That name meant nothing to me, and I gave him a blank look.
Aubrey shook his head. “Convince Taraghlan to deal with you, and I will tell you everything you need to know.”
3
DANICA
Iknew I was dreaming the moment the dream began. A choked sob ripped from my throat as I stared at Samael.
There was no ash, no chalky black skin, no crumpled wings. He stood in front of me completely whole.
“I’m dreaming.”
“Yes,” he said as he moved toward me. “But we’ve established that I can cross into your dreams. I’ve waited for you to sleep, my love.”
Confusion clouded my mind and he smiled. “Without the benefit of sleeping aids or painkillers.”
Tears were streaming down my face. “Is this real? Or am I making this up?”
He leaned down and took my mouth with his, and I ran my hands up his chest. Warm and solid and whole.
I pulled away long enough to gaze up at his face. He pushed a lock of my hair behind my ear and I caught his hand, gazing at the gold mark I’d left on him, no longer warring with black ash.
“Yes,” he said, no longer sounding pleased. “That. What the hell were you thinking?”
Ah. It definitely wasn’t justmydream. The demon wouldn’t lecture me in my dreams. He’d be too busy stripping my clothes off.
“You’re welcome.”
He took my shoulders, giving me a shake. “You’ll die with me, little witch.”
“You’re not going to die, so it’s a moot point.”
“I need you to break your end of the bond.”
I gaped at him. “Wow. Someone’s changed their tune.”
“This is not a joke,” he growled. Silver eyes glittered, and his hands tightened on my shoulders. This was not the conversation I’d imagined we’d have if I got to talk to him again.
“I had no choice.”
“You would have survived my death with only half the bond, Danica. Now, you’ll die with me unless you can break it.”
“I know.”
He nodded as if I was finally being reasonable. “Talk to Ag. There are rumors that his mother broke a bond with his father.”
“I’m not breaking the bond, Samael.”
He cursed, released my shoulders and turned, pacing away from me. His wings were visible here, and I ached at how lush and real they looked. In reality, feathers were strewn amongst his sheets, his wings turning to ash with the rest of his body.
“I break it, and you die sooner,” I attempted to keep my voice reasonable, although my throat tightened at the thought. “At least now we have more time.”
He sent me a vicious look over his shoulder and opened his mouth. I narrowed my eyes at him. “If you think you can make me break the bond by being a complete and utter asshole, think again, mister. I’ll just deface your body so all your demons see you with a penis drawn on your forehead or something.”
His lips twitched, and a fraction of the frustration drained from his expression.
I sighed. “You once said the ferryman owed you a favor,” I reminded him, and he shook his head.
