Chapter 22 — No good deed

Azazel:

Mathias’s place is very similar to my building. As Mikhail steers the vehicle closer, I look at the large brownstone and wonder what Zoe would think of my club and my apartment. I can’t wait to show her my home. My thoughts turn to a more serious note when I think about what she’d say if I asked her to move in with me. Would she even consider it? Or would I be moving too fast? It’s just too confusing to think about it. I guess I never considered how complicated relationships would be. What I do know is that I’m in love with her. I’ve never felt that way about a woman before. What I felt for Nevaeh pales in comparison to the blazing passion I feel for Zoe. There is definitely no comparison.

That’s another thing that I don’t know how to bring up. I don’t know how to tell her that I love her without her rejecting me. After the way she snuck off the other night, I can tell that she’s guarded about relationships. Perhaps it’s because she has been burned by men before. I can also see how her mother’s relationship with her father might affect her negatively. The woman is most definitely a flight risk.

However, I am more than ready to clip her wings because she is mine. Unlike her, I don’t have any question that she’s my mate. And I definitely plan on never letting her go. I just need her to understand that this is it for us. That being a mate is more than being a couple or a husband and wife. It’s a consuming bond of love that will never be shattered. She is the other half of my soul, and I will do anything for her, short of letting her go, of course.

Mikhail pulls the car into the private parking lot and turns off the ignition. There are only a few vehicles parked in the garage. Mathias’s black Mercedes SUV and Cassia’s silver Volvo. Other than the two cars, the garage is otherwise empty. Taking a deep breath, I bite my lip and step out of the door before I open the back door and hold my hand to help Zoe out. Her fragile hand settles over mine firmly. Our eyes meet in a silent message. I can tell that she’s nervous about meeting Mathias, but she’s putting a good face. That’s my brave lady.

Hand in hand, we follow Nevaeh and Mikhail to Mathias’s loft. Mathias opens the door on the first knock. He was definitely expecting us. Zoe gasps in shock when she gets a look at him. I would almost be jealous if it weren't for the fact that she gave Nevaeh an odd look. I can almost hear what she is thinking. You see, Mathias looks like a college student with his black t-shirt and khaki cargo pants. He and Nevaeh definitely do not look like father and daughter. Where Nevaeh has brown hair and brown eyes; Mathias is tall, with Auburn hair, gold skin, and golden eyes. Most supernatural beings have golden-colored eyes. It’s as common as brown eyes are for humans. Despite that, they do share similar features, like the texture of their hair and the shape of their eyes.

Similar to most supernatural beings, Mathias looks like he’s in his early twenties. But don’t be fooled. Mathias is much older. Supernatural beings stop aging once they reach their perfect age, which is usually the mid to early twenties. I guess I forgot to tell Zoe that. “Hello, Mathias, did you miss me?” I say with a solicitous tone.

Mathias gives me a respectful nod but doesn’t smile, which makes me edgy. I’m not a big fan of cryptic signals. I prefer honesty over dallying around an issue. It helps me be prepared to take action.

Mathias extends his hand and bumps fists with mine before he quirks a brow and looks at my mate. “You must be Zoe. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Zoe gives him a timid smile but doesn’t release my hand. If anything, she tightens her hand in mine and moves closer to me. “It's nice to meet you too, Mathias.”

Thankfully, the awkward moment is interrupted when Neveah flings herself into her father’s arms. “Mathias!” Mathias’s face softens as he tightens his arms around her and lifts her off her feet. Placing a soft kiss on her head, he whispers, “Hello, sweetheart.” She pulls back from his embrace, and cheerfully looks around the hallway with excitement. “Where’s Cass?” Mathias gestures for us to follow us down the hallway. “She’ll be out in a minute. Come on in.” I give Zoe a reassuring grin and nudge my chin towards the living area. “Let’s go, luv.”

