The Lure of the Devil (The Demons' Muse #4) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,181

me, and one of his hands slid across the length of my shoulder blade. "And she's strong enough to take it. We're going to find her, and we’re going to make all of these angels pay. I promise you, Bel. We won't let her go away."

There was something about this small, fragile man holding me so tightly. It helped. I knew he couldn't stop me, but I also knew he didn’t want to. He was just here to give me something to hold, so I wrapped my arms around his back and clung tightly, using him to find a little stability.

"I'm supposed to protect her," I breathed against the top of his head.

"And you do," Ron assured me. "The part you haven't figured out yet is that she can protect herself too. Sometimes, she needs a shield - and that's you. Other times, she just needs more weapons. She just needs more room to fight without needing to worry about hurting us in the process."

"She always comes back," Sam said, reaching up to rub at my arm. "If she needs us, then I'm right there beside you, Bel."

All I could do was nod, yet they were making me feel better. They were also right. Sia might be small, delicate, and beautiful, but that didn't mean she was weak. She had never been weak. I was pretty sure she didn't know how, and I didn't ever want to make her feel like that. But it was different when I couldn't follow behind her. When she was out of reach, I felt like I was losing my mind.

"She can't go back to the church," I said, not even sure who I was talking to.

Sam moved a little closer. "She’ll come here. Every time this has happened, she's always returned to one of our safe places. At worst, she might try Tyrnigg first, but if we’re not there, she's coming here. She won't go back into a fight blind like that. You taught her better, Bel."

"Yeah, I did," I realized. "But, we can't stop these angels without her."

Which is why you need to make plans for when she gets back, God pointed out. Tell me what happened.

Sam started filling her in. Somewhere in the middle of that, Ron finally released his death grip on me and leaned back to make sure that I was honestly doing better. I liked that. I also liked that even when I was in a rage, he still wasn't scared of me. More than anything else, that was what made me feel grounded. My legion honestly trusted me, and I trusted them. Since Sia was part of my legion, I needed to trust her too. She was going to be okay.

Exactly twelve minutes after we got back to the house, Nick and Luke rushed in. The moment they saw us, both men let out a sigh of relief, then asked to be filled in as well. This time, it was Ron who told the story. Unlike Sam, he didn’t leave out any details. The whole time, God paced back and forth along the length of the dining room table.

Sia is going to need aether, God finally said. A lot of it. As much as she can hold.

"Why?" Nick asked.

Because this is my fault. God huffed, a tiny little tendril of smoke proving just how angry she really was. I never meant for my creations to destroy the other planes. I separated all of you so this couldn't happen.

"What does she need aether for?" Nick asked again.

Because I still cannot destroy. That doesn't mean I can't help her do it. I will not allow these angels to use me as a weapon. This distorted version of their religion ends tonight.

Pressing both palms to the table, Nick leaned closer, pushing his face towards the tiny little blue butterfly. "You're going to need a much better plan than that if you want to take out that many angels."

Then it sounds like you need to start planning, Satan, God said. That is your area of expertise, isn't it? Make a very good plan, and I will bring it to fruition. And Sia will handle the destruction.

"But first," I said, gesturing to his throat, "can you please tell me where she is?"

Wrapping his hand around the red gem he wore, Nick's eyes slipped closed for just a moment before he began to smile. "She's moving. I'm not sure where she is because she's not staying still, but I have a very strong feeling