I let his words sink in for a minute. “You’re right. The guys and I will clean up this mess. We'll make things right again.” I'll talk to the guys tonight, and we can start thinking of a plan.
Lucifer patted my shoulder. “I never had a doubt. Now, what’s this about you pushing away a girl?” Shit. I wasn’t expecting to talk about this with him, but he needs to know how I feel.
“I knew Eve was mine before I knew her name. I’ve never been so drawn to another being. She brings out these emotions in me that I never even knew I possessed. We have such a strong connection, but I’ve been fighting against it.” Lucifer looked like he wanted to say something but stopped himself.
“You have to understand that my brothers are the only family I’ve ever had. When Hannah set her sights on me, they were so fucking relieved,” I sighed. Lucifer nodded as he connected the dots.
“You felt trapped. You wanted to be with Evelyn, but you didn’t want to betray your family.” I squeezed my eyes closed. He gets it. I nodded my head and ran my hand through my hair.
“I can’t speak for my daughter, but I know that she cares for you. Talk to her tonight. I think you have a lot to say, and she just happens to be an excellent listener. Before I leave, have you told the other heirs about your hydra?” Lucifer asked.
I shook my head. “No, I didn’t say anything yet. Do you think I should tell them?” I asked. Lucifer stood up and put his hands in his pockets.
“I’m not quite sure. Maybe it’s a decision that you and Evelyn can make together. I must leave, but please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need to talk. Best of luck, Locke.” I was about to thank him, but he was already gone. I sent him a quick text and popped back to my dorm.
The guys let out a collective sigh of relief when I showed up. The three of them were livid. I put my hand up to stop them before they started talking.
“We were manipulated into doing a lot of stupid shit. We can hash it out later, but first we need a plan to fix the situation with the humans. I’ll talk to the Dean tomorrow about the humans attending our classes again.”
Cade was still fuming. He was pacing the floor, trying to regain some control, but I could tell he was struggling. “Cade, could you do some damage control and smooth things over with the humans?” He gave a quick nod.
Emmett stood up from the couch. “I can meet with the head of the library tomorrow and will get the restrictions lifted. I’ll keep an eye on things and will make sure no one gives the humans a hard time.” He was already on his phone, setting up the meeting.
“I’ll get the orders lifted from the dining hall and gym,” Miles added. I don’t know about them, but I feel better having a clear plan. I have no clue what to do about Hannah, but she’s not the priority.
Miles grabbed us drinks from the fridge and passed them out. “Evelyn was incredible tonight. We need to fix things with her as well.”
I completely agree with Miles. We were all assholes to her. My brothers will need to apologize to her on their own time.
“Now Evelyn is a princess that I can get behind, literally and figuratively. Her curves are just begging to be…” I had Emmett laid out on the floor before he could even finish.
My hydra was right at the surface. “She’s mine,” I growled. Emmett started cracking up. “Who the fuck are you, and what have you done with my brother?”
I reined it in and shrugged. “I need to talk to Eve. I'll see you guys later.” I immediately popped out of the room.
21
Eve
I locked my door and walked over to my full-length mirror. Closing my eyes, I willed my wings to appear. As soon as I felt them, I opened my eyes.
“Holy hellfire,” I said out loud to no one. I ran my fingers along one of my black and gold feathers. I’ve never seen anything like this before. How did this even happen?
“They’re beautiful,” a voice sounded from across the room. I jumped back and screamed. “You almost gave me a heart attack, Locke! What are you doing here? You can’t just show up in my room!” My dad and Ab seriously need to put wards up in my room.
“Now, your eyes turn to gold when your emotions are heightened. They suit you.” He leaned his shoulder against the wall. I actually didn’t know that. Awesome, I always loved when Locke’s eyes turned...wait. I looked at him. “Your eyes turn to gold.”
He nodded his head and focused his gaze on the floor. “I don’t know how to do this,” he sighed to himself. I pulled my wings back and made myself comfortable on my bed. “What are you trying to do, Locke?” His eyes met mine, and all I saw was complete devastation.