The living room is a bit warmer than mine with delicate cloth furniture. My living room has a large flat-screen television and black leather sectionals. Theirs is smaller with exposed brick walls and French windows. My living area is more spacious and has a lot more natural lighting. We also have similar stainless steel appliances in the kitchen. But my cabinets are more modern with a black polished surface whereas their kitchen has a natural wood. It’s a beautiful apartment loft, but I prefer mine.

Just then, Zoe lets out an excited squeak and flies past me. I watch as Cassia comes out of the room and does the same thing. Both women embrace and hop around happily as they begin to talk in tandem. Mathias and I give each other bewildered looks as we watch our mates chatter eagerly. “Cassia! I can’t believe it’s you! It’s been so long!” Cassia pulls out of her embrace and gives Zoe a pleasing smile. “Zoe, it’s so good to see you! What are you doing here?” Mathias and I clear our throats to remind the ladies that there are more people in the room. Both women turn to us in embarrassment.

Cassia’s eyes widen when I stop next to Zoe and put my arms around her. “I guess introductions are not necessary.” I refer to Mathias. Mathias nods his head. “I believe so.” Crossing his arms, he stands next to Cassia and mirrors my stance. “How do you two know each other?” He asks in speculation. Cassia’s smile widens. “Oh, Zoe and I took a few art classes together.” Zoe snorts and gives her a secret smile. “Yeah, Cassia and I met my freshman year at Cal State. Cassia was a junior. We took an art class together. Or rather, Cassia took art, and I did something resembling art because I did horrible. I only passed because Cassia helped me. That’s when I realized that a career as an artist was not for me.”

Cassia raises her hand to her mouth to stifle a giggle and says, “Oh, you should have seen some of the sculptures she created. One was supposed to be a bust of the Egyptian Goddess Bastet, and the teacher thought Zoe’s looked like a donkey.” Zoe chuckles, comically slapping a hand over her forehead with a groan. “Oh, it was so bad. I got a D- on that project. And I spent a whole night working on it.”

Everyone chuckles with amusement as Zoe moans mournfully. It’s such a normal moment for us. You’d never think that we’re all supernatural beings with powers. Mathias puts an end to their amusement when he points to Zoe and me. “Shall we continue then?” I nod and take Zoe’s hand to lead her to a nearby couch. But Cassia steps in front of us and looks at our joined hands in wonder. “Are you two…?” She points her finger at Zoe and me. “…mates? Are you the Siren that everyone has been talking about?”

Zoe gives me a shy look and waits for me to respond. I can tell that this is a pivotal moment for our relationship, and she’s waiting to see what I’d say. Tightening her hand beneath mine, I give her a sensual smile and place a gentle kiss on her knuckles. Zoe’s face glows with happiness when I look back at Cassia and respond. “Yes, Zoe is a Siren, and yes, she’s my mate.”

I gesture to Cassia. “And yes, Cassia is an Angel.”

Zoe’s breath hitches in delight. It amuses me to see the look of childish wonder on her face when she meets a supernatural being. It makes me see my world in a new and different way.

Cassia’s face lights up with delight. Clapping her hands excitedly, she turns to Mathias and firmly wraps her arm around his forearm. “Wow, this is crazy! Well, this is my mate, Mathias.” Mathias nods his head respectfully and gives her a proud look. The Angel is most definitely, and utterly in love with his mate. Taking the reins on his mate’s enthusiasm, he leads her to the sofa and sits down. Then gestures to the seat across from him. “Please have a seat.”

We all move into a comfortable area and wait. Keeping my arm wrapped protectively around Zoe, I keep a straight face and wait. Mathias leans forward and settles his hands over his knees. “So, you’re a Siren?” He asks a surprised Zoe. Her body stiffens at his directness, which puts me on alert. I can see that she was not expecting Mathias to be so upfront about his questioning. She shifts in her seat uncomfortably and crosses her legs before she answers. “Yeah…I mean…that’s what I’ve been told. Until yesterday I wasn’t really sure what I was.”

