Lucifer had known exactly where to strike. I was the chink in Samael’s armor. His blind spot. The weakness Lucifer had been searching for.
It was worse, knowing that I’d been the method used to take him out. That our love—so new and fresh—was twisted and wielded against us.
I’d been attempting to ignore the very real chance that Samael could die. That I’d done nothing but prolong his life by a few days, maybe a week at most.
Here, where no one was watching, I let the tears roll down my cheeks, let my shoulders shake, and replayed Ag’s words.
He thought I’d just give up if Samael died. To be honest,Ididn’t know how the hell I’d be able to keep it together.
But the demons deserved someone who would fight for them.
I wiped the tears off my cheeks and squared my shoulders. I’d never imagined that I’d stand for the demons, but they deserved to be able to live in their homeland. And Lucifer deserved to die for what he’d done to us.
My grandfather could never understand just what it was to love someone so much that you’d do anything for them. And ultimately, that would be his downfall. Because if Samael died, and I stayed alive, I would pick myself up off the floor, and I would make Lucifer regret the day he ever learned I existed.
I stalked back toward the cabin and made my way back into Samael’s room. Ag was now standing by the window, his expression shadowed as he stared outside.
“I won’t give up,” I told him. “If… if he dies, I’ll do everything I can for your people.”
“Yourpeople,” he told me, his gaze still on the forest outside. But his shoulders relaxed enough that I knew he understood.
“My people,” I said. And something shifted inside me. A weight found its way to my shoulders, but it was a good weight, a comforting weight.
I turned and strapped on the last of my weapons. It was time to get back to work.
Kyla met me by her car. “Well, you look like shit.”
I shrugged. Then I slid into the passenger seat and relayed my conversation with Samael.
“So much intrigue,” she murmured. “Does he know anything about the ninth black book?”
“Not so far, and he’s been searching for centuries.”
“These old paranormal guys are just set in their ways,” Kyla said. “They need a fresh, young, optimistic perspective.”
I couldn’t help but grin. “Damn right.”
The portal crossing was uneventful, and within half an hour, we were standing in the unseelie realm. I shivered, glad I’d worn my leather jacket. “Okay, we need to find Smolten.”
Kyla nodded, her gaze fixed on a group of goblins. They walked next to a cart full of vegetables, the driver spurring on a horse that looked so old it could drop dead at any moment.
“Oi, you,” she called.
The closest goblin turned, baring its teeth at us. “Fuck off.”
“Cute. Where’s Smolten?”
He’d obviously spent time in our realm, because he flipped up his middle finger. Kyla just stared at him, her eyes turning lighter as she channeled her wolf.
He swallowed and lifted one shaky finger, pointing left. “That way.”
I examined him. Then I pulled my Mark II and a cloth, slowly cleaning the blade. “If you’re lying, we’ll come back for you.”
He paled. His friends had already left without him, unconcerned. “Fine. It’s that way,” he snapped, pointing in the opposite direction. “Two miles. You can’t miss it.”
“Gee, thanks,” Kyla said sweetly. He flipped us off again and hurried to catch up with his friends.
Without a word, we both kicked our pace up to a jog. By the time the town came into view, I’d stripped off my jacket and my muscles were feeling limber. Next to me, Kyla wasn’t even sweating. I shot her a dark look and she chuckled.
