I grabbed him back, and he stood, unrelenting.
"Don't make me rip off your arm. It might upset your groupies."
Levi glanced over, sending the women into a frenzy of giggles and hushed delight. "I could take one of them to dinner, I guess."
"Or all of them," I said with disdain.
One half of Levi's mouth curled up. "I just ... want to spend time with you--no manipulation, no agenda. It's not a strategy, Eden. I just want to eat and see your face across the table. Yours. That's it."
"It's hard to believe you would betray your father ... that, for whatever reason, you've chosen to help me even if I did hear it from a reliable source," I said, feeling my resolve melting, fully aware that I was succumbing to his charm.
"The more time we spend together, the closer you'll be to the answer." He tugged on my fingers. "C'mon. I want pasta. There's a place down the street from your mom's office."
"Pasta," I said, only barely resisting.
"Yeah. That's your favorite place, too. Don't pretend it's not."
"Capriccio?" I asked.
He nodded.
"And you know that because ... you've been stalking me all year."
He looked around, not even a hint of apology on his face. "Exactly."
"I'm not really dressed for Capriccio," I said, looking down at my all-black ensemble. From sunglasses to ballet flats, I looked like a one-woman funeral procession.
"I can't imagine by whose standards. I think you're stunning."
I tried not to let his words affect me, tucking my hair behind one ear. "Okay," I said. "And I won't use the dagger if you make any sudden moves. I'll stab those pretty blue eyes with a fork."
He pulled me the few feet toward him, holding my fist to his chest. He looked down on me, and I swallowed, feeling the inherent magnetism running through his veins, a perfect mixture of temptation and intrigue that could only be passed down from the Prince of Darkness. It was crushing and enthralling at the same time.
I kept my chin level but looked up at him with my eyes. The women in the corner were swooning all over themselves.
He grinned. "Is that a compliment, Ryel?"
I clenched my teeth, trying not to release the ridiculous girlish squeal building and rising in my chest. "If the threat of imminent death flatters you, sure."
He leaned down, close enough to kiss me if he wanted ... if I wanted. His scent burned my lungs. The smell turned into a sweet perfume I longed for. It was probably the most alarming twist of all.
"Death is a fair trade for an evening with you." His voice was quiet and smooth. He oozed confidence but allowed just enough uncertainty and hope to tug at my human vulnerabilities.
To say that I was inexperienced with men was a gross understatement, but I was not inexperienced with reality, and he was laying the charm on thick, even for the spawn of Satan.
"Oh, you're good," I said, struggling to remain impervious. "But I know what you're doing. Flattery will get you nowhere."
"On the contrary, love, flattery gets us everywhere."
He smiled and pulled on my hand, leading me out of the cafe to the Audi parked outside. The summer sun was hanging above the horizon, falling closer to the edge every second.
I clicked my seat belt, and Levi chuckled.
"What?" I asked.
He pointed to the seat belt.
"It's a habit," I said, mildly offended.
Levi leaned over, stopping just inches from my face, and a click sounded as he pressed the button to release the buckle. The belt slowly retracted, dragging along my shirt.
"I'm not human, Eden. You don't have to pretend around me."
Sometime after he settled back into the passenger seat, I remembered how to breathe. I pulled away from the curb and drove the few minutes to downtown where Capriccio sat nestled between two quaint shops, shaded beneath a pinstriped awning bearing the restaurant's name. I had been here many times with my parents, with my uncles and aunt, most of them half-divine.
Now, I was walking in with the offspring of the man who had wanted me dead since the moment I was conceived. One word from Levi, and the host was seating us right away. The stone and brick walls were rounded, and the dim lighting and leather-backed chairs made our dinner feel more like a date by the second. Two tables over, a waiter lit an order of sauteed shrimp, creating a tall flame near the table, much to the delight of the two silver-haired women who had ordered the meal-slash-show.
The waiter poured our water, and after we let him know we wouldn't be ordering anything else to drink, he left us to look over the menu. More than once, I caught Levi peeking at me from over his menu.
