Immortal Rider_ Lords of Deliverance Series_ - Larissa Ione [95]
She snorted. “Sure there is. You can take my virginity.”
Oh, she wasn’t serious, but just thinking about it made her ache for it. Made her desperate to have Arik on top of her, making love to her the way a male should. To have him between her legs like that, his muscles flexing, his skin glistening with sweat… God, she could only imagine the places he’d take her.
“There’s one hell of a catch in that particular out-clause.” He frowned. “Wait, how did you say your chastity belt can be removed?”
“It can’t. Not by anyone but my husband.”
He considered that. “The spell infused in the belt and contract… were those the exact words used? Did it say ‘husband,’ or Satan?”
“Husband.” She drew in a harsh breath. “But Harvester drew up the contract. She wouldn’t have left a loophole like that.” Limos paced the length of the deck, her bare feet making no sound, even if her mind was clacking like an old typewriter as she tried to untangle her marriage contract and Deliverance’s failure. The only thing she was sure about was that she needed help. “I need to talk to Reaver.”
“Do your Watchers disappear often?”
“Sometimes. But when we really need them, they’ve always shown up. Ares and Than haven’t had any luck, but I’ll give it a shot.” She stopped at the far end of the deck and closed her eyes, calling out to Reaver in her mind.
Reaver, our Heavenly Watcher, I require your presence. She repeated the official words of summoning, and then added, Like, now. We’re in trouble, Reavie-Weavie.
Arik’s hands came down on her shoulders, and she allowed herself to lean into him. He slipped his arms around her waist and held her like that as they gazed out over the moonlit ocean. His strength surrounded her, easing her, giving her comfort—and a connection—she’d never had before.
He might be a human, but she’d never met even an immortal with such bravery and resilience. Everything about him fortified her, made her stronger. It was as if she were a sturdy building, capable of standing on her own, but he was her buttress, supporting her outer walls and keeping them steady.
“You are a beautiful couple.” The female voice startled them both, and they whirled around, Arik tucking Limos behind him.
An angel stood on the deck, her white robes glowing as if warding off the night.
“Gethel.” Limos eased next to Arik, who remained in a stiff, battle-ready stance. She took Arik’s hand and squeezed. “It’s okay. She was our Watcher before Reaver.”
“Reaver is why I’m here,” Gethel said. “I heard your summons, but I fear he won’t show.”
“Where is he?”
She shook her head. “I know not. He and Harvester have both become invisible to our eyes.”
Oh, this was bad. If even other angels didn’t know where Reaver was, this was trouble. “Are they in danger?”
“I can only speculate, but I would say yes.”
“Who would… or could… have taken them? And why?”
“Pestilence?” Arik asked, but Gethel shook her head.
“For a Horseman to kill or imprison the Watchers would be the gravest of violations.” She glanced at Limos. “Why were you summoning Reaver?”
Her instinct was to lie. Instead, she forced herself to speak the truth. “I stabbed Pestilence with Deliverance and he didn’t die. Do you know why?”
Gethel’s eyes flashed. “Yes. And so do you.”
Nausea swirled in Limos’s stomach. “So it was my fault.” Arik’s arm came around her, once more bracing her when she needed it. “Why didn’t you say something? You could have warned us.”
“I didn’t know until you confessed your sin to Arik.” She flapped her wings in that way she always had when she was irritated. “You know I love you, Limos, but you brought this on yourself.”
“Hey.” Arik’s voice cracked like a whip. “She regrets what she did, and it took a lot of courage to own up to it, so lay off, angel.”
Lightning streaked overhead. “You are either brave or foolish, human.”
Arik’s fingers dug possessively into her shoulder, not hurting, but marking.,