Page 13 of Hunted By Fear

“I’ve seen him do it once before, a long time ago. But it’s the only hope we have to keep Rome from finding her until we can figure out how to unravel her from his control and save her from the deal…” He trails off, and we all hear the words he doesn’t say. His silentiffeels as though it carries more weight than the words he did say.

“And if we can’t?” Bast’s voice is quiet, hardly more than a whisper, but it’s impossible to miss the pain that bleeds into his words.

I can’t imagine how he must feel if she really is his mate…

Everything in me calls to her.

I hadn’t craved company in so long I’d forgotten what it meant to be lonely. I was fine in solitude, but now it’s as if I can’t breathe without her right here in my arms. Her weight is welcome, helping to fill the void I’ve felt since she disappeared. If Talian had taken even a moment longer to hand her over, I might have sent his soul back to Hell ahead of us.

Even still, it’s not enough. She’s unconscious, and if Kai is telling the truth, that’s for the best because if she opened those beautiful blue eyes right now, she would look at me and see a stranger. I might not have fucked her like Talian and Kai, but Aeri ismine. The universe decided that for us. It’s one of the few things Father can’t take away because he has no power over it.

The thought of her waking afraid, unable to recognize us or her own home, makes my chest feel tight and my tail flick in annoyance. Rome weaseled his way into her mind and trapped her even more than she already was. All she wanted was to escape him. Instead of helping her, I feel we’ve only made it worse.

If there was ever a chance for Rome to give her up, it went out the window the moment he discovered she meant anything to me, to us.

She doesn’t deserve any of this. Mortals are so fragile; they often become cruel when faced with hard lives, but not Aeri—no, she’s still beautiful, her soul much too pure for any of us.

Even knowing that, I can’t make myself walk away; I can’t leave her behind. Even if Rome wasn’t a factor, I couldn’t. I’d rather damn my soul to the lowest circle of Hell.

Asta and Ruin argue about taking her to Hell, but the more I think about it, the more I think it’s a good idea. It’s the only way to guarantee Rome can’t get to her, but Ruin can’t go.

Angels aren’t permitted into Hell any more than demons can visit Heaven.

Although mortals aren’t supposed to be ‌able to enter Hell while alive, so who knows?

Maybe Lucifer could let him in the same way.

Not that I can imagine that, from either of them. Even if Ruin managed to swallow his pride enough to ask, I can’t picture what would ever make Lucifer agree.

There isn’t much in the world he despises more than the divine.

I don’t love it either, but if she’ll be safe…

“It’s her only chance, which means that’s what we're doing.” Asta’s reasoning is sound, even if they don’t like it. The room falls quiet around me, and when I look up, I see the tension in the room as if it’s a tangible thing.

He isn’t asking anymore

“Fine,” Ruin says with a huff as he pushes to stand. “But at least let me take her there?”

It’s a question, not a demand. He stops before me, watching, waiting for me to decide. Yet even though it’s my choice, I know it’s not really.

I’ve never been more certain of anything in my very long existence than the fact that Aerilyn is my mate. But that doesn’t mean she’s only mine, and for all the time I’ve ever known any of these assholes, I’ve never seen them like this.

Willing to help this much for a mortal.

They hide behind the excuse that it’s all for me, but I know better. If it were about me, they would lock her in a cage here and help me fend off Rome should he be stupid enough to come looking.

No, Asta went to Hell to ask for help from Lucifer all on his own.

Kai not only went looking for her, but he found her.

Talian brought her back.

And Ruin is here with all of us demons, despite the fact that he could very well lose his divinity if he were discovered.

If that doesn’t prove she matters to them, I’m not sure what does.

“Fine.” I push to stand, pulling her close to my chest and breathing her in for a moment before I offer her to him.