Page 286 of Venom Sweeter than Honey
VIOLETTE
“Where is he?” The words tear from my throat, yanking Levi and Lazarus’ attention to me. The concern lining their faces tells me I must look wild. Drenched and wind-tossed in nothing more than a soaked robe plastered to my skin. Levi is the first to reply. “The bathing chamber.”
Ifoldinto the adjacent ensuite. Azrael is sitting in a bathing pool filled with bubbles that nearly reach his neck.As if he doesn’t have a care in the world.
His features tighten at the sight of my obvious distress. “Seraphim, what’s happened?”
I can’t manage the words.
Realization slackens his features as if...
He knows.
He knows he’s dying.
The door to the bathing chamber swings open as Levi and Lazarus join us.
Azrael’s brow hardens at the sight of them. “You told her.”
Levi and Lazarus scowl in unison, looking oddly similar.
Lazarus’ voice drops to a growl of displeasure. “No. We didn’t.”
My jaw plummets.“You knew?”
Remorse twists Levi’s features. “I was going to tell you.Wewere going to tell you. We just didn’t want it causing you any additional distress or distraction considering?—”
I understand the reasoning. I would have done precisely the same. The shifting of my attention cuts Levi off. My eyes frantically search Lazarus’ gaze as if I might find hope.
“Give him half of your magic—that will fix this.”
Lazarus’ throat dips, brow hardening.
Levi’s gaze wanders to his as if also seeking some salvation from this horror.
We are met with silence.
Azrael’s voice is soft behind me. “I am so sorry, sweet seraphim.”
I shake my head, unwilling to accept this fate. “I don’t understand. Why? How? You’re a god of death. You’ve survived since the birth of creation. This doesn’t make any sense.”
Azrael remains silent. The guilt and shame harrowing his expression is palpable in the air.
Levi steps closer to me, his voice the dark harbinger to my heartbreak. “By not fulfilling his vow to you.”
It takes several moments for the words to properly register in my mind. As though all my logic and reasoning faculties can’t fathom such a betrayal. When my eyes finally return to Azrael, the guilt in his eyes tells me just how naive I’ve been.
My voice is little more than a whisper. “You planned this... ?”
Azraelfoldsout of the bathing pool to stand directly in front of me. Reaches out to cup my cheeks in his hands. “I didn’t think that you would..."
One by one, tears plummet from the precipice of my eyes seeking their own oblivion.
“That I would what?”
Azrael’s frown deepens. “I was certain my affections would be one-sided.”
The admission pierces my heart as he continues.
