It didn’t work, though Leviathan’s shadows did pause their wild slithering. When he risked another glance up at him, Cullen sucked in a breath when he saw that those enraged eyes were focused on him again.
You would defend him?Leviathan’s deep, ethereal voice scorched inside his mind, making him gasp and wince.After what he did, you would stop me from hurting him?
“L-Levi…” He choked out, starting to push himself up from the ground. “I–
The shadows lashed out again, latching tight around Cullen’s ankles and pulling hard.
“Wait–” The word broke off with a cry as they yanked him forward, dragging him over the debris without mercy. Beside him, Walker had begun to scream again, his body scrambling against the shattered building as he tried to break free of the shadows that were pulling him along as well. A new fear bloomed in his chest as Leviathan dragged them closer and closer, a thick killing aura seeping off of him. His eyes still hadn’t left Cullen’s face.
His shadows shot out again, flicking against Leviathan’sto break the hold–or at least soften his rage with a gentle touch–but Leviathan’s swallowed them whole, took control of them until they had turned back on him, winding around his waist and his ankles as he dragged him across the ground. Tears burst in his eyes and spilled over as he neared Leviathan’s massive form, his hands reaching out for purchase and finding none.
“Levi!” He gasped as he was dragged up off the ground, a shadow curled tight around his throat. “Hang on! Wait a minute!”
Leviathan spoke in that rough demon language that he always made their oaths in, those snake-like eyes just inches away from his own. Cullen gasped as the words flowed into him, translating themselves inside his mind.
“I should make you eat his heart.”He seethed, the shadows around his throat tightening. “There would be nothing to defend that way.”
Levi…He tried again, more tears streaming down his face.I’m s–
“Let me go!” Walker shrieked from somewhere on the ground. “Please! Just take him! Not me! Please!”
Slowly, Cullen’s face contorted with rage and embarrassment, his lips trembling. Of course Walker would give him up again. Of course he didn’t actually care. He should have slit his fucking throat when he saw him at the festival.
He turned just in time to see Leviathan raise Walker off the ground. His body was covered in blood, his pants soaked with it. Cullen’s head spun at the scent but he bit into his own lip, focusing on the pain grating across his body to stay calm. Leviathan’s lips were curled up in a deadly smile, his long, sharp teeth flashing in the darkness. His shadowscurled tighter around Walker’s throat and something terrible awakened in his eyes, something dark and excited that Cullen had never seen before. Something that craved blood and death.
“Leviathan.” He whispered, clutching at the tendril of shadow that was wrapped around his throat. “Levi.”
He said something quietly, that harsh language flowing softly under his breath. Not words meant for Cullen, but words meant for himself.
“He’s always in my way.”He whispered to himself. “He’s always kept you away from me.”
“Levi…” His voice broke. He closed his eyes, fighting the panic so he could focus his thoughts.There is nobody other than you.
“Liar.” He hissed, the gaze on Walker intensifying. “It’s always been him–”
“It’s never been him!” He screamed, lashing out at Leviathan’s cheek with a shadow. A long, thin mark appeared there, a slow bead of black blood seeping from it. Slowly, Leviathan’s gaze slid from Walker to Cullen, reptilian eyes widening as they took him in. Cullen inhaled shakily and then snapped his teeth together, clenching his jaw.
“He doesn’t mean anything to me, Levi. Please. Let’s just go home.”
“Trying to save him again?” He breathed, drawing him a little closer. For a moment Cullen thought his bladder might empty from the fear of being this close to such a creature. If he hadn’t been a demon incapable of such things, it might have happened.
“No.” He promised. “No, I don’t care about him. I only care about you.” And he could sense the other Divinerscoming, could sense Dom’s overwhelming presence among them. And maybe they couldn’t actually harm a Prince of Hell but…
“Take me home.” He pleaded, letting another shadow prod against him, pressing gently against his arm. “Let’s go home.”
Leviathan’s eyes searched his face, his own pinching with hesitation. Cullen kept his face carefully blank, not allowing any of the inner turmoil out now. The Diviners began to approach, some shouting out in warning, others summoning the powers of the heavens to their hands… Beside him, Walker was gasping, his hands clawing uselessly at the shadows that were choking him. Leviathan ignored all of it, his gaze searching Cullen’s.
Finally, Leviathan’s face tightened–and his shadow shot out, throwing Walker back into the pile of debris. There was a sharp cry, quickly cut off, and then the shadow around Cullen’s throat vanished. He dropped hard to the ground, coughing as he caught his breath. And then Leviathan’s hand was locked around his throat and he was dragging him again, turning his back to the Diviners behind them.
Cullen gagged, tugging at his hand, his vision going dark as he took in the shadows that swirled, cutting them off from view as they made their way out of the area. The moment he saw a flash of light, telling him the Diviners were coming after them, the shadows swallowed them, sending him spiraling into that icy darkness.
55
His bedroom came into view with a burst of light, as if he’d been thrown into it. He inhaled for what felt like the first time in hours, stumbling forward as Leviathan let go of him, the shadows falling away until it was just them. Until Leviathan stood behind him in that massive form… Cullen spun to face him, gasping as he took in the size of him again, stumbling back on instinct as he towered over him.
He opened his mouth to say his name and Leviathan lurched towards him, curling a strong hand around his throat again. He ignored Cullen’s desperate clawing, ignored the choked pleas, dragging him back and back until he shoved him down to the bed.
“Wait!” Cullen gasped as he let go of him, shooting up to push against his massive chest. “Wait, there’s no way I can–”