“I don't know how to apologize to you. I don’t know how to tell you that I was wrong. I was wrong about everything. Of course, I thought what Hannah wanted to do with the humans was pointlessly cruel. I went along with it anyway. Not once did I ever push back.” He let out a frustrated breath.
“I never even considered the consequences of what she was having us do. I could have burned all of our bridges with the humans. All because I stupidly believed that I was proving myself by loyally carrying out royal orders. How could I not have recognized that I was being manipulated? You were absolutely right. I’ve been a fucking marionette with Hannah pulling my strings!” he roared.
Locke’s eyes turned solid gold, and his body was vibrating with anger. Our connection was going haywire. I wanted to run over to him and ease his mind, but I forced myself to stay seated.
I needed to hear him out. I could see how torn up he was about everything. He deserved to get this off his chest. He deserved to be heard.
“I thought that I was being tested when I first saw you walking through the campus gates. You took my breath away. There was no possible way that you were real. It had to be a setup. Every cell in my body was drawn to you, but I pushed you away.” That stung more than I’d like to admit.
Locke shook his head and let out a humorless laugh. “I thought that if I followed my heart that I would fail my brothers and my duty as heir. You know what’s funny in the most fucked up of ways?” he asked.
“I was being tested. You asked me to trust our connection, and what did I do? I chose to fight our bond and stay loyal to my obligations. I chose a title over my fucking soul mate!”
Locke raked his hand through his hair and looked up to the ceiling. “What kind of idiot does that? How was I so blind? Fuck the title. Fuck the prophecy. I want nothing to do with any of it if this is the road it’s taking me down. One where I’m nothing but a fucking sheep,” he spat.
I hated how defeated he looks. Guilt started to claw at me. “I'm sorry, Eve. I’m so fucking sorry. I'm not asking for your forgiveness, because I haven’t earned it. If you’re okay with it, the guys and I want to correct our mistakes. It shouldn’t fall on your shoulders.” I bit my lip and nodded.
“I'll meet with the Dean and will fight to have the humans join our classes again. The guys and I will make sure no one gives them a hard time. I’m not doing this because I know it’s what you want. I want to fix this because it’s the right thing to do. I need to do this for me.” Locke pulled himself off the wall and stood in front of me. The need to touch him was almost unbearable.
“I'll leave so you can go to sleep, but please don’t count me out yet. I need some time to right my wrongs. I vow that I won’t give up until I’ve become the man worthy of your heart. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with mine. It’s far from perfect, but it only beats for you.”
I blinked back tears. All I wanted to do was wrap myself around him, but I forced myself to sit still. “Before I go, can you try something for me?” I nodded again. I’m too afraid of what I’ll say if I opened my mouth.
“Close your eyes and open yourself to our bond. With your mind’s eye, you should see two thin strands, black and gold.” I followed his instructions and was overwhelmed with emotions.
I gasped. I felt Locke’s anger, resentment and sadness. I also felt a wave of determination, strength and resolve. There was one e
motion that eclipsed all others, and it was love. It was so intense.
“I’m not the best with words, but I wanted you to know how I truly feel. It’s only fair since I always know what you’re feeling. I know you refuse to read my texts, but I want you always to have a way to reach me. Do you see the black and gold strands?” Locke asked.
“Yes, the colors are braided together,” I whispered, wiping away a tear that escaped. “If you give it a quick tug, I’ll feel your call and will come to you. Goodnight, my little hellion.”
He kissed my forehead and vanished from my room. Breathing in the lingering citrusy scent, I closed my eyes and let my tears fall freely.
22
Eve
My pillow was still wet when I woke up the next morning. I brushed my teeth and decided to lay back down for a little. Locke’s words were so honest and genuine last night. He made a mistake, but he’s not the only one.
Why didn’t I call Hannah out earlier? I knew, without a doubt, that she was manipulating them. I didn’t do anything about it, though.
