Cipher (Demonica Underworld #8) - Larissa Ione Page 0,9

been, he’d written off Tuvol’s opinion as non-mainstream, shared by an insignificant number of fringe malcontents whose influence was equally as insignificant.

But what if that wasn’t true? What if the extremists were growing in number and influence?

“Let’s say there are more of you than I think,” he said. “What is it they want?”

She stared at him like he was an idiot. “How can you not know? They want the Apocalypse.”

Now that was worthy of a bark of laughter. “I hate to tell you this, psycho, but Heaven has always been working to prevent the Apocalypse.”

Flail kicked his foot again, this time harder. “The Apocalypse is inevitable, Cipher. Just as there are religious demon and human radicals who work to bring about the end days, there are angels as well.”

“But the point of delaying it is to allow humans time to perfect their souls.” That was the entire argument against Tuvol’s “failed experiment” bullshit. Yes, humans were awful and seemed to be regressing, but they learned from the bad times—not the good ones. “To become worthy of the eternal life they’ll be gifted with after they’ve lived several earthly lives and experienced all there is to experience.”

She made a gagging gesture. “Ugh. You sound like a fucking textbook. Don’t you realize that they will never succeed? Why prolong the agony? If Armageddon kicks off before humankind perfects itself, all human souls will be extinguished.”

“Bullshit. When the end of days comes, all good souls will cross over, no matter whether they’re perfected or not.”

She shrugged. “That’s what we’re all told, isn’t it? Now, if we’re done with the theological debate, let’s get back to why I’m here.” She gestured to him. “Stand and strip.”

Talk about a change of subject. “Thanks, but I’ll pass.”

“When did you get modest?”

He wasn’t modest at all. He had a great body and he saw no reason to hide it. But he also saw no reason to comply with this particular demand.

He’d always been bullheaded.

And it was exactly that trait that had gotten him kicked out of Heaven.

“I’m not playing anymore, Cipher.” A wave of agony spread from the ascerdisc. He clutched at his chest and moaned as blood trickled between his fingers and down his sternum. “Stand up and drop the fucking blanket.”

“Fuck. You.”

The agony retreated, but what it left behind was worse—a sudden, overwhelming need to obey.

“What—” he breathed as his fingers went to the knot at his hips. “What the hell?”

“That’s how the ascerdisc works. Obey or suffer.”

Growling, he snapped his hand back...and instant agony returned. The trickle of blood from the device became a stream, and a new trickle started from his nose.

“Just drop the blanket, you fool.”

Yeah, okay, he was stubborn, but he liked to think he wasn’t a total moron. This was a minor battle he was willing to lose in order to save strength for the next one, which would probably have higher stakes. He pushed to his feet and dropped the sucker. The pain faded.

Flail ogled, even though she’d seen him naked before.

“That is definitely no cocktail wiener,” she said before letting out a resigned sigh. “Bael sent me to seduce you. But I know how much you hate me. You’ll never fall for any of my tricks.”

“Duh.”

“So I’m going to make you want me.”

He laughed. “That will never—” He broke off with a hiss as his body flooded with sexual need that bordered on pain.

“There you go,” she murmured, her gaze becoming drowsy, full of erotic promise.

And he knew well that she kept her promises.

Damn her.

Hatred boiled up and merged with the lust burning hotly in his veins. His body wanted to fuck her. His brain wanted to kill her.

“Why—” he gritted. “Why are you doing this?” She could have beaten him with chains, flayed the flesh off his bones, smashed his organs with a sledgehammer, but instead, she was taking the one thing he had left: his free will.

This was so much worse than any torture he’d suffered so far.

“It’s all about self-loathing, my boy.” She walked toward him, slowly, deliberately, each hip kicking out in invitation. “You’re going to fuck me, and you’re going to hate yourself later.”

“I’ll know it wasn’t my choice.”

“But that won’t be true, will it?” She poked one long, black-lacquered nail into the hollow of his throat. “Deep down, you want me with more than just your cock. And that will eat away at you. Which will let evil in.” She smoothed her finger down his chest, through the wet blood. “Every day