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All because of me and my stupid games since I was too inexperienced to figure out a better way to control my demon on Earth. I thought I had it all figured out. I knew nothing and had so much left to learn.

Ilsa’s expression hadn’t shifted, and I hated to think this wasn’t the first time she had been in this situation.

Life or death. Her life in the hands of others.

She trusted me.

“Emrick, please, you can’t kill her.”

“There’s nothing stopping me from taking this human’s life, nothing except you.”

“Please.You can’t, the rules…”

The rules I was clinging on to were apparently useless as Emrick continued to laugh at the emotion tumbling through my voice.

What did he want from me?

Was he going to make me beg for her life?

“I’m a fallen angel, Ray. What the fuck else isHegoing to do to me?”

Silence.

“You fell?” My voice was small.

I didn’t know. Of course, I felt he was an angel, but I didn’t evenconsiderhe might be fallen.

That would explain the darkness behind his power.

Fuck.

He had no boundaries now.

Ilsa’s eyes found mine, and beyond the confusion and fear was accusation. “You knew he wasn’t human?”

“I didn’t want to freak you out.”

Ilsa scoffed, and her expression flared with rage as the knife against her throat was forgotten in the moment when betrayal pushed everything else out of sight. “Oh, yeah, right.Thiswould be the thing to tip me over the edge, not you being a fucking demon. Notfuckinga demon.”

“I don’t really think this is the time,” I mumbled. The ability for her to ignore the pressure of the knife against her throat as it increased with Emrick’s impatience because we were having a domestic floored me.

Ilsa’s reply was strangled from her throat when Emrick closed his hand around the side of her neck, pressing the tip of the blade into her jugular. “Fucking women, Christ. Shut the fuck up.”

“Oh, fuck you, Emrick,” I spat.

“You’re not in a position to be speaking with such disrespect, bitch.”

“What do you want?” I asked desperately.

“You.” He slapped his hand lightly against Ilsa’s cheek when she went to protest. “You, Ray. I want you. I want your skills, your strength, and your complete disregard for territory and respect. Youwillwork for me.”

“The hell she will,” Ilsa cried.

“She will if she wantsyouto live.” He eyed me. “I’ll pay you handsomely, and you can stay on Earth, giving in to all your instincts and desires. I’ll protect you, so you won’t come to harm. You’ll have money, power, protection, and anything you want. All you have to do is aim that strength and those fists at the people I tell you to.”

Like a guided missile.

“There’s no way—”