“Yeah, I can do that,” Uriel said, just as Azazel’s cellphone rang.
Looking at the screen, he noticed it was Tanner. “Yes, Tanner?”
“Sir, the press is ready.”
“All right, give me a few minutes.” He hung up. “I’ll be right back. Loki, get back to me when you find out anything about the weapon.”
Azazel walked out of the hospital room and sent the bodyguards away, then went to find Dr. Atlas, who took care of Uriel when he was admitted to the hospital. Azazel hypnotized the doctor, along with his nurse, implanting what needed to be said to the public.
This was one of the best things about being a supernatural, the ability to wield magic whenever he wanted. Once he was done, Azazel went to the press conference and had Dr. Atlas do all the talking, while he slipped away and went back to Uriel’s room. He was surprised to learn that Orion and Loki had left together. Once Uriel was ready, they teleported to their home in the lower realms.
* * *
“This place doesn’t feellike home to me anymore,” Uriel said, strolling down the hall, looking at the familiar paintings and pictures hanging on the wall they had taken or bought together. This was supposed to be their home, but he felt like a stranger and unattached to the things he once appreciated about the place.
“This hasn’t been a home since you left,” Azazel said next to him.
They entered the bedroom, and Uriel stopped, seeing the large dark spot in the middle of the room where the bed used to be.
“What happened to the bed?”
“Did you think I’d leave it standing after finding out that someone else had defiled it?”
“I suppose not,” Uriel whispered. “I really loved that bed, but now thinking of who was in it makes me sick. This isn’t our home anymore.”
“No, it’s not, but there’s nothing wrong with us having a new one,” Azazel said, encircling Uriel’s waist and resting his chin on his left shoulder.
“Is this your way of asking me to move in with you?” Uriel turned in his arms.
“I didn’t know I was supposed to. I thought it was something that happened normally.”
Uriel slapped him lightly in the chest. “Azazel, times have changed. I no longer do things just because that’s the way it’s supposed to be. We’re equal partners.”
“I like the sound of that.” Azazel leaned down and pecked him on his mouth. “So, whose place are we moving to?”
“We’re doing this now?”
“What better time and place to do it? We say goodbye to the old and welcome the new.”
“Let’s discuss that later. I have a couple of places, in and out of town.”
“Tell me the truth. You’re secretly a billionaire, aren’t you?”
“Well, not yet, but close.” Uriel cupped the back of Azazel’s neck. “You see, babe, you might own Valleywood Studios, but I own half of Valleywood.”
“Damn, I guess I should be calling you zaddy,” Azazel said, smiling, and Uriel chuckled. “But let’s be serious. For richer or poorer, through sickness and through health, I, Azazel King, take you as mine for all eternity.”
Uriel’s face flushed, and his heart fluttered with love at hearing Azazel’s words. “For good or bad karma, through ups and downs, I, Uriel DeVine, promise to treasure your mind, body, heart, and soul forever. I will never leave your side, in life or in death.”
“When did we get so sappy?” Azazel asked.
“Are you complaining?”
“Not in the least.”
“Good.” Uriel brushed their lips together. “Let’s go torture a bad man.” He stepped back and pulled Azazel out of the bedroom, burned bed forgotten.
“Baby, I love it when you talk dirty.”
