Damien.
Now that you’ve figured it all out, what’s it going to be, my sweet Rena, my forbidden passion…my queen?
Damien, shut the fuck up.
Oh, darling. I hate to see you like this. You don’t have to suffer anymore, my queen. You read the prophecy yourself. You have the power to change life as we know it, to play by your own rules, Isabella. No more suffering for you or anyone else. No more pain. No more judgment. No more arrogant imbeciles telling you what’s right and what’s wrong.
I ran a hand through my hair and bit my lip. The guys were speaking to me, but I didn’t wanna listen. Damien’s whispers were sweeter, and at this moment, made a lot more sense than anything else.
With me, you’ll be a queen with a vast kingdom you run however you wish. You’ll have the children that should have been yours. Our new family will be eternal royalty, and Hell, Earth and Heaven will be all yours. No more good and evil. No more battles. No more excruciating choices or sacrifices. And above all, darling…
His voice lowered in the end, and I understood what he wanted to say before he whispered it.
The cruelty that doomed you barren…shall no longer exist. No more cursed wombs, darling. You and me, my beautiful queen, will have all the children that you want.
“Belle? Can you hear us, baby? Zavariel is saying you’re the key to the prophecy. If you don’t choose sides, if you don’t tumble Hell or Heaven, the prophecy won’t be fulfilled. The Darkborns can suck it. Whatever power they have, it’s nothing without you.”
Alec’s voice came so distant, so faint. Whatever he was saying fell on deaf ears. Damien’s whispers were louder. Much much louder.
Alec is right, Isabella. If you don’t do anything, Heaven that cursed you for all eternity will not get punished for what they did, and Hell will remain the same, a suffering pit for all the guilty and the innocent alike. I will love you no matter what, darling, and we can live together forever, as if nothing has changed, as if you never knew about the prophecy that can change your destiny from misery to greatness.
I shook my head.But that will never give me a baby.
Yes, darling.
They said if I break up with you, I can have one.
At what cost? You’ll have so little time with your child, and then you’ll lose me and the others.I felt his fingers on my hair, brushing it ever so softly.Is that what you want, darling? To break my heart?
No. No, Damien. I don’t want to break your heart or mine. You know I have you in my heart as I have the rest. I don’t want to lose any of you.
You’re the only woman I’ve ever loved, Isabella. I’ve been waiting for you for a very long time, from the very beginning. I want nothing but to be with you and give you the happiness that you deserve. Everything I’ve done, everything I will do, is for you. For us. For the family I can’t wait to have with you.
“Belle?”
“Belle!”
“Shit. It’s Damien. He’s in her head. Come out you son of a bitch!”
Alec, Alec, Alec, all bark and no bite.Damien arms wrapped around my waist, and he printed a soft kiss on my cheek.You know who to listen to, darling. I trust you’ll make the right choice. The only choice that gives you what you really want.
Chapter 24
Zavariel
“Aren’t you a fucking angel? Snap her out of it!” Alec barked.
I laid both hands on her shoulders and closed my eyes. I needn’t search for the darkness swallowing her to banish it. The expanse of the horrible swirl of blackness in her sent a shudder through me. Damien was wrapping around her like a cloak, and darkness was all I could find.
“No, Belle. I shall not lose you to him. Damien shall not win this war.” I lifted my hands and breathed deeply before I touched her again. Should I fight Damien and Belle’s kind of darkness, the darkness will win. Instead I should search for the light in her soul.ThatI could expand.Thatwould vanquish the devil dominating her.
I dug as deep as I could get. I could feel him. He was right there, literally wrapping his arms around her waist. “Go away, Damien. We cannot let you have her.”
Stay out of it, Zavariel. She’s mine. Back off.
“No. She is not yours.”
“Is that Damien?” Joshua asked as I felt his aura next to me, and the other two followed, clattering around me.
