Tirade (Heven and Hell #3)(80)
Author: Cambria Hebert

Ana began ladling soup into bowls for everyone. “Yes, this is just fine. They are all here to help you, just like me.”

Logan ran over and hugged me. “So glad you’re okay now.”

“Me too. The Devourer knew exactly what to do,” I said.

“The Devourer is a very special creature,” Ana said, handing out the soup. Everyone took a seat on the couches and on the rug by the coffee table.

“I thought The Devourer was about to eat her soul,” Sam admitted.

“Do you know why The Devourer eats souls?” Ana asked.

“I’ve always wondered about that,” I said, tasting the soup. It was really good.

“That way the princes of hell cannot take them and use them for power.”

I felt my mouth drop open. It was brilliant. In hell, The Devourer was the most feared creature. When it appeared, even Beelzebub took cover. They let him eat what he wanted because they thought it would keep the beast calm. Little did they know The Devourer was only trying to diminish some of hell’s power.

The Devourer wasn’t a creature to be feared, after all. It was to be celebrated.

“He’s amazing,” I murmured.

“You two have a special bond.” Ana agreed.

I wasn’t sure about that, but I did like The Devourer and was grateful that it got that beast out of me.

Riley made a rude noise. “Dragon,” he muttered.

“How did you get that dragon to give you a ride anyway?” I asked him. The last time, The Devourer wouldn’t let him near him.

Riley shrugged.

“The Devourer can sense darkness within anyone. He will not allow anyone of that nature onto this island. Perhaps he sensed that in you. Perhaps something within you has changed?”

“Riley hasn’t changed,” Sam said flat.

“Maybe he wants to,” Ana said, looking at Riley, who finished off his soup, then burped.

No one said anything else as we finished off our soup. Once the bowls were put away, I turned to Ana.

“I think I know my purpose.”

Ana smiled.

“But I need your help.”

“Of course I will help you. What do you need?”

“I was hoping you could tell me.”

Ana inclined her head and long wisps of blond hair fell over her shoulder to frame her angelic face. She waited for me to explain, but something stopped me. I looked over at Riley. I wasn’t sure he needed to know what we were up to. He betrayed us. He betrayed me. Who’s to say he wouldn’t do it again?

“What are you doing here, Riley?” I said point-blank.

His very dark eyes that were really blue looked at me. It was a level stare, but I couldn’t read what was behind his eyes. “I think it’s obvious.”

“Is it?” I lifted an eyebrow. Beside me, Sam leaned forward. “He was at the farm, Hev. When you passed out. He saw me rush out of the house with you and drive away. He got Cole and Gemma and found me at the fountain.”

I, of course, didn’t remember any of this, but Sam seemed to give him the benefit of the doubt. I looked at Sam. “I’m surprised you let him near any of us.”

“You were dying. I was going into hell alone, where I thought I would most likely be attacked by Beelzebub. Riley is a hellhound. He knows Beelzebub’s tricks. He offered to help. I was in no position to turn him down.”

“Do you trust him?” I asked Sam in a low voice.

Sam looked at Riley, then at me. “Nope.” But then sighed. “But he did help get you here.”

I looked at Riley. “Whose side are you on?”

“Mine.”

Well, he certainly never tried to convince me he was a good guy. That actually worked in his favor. Maybe that’s why he acted that way.

I looked at Gemma who looked back and nodded. I know she was telling me to trust my gut, to do what I thought was right.

“You still want that curse broken, the one Beelzebub put on you, right?”

Riley nodded, all trace of sarcasm gone.

“What if my plan could help with that? Could we trust you not to betray us again?”

“Yeah,” he replied, his voice low.

I glanced at Sam. He seemed as wary as I. The truth was, having another hellhound on our side would help us. It was going to be hard to take down Beelzebub, to lock him up. Riley would be a good ally to have.

“Fine, you’re in,” I said.

Then Sam pinned Riley with a look. “And if you betray us, I won’t kill you. I’ll let Beelzebub do it.”

I looked at Sam, confusion on my face. But Riley seemed to know what he was saying and he nodded, grim.

“Here’s what we’re going to do…”

*

Everyone was on board with mine and Sam’s plan to trap Beelzebub and then set my mother and the other stolen souls free. Now we just needed to figure out a way to trap him.

Riley, who had been fairly quiet up until this point, spoke up. “I fail to see how this plan helps me get rid of the curse that binds me to Beelzebub.”

“It probably won’t get rid of the curse,” I said honestly. “But if Beelzebub is trapped and his power is greatly diminished, then he won’t be able to order you around. Your life will be your own.”

Riley thought about that for a minute. Then he shook his head. “It’s not enough.”

“Why?”

“Because he thinks breaking the curse is the only way to get rid of his anger, his rage.” Gemma spoke up quietly. “Even if Beelzebub is leaving him alone, the curse will still be there.”

“That’s a bunch of crap.” I looked at Riley. “I’ve seen the good in you. It’s there. It’s your choice whether you let the good out over the bad. You can turn away from the anger and rage inside you. You choose not to and you use the curse as an excuse.”

Riley’s eyes lit with anger and he sat forward. Beside me, Sam stiffened. “You think it’s easy to walk around with a curse?” He growled.

“No. I don’t.” I glanced at Gemma. “I also don’t think it’s easy to be a fallen angel, to be stripped of what you were meant to be and sent to earth and live alone because the man you love died.” I glanced at Logan. “I don’t think it’s easy to have to live with the things you did when someone else was in complete control of your body.” I glanced at Sam. “Or to be tossed out of the only home you had ever known because the devil twisted part of your soul before you were born. To fight against that part of yourself every day, yet accept it at the same time.”