Mattress dipping behind me, I murmur, consciousness slowly returning. I ache all over. Max’s appetite for my body is insatiable. He’s ridden me raw. The taste of his cum still lingers in my mouth. Its stickiness dried against my naked skin where he marked me in the heat of passion.

Although I haven’t voiced it out loud, with my actions, I have willingly given myself to him.

There’s a bond between us. Not just sex. Something I can no longer deny.

I don’t want to.

I’ll kill who he wants.

Fuck when he demands it.

The need to be his is on par with my thirst for blood.

It doesn’t matter that he cages my soul.

Even without that hold over me he’s already enslaved me.

Awareness sharpens my mind. The naked form behind me lacks Max’s muscles. His heat.

Stiffening, I make a move to roll over.

Pain screams through me as a serrated edge pierces my shoulder. Without pause, it slices through tissue and flesh. Emerging the other side, it embeds in the bed, pinning me face down.

“You failed me.” Deep and familiar, the words are a rumble.

“Fritz?” Shock colours my pained voice. Beneath me, the sheets are drenched red with my blood.

“I’m so glad I’ve managed to catch you by surprise.”

“What the fuck are you doing?”

Fisting my hair, he yanks back my head. “Ending you before you can end me. You’ve refused to kill him like I asked and now I have to take matters into my own hands. I thought my forces could overrun the fortress, but you put a stop to that.”

Whimpering, a sob rises in my throat as my shoulder pulses in agony. I’ve made the mistake of thinking he wasn’t dangerous. I let my guard down.

“You’ve been playing me the whole time.”

Something hard and excited presses against the cleft of my arse. Trying not to panic, I centre on my breathing. I’m trapped. With the sword where it is I’m held in place. Any movement will risk further damage to what’s already been done.

“I’m not the only one.” Fritz whispers against the shell of my ear making me shudder in disgust. “I should’ve known he would go after the deadliest Assassin in Cease Fire. How was I supposed to know Gabriel would hand you over like a sacrificial lamb? But then, he’s known what you are from the beginning.”

The revelation stills my heart. This was a set up? The whole thing?

Fritz pushes into my arse. The tight ring of muscles burns with no lubrication to ease his cock’s way.

Immobilizing me further with his weight, he uses his other hand to restrain my good arm.

Crying out, my eyes water.

Thrusting harder, he doesn’t stop until he’s rooted all the way in as I scream.

“Tell me you love my cock in your arse.” He pants in my ear as he moves in and out. “That it feels better than his. That I fuck you better than he ever could, and I’ll give you a quick death.”

I can’t breathe. It’s torturing. Every time he pulls out it feels like he’s taking my insides out with his shaft. He’s shredding me.

My attention fastens on something hanging from the corner of the headboard. Gabriel’s amulet. The one he gave me for protection back in the hospital which feels like a lifetime ago.

It taunts me out of reach.

The blade twists in my shoulder making me scream louder. Blood flows down my arm staining the bed even more.

“Say it.” It’s a hiss.

Pressing my cheek into the mattress, I grit my teeth. I won’t give him the satisfaction. He can do what he wants, but I won’t give in to anything he demands. I want to kill him. Cut him up into chunks.

I can do nothing while he defiles my body. Treacherous tears leak from the corners of my eyes as I tremble below him. I’m helpless.

Vision blurring, I almost pass out from the pain as his movements jar my wound. Each thrust slice’s deeper.

One hand on my side, Fritz grunts as he pumps his hips. “Fuck, I’m not going to last long the way your tight arse is hugging my dick.” With a loud groan, he shoots his seed inside me.

Nausea rises in my throat. It’s hoarse now from my screams.

Where is Max? I don’t understand how he doesn’t hear me. Has he abandoned me to this?

Feeling his shaft slip free from my back passage, I wilt against the mattress.

Head spinning, I’m light headed from blood loss.

“I made sure to draw him out with a skirmish at his borders before I came to you.” Fritz informs me, as if somehow he’s reading my thoughts. “I’m going to gut you like a fish and leave you for him to find.”

“I’m going to kill you first.” It’s a whisper. Every word dripping with the venom I feel. If he thinks I’ll beg for my life he’ll be waiting for eternity.

Fritz clucks his tongue in disapproval. “I can’t chance your powers getting stronger now that they’ve emerged, Mavi, but I promise to desecrate you thoroughly before I cut your throat. You’ll be dead by sunset.”

I feel him harden against my back.

He hasn’t finished raping me.

Tears roll faster down my cheeks, leaving their salty taste on my lips.

Gripping my hips, he forces my lower half up onto its knees.

Expression twisting with the agony firing through my upper body, I writhe causing myself more unintentional pain.

Cruel fingers cup my mound, smearing the liquid leaking from my arse through my slit.

