He was a rot that threatened to steal my other half.
Before I gave in to my baser urges and MJ witnessed a gory mess, I slapped the pet’s cell key and the dungeon key into her palm.
“Lock him up.”
Then I left. Unfortunately, the desire to burst all his cells and watch him bleed from every orifice remained. My shadows slithered behind me as if they’d sneak back and kill him without my permission. They didn’t care about the hellion’s words—not like I did.
If only.
To feel more useful, I strode through Hell’s red-carpeted halls until I reached the healers’ wing double doors, then entered the quiet but bustling area and walked back to Oliver’s private room. Alexei stood beside Oliver’s bed, staring down at him with a slight frown.
The bandage Sam placed over Oliver’s head had since been removed.Although his physical wounds were healed, Sam could do nothing for the brain. Every day was a waiting game.
“Any change?” I asked.
Alexei shook his head. “I even told him I’d give him a kiss on the cheek if he woke up.”
“Maybe you should’ve said lips.”
Alexei’s expression turned sheepish.
“You did.”
He shrugged. “I’d do anything to give Lucille even a little bit of joy.”
His words knocked me at the knees, and I sank into the wooden chair next to Oliver’s bed, dropping my head in my hands.
Alexei squeezed my shoulder. “I guess I should’ve tried harder to keep you from the dungeons.”
I sighed, sitting back. “Nothing would’ve kept me from him. I’m barely holding my shadows back as it is.” Eyeing Alexei’s bandages, I noticed spots of blood. “How are your wings?”
He side-eyed me. “Wipe that self-degrading look off your face. You just gave me more ammo to use with the ladies at the Hoar House.”
A short, weighty laugh burst out of me. “The heartthrob hustler at it again.”
Alexei and I both peered over at Oliver, foolishly hoping that using his ridiculous nickname would wake him up. But he didn’t even twitch. Our breathing filled the tightening silence. Alexei shifted, pulled a dagger from his belt, and flipped it.
I rested my head against the rough wall. “Out with it, Lex.”
A moment passed before he finally worked up the courage to speak.
“You never told me about your bond with Gabriel.”
“It’s hard to talk about.”
He settled on the stool across from me, wincing as his wings touched the floor, then scrutinized me. “You never lose control, Ro. You can’t afford to in your position with your power.”
His words were stated, but hidden in their depths was a question. I tilted my head back, staring at the ceiling of angels. Their white wings and serene faces glowed in the Weaver’s light. The painting expressed joy, healing, and goodness—absolutely nothing like the council that resided in Heaven. My wrist prickled, reminding me ofthe tattoo I had carved onto my skin to always remember Gabriel’s lesson.
“Lying is easy, Ronen. It gives you a sense of freedom. Power. But always remember that freedom comes with a shovel and fire. Before you know it, you’ll dig yourself seven circles under and burn alive with the shame of what you’ve done.”
I remembered scoffing at Gabriel and spitting out, “You’re delusional, old man. I’d lie to Etan till I was red in the face.”
But I had been young and didn’t realize at the time he hadn’t been talking about lying to those who only desired to hurt me. He’d been talking about himself. Because earlier that day, I had lied to Gabriel about knowing the angel Etan wanted us to interrogate. I had lied to keep him from taking my place in the brutal torture. Etan would’ve punished him. I’d already seen him hung up in their dungeons once, unconscious, with blood dripping down his back from another time he killed for me.
So I lied to save him.
And all he wanted to do was save me.
