“Why would you make such a bargain?” Aeron demanded.
The tears continued to flow down Legion’s cheeks. “I wanted to be pretty. To be what you needed. I thought I would win you, make you forget the angel. I thought I would make you happy.”
Aeron scrubbed a hand down his face, his nails scraping, leaving angry red welts. “I can’t believe this. Do you have any idea what you’ve done? Do you have any idea of the things you’ve put into motion?”
Legion nodded, chin trembling. “I’m sorry. So sorry.”
A pause, then a sorrowful, “So am I.”
With those words, Olivia knew. She knew. He’d already made up his mind. Aeron would sleep with Legion. He would enter her body the same way he’d entered Olivia’s. To save the little demon from possession. To save his friends from Lucifer. To keep the Hunters from victory.
Tears filled her own eyes, but she blinked them back. With this act, Aeron would prove that what he’d done with Olivia meant nothing. With this act, she would leave. He had to know she would leave.
Had that knowledge made the decision easier for him? she wondered with a bitter laugh. No way she could stay here, knowing he’d bedded another woman. No matter the reason.
Olivia had her own choice to make, then, it seemed. She would leave, there was no question of that. Not now. But would she return to the heavens, possibly saving Aeron’s life, or simply travel to a new location here on earth?
Here, most likely, for how could she possibly return home now? She was changed, human in all the ways that mattered. She would be miserable up there, bringing joy to no one, least of all herself. She would be useless. And if ever she changed her mind about having returned, she wouldn’t be allowed to fall again. No, she would be put to death or permanently cast into hell. There could be no other choice for an angel who lost her way twice.
But how could she stay here and live with herself, knowing she could have saved Aeron and hadn’t? Even though saving him meant that he would be with another woman?
Was she truly that selfless?
No, she wasn’t. She should have killed him when she’d had the chance and saved each of them this pain. Another bitter laugh filled her head, but this one escaped.
Aeron rose, the action stiff, uncoordinated. “We have a little time. We don’t have to take care of this right this moment.”
So he didn’t plan to sleep with Legion right away. That was a small comfort, at least.
“Thank you,” Legion said, grateful, pleased and shamed all at once. “I promise I won’t—”
He turned, cutting her off, and Olivia’s gaze ate him up. His masculine beauty, his power. No, she wasn’t that selfless, but she was that in love, she realized.
Love. The word echoed in her mind. She loved him. Fully, utterly, wholly, completely. He was the reason her heart beat, the source of her joy. She would die for him. He was strong and brave, fierce and caring. Giving, selfless himself. What wasn’t to love?
She would stay here with him until he bedded Legion. She would soak up every moment she had with him. And then…then she would return to the heavens. She would ensure Lysander kept his end of the bargain and petitioned the Council for Aeron’s life.
Still. That didn’t guarantee their cooperation.
Well, she would just have to find another way.
What a difference a few days made, she thought sadly. She’d come here resigned to Aeron’s approaching death, happy with the time they would have and determined to experience joy as humans did. Yet she’d spent time with her warrior, and everything had changed. She could no longer accept the thought of him dying. Of his courage and strength being extinguished.
“Don’t worry, Aeron,” she said, squaring her shoulders. “Soon I’ll leave, and you and Legion will be safe.” A promise welded to her soul.
Legion gaped at her.
Lucifer screeched an unholy sound inside her head.
Aeron’s lips pulled tight in a scowl, his teeth bared, his eyes red, glowing. Demon eyes. “I said we have time. We don’t have to take care of this now. Therefore, you will stay. Now, enough about that. I have a meeting to attend. I’m going to leave the two of you in here and you will play nice. Understand? You won’t like what happens if you harm each other, I promise you that.” He didn’t wait for their replies but stormed from the room.
Unlike William, he didn’t gently shut the door behind him. He slammed it, rattling the pictures on the walls.
After everything she’d just agonized over, realized and decided, a little compassion—and a goodbye kiss—wouldn’t have been amiss.
Olivia stared over at Legion. Legion stared back.
“Well,” Olivia said, at a loss. She still ached from Aeron’s possession. Still felt the wetness he’d left behind. Yet very soon this female would be with Aeron the way she had just been with him.
“I won’t stay here with you,” Legion lashed out.
“That makes two of us. I’m leaving.”
Grinning, Legion jolted upright. “You’re returning to the sky already?”
“Not yet. I’ll be listening to what’s said at the meeting.”
Her grin faded, but she glanced at the door. “Your ears are probably so feeble you’ll need someone there to interpret the murmurings.”
She offered no reply, wanting to hate the woman but unable to do so. Hate required energy, and just then she had none to spare. Besides, this demon would have been like her stepdaughter if things had progressed the way she’d wanted. More than that, Legion had done what was necessary to win her man. Just as Olivia had.
Only, Legion had won.
IT WAS GOOD TO BE HOME, Strider thought, gazing around the entertainment room. All the men and women were accounted for. All three thousand of them, it seemed. Except for Gideon, who—according to the gossiping hens and William, the gossiping cock, as he happily called himself—was in the dungeon making nice with the newest prisoner.
The warriors, with their big, hard bodies, seemed to consume every inch of space, saturating the air with testosterone. The women perched on the couches and chairs, forcing the men to stand against the walls. Those who weren’t otherwise occupied, that is.
Lucien and Sabin were playing a game of pool and talking amongst themselves, probably trying to sort things out before they spoke to the group. William was sitting in front of the TV, playing a video game. Aeron and Paris were in the far corner and passing a flask back and forth. Both looked miserable. Especially Aeron. His expression was carved from granite—livid granite—and his tattoos were stark against his now-pale skin. And his eyes…hell. They were demon red.
Still healing from that poisoned bullet? Or something more personal?
Strider had only been home a day, but he’d already heard about the man’s angel problems from three different sources. Cameo, Kaia and Legion—an unbelievably improved Legion. All three had been a font of conflicting information. Cameo liked Olivia, talked about how knowledgeable and helpful she was. Kaia talked about how delightfully naughty the real Olivia was. And Legion thought she was a bitch who would murder Aeron in his sleep.
Kaia thought Aeron would marry the girl. Cameo thought Aeron would kick the girl out and never see her again. And Legion thought she was a bitch and a murderer. (That was pretty much all Legion had said. Oh, wait. She’d asked Strider to kill that “bitch and murderer.”) When he’d refused, she’d threatened to pay someone to “do him prison-style.”
“I’m waiting,” Strider called. “Me no likes to wait.”
Finally, Lucien and Sabin ended their game, nodded to each other as if they’d reached an understanding and approached the front of the room. Conversations tapered to quiet.
Both men anchored their arms behind their backs, their legs braced apart. They were ready for action. Good thing. Everyone else in the room was tense and ready to receive that action.