I licked the tears off my chappedlips.
Butchering my skin was so brutal, but it wasn’t the pain I feared. It was the time. The time it would take my soul to meet Jarod’s, wherever it was Nephilim soulswent.
Perhaps they drifted around the world together . . .forever.
I lifted my wrist and studied the web of blue veins, focused on the thickest one, and then slashed the sharpened letter opener over it until the blade broke the skin and blood spurted, streaming out like the wine Jarod had forced upon me to prove there existed more to life than rules andregulations.
How I’d hated him that night. But how I’d adored him every ensuingnight.
I reached for his jaw, trailing crimson ribbons over his rigid chest. “I’m coming, my love. Wait for me thistime.”
As Jarod’s jewel-toned world began to fade, I trapped his cheek and angled his face toward mine, then pressed my leaden lips tohis.
Into his mouth, I poured my slowing heartbeats and softening breaths until my body released my ruined soul from its cage of flesh andblood.
Epilogue
Asher
Death.
In my world, dying wasn’t a notion that instilled sadness or anger. It was merely an essential stage in the cycle ofsouls.
Untiltonight.
Until the Ishim came to alert me that two Nephilim had passed away inParis.
The word devoured methen.
I strapped on my leathers and shot from Elysium to Earth in a singleheartbeat.
I thought of Celeste, of how devastated she would be once she learned that Leigh wasgone.
Eternallygone.
Fuck!
Fuck.
I should never have burned herwings.
I should have forced her to keepthem.
Leigh believed love was a vital part of life, but vital things didn’t lead toannihilation.
I thudded onto Jarod’s balcony and hunted the darkness for their bodies, found them entwined on therecliner.
Bloodied.
Marbled.
Peaceful.
I shoved the glass doors, but they were closed. I punched in one of the panes, thrust my arm through, and twisted the cool handle. Cloaked by angel-dust, I was invisible, not that anyone guarded hiscourtyard.
Where were all hisguards?
Where was that lady who cared for him more fiercely than alioness?
