He frowns. “Want to run that by me again, luv?”
“The grimoire had me convinced the Blade was evil. ThatIwas evil.” A tremor of magic runs through me. My whisper appears at my side, concern in her expression. “I’m okay. We’re okay.“
She seems to accept my answer, because she fades into nothingness—along with all the other whispers. Unlike all the other times she’s disappeared, I know I’ll see her again soon. I’m even looking forward to it.
“When we get back to San Francisco, she and I are going to destroy the grimoire for good. This,” I give the Blade a little spin, “from today until the end of time, is nothing more than a fancy, antique dagger. No more grimoire, no new Whisper Keepers, and no way for anyone to force this magic on the world again.”
THIRTY-TWO
Gabriel
I feel slightly guilty entrusting Lucifer’s axe to Sinclair. Also leaving him and the others to deal with nine, traumatized prisoners. But Willow has gone through hell the last fourteen hours, and when I pulled her into my arms a few minutes ago, she burst into tears.
“I…have t-to get out…of h-h-here. P-Please, Gabriel. Take m-me anywhere…but here.”
I am not certain I have the strength. But for her, I will try. When my soul returned to my body, the pain was overwhelming. I cursed Azrael for not warning me. Though, perhaps he did, and I chose to ignore him. I have been known to do that. Often.
Zoe hurries over to us. She favors her right shoulder after laying down cover fire from a tree for over an hour. Without her, Hannah’s goons could have shot me—along with Sinclair and Maddox—a hundred times over.
“Gabriel, are you strong enough to take her back to the penthouse?” Lowering her voice, Zoe adds, “I was only conscious for a few seconds after you and Sin pulled my soul out of Hell. But thelastplace I wanted to be was that old power station.”
I smooth my hand over Willow’s hair. “Deliciae,do you trust me?”
“How can you ask me that?” she says, sniffling. “I love you.”
“Where is the Blade? You have been entrusted with its care. We should not leave it behind.”
Willow shifts in my arms and points to a makeshift table Sin and Kunchin fashioned out of a slab from one of the walls and two of the now empty cages. The Blade looks so ordinary. Old. No more threatening than a letter opener.
“I’ll get it for you,” Zoe says, and shrugs out of her leather jacket. She wraps the Blade up tightly and passes it to Willow. “I’ll text you the combination for Sin’s vault. It’s behind a false wall in our bedroom closet. The Blade will be safe there until you decide what to do with it.”
I tuck Willow against my side. Her delicate hand presses to my heart, and she shudders. “I don’t like feeling your blood,” she says softly.
“Neither do I, my love. But we will take care of that soon enough.”
Before I can carry us to Sinclair’s penthouse, Zoe grabs my arm. “Gabriel? We won’t make it back forat leasttwenty-four hours. You and Willow will have some privacy. But please…for the love of all that’s holy in this world…no sex on the living room furniture.”
The lightsof San Francisco cast glittering colors over Sinclair’s black leather couches. Willow sags against me, utterly silent. This worries me more than her tears.
Once the Blade is secure, I lead her into the bath. But she stops me when I try to remove her shirt.
“You first. Please. I can’t…” Tears brim in her eyes. “I keep seeing you die. Over and over again.”
I lower my gaze to the gray t-shirt. Theformerlygray t-shirt. “Fuck.“ The material rips in my hands. But even balling it up and hiding it in the trash does not allay her distress.
My chest does not look much better. The wound has healed, but a jagged scar over my heart will remain for the rest of my existence. However long that will be.
Willow takes one of the soft, black washcloths, runs it under hot water, and starts dabbing at the blood staining my skin.
“Does it still hurt?” She only meets my gaze for a brief moment, and the pain in her eyes breaks my heart.
I wish I could lie. Her emotions are too fragile for the truth. But though I suspect I am no longer welcome in the celestial realm, I was, am, and always will be an angel.
“A dull ache, yes. I suspect I will feel it for the rest of my days.” At her quiet sob, I cover her hand with mine. “Willow, look at me. Please.”
She shakes her head and her tears spill over. “I…I killed you.”
“No, love.No. It may have been your hand, but it was not you.” I nudge her chin up, needing her to see the truth in my eyes. “I willneversee that scar and remember the moment I…died. I will think only of my love for you and the moment I came back to life.”
