“I take it your conversation didn’t go well,” Urielsaid.
“Yes and no.” I grunted and kicked the nearest bedpost. “She looked devastated. I know it’s the right thing to do, for the sake of the Order, but dammit if that didn’t make me feel likeshit.”
“Do you think Az will agree to back off?” Sam asked. “He seems inclined to do whatever he wants when it comes toErela.”
“He’ll back off when I show him this.” I threw the book down on the bed and glared at it. After Erela had translated the information that had led us to Berith’s castle, Lizzie had continued to read the book on the long journey across the ocean. She’d found something else, something she’d been scared to share. In the end, she’d brought it to me and Sam only a few days before. I’d been on the fence about it ever since, but Sam had immediately taken matters into his ownhands.
“It’s just a prophecy in an old book,” Uriel said. “The likelihood that it’ll come true? Slim tonone.”
“I thought you agreed that we need to treat it as if it were true,” I said, my voice going sharp. We couldn’t afford to be anything other than in one hundred percent agreement about this. Not only was Erela’s life at stake, but so was the fate of the entireworld.
“I do agree, old friend,” Uriel said, dropping a hand on my shoulder. “If there’s even the slightest chance it’s true, then I will keep my hands to myself. I cannot bear the thought of her dying. She has snuck her way into myheart.”
“Well, don’t tell her that,” Imuttered.
I myself had said far too much to her. I loved the girl. I trulydid.
But this prophecy said that she would die, trying to save the love of her life. And then Apocalypse 2.0 wouldbegin.
So, we had to make certain that would neverhappen.
Chapter Fifteen
Erela
At least someonein this house was getting some action. When I wandered into the living room after a fitful night of sleep, I found Lilith and Rourke curled up together on the couch. Once again, he wastopless.
“You know, both of you have bedrooms where you could be doing your kinky blood sex,” I said, loud enough that they both awoke with a start. Lilith was immediately on her feet, adjusting her shirt and her pants while Rourke just smiled lazily up atme.
“You still high on the blood thing or something?” I arched aneyebrow.
“Nope.” He grinned. “Justhappy.”
“Jesus.” I turned to Lilith. “What have you done to the poorguy?”
She turned toward Rourke and winked. “Rocked his world a fewtimes.”
“Alright, listen.” I laughed and held up my hands. “That’s enoughinformation.”
“Hey, you’re the one who played matchmaker,” Rourkesaid.
“He’s got a point,” Lilith preened. “How could you possibly be complaining when you were the one who wanted us to get together in the firstplace?”
“Get together.” I gave Lilith a soft little push toward the door. “In your bedrooms. Other people have to sit on those sofas, youknow.”
“The radio is in here,” she said, pointing to the contraption with about half a dozen antennas. “It took Harry forever to find the exact right spot so that it could get all the signals. If we move it, then…well, it’ll be apain.”
“I can’t help but notice said radio isoff.”
“We may have turned the volume down so that we could…” She glanced at Rourke and bit her lip. “Concentrate.”
She said the last word just as he said, “Doactivities.”
I rolled my eyes, now understanding why Ramiel was so hardcore about people focusing when on duty. Boinking caused distractions. But at the thought of Rourke, all the light-hearted banter I had cued up on my lips disappeared into a puff of smoke. Last night had sucked ass, and a part of me kind of felt adrift after our conversation. Ramiel had broken my heart. And what’s worse, I understood why he didit.
Now, I had to live and work and fight in an Order where I had to spend all my time side-by-side with four males I knew I could never have, and that I knew I would always want. I had fallen for these males, in more ways than one. While I’d wanted to stay on earth to help fight against the demons here, I’d also stayed for them. Because I wanted them. Because I loved them. Every single damn one ofthem.
“Erela?” Lilith said, tilting her head and frowning. She must have sensed the change in my mood. “Youokay?”
