The Lure of the Devil (The Demons' Muse #4) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,177

"Who are you?" he countered.

"Ronwe, the Demon of Knowledge. Answer me!"

Because I wanted to hear his name from his own mouth. I already knew this was the same angel Sia had seen when Michael pulled her to Angelis. He was the other half that God had apologized for making from me. He was the second living thing to ever exist, and he probably didn't even know it. But that didn't matter, because I was still the first. I was also no longer twisted and mangled like him, yet he was still a part of me, and I deserved to at least hear his name!

Easing himself off his stool with a wince of pain, the angel finally answered. "I'm Stieviel, the right hand of Michael."

"He looks exactly the fucking same," Sam gasped.

"Uh-huh," Sia agreed. "Just wondering if he knows who we are yet. Hey, Stieviel? Whatcha looking at over there?" Something about her tone made it clear that was a threat.

"You," he snarled as he tore his eyes away from me to glare at her. "I had a feeling I'd see you again, and I'm not gonna let you fuck this up for me."

"What?" she asked, moving closer. "The fact that you’re trying to take Michael's place? Do you honestly believe your plans are as good as his?"

"My plans are his!" Stieviel shot back. "Why do you think he keeps me around? You don't think Michael comes up with these layered ideas on his own, do you?"

Sam just ducked his head and chuckled. "Well, that certainly explains a lot. So I just have one question for you. Are you the one who decided to fuck over Lucifer in order to get to Satan and kill their wife?"

"It got Lucifer out of the way," Stieviel assured him. "Michael at least listens to me."

Then he did the last thing I would've expected. The crippled and lame angel reached behind him to grab the wooden stool – and he threw it like a weapon! He aimed right for Sia, but didn't stand a chance. Bel shoved his body in the way just as she threw up a shield. I couldn't tell who took the impact, but it also didn't matter. The stupid chair would do nothing more than piss Bel right the fuck off.

And the roar that came from the demon’s throat proved it. "I will rip off both your wings," he warned, "even if you can only use one."

The whole time, I just stood there. I couldn’t even move. My eyes were locked on my twin, trying to come to terms with the fact that this guy was made from half of me. His good side should've been mine. God had created him to be my balance in all things, so how could I consider attacking him? But since he was going after my friends, how could I not?

"Oh, I am going to shove your ass back to Angelis for that," Sia warned, taking one single step towards him.

Stieviel just lifted his chin. "Bring it," he warned. "You cannot hurt me, Muse."

"I wouldn't count on it," she told him, and I could feel her pulling in the aether from the very air around us. "After I drain you dry, you're not going to be able to regenerate real fast. I'm willing to bet that no one can get through that fucked-up skin of yours, can they?"

"No one can," he taunted her. "Not even to drain me. If you send me to Angelis, I'll just walk my way back here like I did the first time. I have lived my entire life without aether. I have learned how to make miracles in other ways. I am not helpless, but I am invulnerable."

The whole time he talked, a smile was growing on Sia's lips. "Invulnerable, my ass."

Like they’d planned it ahead of time, Bel surged forward to grab Stieviel from behind. Lifting the angel off his feet, he spun back to face Sia, holding his prisoner before him. Her hand immediately slapped against Stieviel's seal. I didn't even need to feel it to know the exact moment she pulled, because Stieviel's screams made it clear this was not a pleasant feeling.

Too bad for him. He’d just fucked with the wrong damned person.

40

Beelzebub

I wanted to rip every limb off the smug little asshole's body, but the look on Ronwe's face convinced me I just couldn't. Our sweet, gentle demon was horrified at seeing his twin in pain. But hearing Stieviel scream as Sia pulled his life