"You didn't just come to Providence for me," I said.
"Yes, I did."
"No other reason?"
"Well ..." He took a breath and put his menu down. "Our ancient texts have very different outcomes. My father said we would win, but there was that other pesky scroll that said otherwise. When being raised, knowing someone out there is going to try to kill you ... it tends to make a man curious, especially once I found out you were a girl."
"That bothered you, did it? That you'd be beaten by a girl?"
"Not that you're a girl. Quite honestly, I can't imagine the last thing I'd see being any better. I'm not really sure how I'm supposed to be afraid of a death like that."
"You can quit wondering. I'm not going to kill you. I didn't even know who you were until last week."
Levi suppressed a smile. "I wasn't worried."
"I could ... kill you."
"But you won't."
I glared at him, watching his arms and shoulders for signs of tension. He wasn't going to attack me--at least not in the next few seconds anyway.
"Is that a challenge?" I asked.
"Not at all."
I set down my menu, frustrated. "Why don't you just say it?"
"Say what?"
"Whatever it is you're building up to. I'm bored of the bread crumbs."
He chuckled. "I don't deny killing you was the plan, but that was before."
"Before what?"
"I was informed of who you really are."
I leaned forward. "You don't know me. We haven't met before." I sighed. "This was a waste of time."
I began to stand, but again, he grabbed my wrist. He was strong, but I could maneuver from his grasp if I wanted.
"Eden," he began, "I know more about you than you do. You wish you had a sibling, but Bex will do. You're bored of your training. You're weary of this life. I know you couldn't care less about college because you see everything about your human life as a time suck. It's beneath you because you don't belong here. You like tulips because your mother does. You like to drink coffee at that cafe because of your parents' sentimental attachment. This is your favorite restaurant because it's down the street from your mother's office. You drive too fast and risk detection like Claire, but you wear your seat belt to blend in. You're both, you're all, you're everything."
"I'm nothing," I whispered. "In the middle. Neutral."
"You're only loyal to yourself. Makes it simpler."
"Who are you loyal to? No one," I seethed.
"You," he whispered. "I'm loyal to you."
"Not your father?"
"I haven't been for a very long time."
I laughed once without humor. "You are a liar but not a very good one."
He wasn't amused. "Do you honestly believe buying you dinner is part of Hell's master plan?"
I squirmed in my seat. Even a fraction of his fury made me uncomfortable. I wondered what he was like when he was truly angry.
"Do you not feel it?" he asked. "The air is clear. I won't allow them to come near you."
"I just assumed you ordered them away. You still command the legions, don't you?"
"They fear me, and they should."
"Well, I'm not afraid of you."
"Good. I don't want you to be."
I pressed my palm flat on the table, impatient. "You just said th
e plan was to kill me. What you're not saying is why you changed your mind."
"Yes, I did. The moment I learned you were here, I arranged to get here first. It's taken a great amount of patience, but here you are."
"What does that even mean?"
"If I told you now, you wouldn't believe me."
"Try me."
He stood, took a step, and held out his hand. "If you mean to pick a fight, let's take it outside. I don't want to trash the restaurant."
I put my hand in his, and he pulled me to stand. His hands, warm and soft, cupped my jaw, his irises bright. He shut his eyes, his long lashes lying on the pale skin below, and he moved in, pulling me closer.
The movement startled me, and I yanked back, my face slipping from his fingers and my hands balling into fists.
"Careful," Levi said. "We want to leave the restaurant intact, remember?"
"What do you think you're doing?" I hissed, glancing around at our audience.
"I can't tell you, Eden. I have to show you."
I watched him for a long time, waiting for any sign of humor, but he didn't crack a smile.
"If you think I'm going to let a demon hybrid be my first kiss, you are worse than evil. You're stupid."
Levi breathed out a laugh, looking down. His eyes met mine again. "Your first kiss?"
"Shut up," I seethed.