Mathias looks at me for confirmation while I slide forward in my seat and nod my head. “Yes, it’s true. Zoe was not aware of what she was until I explained it to her.” Mathias narrows his eyes in Zoe’s direction with a note of cynicism. I can tell that he’s not completely convinced, which makes very little difference to me. I don’t need to explain anything to the bloody Council. However, I can tell that Zoe is bothered by it. Taking a deep breath, I mentally pray to any deity who will give me patience. “She’s telling the bloody truth, Mathias. I know that what happened was very dangerous, but her powers have been corrupted by Marael’s spell.” Mathias puffs out his breath, leans back on the couch and crosses his ankle over his knee with an understanding nod. “Very well then, is this the first time this has happened?”

Zoe bites her lip and twists her fingers with mine nervously. Taking a deep breath, I nod my head and give her an urging nudge. Her beautiful eyes gaze into mine beseechingly. I can tell by her solemn look that she’s frightened of what kind of problems her next words would bring. My heart tells me to spread my wings and fly her away from this place. However, the logical part of me tells me that this is something she has to face head-on.

She licks her dry lips and nods her head in understanding of my silent message. Then, he turns back to Mathias. “This is…this is the third time this has happened to me. But I promise you; I didn’t know what I was when it happened. I just thought that I was cursed somehow. That maybe it was the power of suggestion or something. I don’t know.” Her voice wobbles, and her eyes water with misery. She shifts in her seat again and runs her fingers through her hair in agitation. “It started out so innocent. I never hurt anyone. If anything, my music healed people, then…” Her voice cracks again, and a tear escapes her eyes. “…then a few months ago I sang, and people were hurt. I didn’t know what to do.” Her chest falls and rises in agitation as she tells us about the first time she found out she had some kind of abilities. Even though I’ve heard her story before, I can see that having to relive that moment is really taking a toll on her.

Zoe looks deflated by the time her story has ended. Her eyes look sad and haunted. I can’t imagine how difficult it is for her to have to carry such a burden. After listening to her singing at the club, I can see what kind of sacrifice she made by giving it up. Her voice is amazing. It was husky and soulful. And after listening to her story, I know that she loved to sing. I find it admirable that she gave up the one thing she loved most in the world because she thought it was hurting others.

The room is silent as we all contemplate Zoe’s dilemma. I can tell that her story hit home. After all, we’ve all been in a situation that was not of our making. After a moment, Mathias rises from the couch and begins to pace around the table. He rubs his jaw distractedly as he thinks his options through.

Rising from my own seat, I stand before Mathias and grit out. “Just a fair warning, mate. I will rip the buggering Council apart before I let them hurt my mate.” The muscles of my jaw ache as I try to restrain the anger igniting inside my gut. Mathias stops pacing and stands before me. His face is blank, which makes me even more irritated. I just don’t understand how he can be so calm about this, especially when his ex-wife was the creator of this whole mess.

Taking a deep breath, he relaxes his shoulders and gives Zoe and me a reassuring nod. “Alright. It looks like Zoe was not aware of the extent of the corruption of her powers. I will talk to the Council and explain the situation to them. However, there is still the issue of her corruption. I’m going to hazard a guess that Sahara had a purpose for asking you to sing last night, especially if she knew about your power. Alright, first thing first, we need to find Marael and a way to reverse the spell. And we need to know what Sahara’s agenda is.”

Everyone nods grimly as they stand there, contemplating Sahara and Marael’s end game. Zoe sighs with relief and leans closer to my shoulder. Her warmth suffuses me as she caresses the creases of my fingers with her little sharp nails. I look down and meet her eyes. Up to now, I haven’t realized how small she is. Her head barely reaches the top of my shoulder. Placing my other hand over hers, I tighten my fingers and think out loud. “Let’s think this through rationally. I know that Marael’s plan is to bring hell on earth so that she may rule over all beings. However, I don’t understand how Sahara fits in the scheme. I doubt that Marael would keep her around after she follows through with her plan. What does Sahara have to gain from this?”

