“Don’t.” She scowled in annoyance. “I didn’t walk when I found out you didn’t possess a soul, or when I knew I couldn’t have children with you. If you think I’m leaving you because of some demon, think again.”
It still awed him that she would put up with all of his shit. Hell, if he were her, he’d walk and never look back. He wasn’t worth it. A rough sigh left him. “I’m trying to do the right thing—”
“Well, it sucks.”
By those useless fucking gods, soul or no, she made him smile.
She paced to the door and back again, like some militant soldier, her gorgeous eyes burning with purpose. “We need to find and kill that demon.”
“I am going to end him, make no mistake. But notwe, Darci, just me. You should be prepared, once the others find out about my transgressions, I will be branded a traitor. I can’t get away from that.”
She gave him a sharp look. “Why?”
“I broke my oath. I tortured the damnedandI killed the innocent.”
“It’s not your fault. And those were dead, horrible humans—rapists, pedophiles, murderers, and God knows what else already cast into Hell. As for the others, it was a mercy you did, killing them.”
Blaéz shook his head at her misplaced faith. “That’s not how it will be seen.”
Hazel eyes darkened. Anger edged her voice. “You just want to give up, then? Tell the Guardians and accept your punishment?Die?”
“You think I want this?” He rose, ire sliding through him. “For the first time ever, I have a reason to exist. Death is not my choice, you are. But it matters little. I cannot change what is—”
“Yes, you can,” she snapped. “Destiny may weave our paths, but fate can be changed, broken. I don’t care what anyone says. You have precognition, are you telling me all of your visions stay true, the paths don’t change?”
“Sometimes.” He reached for her. “Come here.”
“No.” She flung out a hand, holding him off. “Not until you tell me that you won’t say a word about this. I won’t lose you. I never had a fulfilling relationship with any man I dated. They thought me cold. I thought I was, too, until I met you. And now…now you would tell the others the truth, and could die—”
“Darci.”
At his quiet tone, her furious outburst faltered. She glared at him instead. Her cell rang. She ignored it.
Christ, but she was stubborn.
Her phone stopped and started up again. He arched a brow. “Aren’t you going to answer that?”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “No.”
He stepped closer, slipped his hand into her skirt pocket and pulled out her cell. He glanced at the caller’s name. Answered. “Hello, Grace.”
A slight hesitation on the other end, “Blaéz?”
“Yes. You are well?”
“Much better, thank you. I er-I got discharged earlier today. Darci was supposed to come over at noon, but I haven’t heard from her.”
“I see.” He pinned Darci a steady stare. “She’ll be there.” He ended the call.
Glowering at him, Darci threw her hands into the air and stomped away from him. “It’s so easy for you to make decisions for me. But you won’t do as I ask.”
He followed, slipped the cell back into her pocket, and hooked his fingers in her waistband, keeping her there. “I imagine then you have no plans to see Grace since she’s been discharged?”
Her eyes widened, then she scowled. “Are you going to tell the Guardians?”
Persistent female. “I will not say anything…for now.”
“Promise?”
