved against my skin, and I froze. I didn’t pull the cover over me last night...Gabriel had been here, and I hadn’t been aware of him at all.
A sharp chill zipped down my spine, attempting to spread an icy awareness through the fog settling over me. That was so fucking stupid. Why had I fallen asleep?
I couldn’t hold back the yawn or shake the sleepiness from my body. Whatever this fucking bracelet was didn’t just stop the use of my powers, but it tore down my energy like no other.
Throwing the thick cotton blanket off, I swung my legs to the side and got out of bed. The chilliness in the room seemed to soak into my bones, which was strange. When he’d teleported us here, I didn’t notice the temperature being one way or the other.
My gaze scanned over the spotless, white resin near the bathtub. All traces of my blood were gone, which verified my suspicion that Gabriel had been here while I was asleep. I’d never been a heavy sleeper, even when I was human. That fact disturbed me.
What else could he have done while I was asleep?
After running my hand through my hair, I glared at the damn bracelet. The coppery metal wired around itself in specific symbol-like motions around my wrist, still biting into my skin. “If only I knew what these fucking symbols meant,” I muttered.
They were vaguely familiar, but I’d never paid enough attention to my studies with ancient symbols in the past. I couldn’t recall which supernatural history they were from, let alone what they meant.
A flash of white light filled the room, and I stumbled back, squeezing my eyes shut.
“Oh, good. You’re awake,” Gabriel said.
My eyes stung behind my lids as they watered. Blinking a few times, I cursed this fucking bracelet again. How the fuck had I become so weak so fast? Surely it was something more than a power blocker?
“How about a fucking warning next time?” My bitter voice echoed in the room.
“Why would you need a warning, Lil? Last I heard you were some badass demon,” a soft, kind voice said that sent ripples of recognition through me.
I pried my eyes open, spots still swimming in my vision from the light. “Corbin?”
Sure enough, the thin psychologist that gave his life for mine came into focus in front of me. His light brown hair was the same cut it’d always been.
My chest squeezed with remorse for my part in his untimely death.
His lips pulled into a genuine smile as his hazel eyes twinkled. “Who else would it be?” He held open his arms, and I shot a suspicious glance toward Gabriel.
“Considering you’re with Gabriel, I wouldn’t be too sure.”
Gabriel huffed out an annoyed breath before stepping a few steps away from Corbin and leaning against the wall. “Don’t be so dramatic, darling.”
“Did you forget about the fact that you’ve killed me before?” I snapped. “I’m allowed to be dramatic with you.”
Corbin’s head jerked back a bit in surprise before he turned it toward the angel. “What?”
Gabriel’s jaw ticked before he released another breath. “A millennium and a half ago, yes. But it was because she was offsetting balance.”
“Bullshit,” I growled, envisioning the halo that flickered above his head as he took pleasure in driving that sword through me. “Just fucking admit what you did to me.”
“Be more specific,” he gritted through closed teeth. “I’ve done a lot to you.”