Mathias lifts a hand up to rub his brow. “I don’t know.” He says in resignation. “We’ve been questioning Taylor, and it doesn’t add up. Marael’s power is tied to her Siphon.” He says, gesturing to Zoe with an apologetic smile. “Which Sahara provided. However, now that she has Zoe and the last sacrifice, she really doesn’t have any use for Sahara. The only thing I can think of is that Sahara is somehow part of the ritual. She is a very powerful witch.”

Mikhail snaps his fingers and interjects. “Unless Sahara has something else, Marael wants. Or is holding something else she needs.” Mikhail’s words make us pause. “I’ve never thought of that. What if there is something Sahara’s holding for Marael?” I look down at Zoe. “Sahara is married to Zoe’s biological father. How could that be coincidental? There has to be something we’re missing.”

Zoe shifts uncomfortably in my arms. I know that mentioning her parentage is a sore spot. However, we have to view every angle of this twisted game. It seems that every time we dig deeper into this situation, we find something new. Taking a deep breath, she bites her lips and shakes her head. “I don’t know. I’ve never really hung around their house.” She swallows uncomfortably and licks her lips. “My mother is their maid. Other than overhearing my mother speaking to him about me being his daughter, Sahara’s husband never acknowledged me. But…” She stops and takes a deep breath. “… I think he’s the Siren. Lucifer said that Sirens have eyes like mine.” She utters hoarsely and points to her eyes. “I have his eyes.”

Mathias tilts his head in understanding, and Cassia clucks her tongue with pity. “It’s okay, Zoe. Nobody is going to judge you here. My father, Lukan, was one of the psychos who started this mess, and Marael is Mathias’s ex-wife. Trust me, we all have skeletons in the closet.” Mikhail chuckles with derision. “Yeah, and Lukan was my uncle. He also killed my parents. We have some really messed up family connections.” Zoe’s shoulders slowly relax with their comments. A grim smile spreads across her face. “Yeah, I guess we all have family members who make us cringe.”

Everyone nods in agreement cutting the tension in the room. Zoe leans her head on my shoulder with a sigh of exhaustion. “I’ll talk to my mom to see what she knows. Sahara’s been hanging out more at the club lately. I don’t understand how her husband is okay with that.”

Cassia claps her hands together with approval and moves towards Zoe to take her hand. “That’s settled then. How about we have a few drinks and have something to eat.” Nevaeh stands on Zoe’s other side and smiles in agreement. “Yeah, let’s put this mess to rest for now and hang out.” Before we can agree, Nevaeh and Cassia lead Zoe to the kitchen.

Mikhail snorts, shrugging his shoulders and follows behind the ladies. Cassia makes breakfast for everyone with the help of Mathias and Nevaeh. Mikhail and I set the table while Zoe pours our drinks. It’s a very familiar scene for me by now. However, a few years ago, it would have been something I had only seen on the telly. Becoming friends with Mikhail and his family changed that. I will never forget the first time Mikhail invited me to Sunday breakfast at his house. I had raised a cynical eyebrow and waited for him to laugh. He didn’t laugh, though. He simply told me to get my arse up from my bed and come over. I was uncomfortable with their easy camaraderie at first. However, after several Sundays, I was able to relax and join their banter. It was very freeing and comfortable to be part of a family after so many years of being alone. It reminded me of the brilliant moments Samael and I shared together.

