felt in my long life, the vast majority I’d tasted here in my time with these humans. Drawing my hand across Azariah’s ribs, I flattened my palm to his chest and pushed it all into him.
His arms tightened around my shoulders, mouth parted on a soft groan as feathers sprang through the exposed skin. The plumage grew to full size in a matter of seconds, a shining pale gold, with no black of Hell tainting it. Gasps and murmurs arose at the sight.
“Deyva.” Az breathed my name almost amorously, his fingers cupping the back of my neck, stroking along my jaw as his lips hovered above mine.
“Extend your wing,” I whispered, wrapping my hands around his forearms.
He did, fanning them up and out to the sides like an eagle soaring. They were in perfect symmetry now, majestic and breathtaking. He beat them once, pushing a strong current of air through the gym. Everyone’s hair and clothes fluttered as he beamed down at me, seeing only me. Not his adoring fans surrounding us.
“Thank you, Deyva.” His breath fanned over my face, lips angling like he wanted to kiss me.
I took his hands from my face as I slowly backed away, getting a full view of his wingspan in all its glory.
“You’re at full power now.” I gave him everything I had, my last parting gift.
“Get back to your men and recharge then, you little Energizer Bunny.” The angel sent me off with a playful swat and a beaming smile.
I walked stiffly to the wall, ignoring the eyes following me, the ones that saw me in a new light. I tasted the shifting emotions in the air, but everything felt like sand on my tongue in that moment.
“We’re proud of you, babe.” Stavros drew me into his chest and planted a kiss on my forehead. Zach leaned over and smacked one on my cheek.
I soaked in their pride and love, putting on a smile to keep my hollowness from showing through. With Azariah at full strength and the citizens learning to defend themselves, Bethel didn’t need me anymore. Azariah deserved this place, these people. And this town deserved an angel as ridiculous and precious as Azariah. They would fight for him, against all the armies of Hell, but it would cost them. And if I finally sucked it up and went back to Hell? Maybe they wouldn’t have to pay that price. Maybe I could convince Kimaris and Belial to just take their anger out on me, and me alone.
Even with Az at full power, no battle came without a heavy dose of risk. And any loss was too much for this little human settlement I’d grown attached to.
I couldn’t afford to stall anymore.
I had to return to Hell.
29
Living Sacrifice
Deyva
“Ohhh Gooood,” Zach moaned, breathy and uneven.
He was beautiful, trembling and whining, his face pressed to my cheek and weight holding me to the bed beneath him, stealing my breath. Stavros and I stroked his back with every shudder as Stav took Zach in long, gentle strokes.
“Tell me you’re good, Z,” Stavros gasped, his brow furrowing.
Zach answered with a tilt of his ass, meeting Stavros' thrust and then sinking deeper into me with their momentum, the heady pressure landing inside of me and against my clit as I rocked up into Zach.
“So good,” Zach panted, chanting our names until they blended messily together.
Stavros grunted as Zach started riding his cock, fucking me urgently at the same time, his own eagerness breaking our patient pace. I wrapped my legs around them both, my heels just barely managing to reach Stav’s ass, watching Stav nearly buckle over Zach, his fingers digging deep into Zach’s ass.
“Fuck, that’s it Zach, oh fuck! Deyva, babe, come with us,” Stav hissed, eyes meeting mine, smile brilliant.
I nodded, unable to speak, the surge of affection, of love, of relief and joy all piling and pouring into me like rich dark honey and something deep, earthy and satisfying.
Zach yelped, thrashing between us as he came, his face twisted in agonized ecstasy, and Stavros followed quickly, throat strained and stretched as he shouted up at the ceiling. I turned my face away as their pleasure dragged me under with them, the beautifully tense and twisting sensation rushing through me, bittersweet and strangling at my throat. I didn’t feed.
I didn’t want to take more from them than I already had, and I wasn’t really interested in feeling strong for what came next.
For a moment, as Stavros and Zach collapsed, I was buried under