Page 140 of A House of Gold
They're not wrong. As much as I hate this, hate being discussed like property, hate knowing they're all waiting for their turns with me, hate the casual way they talk about claiming me, they're right.
I need them. Need their power, their resources, their protection.
And they know it.
"So," Kael says, his ember eyes burning. "We have an agreement. We work together. We protect the sin eater. We find out who's behind this." His scarred lips curve in a dangerous smile. "And then we kill them."
"Slowly," Seraph adds.
"Painfully," Lysander agrees.
"With style," Dorian finishes.
Idris's laugh echoes in all our minds.I do love it when we're all on the same page.
Caspian doesn't comment, but his pale form shifts slightly in the shadows. Agreement, in his own apathetic way.
Seven fallen angels. Seven sins. Seven deadly beings who hate each other.
But right now, for the first time in centuries, they're united.
I look at Croesus through the binding, feel his fury and frustration and fierce protectiveness. He wants to tell them all to burn. Wants to claim me as his and refuse to share.
But he can't.
"Thank you," I say to the assembled angels, my voice steady despite the fear crawling up my spine. "For agreeing to help. I know this isn't about me, I know it's about the theft, the insult, the threat to your territories. But I appreciate it anyway."
Seraph's mirror eyes catch the light. "Don't thank us yet, little sin eater. We haven't decided if keeping you alive is worth the trouble."
"She's worth it," Croesus says firmly.
"To you," Kael counters. "We'll make our own judgments."
In our own timeLysander adds with a wink.I'm very much looking forward to judging her...thoroughly.
Through the binding, Croesus's rage is a living thing. But he swallows it down, forces control.
Because he knows what I know: this is the deal. This is what I agreed to.
And there's no escape.
"Then it's settled," Croesus says through clenched teeth. "We meet again in three days. Each house brings their records of missing souls. We compile the data, find the pattern, and identify the threat."
"And in the meantime," Seraph says, "the little sin eater stays with you. Under your protection. For now."
The emphasis on "for now" isn't lost on anyone.
"For now," Croesus agrees.
The angels begin to disperse, melting into shadows and light and reality-tears that lead back to their respective houses. But each one pauses as they pass me.
Seraph: "Ten months, little sin eater. I'll be counting."
Idris:Try not to break before then. I prefer my playthings intact.
Kael: "Survive Croesus. Then we'll see if you can survive me."
Lysander: "Sleep well, darling. Dream of me." His smile is pure sin.
