not? It’ll show everyone the good you’re capable of. Not that you haven’t been doing that with your own actions lately. But sometimes people need things spelled out for them and you know Az will bite at the opportunity to demonstrate. He owes you.”
“First off,” I counted on my fingers, “it’s going to be painful as Hell for Az, worse than just letting him heal naturally. Secondly, I have to, you know, touch him a fair amount for it to work.”
“It doesn’t bother me if you touch him.” Zach snuck a quick peck on my lips. “But it’s sweet of you to be concerned. And sure, ask him first, but you think he’d turn down an opportunity to show off a miracle?” He nudged my shoulder. “And to talk you up?”
“Ugh, you’re right,” I groaned. “He’ll grin and bear it if it’s a moment in the spotlight.”
“Oh, I don’t think it’ll be that painful for him.” Zach’s chuckle sounded nervous.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Did you have someone like him?” His voice lowered to a near-whisper. “An angel who was your...partner? Before you fell, I mean.”
“Oh, Zach.” I leaned my head on his shoulder with a sigh, an old ache winking alive again in my memories. “That was so long ago.”
White feathers veined in pink and eyes laced with lightning. He carried me down in a spiralling flight, with laughter like thunder. For a moment, we’d thought we were free.
“Sorry I asked,” he mumbled, an embarrassed flush creeping up from his collar.
“I did love an angel, yes,” I said. “We fell together. He became...unrecognizable after only a few centuries.”
Sometimes Kimaris would parade Ahlaeus out when he was feeling especially sentimental, and now my once-lover only reminded me of my worst enemy.
“I’m sorry, Deyva.”
“Honestly, it’s just one thing on the list of many terrible things that goes on in Hell.” It happened so long ago, the beautiful moments hardly felt real anymore. I had even forgotten what love tasted like, until Stavros reminded me.
Zach wrapped one hand around my knee and gave an affectionate squeeze. “We’ll make sure you never go back there.” He angled his lips down for another kiss. “Promise.”
My heart panged in answer. I thought in coming here I’d find sanctuary. Instead I’d found salvation, and it was going to lead me directly to my own destruction.
“Well, didn’t you just hit the jackpot?” Azariah strutted around me, feathers fanned out like a peacock. “A pretty virgin who turns out to actually be good at fucking, with brains to boot. Not everyone is so lucky, succubus.”
“I’m starting to doubt the brains thing,” I muttered, arms crossed over my chest, while the citizens of Bethel gathered into the gymnasium. Azariah had wanted to use the chapel, but Zach said it wouldn’t hold the whole town, and he was determined to make every Bethel resident witness my “miracle.”
Azariah and I stood in the middle of the basketball court, the bleachers folded back so everyone in the town could fit into the gym to watch the spectacle. With every person that filed in, I regretted going along with Zach’s idea more. The tastes of confusion, awe, and fear mingled in the air, amplified by all the bodies pressing in.
Only a few people tasted genuinely curious. Will gave me a smile and a wave as he walked in. I returned the gesture, but groaned as I turned to face Az.
“How do we know this is even going to work? They’re probably just going to hate me more for touching you, on top of already getting with the priests.”
“Have faith, First Daughter.” Azariah grinned through his teeth, waving at a giggling group of women. “Shall we get started?”
“Yes, please, let’s get this over with.” I raised my palms, ready to wrap around him in a hug, but the angel caught my wrist to stop me.
“Ah-ah. Speech first, succubus.” I groaned again as he spun in a wide circle to address everyone in the gym. “Thank you all for coming!” His voice projected to the gym walls and ceiling with a slight echo. “I understand there has been some confusion about Deyva, Bethel’s resident succubus, and lover of priests.”
“Seriously?” I hissed through my teeth at him, my smile so stiff it actually hurt my face. “Can you not?” It didn’t take long for the flavors in the air to shift to disapproval. Not like it was a secret, but fucking hell, he didn’t have to announce it like that.
“I call Deyva First Daughter because,” Az went