Page 82 of Her Sinful Saints (The Seven Sinners of Hell's Kingdom 4)

RAVEN

Salvation

“DO YOU HEAR that?” Cassius tips his head back and stares at the ceiling. “We’re being summoned.”

“What do you think we should do? I want to resist the call. There’s no point.” Elias rubs his scruffy face, turning to look at me. “There’s only one reason I will go back, and it’s not time.”

“It’s a call for help. It’s not the angelic army or the guardians.” Cassius rubs his hands together, his body rigid and aloof as he stares at nothing in particular.

“Maybe you fuckheads can just peek in. We know that the guardians are currently distracted. They are going to surely feel what happens next.” Lucian stands next to Micah a couple of feet away. Kase and Dante stand by his sides while Zade and Andre complete the circle.

“Are you sure you should do this?” I ask, my voice cracking with my words. I don’t even know why I voice my question. I know it must be done. It’s the only way.

“Does this mean you are concerned? That’s a good sign.” Micah offers me a smile, his orange gaze glowing with the fires around him.

I wish I could tell him that I do feel the concern, but it’s more of a curiosity. “It’s out of habit. I honestly don’t really care.”

Micah grimaces at my words, and Elias pets my knee, knowing that I think and feel differently. Micah can no longer get into my head because the part of me that allowed him in has gone. I like to keep my whole self guarded. I’m ashamed. I don’t want him to listen to me work through this bullshit of trying to find the part of me that I know, if it remains gone, means I could very well lose everything, including my devils’ love.

“I’m not leaving Raven. Never again.” Elias responds a little late, answering Lucian and ignoring the quiet moment between Micah and me.

“I will go. I need to see things for myself.” Cassius turns toward me and touches my knee. “I’ll be back in a bit.”

He says it as if I care whether or not he returns. I don’t.

“Whatever.” I shrug my shoulders. I’m not going to try to with him. It’s hard enough that I have to push myself to act normal with the others.

Cassius nods and disappears in a circle of blinding light, shaking the world as it trembles against the Hell power emanating through the air.

Micah releases a deep breath and straightens his back, spreading his legs wide to brace himself. “Let’s do this. I’m ready to release the power.”

Elias grabs my hand and holds it tightly, bringing it to his chest, allowing me to feel his rapid heartbeats as we watch the devils.

This could very well be the end of things, but they have decided that until I get my soul and the angelic army is destroyed, they’re giving up power. They are going to untether him from Hell and allow our enemies to claim it.

With the absence of Hell, my devils will weaken. It could lead to something awful.

But they’ve made their decision, and I stand by them. We are in this together.

“This is going to hurt like a fucking bitch,” Lucian says, gathering his fire chain. “Brace yourself, Micah.”

Heat radiates through the air and sweat drips from my hairline. Each of the devils gather their power and blast it at Micah. He yells in pain, but he doesn’t fall to his knees. Instead, he grabs onto their power and lets them yank him out of the circle.

An earthquake shakes through the room, and things topple from the dresser. The floor cracks and dust swirls in the air along with the scent of Hell. Micah crashes to the floor outside of the circle and arches his back. The tether hooked to his heart, pumping Hell power through his veins, snaps and whips through the air, slashing burning lines across the wall until it recoils and disappears.

The summoning circle vanishes with only ashes remaining in its place.

Silence falls around us. I get to my feet across the room from Micah, staring down at him. He heaves a breath and clutches his chest, and I press my hands over his.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

“I’m better than okay, heathen. I get to be with you freely now.” Micah reaches up and caresses my cheek.

“Don’t get used to it, asshole. This isn’t permanent.” Kase offers his hand out and pulls Micah to his feet. Elias hovers behind me and doesn’t react to his companion.

“I know. but I will enjoy it while it lasts.” Micah holds his hand out to me. “Come here. It’s been a while since I have touched you on the physical plane.”

I stroll into his arms and bury my face against his chest. “You all should enjoy it while it lasts,” I say, repeating what Micah had just said. “This could be it. At least in my final days, I’ll have all of you by my side.”

“Don’t talk like that, pretty soul. This isn’t the end. These aren’t your final days.” Dante sharpens his features at me. “If I hear you talk like that again, you’re going to be in deep trouble.”

I don’t respond to him. I can’t. I don’t have it in me to tease him like he wants.

Because it’s hard for me to believe in anything now. Heaven has my soul. When I die, I will be going to the supposed paradise.

People are usually happy about that. It’s what they want. But me? No. My heart was set on Hell.

So was my eternity.

Stupid, fucking salvation. It will be our ruin.