“He’s only been screwing you to activate your precious DNA. His seed stimulates what’s dormant inside you.” Fritz confides, teasing his cock-head along my nether lips.

Everything swims before my eyes. “I don’t understand.”

“You’re the Devil’s whore and you don’t even know it. Now let’s see if that valuable hole of yours is as good as your other one.” Laughing, he skewers my pussy on his cock.

One second he’s filling me, the next, he’s not.

Shrieking, clutching his dick, Fritz is propelled across the room by an unseen force. Between his hands it shrivels to nothing.

“What did you do, you stupid whore?” He shouts, curling into a protective ball.

“She did nothing.”

Max.

My tortured mind snags onto the fact he’s not who I believed.

I know who he really is.

What he really is.

The Devil.

Lucifer.

With lethal grace, he strolls towards Fritz with deadly intent, robes billowing around him ominously.

Energy permeates through every inch of the bedroom. A malevolent cloud.

Handsome features carved from stone, his gaze is ignited with rage.

“I hexed her cunt. I knew you couldn’t resist taking what’s mine. It’s stripped you of your powers.” He explains with menace. “Anyone who tries to fuck her will have the same fate.”

“You used me to flush him out. Like bait.” I whisper in realization, still defenceless and impaled.

Face a blank mask, Lucifer tilts his head to observe me with glistening green eyes. “Yes. I did.”

I’m still reeling from everything that’s happened. Can barely think straight. “What happened to the real Max, if that was even his name?”

Lucifer smiles. “I killed him a few days after the coup before taking his identify. You never met the real Maxius.”

This whole time I’ve been fucking the Devil himself.

Mindfuck.

He’s taken me on one long manipulation. Lust has blinded me. Made me oblivious. I’m nothing but an expendable pawn. He’s like sweet poison, blissful but toxic.

Snivelling, still cupping what’s left of his genitalia, Fritz grovels at the Devil’s feet. “Mercy Master, please.”

“I’ll show you as much as you were going to bestow on my Flower.” Lucifer clicks his fingers.

Taking form, two burly red skinned demons materialize around them. Naked and hairy, their enormous cocks harden at the sight of the lanky ex commander on his knees.

His eyes widen in disbelief.

They’re on him before he can flee.

Grunting like pigs in heat, they begin to fuck his mouth and arse without mercy.

Spittle trickles from the corners of Fritz’s stretched lips as he’s forced to endure their domination in both holes.

I can see his pain.

The misery in his eyes as his expression twists with torment.

But I feel no sympathy.

Heads thrown back they roar as they cum.

Retrieving the dagger I’d stabbed him with from his robes, Lucifer takes a fistful of Fritz black messy hair. Wrenching it back, he bares his throat. With one quick decisive slice, he cuts a gaping hole.

Fritz gurgles as the demons release him, backing away and vanishing, their juices still oozing from his abused orifices.

Crimson spilling over his chest, his mouth flaps open and closed, but makes no sound.

Blood continues to spread, soaking the black marble beneath his form.

Eyes dulling as death comes to claim him, he slumps lifeless to the floor.

I’m shaking.

Everything that has come to light is choking me with emotions I don’t know how to deal with.

Lucifer’s gaze fixes on mine.

One bloodied hand still clutching the dagger, he strides purposefully towards the bed.

Paralysed, all I can do is watch him.

I’m his whore.

His plaything.

He’s evil.

Full of malice and cruel intent.

He’s the very one I’ve been fending off from besieging earth for four fucking years.

Everything is so fucked up.

A sharp ringing whistles through my ears.

I can’t stop myself from hyperventilating.

He reaches tentatively to touch my face.

I flinch in panic. “Don’t come near me.”

Lowering to his haunches, Lucifer studies me intently. “You need to go back to my succubus’s so they can heal you again.”

The sword is stemming the flow of blood. Pulling it out will result in me losing it faster.

Fight or flight. The animal side of my brain has already kicked in.

Ignoring his soft words, I grab for the amulet still hanging from the headboard before he can stop me.

Heat tingles up my good arm.

A bright blinding flash and we’re no longer alone.

Gabriel.

Standing tall and intimidating, the archangel’s blonde brows furrow when he sees me. “Mavi?”

Amulet still tight in my hand, fresh tears wet my cheeks. “Gabriel, please get me the fuck out of here.”

Rising, Lucifer’s lips flatten into a thin white line. “We made an agreement. She’s not leaving until it’s completed.”

I don’t care. I’m done with their deceptions. Truths I thought were real are nothing but illusions.

Shivering, a chill leeches the warmth from my aching limbs. “No. I’m not playing your game anymore. Keep my soul. I don’t fucking want it. Find some other fool to kill your commanders.”

Lucifer growls an animalistic sound, but he keeps his attention on the archangel. “We have a deal. You gave her to me. Mine for the duration and she’s far from done.”

