Page 181 of Venom Sweeter than Honey
Admittedly, I’m too riveted to intervene. Not that the God of Death needs me to.
Azrael’s laughter abruptly cuts short, voice dropping to a soothing tone. “Oh, my sweet, sweet Samuel Anderson Hayes. You’ll be an attorney soon. Those stairs outside your front porch get awfully slippery in the wintertime. We wouldn’t want some grave incident to befall you now, would we? And certainly not so close to your Bar exam.”
The men around him begin to murmur as Samuel’s face visibly pales. “What are you, a stalker? Who the hell are you, you sick fuck?”
Azrael gives another chuckle, not feigned, but a genuine fucking chuckle. “Not a stalker, but we’ll meet again soon enough.” Azrael’s grin widens. “If you’re not careful.”
Samuel sets down his beer, looking thoroughly jarred. “Yeah, okay, buddy. I’ve got guns. Lots of ‘em.”
Azrael’s laughter turns effervescent—a stark contrast to the malevolence twinkling in his eyes. “You’re adorable.”
Samuel shakes his head. My hand is already on the gun holstered beneath my shirt as he reaches behind him...
Every muscle in my body tenses as I angle my body in front of Violette’s.
And he withdraws a wallet from his back pocket.
“Whatever, I’m outta here.”
Samuel throws a few twenties on the table. His rotund friend follows suit, as do a few others. The remainder of them turn back towards the game, grumbling. A moment later our waitress returns with a tray full of ice waters. “Ready to order?”
VIOLETTE
Somehow, despite having just eaten a giant burger, I feel even more exhausted now than I did before we arrived.I fucking hate crowds.The moment we step out of the bar, I heave a much-needed sigh of relief. The late autumn air is cold but refreshing. The stars are relatively visible in the sky, and despite the chaos of the bar, it’s peaceful out here. Levi and Azrael are two pillars of strength and solidarity beside me.
I love this.
I loveus.
A wave of gratitude washes over me as we head towards Levi’s?—
“Hey, fat tits, why don’t you give us a moment with your husband and his pet giraffe?”
Levi guides me behind him as five of the humans from the table beside ours round the corner of a row of vehicles. Levi reaches into his pocket and palms me his keys. “Go wait in the truck, sweetheart.”
My teeth grind as I speak low enough so that only he and Azrael can hear. “You fresh fucking cunt, I willnotgo wait in the truck. Have you forgotten that I possess god-magic? I couldset these humans aflame or drown them with little more than a thought.”
Levi huffs a laugh. “Not even remotely, but if you did, it would attractwaymore attention than we can handle.”
“I’m not leaving you.”
Levi heaves a sigh, pocketing his keys.
Azrael rolls his eyes. “Let me handle this.”
Levi growls, and I can’t help but be a little surprised by the concern tensing his features as he hisses out,“Az.”
Azrael ignores him. Approaches the humans, hands raised in a placating gesture. “This is all wildly unnecessary, and we?—”
Samuel cuts him off by throwing a punch. Azrael catches it mid-air, looking mildly offended. “Rude.”
I’m frozen in shock, but Levi’s already pushing me between two parked cars. The desperation in his voice is palpable. “Please, don’t move, Vi. I will literally die if something happens to you.”
“You’re the one that’s human?—”
Godsdamn it.
He’s already rushing towards Azrael just as a melee breaks out. It’s a ridiculous sight. Azrael looks like an adult holding back several flailing children.
