Lover's Wrath: A Paranormal Reverse Harem Romance (An Angel and Her Demons Book 3) Lacey Andersen (open ebook txt) 📖

sky. None even soared overhead. There wasn’t even the flicker of movement that said guards walked their paths around the structure.

“It’s eerie,” the vampire whispered.

She agreed.

“They’re waiting for us,” the Goddess of Love said, and there was a darkness to her words. “And so we shouldn’t disappoint them.”

“Just be prepared,” The God of Sin said, his voice forcefully casual. “It isn’t just Caine and his angels we have to watch out for. His archangel will be there too, and that bastard’s smarter than all of them combined.”

Surcy shivered, remembering the red winged angel.

When their group started moving forward, she called her soul-blade into her hand. They walked in measured strides across the lifeless lands, moving toward the formidable structure.

“This place was a thing of beauty when we ruled here,” The Goddess of Life whispered.

Surcy stiffened, and a strange sensation washed over her. Glancing behind them, she saw that life was blossoming everywhere that the goddess had stepped. Grass sprouted on the ground, hidden seeds split, and trees emerged slowly from their slumber. They grew at an incredible speed, stretching higher and higher as branches and leaves erupted.

Her pulse sped up.

Already things were changing. She prayed that was a good sign.

When they were just outside of an archer’s range of the fortress, the Goddess of Love gave an order, “stop.”

Immediately, they obeyed.

“It’s time,” the Goddess of Love said. “We must execute the plan to the letter.”

The Gods and Goddesses of the Seasons moved back and within seconds they shifted into their dragon forms. Where once the four Immortals stood, now powerful magical creatures stretched their massive wings. The God of Summer was golden and massive, humming with strength. The God of Autumn was red and simmering with a contained kind of anger, that she could sense waiting to explode. The Goddess of Winter was black, her anger worn about her like a cloak. The Goddess of Spring was a lovely shade of blue, with talons that could sever heads with one swoop.

A cloak of darkness spread over all of them like a black cloud. For a second, it made Surcy's chest feel tight. The cloud reminded her so much of Caine. But then, she breathed deeply, reminding herself that this was all part of the plan. The God of the Night would do his best to conceal them, for as long as possible.

At last, they were ready.

And then, the war began.

21

Daniel stood like all the other angels. They were silent soldiers, preparing for a war. It took everything within him to stay standing in the silent throne room, knowing that Surcy was somewhere close by, preparing to attack.

This feels wrong. How the hell am I an angel?

A tremor rolled through his body. Images flashed in his mind of the moment he was burned alive.

He felt his eyes widen, and clenched his entire body to keep from throwing up. Was it not enough he had to burn to death in his first life? He’d had do it again!

His head spun, and he felt light on his feet. Burning to death had to be one of the worst ways to go. Even after that, he had experienced a different kind of pain when his soul appeared in the throne room. Daniel had been still withering in agony when Caine had turned him into an angel and wiped his memory.

He’d fought it with all his might, but it was useless.

He would never forget the moment he tried to kill Surcy. It would haunt like a ghost for the remainder of his life. He didn’t know how she’d brought him back, but making love to her was the only thing that healed his soul. That kept him from imploding the moment he realized all that had happened.

Thank God for Surcy.

Staying by her side was the only thing that could bring him peace again, yet he was more valuable here. He had to pretend that he didn’t remember and be ready to help her when the time came.

Even if it drives me mad.

Even though not knowing what happened to Mark and Tristan was its own kind of torture.

Suddenly, Daniel sensed a change in the room. His gaze moved to the darkness that concealed the cowardly Caine, and his entire half of the throne room.

What’s happening now?

Caine’s darkness crept slowly out over the rest of the room like a cursed mist. It did nothing to hide the red-winged archangel that leaned back arrogantly near the bastard, nor did it hide the three portals to the other realms.

Despite himself, Daniel’s gaze flickered to the portals. They loomed deadly, salvation and punishment, the blinding brightness of the entrance into the angel realm, and the absolute darkness that led to the demon realm. Beyond them was the Soul Destroyer, closest to the back of the throne room. It hummed of danger.

“They will be here soon,” Caine said, his voice breaking the tension-filled silence. “There’s more that still must be done.”

The doors to the throne room opened, and four angels carried a massive wooden stock across the room, before setting it near the portals. They opened the top, where spots had been made for a head and hands to go.

He’s going to punish someone? But who?

“Daniel.”

When Caine said his name, he knew. He knew that the punishment was meant for him. And yet, how could Caine know that Daniel’s memories had returned? Daniel had done everything that was asked of him. So was this about something else?

It doesn’t matter. I have to obey.

He stepped forward and bowed, even though it was like a dagger in his stomach.

“Yes, Caine.”

“Go in the stock.” Caine’s command seemed to fill the air.

He didn’t force Daniel to obey. The demon could try to fly or outrun the six dozen angels who crowd the room, but Caine and Daniel both knew he wouldn’t make it more than a few feet before he was dead.

So, Daniel played his game. “Yes, Judge.”

He went to the stocks, placed his hands and his neck into the carved