Instead, what did I do? I pushed Locke right into Hannah’s arms. Why? In hopes that he would pick me over her? In hopes that he would pick me over his role? I’m so disgusted with myself.
I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t realize that someone else was in the room until the bed dipped. Locke wrapped his strong arms around me. I buried my face in his chest and let my tears fall.
“I’m so sorry that I didn’t tell you who I was. You may have pushed me away, but I didn’t do anything to stop you. I truly believed that you wanted to be with Hannah. I didn’t want to take away your happiness. Instead, I took away your choice. I’m no better than her.”
He rubbed my back and leaned his head against my mine. “It’s okay, little hellion. We aren’t perfect. We made a few unnecessary detours, but the important thing is that we found where we’re supposed to be,” he whispered in my ear.
Locke’s words made me smile. It always feels right whenever I’m around him. Hearing that he feels the same way is everything.
“I’ve been thinking. This prophecy has controlled every aspect of our lives. I think it’s time that we take back that control.” I nodded into his chest. I couldn’t agree more.
“Honestly, I feel like there’s a big part of the prophecy that I’m missing. I know my dad’s overprotective, but why did he keep me away from you and the other heirs until now?” Locke shifted onto his back and pulled me on top of him.
“It most likely has something to do with your power. You’re extremely powerful, Eve. Even with your power bound, you managed to unlock my hydra. Ever since then, my power has been growing stronger and stronger. From that alone, I can see why your family kept you hidden. You have the type of power that some beings would do anything to possess. That worries me,” Locke confessed.
“I think we need to learn more about your hydra. I know most of our research will be based on myths, but we don't have much else to go on. Have you shifted since the warehouse?” He nodded as he toyed with my hair. Laying here with him like this feels so normal.
“I popped over to Hell and shifted with Cerberus a few nights ago. We figured that the gates would be the perfect place since no being would live to tell another soul. I talked to your dad last night about my hydra. He’s not sure if I should tell my brothers or not. He suggested that we talk about it together.”
I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Wait. Do you talk to my dad a lot? You just said that so casually.”
“Yeah, he’s been checking in with me ever since the night of the party. I thought he was Abaddon until last night. He’s a good guy. He loves you a lot, Eve” I smiled. It makes me happy that they get along.
“He’s the best. I’m glad you’ve had him to talk to, Locke. Maybe you should introduce me to your brothers again now that they know who I am. I can help you gauge whether or not you should tell them about your hydra. We also didn’t get off on the right foot. A do-over would be good for all of us.”
Locke let out a breath and looked up at the ceiling. Did I say something wrong? Rather than asking, I opened myself to our bond. I was immediately hit with jealousy and fear. I snuggled closer.
“Locke? No offense to your brothers, but I'm not interested in them. You know that, right?” Hellfire, here I am practically laying on top of Locke when he could still be with Hannah. I quickly scrambled out of bed and headed toward my coffee maker.
“You want to fill me in on what just happened there, Eve?” Locke was sitting up in my bed with his one of arms behind his head. His hair was perfectly messy. Hellfire, the image was just too much for me to handle. I swallowed hard.
“Eve? I’d like an answer to my question,” Locke said with a smirk. He obviously knows the effect that he has on me. I sighed.
“I just realized that you may still have a girlfriend. If I saw my boyfriend in bed with another girl, I’d let Uncle Mikey use him as a piñata and feed his soul to Cerberus as a snack.” I turned around and started to make a cup of coffee.
Within seconds, Locke wrapped his arms around my waist from behind and nipped at my neck. “Is that what you think, little hellion? That I would choose to stay with a manipulative snake, like Hannah? Despite what it may have looked like, I was never in an actual relationship with her. I saw her as an obligation and nothing more.”
He rested his head on my shoulder. “My brothers were so fucking happy when Hannah took a liking to me. I would do anything for them, which is why I took Hannah off of their hands. Much to her irritation, we haven’t hooked up or anything since last year.”
