throne, walking down the long steps towards where she was standing. A queue of people were standing behind her, all shimmering silver in the light of the flames, ghostly pale. Most of them flinched as soon as Azriel came closer, the crown of fire on his head burning as bright as his eyes, their fear tasting like ash in the air. Despite that one of them still spoke up, displeasure clear.

"Sire," he protested," she just cut in line. Some of us have been waiting for centuries now for an appointment, this is unfair."

Whatever warmth had appeared in Azriel's eyes at her presence, it immediately died now, winter frost on his lips when he slowly let his gaze settle on the soul. He raised a hand and all the souls backed away, panic visible in their faces. Jasmina however laughed, the sound dancing around the room and silencing them all.

"He sure is funny," she drawled," speaking about unfairness in hell."

"You're here as well," the soul countered, in an action which was more foolish than brave. "So get back in line and wait to be judg -"

He couldn't finish his sentence, his lips parting in a scream instead as black flames engulfed him. Through the pain he seemed to see something, eyes widening in horror, and incoherent words began to leave his lips. The other souls stared at it in disbelief, before turning their gaze back to Azriel, who was letting the man burn still.

"Just a lesson," Azriel smiled," take note. The next person who disrespects my queen will end up worse."

He snapped his fingers then, Lucy appearing out of thin air beside him. Her eyes were a stunning shade of magenta now, lighting up when she noticed Jasmina.

"So you were here," she said," I was waiting for you."

"I took her along," Azriel said. He pulled her closer by her waist.

"You couldn't let me finish my tour?" Jasmina said.

"And miss you for so long?" he said, a smirk playing on his lips," my heart was already broken by the fact that you didn't come say hello immediately when entering my kingdom." He glanced at her, smile wide. "Our kingdom, I mean."

"I've never seen you so infatuated," Lucy smiled at them," I'm glad for you."

It wasn't infatuation though, that Jasmina knew. It probably was more curiosity at finally finding someone who interested him, but most of all, she guessed it to be a way to lessen the loneliness which came with his job. She didn't imagine he had many people he could speak to privately, especially considering even the sins were his subordinates. From what she had seen she was one of the few to actually know his name and even though she didn't know why, she still didn't mention it.

"Not that I mind," Lucy said happily," but surely you didn't call me here to just chat?" She smiled happily. "If you did, we can though."

"You're right," Azriel said, waving with a hand at the burning soul," he belongs to your realm, so I just wanted to send him along with you so you could take care to punish him especially."

Lucy raised a hand above her eyes, squinting at him like his skin could tell her words his mouth didn't.

"Sex offender?" she said," or a pedophile? I am getting those vibes from him."

"Both," Azriel said.

Even though Jasmina would say Lucy if asked who the sweetest was of the seven, there was nothing left of that softness she usually carried. Her expression had grown hard despite her smile and fuchsia swirls wrapped itself around his neck and limbs, pulling tighter every second she stared.

"Don't worry," she said," I have the perfect treatment for trash like that." She tore her gaze from him and the swirls disappeared, blowing Jasmina a kiss. "Anyway, I'll inform the others that you've been taken by your new husband, Jasmina. Go and have fun."

"Let them know I want all my appointments for today cancelled as well," Azriel told her.

None of the souls dared to complain this time and Azriel reached out a hand towards Jasmina, waiting until she took it. She raised an eyebrow at him in response, smile amused.

"Choosing fun above business?" she said.

"The perks of being the devil," Azriel shrugged," it doesn't matter. I'm supposed to carry all the evil in the world in me, so it's only right if I live up to that name."

"You seem so tame though," she smiled sweetly.

He pulled her closer so fast she couldn't react, the world whizzing around them for a second, turning into a navy blue room after. One hand of his was on her wrist, the other on the back of her head as he tugged softly at her hair. His voice was velvet when he spoke again, wrapping itself around her throat.

"What did you say?" he said.

"Don't tell me you're becoming bad of hearing now," she drawled, looking him straight in the eye.

He flashed his teeth in a wide grin and grazed her neck with his lips, words fluttering against her skin like butterflies.

"I can show you how tame I can be exactly," he whispered, looking up at her through his eyelashes," if you wish, that is."

She let her hands reach on his cheek, her nails sharp against his jawline as she looked right at him. He found his answer in her eyes, his own darkening as he pulled her closer, his lips finding hers soon after. With Alan her love had always tasted like diamonds and fool's gold, but with him it was something much more, like she had finally found someone who matched her.

He kissed her deeper, one of his hands lightly placed on her neck. In response she raked her nails across his back, knowing from his sharp intake of breath that she was going to leave marks. After a few minutes she pulled back, looking around at the room. It was crowded, with a lot of brightly-colored furniture pushed together, trinkets scattered across. The blankets on the kingsize bed were the same navy blue as the walls and floor, a few of the pillows on the cream carpet.

On her left was a big door, a wide balcony sprawling out on her right. She was surprised to find plants there, though they all looked very close to dying somehow. As she walked past the desk cluttered with papers and the suits in his closet, she shook her head.

"Please don't tell me this is your room," she said.

"This is my room," he responded.

"O my God."

"What?" he frowned, looking around," it's nice, isn't it?"

"I'll do the interior decorating when we're married," she said.

"I will let you know my brother hates this room very much," he said," so that's a big achievement at least."

"Your brother?" she said.

"Michael," he said, a certain coldness flashing in his eyes.

"I swear," she said," me being an atheist doesn't help at all. I'm going to research religions to have to keep up with all this."

Azriel laughed, before leaning against the wall with his shoulder. "He's one of the archangels, but most importantly, he's an absolute douche."

"I can believe that," she said as she took one of the rubies on his dresser in her hand, turning it in the light. "Most people who have been told they're the epitome of all that's good turn out bad."

"Especially considering our father doesn't care about anything but himself," Azriel nodded," Michael is his favorite son though, so I guess he cares for him at least."

"Am I going to meet the family?" Jasmina said, placing herself on the bed and looking at him. "I'm not sure what to wear when meeting God."

Azriel seemed lost in thought about that, shaking his head. "I actually didn't think about that, but you'll probably encounter them more than once when you become my queen." His eyes lit up and he stood straight at once, opening the door wide. "I have an idea."

"The devil's ideas don't sound like they'll be much good," Jasmina said.

"This will be," he promised," Vox Dei will be soon, I can introduce you there to everyone at once."

"Vox Dei?" she said.

"It's a meeting of all of the gods," he shrugged," Egyptian, Northern, Greek, whatever you can think of. The angels usually come and sometimes my father makes an appearance, but let's hope he stays away again this time. Anyone of importance is there, so it'll be the perfect place to let you make you're first appearance."

"When is it?" she said.

He gave her grin which didn't promise much good.

"Tomorrow."