Zoe, Nevaeh, and Cassia seem to be enjoying themselves a great deal. Funny how Cassia and Zoe know each other. Both women sit there comfortably, telling Nevaeh about Zoe’s art mishaps. I look over to Mikhail, who leans back in his seat contentedly. “You haven’t marked her.” He whispers quickly. I shake my head. “Don’t worry, mate, I told Zoe about the mark. We just decided that we’d wait because we don’t know how the mark would affect her current power. Or whether Marael would see it and suspect that we’re on to her plan.” Mikhail nods in agreement. “Good idea, bro.” He takes a sip of some orange juice and wipes his lips with a napkin before he asks, “So what happened to your Road Runner?” My head snaps back in surprise. At first, I consider lying about the situation to him. But the words stick in my throat. Rethinking my options, I decide that being honest is probably the best option. It’s best to let Mikhail be forewarned in case Lucifer decides to be a git and go back on our truce.

Placing my elbows on the table, I lick my lips and clear my throat. “I’m going to be truthful with you, mate. I got in a bit of a predicament last night when Lucifer caused me to get into a car accident.” Mikhail’s eyes widen, and his shoulders stiffen with shock. “What? Are you freaking kidding me? Are you telling me that Lucifer, the king of hell, caused you to get into a car crash?” I nod my head amused by his shock. “I am not bloody kidding, mate. Apparently, the wanker has been holding some resentment since I left hell. And he has decided to retaliate by killing Zoe in all of her past lives.”

Mikhail gapes at me as if I’ve developed a second head. “I know what you’re thinking, and I’m not mental. Fallon is Lucifer’s son. After I set Lucifer straight, we spoke and called a tenuous truce. Even the Devil has to agree that Hell should stay where it is. He has agreed to help us find Marael.”

Mikhail snorts disdainfully and rises from his chair. He rubs the back of his neck to relieve tension from his body. “This shit just gets crazier and crazier, man. Now we have the fucking Devil to contend with…” He shakes his head and begins to pace back and forth. I never considered how this would affect Mikhail. However, now that I think about it, this ongoing battle with Lukan and Marael has taken a toll on most of our lives. Especially on Mikhail and Nevaeh, whom they nearly killed. I can see now why Mikhail is unnerved by having Lucifer added into the mix. He raises a brow when I place my hand on his shoulder and say, “Do not despair, mate, I can take care of Lucifer. What I want right now is for you to work with Creighton on finding a way to help Zoe rid herself of her Siphon status without losing her life.”

Mikhail gives me a reassuring pat on the back and leads me towards an awaiting Mathias. “Any news?” Mathias slips his cell phone into his pocket with a frustrated sigh, then looks at both of us. “I contacted the Council and told them that I’ve spoken to Zoe and that everything has been sorted out. You’re in the clear for now.”

I know I should feel relief over the Council’s agreement. But after dealing with the Council for so long, all I feel is wariness at what they might do next. The Council has never been gracious in their defeat, and I’m sure that they have something up their sleeves. I’m also extremely certain that Mathias is sincere in his faith. However, I am doubly sure that there are people on the Council who would love to take his seat in the Council from him. Over the past few years, Mathias has become a bit more progressive in his views. Too progressive for the rigid, stuffed shirts in the Council. I remember how upset they became when he acquitted Mikhail of his break in protocol with Nevaeh; and how he made them approve of their relationship. Most of the Council heads were not happy about it. And most of them were very vocal about their disapproval of his decisions. That’s why I have to stay on alert. There’s no way that I can trust them to keep their word.

A ding in my pocket warns me that I have a text. Mathias and Mikhail raise their eyebrows in question. Reaching into my pocket, I see that Kell has sent me a text.

“I took the Road Runner for repairs and left you something special in exchange that I fixed up for you. I hope you like it.”

I frown in consternation at Kell’s cryptic text. Kell has been racing and fixing some of my vehicles for the past two years. The bloke is a master at fixing race cars and making them faster. In exchange for his hard work, I gave him a 1970 Hemi Barracuda a year ago. It was part of the collection of vintage vehicles that I had been amassing for the past century. I figured he deserved it. The wanker nearly pissed himself when I told him it was his. Like Mikhail, he was surprised that I would give such a rare vehicle away. I guess as young as they are, they will never understand that possessions are not as important as memories are. Kell, like Mikhail, is a brother to me. Nothing can replace the sense of family that he, Mikhail, Rowan, Carrick, and Alex bring me. When I’m with them, they make me feel like I’m one of them. And nothing can replace that.