Crossing the distance, Gabriel circles the bed to reach my wounded side. Tentatively, he kneels on the mattress.

“If she doesn’t want to stay I’m not forcing her to.” He replies, gentle hands probing where the blade has pierced. “What the fuck have you been doing to her?”

“You gave me to him?” I can’t keep the disbelief from my voice as I claw the sheets beneath me from his touch.

What Fritz said was true.

Everything has been a trick that I still don’t understand.

Any trust I had left in this angel withers to ash.

His hand pets my hair as he tries to soothe me. “Hell is unstable. Lucifer keeps the chaos in check. If his Generals take over their madness will spill onto earth. We can’t risk that.”

“So you made a bargain with the Devil? Handed me over like a fattened calf to do his dirty work?” Rage builds, blotting out every other emotion, annihilating everything in its path. “Take me home, NOW!”

I’m sick of being used.

It’s cost me my soul.

My heart.

“You’re not going anywhere, Mavi. You’ll never be free of me. You belong to me, body and soul.” Lucifer shoots me a warning glare. His brooding presence sucking the light from the bedroom.

It’s an act of force and dominance. I recognize it for what it is.

“There is nowhere you can go that I won’t find you and bring you back.” He snarls, red filtering into the green of his eyes.

“Hell would have to freeze over first,” I screech back.

Loving warmth surrounds me.

The darkness melts away.

My eyes run over the sea of faces in a hospital waiting room.

Gabriel’s firm, strong arm around my waist is holding me up as my legs sag.

The first thing I register is the missing sword. Next comes the waves of intense pain as the hole in my shoulder bleeds out. Then the fact I’m still completely naked.

“Nurse!” The angel booms, demanding immediate attention. “We need assistance, right now.”

People gasp.

In a flurry of activity, I’m suddenly surrounded by medical staff.

Urged down onto a stretcher, pressure is applied to my shoulder as I'm covered up and wheeled away.

Thirty staples later, IV fluids, and I’m lying in a white curtained cubicle listening to the patient next door groan.

Pain medication kicking in, all I feel now is a dull ache. I’m so tired. Exhaustion burdens my body along with my heavy thoughts.

Movement at the end of the bed hails the fact I am no longer alone.

“Why me? Why not someone else?” Is the first thing I say.

Gabriel folds his muscled tattooed arms over his massive chest. “You hold your own and I knew he would never crush you. Everything that happened before he took you to Hell was a test to prove you have what it takes to win.”

The hijacking, Cassandra, abandoning me when I needed him the most. That was all some fucked up test?

“Why not ask me to take the job?”

It hurts so fucking much that after all I’ve done for him, been a good little solider, he’s screwed me over. He told me I’m expendable. I guess that wasn’t far from the truth.

Stern, rugged features softening, compassion lightens his face. “It’s a delicate situation. We can’t be seen helping him out right. If I had sent anyone else, he would have eaten them alive. I knew you’d give him shit and stick to your guns.”

Curling my fingers into my palms, I feel the bite of my nails cutting into the flesh. “You lied to me. Betrayed me. I don’t know if I can ever forgive that.”

He’s silent for two beats. Sky blue eyes holding mine, they brim with emotions he can no longer hide.

“I’m your Grandfather.”

Those three words spin the last of my control into orbit along with my sanity.

“What?” All I can do is stare blankly at his confession.

Nervously, Gabriel shifts from foot to foot. “I was in love with your Grandmother, but I knew it couldn’t last. I gave her two offspring before I left. Your mother and your uncle, Dane. You’re from a powerful bloodline.”

Now things are falling into place. The power I experienced on the battlefield. My blood thirsty nature. Fragmented threads of conversations wash into my mind.

“Is that why Lucifer was fucking me? Fritz said something about him trying to activate my DNA. Is it because I’m quarter archangel?”

Gabriel nods, confirming what I’ve been dreading. “Yes, and so much more.”

Proof I felt something for the Devil is in the way my heart hurts.

I don’t want to feel.

Wish it would all go back to the start.

I don’t know who I am.

They’ve ripped it all away.

Picked me apart with words and actions.

Torn down everything I’ve believed in.

Everything I thought I was.

These new truths cause me pain.

I’ve been kept in the dark all these years.

Lied to by my family.

I force myself to look away, not wanting Gabriel to see the tears I can’t stop from forming. When did I become so weak? What happened to the emotionless assassin I’ve always been? The woman who solved things with a gun or a knife.

All I want to do is escape. Hide away somewhere to lick my wounds. A place no one will find me.

“Mavi.” Gabriel’s voice is soft.

Mentally, I curl into myself. I can’t take any more. Not now.

With the back of my hand, I wipe away the dampness around my eyes. “Fuck you. I quit. I’m done. Find some other idiot to save the world for you. Get out and leave me the fuck alone.”