Page 46 of Grave Revelations (Prophecies of Angels and Demons #3)

Chapter 45

Azazel

Azazel was frozen. Their bond was growing, and with it, their emotional connection. He ached to go to her, to comfort her, but his touch only brought pain and misery. It was selfish to want her to live, to want to keep her.

But if she died, he was sure he wouldn’t survive it again.

As they descended the stairs, he trailed behind them, watching Rebecca’s dark curls bounce, light as air. She was silent. Her thoughts, too. Dina had forced a calm upon her—a kindness. She’d only been exposed to his emotions for a few moments, and it had nearly broken her.

What would she do when the floodgates opened?

“Dina.”

Dina turned at the bottom of the stairs, tugging Rebecca to a stop.

Azazel halted behind her, his whole being aching at her nearness. His fingers twitched, desperate for her warmth, but he remained frozen a few feet away.

Dina arched a silvery brow at him.

His gaze fell on Rebecca, and he shuddered. She was staring at Dina, still taking deep, calming breaths. “I’ve reconsidered.”

Dina’s brow fell, and she leveled a stare at him. “Brother. Stop torturing yourself. Do you want her to be safe, or do you want her to fall into Sanura’s clutches once more? ”

Azazel frowned.

Jophiel beckoned him forward. “If she dies, Sanura will very likely trap her soul again, and you would be powerless to stop it. This is your best option.”

He took one halting step.

A century of not knowing what happened to her was a wound he’d never recovered from. Punishment for separating Sanura from her analogous umbra when Ada sacrificed herself to trap her in Sheol—the one place neither angels nor demons could go—guarded by an entirely other race of beings who never crossed paths with any but the dead.

His brows dipped low. “I won’t make her do this against her will. Stop influencing her and let her decide for herself.”

Dina released her hold on Rebecca’s emotions, and she sucked in a sharp breath, panic crowding her thoughts.

“Light. I’m here.”

Rebecca’s phone buzzed, and it seemed to snap her out of the dark place her thoughts spiraled toward. She fished it out of her pocket. Simon. She stuffed it back out of sight, her thoughts descending once more.

Azazel squeezed her fingers. “I won’t force you to do anything against your will. Do you want this? Do you want everything that comes with awakening this side of yourself?”

I don’t want to be separated. I don’t want to die .

She squared her shoulders, meeting his eyes with fierce determination. It would have warmed him if he thought she truly understood what she was doing.

“Yes.”

“Do you understand that you will be bound by seraph law?”

“Yes.”

“Do you understand that if you break their rules…” he stumbled over the next words, “you will fall. As I have.” His gaze dipped to the floor.

Rebecca stepped closer, touching a finger to his chin and lifting it. Their eyes met.

“Yes. ”

The steely resolve in her voice stirred something in him. Something dangerous. Hope .

Rebecca held out both hands in front of her.

“I’m ready.”