Mikhail drives Zoe and me back to my temporary house, leaving Nevaeh behind to bond with Mathias. I’m sure Mathias is regretting that one. Nevaeh was in one of her conversational modes, and boy can that woman blather.

Zoe nearly chokes when she sees the new vehicle sitting in my driveway. I smile when I see my black and silver 1969 Hemi Cuda. I had asked Kell to work on it several months ago for a bit of sprucing up. Samael had given it to me as a present before he left. However, it was not in the condition that it is in now. When Samael handed it to me, the vehicle had been abused by its previous owner. The body was rusted, and the upholstery was dry and cracked. Samael and I had planned on fixing it together but were never able to do so when he went into hiding. After that, I put the vehicle in storage. It was too painful to look at, especially after I discovered that Samael was dead.

Several months ago, I made the difficult decision to take it out of storage and have Kell restore it. And after looking at it, I’m glad I asked Kell to do it. It looks even better than I ever imagined it would. Relief and a sense of nostalgia surge through me as I gaze into its gleaming exterior.

“Wow!” Zoe says as she slips out of Mikhail’s car and takes a good look at the car. Mikhail’s eyebrows rise in amazement. “Holy shit! Kell did a good job. The Cuda looks amazing.”

We all take turns around the Cuda, taking in all of its glory. The vehicle has a slick steel finish with a black race line in the middle. The tires shine bright and clean under the light of the sun. Mikhail opens the driver’s door and slides inside with childlike enthusiasm. Zoe and I watch bemused as he runs his hand up and down the smooth leather of the steering wheel and white upholstery. “Oh man, this car is freaking awesome!” He states with wonder.

Zoe gives him a curious grin then turns to me in question. Rolling my eyes, I lean on the driver’s door and snicker. “Bloody hell mate, don’t drool on the upholstery; it was very expensive.” Mikhail shakes his head in horror. It’s quite amusing to see the face of my best mate Samael on the face of his son. He reminds me so much of his father that it makes me wretched and content at the same time. “Kell did a brilliant job. Your father would have been gratified. He was so proud when he gifted me with this vehicle.”

Mikhail’s smile dims at the mention of his father. It’s a bittersweet moment for him because he never had the opportunity to meet Samael. I am the only link to his father’s memory. Over the past couple of years, I’ve tried to share what I know about his father and have cared for him the way I know Samael would have. But I know that I can never replace Samael, which pains me deeply. If I had one wish, I’d wish that I could give Mikhail a day with his father. Unfortunately, that is one wish that is never to be.

Mikhail steps out of the car with a wistful smile. “Well, I like it. Maybe one of these days, you’ll let me take it for a spin.” His look is so hopeful that I hate hurting his feelings. I look over to Zoe, who is trying not to giggle at Mikhail’s obvious manipulation. Taking her hand, I pull her into my arms and give Mikhail my most authoritative glare. “Very well, you twit. But…” I hold an index finger up to emphasize my point. “…you cannot keep it. I already gave you the Hellcat. Your father gave me this one, and I intend to keep it! You get me, mate?”

Mikhail rolls his eyes with a snort and throws his hands up in surrender. “Fine! Geez, you don’t have to be such a dick about.” He shakes his head with a snicker. “Man, old age has made you crankier. Are you sure about this?”

He slyly asks Zoe. Zoe wraps her arm around my forearm and leans her head on my chest with a jeer. “He’s not that bad.” She tells Mikhail with a fake scowl.

Mikhail chuckles and shakes his head in capitulation. “Okay, fine. Just remember that I warned you.”