I tried to wiggle out of his grasp. As if I’d want to hear anything about their current or past sexcapades. Locke pulled me back and let out a low growl.
“I thought that I made myself pretty clear last night, Eve. Make no mistake. There is only one girl that I want, and she’s standing right here in my arms.”
My heart was pounding in my chest. Locke slowly kissed up my neck, making me squirm. “Before I make you mine, I need to fix this mess that I made with the humans,” he whispered.
I held back a moan as he nibbled my neck. Then he bit down hard. That is most definitely going to leave a mark. I pulled out of his grasp and darted to my mirror to inspect the damage.
“What the hellfire, Locke? Everyone will be able to see this!” I shrieked, covering my neck with my hand. He gave me a nonchalant shrug as he walked closer.
“It’s insurance. To make sure no guy, especially that fucking incubus, thinks that he can touch what’s mine.” He moved my hand from my neck and placed a kiss on the mark. Stepping back, I narrowed my eyes at him.
“Oh, like I had to stomach watching bitchy Barbie shove her tongue down your throat? Have a good time explaining this thing to my dad and Ab,” I huffed in annoyance.
He ran his hand through his messy hair as I walked back to my coffeemaker. “Hannah just wanted to hurt you and get a reaction out of me. I didn’t stop her in public because she would have just done something even more drastic. I was repulsed by every second of it.”
I took a sip of my coffee. “I understand, but it doesn’t mean I enjoyed watching it, Locke.” Hannah is such a vile being.
“I’m sorry you had to see that. I wanted to tear that incubus to pieces when he was all over you at the party, and that was just one time. You had to suffer through Hannah’s brand of torture for weeks. You don’t know how sorry I am, Eve.”
I put my coffee cup down and wrapped my arms around Locke’s waist. “I only considered hooking up with Nick at the party to get my mind off of you.” He let out a growl.
“Don’t get all grumbly with me, Locke. It was Gabe’s idea. He’s the one who said the best way to get over you was to get under someone else.” I laughed out loud, remembering the group text.
Locke picked me up over his shoulder and tossed me onto the bed. I ran my teeth over my lip as he crawled over my body. He lowered his head and brushed his lips against the shell of my ear.<
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“You should feel bad for any man who tries to pursue you. Do you know why that is, little hellion? It’s because I will permanently remove anyone who even contemplates taking what’s mine.”
Locke sucked the mark on my neck. I couldn’t help but moan as he pressed himself against me. Suddenly, someone started banging on my door. Locke and I paused.
“If you don’t open this door in two-seconds, your guest is going to become very acquainted with my sword!” Uncle Mikey boomed.
I kissed Locke on his cheek and quickly wiggled out from underneath him. I assumed that he popped back to his dorm, so I opened the door giving two very pissed off angels my widest smile possible.
“Why aren’t you in class, and what the fuck is on your neck?” Uncle Mikey snapped. I slapped my hand over the mark. “If Remiel is in there, I’m going to rip his wings off and shove them up his ass,” Uriel fumed.
“It’s just me. You must have heard the TV. Wait. Am I late for class? What time is it?” I asked, letting them into my room. I turned to look at my clock when I saw a golden-eyed Locke lying on my bed.
“What the hellfire, Locke? Are you insane? You were supposed to pop out of here!” I groaned. He must have a death wish. “What I’d like to know, is why Uriel would think a fallen watcher angel would be in your bedroom,” Locke growled.
I gave Uri the look of death, but his eyes were laser-focused on my neck. “Seriously, Uriel? You guys gossip like old ladies. Gabe needs to stop running his mouth,” I seethed.
“Surprisingly, I didn't hear it from Gabe. Now that your true identity has been revealed, a certain fallen watcher has been bragging about his accomplishments,” Uriel clipped.
He is such a jerk. Who does that? “He’s a dead man,” Uncle Mikey and Locke said in unison. I rolled my eyes. Honestly, Remiel is the least of my problems right now. “Anyway, what’s up?” I asked.
Unlocked (Hell's Throne Book 1) Page 11