"Okay. You're not ready yet."
"Ready for what?"
"The truth."
I narrowed my eyes at him and then spun around, leaving him at the table alone. I broke out into the fresh air, and dusk was settling upon Providence, transforming everything about the city like a time machine. Bex was sitting on a stoop to my right, his elbows resting on his knees, his fingers interlaced.
"I'm fine," I said quietly, annoyed he hadn't bothered to look up.
"Eden," Levi said, pushing through Capriccio's white door. He noted Bex's presence and then nodded. "Okay, that was out of line." He shrugged. "I've been patient for a long time. Spending time with you makes it ... difficult."
"What does that mean?" I held up my hand. "You know what? I don't want to know. You're ridiculous."
His confidence diminished for half a second, and I caught a glimpse of the real man behind the impervious elitist facade.
"Eden," Bex interjected.
"I'm going home," I said.
"Wait," Levi said.
"Eden, it's true," Bex began again. "He left. He's denounced his father and his station."
"What? When?"
"Nineteen years and seven months ago," Levi said, sounding exhausted.
Levi took a few steps toward me, and I shifted my weight, preparing for his next move. He took my jaw in his hands again and leaned down, touching his perfect soft lips on mine. My mind glitched, displaying a picture like snow on a television. His lips pulled mine in until I could feel the wetness of the inside of his mouth. His movements were tender, his skin warm. The tip of his tongue slid along mine, both foreign and familiar, like he'd kissed me a hundred times before.
I pulled away, wiping my mouth with the inside of my wrist.
"Eden," he whispered, reaching for me again.
But I grabbed his shirt and shoved him against the face of the building. The windows trembled in response. He didn't fight back, but superlative disappointment weighed down his eyes.
"Don't," I snarled, "ever touch me again."
Levi looked at Bex and then back at me, his jaw working under the skin. "Not unless you ask."
"I won't." I released him and then gestured for Bex to follow.
Levi didn't try to stop me, and Bex managed to walk with me all the way to the Audi without speaking.
The moment I pulled out onto the road, Bex shook his head and sighed. "Eden, there's something you should know."
"Just keep it to yourself, Bex. I'm sure there are a lot of things you know that I don't because that's just how our family works. But Levi was drawing me like poison back there, and he is the last person I want to have that effect on me. He's dangerous. He's toxic. This could only end badly. So, just don't tell me, okay? This time, I want to be left in the dark."
"You sure?"
"No," I said, my breath faltering.
"Damn it," he said under his breath, already regretting what he was about to say. "You love him."
I recoiled. "I barely know him!"
"No, you've loved him before. Before now. Before you were sent here."
"Sent here?"
"You know what I mean, Eden. Humans are recycled souls. They choose their parents, what lessons they learn, what kind of life they'll lead. They choose the experience like food from a menu. This situation is not unlike theirs."
"I'm not human, Bex. I didn't choose this."
"Agreed. But there seems to always be a method to the madness."
"How do you know all of this?" I asked, wiping a tear from my cheek.
"I've been translating the scrolls all week. The Bible doesn't cover this part, so I've been digging up the texts King James left out."
I yanked over the wheel and parked before looking over at my uncle. He had trouble meeting my eyes.
"I thought the whole business of having a Taleh was cruel. I thought letting go of Allison was torture. It's nothing like I thought."
"Then what is it?" I asked.
"You were right," Bex said, his voice low. "You've always kept the Balance."
"So, I'm like Eli? Or I was?"
"You're powerful. You're not a hybrid, not an Arch."
"Right, I'm neutral. But I disobeyed him." I blinked, a sinking feeling weighing me down as realization set in. "Like Moses. Like Lucifer." Tears were streaming over my cheeks. "Did I fall in love with Levi because I was sent to Hell?"
"I don't know yet."
I ran my thumbnail along my bottom lip. "I've already failed."
He slowly shook his head. "You've never failed. You disobeyed. But you were sent here as a second chance, Eden."