We all look back when a voice interrupts our repartee. It’s Zoe’s roommate, Bree, and her sister, Ailana. I remember Bree from that night at the club when I met Zoe. The sister I recognize from the pictures in the file Mathias set up for their surveillance. Bree stops in front of the hood of the Cuda and whistles low under her breath. “Holy crap, this car is nice!” She says as she gazes at Zoe with eyes as wide as saucers. The sister simply stands there looking back and forth between Mikhail and me in amazement. Not to sound arrogant, but we are quite a sight. Of course, I’m the better looking one, but we tend to have this effect on the opposite sex when we’re together. However, to the consternation of many a woman, Mikhail and I have very little interest in anyone who is not a mate.

Zoe steps out of my arms, looking at her friend uncomfortably. “Hey, B. I was just coming home.” Bree snorts in disbelief as she settles her gaze over me with suspicion and crosses her arms over her chest. “Yeah, I’m sure. I guess your friends are an afterthought when you’re having a sexathon with a hot gladiator.” Zoe blushes at Mikhail's smirk and Lana's chuckles.

Zoe slides from under my arm and faces her friend with a scowl. “Okay, mom, I get it. How about we go now. I have class in two hours, and I don’t want to spend my day off from work being bitched at by you.” Lana slips an arm under her sister’s elbow and gives me a curious smile. “Cut her some slack, sis. I mean, look at who she was with. I can see why she hasn’t been home for the past two nights. He’s hot as hell, girl!”

My mouth quirks at her honest assessment. With a smirk on my face, I tilt my head to the side and give her an arrogant wink. “Thank you, luv. I’m Azazel, by the way.” Her smile widens. “Oh, you’re British! Oh, Zoe, you’re a lucky girl. I’m Lana, and this is my sister Bree. And we’re both single.” She says comically as she waggles her eyebrows. The little minx is trouble. I pity the bloke who gets the brilliant idea of falling for her. He’s going to need all of the help he can get.

Mikhail clears his throat, drawing my attention to him. “I’m going to head back to Nevaeh. Text me later?” He asks me with an underlying message. I can almost hear him reprimanding me for not letting him know about the Marael and Sahara investigation when Mathias approached me. “I will call you when I have something, mate.” He narrows his eyes for a moment, then moves towards his car and slips inside with one final glare before he drives off. It’s almost comical how the boy thinks he has a say in any of this. I know that he’s concerned, but there’s nothing that can be done about that.

Turning back to Zoe and her friends, I give them a charming smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both. And I apologize for disrupting your time with Zoe. However, if I may be allowed a moment to speak to my ma…her, I promise that I will give your girl time back.” Both girls raise a curious brow and turn to Zoe, who rolls her eyes and gestures to their front door. “I’ll meet you guys upstairs in a few minutes.” They both give her a knowing snicker and walk back to the building.

Zoe crosses her arms in front of her and moves closer with a raised brow. I can see that she has put up her protective armor again. She wants to distance herself from her feelings for me, and it aggravates me to no end. I know that she’s as in love with me as I am with her. I can see it in her eyes, but I can tell that it frightens her. That’s why I’m trying not to push her too hard. And it is very difficult the closer we get. The mere thought of giving her space grates on my every mating instinct. My demon feels that she’s mine and needs to comprehend it.

Taking a deep breath, I place my hands on her forearms and pull her back into my arms. “Don’t push me away, luv,” I whisper with all of the raw honesty I can. And I have to tell you that for an alpha demon like myself, it’s very difficult to do. Zoe’s face loses some of its rigidity as she raises her hands and places them on my chest with a gentle caress. “I’m not, Azazel. I just need some time to adjust to this new reality.” She says with a plea in her beautiful turquoise eyes. Her lips glisten, and the gorgeous strands of her silken hair flutter in the breeze. This woman has me in the palm of her hand. And she knows it.

“Very well then,” I said, leaning down to rest my face next to hers. Her eyes close as she tilts her head and wraps her arms around my shoulders to lay a gentle kiss on my lips. We stand there, basking in our love for a few moments. It feels like we’re the only people in the world. Rubbing my nose gently with hers, I pull back and ask. “I also need another thing from you.”

