Chapter 23

Daeva's POV

Devland and I settled into our suite, yes I said our. I had told him multiple times that it was just a precaution to have both but he just kept repeating how he wouldn’t set foot in it, and I caved. His suite in New York was a glorified closet anyways. Both of us needed food but I was excited to get this over with. It was early morning in Russia so we weren’t due to be anywhere for hours. We didn’t sleep a bit on the plane. I wasn’t going to risk bringing an entire plane down with my dreams. “Sleep?” He said, reading my mind. “I suppose that would be smart,” I said.

He wrapped me in his arms and fell into the bed. I didn’t know if I was going to be able to even get to sleep at this point. I was excited at the sound of a fight but I really did just want to get this over with. I had more to lose now in a fight and for the first time, I was wary. We didn’t even know who wanted to start this new apocalypse. “Sleep, love, you're literally vibrating” Devland said into my neck. I usually got to sleep quickly in his arms but I had something else on my mind.

“You can’t read my thoughts, right?” I asked. I figured that he couldn’t, no being was supposed to be able to read me considering what my job entailed. Sometimes, though, it felt like he was able to. Maybe he just paid attention, but I had to ask. I felt him sigh against my back. “Unfortunately no, my love or I would be able to understand what’s on your mind right now.” I held back a laugh, “it’s just sometimes I feel like you can.” He chuckled my favorite rumbling laugh. “Maybe I just know you,” he said, but he took another breath and continued. “Sometimes I get glimpses.

It’s mainly your demon, I think, and it’s just quick words. It’s also mainly when your defenses are down and it is just us. It’s less like I’m reading you, and more like you’re letting me read what you want me to see.” Well that’s dangerous. “Before you let your brain run away with that, I am 100% certain that your walls are as strong as ever. Any time I try to read more, your defenses go back up and I’m blocked out completely again. It also never happens around the others.” Is he sure he wasn’t reading my mind?

I took a deep breath and relaxed against him. “I will admit though,” he continued after a moment “I have been trying to get your demon to show me what you see in your dreams.” He squeezed me tighter to him to keep any reaction down that he knew I might have. I took another deep breath against him. “You don’t want to see what I see. It will not help you or me. You will get angry, my demon will see you as a threat and I will destroy another bedroom.” I tried to reason with him. That was exactly what would happen and he couldn’t tell me otherwise.

His demon side was extra possessive of me and considering he destroyed an entire circle of hell before he even knew me, I can’t imagine the destruction he would cause now. “I hope you trust me enough to show me, in time.” He said kissing the back of my neck. I won’t, but at least he is dropping the subject for now.

We woke up in the same way as always. I was honestly surprised that he didn’t seem to tire of this. If I had to, I would hold him down every morning too, but it seemed exhausting. He never let it show if it was though. He would always lean down and kiss me and tell me if he had a new record. Either he really didn’t mind it, or he was a glutton for punishment. We got up and made our way to the bar to eat before our contacts arrived. We had set up a private section of the bar and planned to meet with them separately. Devlands contact, Gareth, was tonight.

Adan, my contact was tomorrow. Devland and I were similar in the way we handled others outside of our group: let them talk until they hand over information. Most beings were afraid of silence anyways so we knew that we wouldn’t have to do much. We also didn’t want everyone to know about how real the threat might be. After Devland and I ate some okroshka, we sat and talked, while we waited. Finally, the tiny angel walked into the bar.

Okay, he wasn’t tiny, but against Devland and myself he looked like it. He was maybe 5 foot 4 with wispy brown hair and deep brown eyes. We both stood up and shook his hand before taking our seats. “It is wonderful to see you again, Devland, it has been too long. You as well Daeva! It took me nearly a decade to recover from woodstock!” he said, smiling at us both. I gave him a warm smile in response and Devland shot a look in my direction. “Have you been to one of her parties yet, sir? They are wild! Though, I know you like to keep to yourself and I’m not sure that’s allowed at her parties” He said with another laugh. This night is never going to end. “I haven’t had the pleasure yet,” Devland replied with a smile “though, maybe I will be lucky enough to earn an invite to the next one.”

It was my turn to shoot him a look. “To business please, Gareth. I have formed the counsel. We will be more involved from here on.” Devland replied. He was perfect at this. Short and succinct, with a perfect amount of respect and demand in his tone. “Ah, that explains the meeting with more than one of you, my friend. Has anything prompted this development.” Gareth asked. He wasn’t trying to hide his curiosity.

“We would like to prevent another apocalypse before anyone has a chance to start it. We all know that nothing can bring the gods out of retirement, even if they wanted to. However, we all know that won’t stop someone from trying.” Devland replied. “You’re right about that, but how someone would even go about that is above my pay grade.” Gareth started. “I don’t know why anyone would want to bring them back to begin with.

It has been peaceful and fun between us for years. The humans are in their best era yet! I believe you called them liberated at one point Daeva, and they keep getting more so! Why anyone would want to put an end to these silly creatures is beyond me. Do you know if anyone has started looking?” Wow Gareth can talk. As he was saying all of that, a few faces flashed through his mind weighing who he thought it could be. Adan was one of them. I tensed but not enough for him to notice. “No, Gareth, we don’t think that anyone is even planning on one. We simply hope to know if loyalties to the balance might be in jeopardy.” Devland said. I just nodded and kept delving into his mind.

Gareth wasn’t a perfect angel but from what I saw in his mind, he did love the humans. Maybe a little too much at some points. “Tell me, Gareth,” I finally chimed in, “have you had any dealing with Adan? He is under my charge and I’m sure you understand why I would want to keep tabs on him.” Gareth’s eyes flashed for a moment. “I have had dealings with him. I keep a close eye on the bastard even with his face changes.

He doesn’t actually change his face often anymore and prefers to keep to himself. He doesn’t get in fights. He doesn’t do much of anything. It’s honestly a little boring to keep an eye on him, but I don’t trust him. So I do.” Gareth at least is an honest angel. Everything in his head is matching what he is telling me. “You can understand why I would be concerned, after all he is a traitor.” I smiled at him as warmly as I could manage. “I seem to have been preoccupied when he was forgiven, Gareth. Do you know the reason that he was?” Devland and Gareth both stiffened at my question. “Did Belial not tell you?” Devland turned to me, softening his expression. “We will speak of this later, Gareth, do you know of anyone else who might want to end the world? We would just like to speak with them.” I asked. I wasn’t about to let Gareth know how in the dark I was on the subject.

Gareth told us a few names, but none of them seemed promising. We spoke for a while as well about the impending human fights. He assured us that no demon or angels were influencing the fight, just human disagreements. He said that there were actually a few angels and demons trying to put an end to it, which I was happy to hear. After a few hours of him talking at us he finaly said his goodbye and left us to enjoy the first silence in hours.

"My love, I'm sorry, I thought that you knew." Devland said after a few moments of piece. I threw back the last of my 6th bottle and turned to look at him. "So we have established that this is not your fault. I will not be upset with you. Tell me what it is that I don't know."