Page 108 of Starborn Husbands

He wanted me to himself, he meant, but it was a logical argument. I can’t resist those, so I agreed. Father didn’t like it. He wanted to forbid it, but even Rigel Orion hesitates when an angel is involved. However, my parents are of the philosophy that “children need to make mistakes, and that’s how they learn,” so no one stopped me.

When I fell, I thought he’d follow me, but he didn’t. Sure, what we had wasn’t domestic bliss, but we’d slowly been improving, and I thought that maybe we’d have a kid eventually. Father would have had an aneurysm because it would have been out of wedlock, but when the child came, he’d have loved them so much he wouldn’t care.

But I did fall. And Merrick’s a super dick for never coming for me. And this is so like him, to throw me in a dungeon for not doing whatever he says.

It’s hard to say how much time passes before the familiar cadence of boots clicks down the marble hall. There’s a brief conversation I can’t quite make out and then the dark figure makes his way to my cell, stopping two feet before the shimmery transparent wall. I slam against it, trying in vain to reach through.

“Let me out of here, so I can murder you!”

“Now, now. Is that how you behave if you want your punishment to end?”

“How dare you lock me in the dungeon? You’re cruel and heartless and … let me out of here.”

“Cruel? Heartless? The accommodations might be modest but they’re clean and nice.” All right. It is nice for a dungeon, but a dungeon is a dungeon. “I told Gadreel to leave you alone other than to make sure you were all right. You’ve been out for most of it. I’ve been lenient.”

I’m sure he sees it that way. It’s like negotiating with a madman. “This doesn’t endear me to you.”

I storm away to pout on the bed.

“It’s not supposed to. I know you, Treyu. You need to know I’ll do what I say I’ll do.”

I give up on trying to reason with him. “Why am I here?”

“Punishment for?—”

“Not why am I in the dungeon. Why am I in Heaven?” Out of the corner of my eye, something shimmers. I look down and I can’t see it, but there’s a light under my white t-shirt. “Merrick.”

“I told you, dearest. You need runes to be here and runes so I can keep track of you. I had them put on you while you were out to save you the pain of an angel rune. See how nice I am?”

I glare. “You did it while I was out to save your ears my complaints.” Even though runes can be removed, it’s not something I can do myself. It’s not something that everyone can do. And only angels tend to know about angel runes. “You have a lot of explaining to do, Lucy.”

He laughs. “And I’ll explain it all, one week from now.” He turns to leave.

“No! Merrick. Please don’t leave me here. Punish me some other way.” He keeps walking. “At least give me a book!”

He doesn’t acknowledge my shouting. I’m being punished as far as he’s concerned, and he’s always been a hard ass about punishment.Uuuuugh.I have no choice other than to wait this out.

* * *

A week is a long time when you have nothing to do but stew in your own thoughts. Merrick did bring some books on his next visit. I accepted the books but refused to speak to him. He was unfazed by my behavior.

I think of Zhang a lot and it sucks. We were vibing. I don’t hate him anymore. He made me feel special and taken care of and my foolish actions—yet again—had me torn from him. He must be losing his mind. No. Our brothers will calm him down and he’ll start looking for a way for me to break out of Heaven. They’ve got the stargate, but I guess they can’t use that without rocking the boat.

My fingers ghost over my lips, and then my hand makes its way to my marriage rune. Zhang’s star beats warmly there. Strong. My damn heart clenches. I’m not even thinking about sex right now, but we were good at that too. Fuck, he can fuck me. Put me in my place. Own me.

A shift of energy moves across my cell. Merrick’s there, stepping through the now open barrier with his arms open for me. I run at him and punch him square in his perfect jaw. Gods he has a nice jaw. One of those square ones like … like Zhang.

It doesn’t do anything, but he rubs his jaw anyway. “You’ll pay for that.”

Whatever. I keep walking, padding across the cell barefoot. Why is this place so damn cold? “Well, come on then. Show me around Heaven and tell me what the fuck’s going on, and then I want to go home, Merrick.”

I strut off down the hallway in the direction he came from. I think he’ll grab me and stuff me back into a cell, but he doesn’t. He follows, and I make sure to smirk at Gadreel on the way by.

Thanks for nothing, pal.

Merrick takes the lead, and I let him because I don’t know where I’m going. It’s a big place. Open concept with large pillars, and arches, and whoa, way too much sex stuff going on. Yeah, I’m saying that. People are in all kinds of humiliating positions, being spanked and flogged and fingered. Some look to be at the height of pleasure. Others are happily miserable.

All my blood goes south. “This is what you get up to in Heaven? No wonder you abandoned me. I wouldn’t give this up either.”