She opens her eyes and bites her lip before she responds. “What is it?” She asks with exasperation. Taking her hand in mine, I tighten my fingers over hers with a pleading look. “You can’t tell your friends about any of the things that we spoke of.”

Zoe’s eyes narrow with an incredulous glare. “Are you kidding me right now? I can’t keep this from Bree! Especially when she’s involved! There’s no way that I’m letting my best friend walk around with a target on her back!” Her voice heightens into a loud crescendo.

Laying a thumb over her plump lip, I shake my head vehemently. “Stop, Zoe. I understand that you want to help her. But it will only hurt her more.”

Her mouth is about to open with a response when I shake my head again and utter. “No, listen to me, Zoe. Think this through, luv. Bree may be in even more trouble if Lucifer finds out about her. There is a lot more than what you know occurring at this moment. Telling her would set her on a path that might be even more dangerous. Keep in mind that Bree is under Council protection. Fallon has taken it upon himself to be her savior. And I promise you; he is very resolute about keeping her alive.”

Her face tightens with sorrow, and her lips tremble. “How can I keep something like that from her Azazel? She’s my best friend. But…” She stops and takes a deep breath, swallowing her tears down. She turns her face to look up at her apartment building. “I can see it now.” She utters with a hitch in her voice. “I can see the corruption surrounding our apartment. It’s like something finally clicked in my head, and I can see this disgusting blackness coating the walls and the window. I don’t know how it happened since I’ve never seen it before. Maybe it’s because I have accepted that I’m Siren now. I don’t know. But now I can see it, and it scares me.”

Leaning her head on my shoulder, she tightens her arms around me and inhales deeply. “Everything in me wants to run away from here. But I can’t leave my friends here unprotected.” She whispers with a tremble in her voice. Looking down at her, I can see that knowing about our world has taken its toll. Her eyes dim, and her shoulders slump with the weight of her knowledge. It pains me to know that my mate is suffering from the unfairness of everything that has been going on. Like Mikhail, she has had no choice in her part as a pawn in this debacle.

A part of me sympathizes with what she has to go through. But a small, selfish part of me is happy that she is. Because if she hadn’t been involved, I probably would have never found her. Not when Lucifer has been killing her for all of these years. Placing my hands on either side of her face, I place another soft kiss on her lips and whisper. “I know you’re scared, my beauty. And I promise you, if I could, I would take you away from here and go somewhere where I know you’d be safe. But I can’t. We can’t run away from any of this because there is no safe place to go. All I can do is protect you until I can annihilate the threat. I just need you to be brave.”

Zoe nods her head and places her hands over mine to slide her face away from them. Our fingers entwine as we contemplate the responsibility of our task. After a moment, Zoe nods her head grimly and replies. “Fine, I won’t tell her yet. But if I sense that Fallon is failing or that the Council is in over their head, I’m telling her. Are we clear?” She asks with a stern poke against my chest. My mate is so fierce in her devotion to those she loves. I can’t wait for her to tell me that I am included in that list.

“We’re in agreement then. Keep your mobile charged and call me if you need anything.” Giving her my most wicked smile, I lean down and give her a hard kiss. She tastes like sweet honey. Her body melts into mine, and her arms cling to my shoulder as she responds to my kiss. Our breathing is ragged, and our bodies burn with need when we break apart.

“And I mean anything,” I whisper huskily. Zoe’s dazed eyes sharpen at my words. I can see that she understands my not so subtle innuendo. Licking her plump lips, she firmly slaps a hand on my chest and gives me a chastising glare. “I’ll keep that in mind.” She whispers before she turns around and walks toward her apartment.

I watch enraptured as my mate walks away when Nevaeh’s words come back to me. Oh yeah, and she’s going to drive you crazy before she realizes that you’re her destiny. I slide into my vehicle with a hearty chuckle and think. This woman is definitely doing that.