I stared at him while tears welled up in my eyes. "Is that what the scrolls said?"
Bex touched my shoulder. "It's what Eli said."
I wiped my cheeks until they were dry. "You've spoken to him?"
"Jared did ... just briefly. Levi defecting and turning mortal has changed everything. But Eli wouldn't say much. What we do know is that everyone is on edge. The situation is precarious."
"So, now what?"
"The translation of the scrolls is slow. It's a dead language, you know."
"I guess it doesn't matter. I can't imagine this would be solved with an apology."
"I think that's exactly what this is all about. He's offering you redemption."
I turned to look out the window, chewing on my thumbnail. "Did I forsake my station for Levi?"
"If you're neutral, you should get to love who you want."
I glanced over my shoulder at my uncle. "Oh my God, that's it. When I fell in love with the Levi, I couldn't be neutral."
Bex's eyes fell to the console between us. He knew I was right.
"But"--I slapped the steering wheel, and it whined under my twisting grip--"I'm not in love with him!"
"You sure about that?" Bex asked.
"Yes! We just met! And he's not even that cute!" I frowned. "Okay, that's a lie. He's beautiful."
Bex looked disgusted at my admission.
"If I just don't love him, if I carry out my purpose, does that mean I'll be forgiven?"
"I don't know. It would make sense, but it doesn't seem like he's going to let it go. And Eli said--"
"Levi is an arrogant ass. It shouldn't be that hard to stay away from him."
"Whatever happened between you two, he's hung on to it all this time. You were separated, and the moment he found out you had been sent here, he defected. He betrayed his entire dominion for you. Do you think that's something you can ignore?"
"I'm going to try."
"That's the big plan then. Evasion," he deadpanned.
"Sounds good to me," I s
aid, gunning the engine toward home.
The elevator ascended, chiming at almost every floor, letting businessmen and women on and off. I stood shoulder to shoulder with the employees of my mom's company, Titan Shipping, but few recognized me. Unlike her, I spent my days training for something she called much more important.
The stainless steel walls reflected every movement, every glance down at the floor, while strangers stood in close quarters, waiting to be set free or for more people to join us. Some held files, and some cleared their throats or sighed, anything to fill the awkward silence.
By the time I reached the top floor, only two remained. The doors opened, and a man gestured for me to go ahead.
"Thank you," I said.
I passed him and walked down the hall, straight to Mom's office. I greeted her longtime assistant, Beth, whose eyes widened with recognition.
"I don't believe it!" she said with a trace of her Oklahoma accent. "What brings you downtown?"
"I need to speak with my mom, please."
"Of course. I'll just tell her you're here." She picked up the phone and wedged it between her cheek and shoulder, shuffling papers and winking at me while she waited. "A pretty young lady is here to see you. She looks like your husband. Okay, a little like you, too."
Beth smiled and set down the phone onto its base. "Go on in. And don't let it be a year before I see you again, okay?"
"Yes, ma'am," I said, passing by her desk.
I turned the knob on the door that still read both Mom's and my grandfather's names. Her office hadn't changed since I was little, if ever. She still used grandfather's phone, the chair was more than just comfortably worn, and the same paintings were on the paneled walls. Every time I visited, it was like going back in time.
Mom was sitting at her desk, navigating her mouse. After a few quick clicks, she rolled her chair away from her monitor, so she was in full view. "Well, this must be important."
"You know why I don't come here."
She nodded. "It never gets better? I suppose, with Grant being across the hall, the Others would still come around. The Archs do tend to attract them."
I frowned. Grant was grandfather's old partner, and he'd run Titan until Mom was ready. Dad didn't care for him, but we tried to respect grandfather's wishes. As overconfident and flirtatious as Grant was, one more person to protect her was hard to complain about.
"It's not him. It's this building."
"Right. Well, I suppose Jack using it as a hub for trading stolen relics outdating the Bible would make it sort of a hotspot. Have a seat, honey."
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