Page 71 of Grave Revelations (Prophecies of Angels and Demons #3)

Chapter 70

Rebecca

Rebecca held out her hand over the ancient chest and gripped the knife Sariel had given her tightly in the other. Her gaze drifted to Azazel.

He nodded, resting a hand on her back. Their bond strained against the confines of her skin, purring under his touch. It had become so much stronger since their lovemaking, and now the sensation of his fingers through the fabric of her shirt overrode most of her senses.

She inhaled sharply and sliced the blade over her hand. Drops of crimson fell from her palm, splattering across the rusted lock. A hum sounded as the pressure in the room intensified, and the lock clicked open.

Dina pressed warm fingers to Rebecca’s wound, and it knitted closed.

She smiled gratefully and lifted the lid to the old trunk.

When she peered inside, she found a slender white shaft, shaved to a point on one end and wrapped on the other in a thick band of leather.

“Please tell me this isn’t a human bone,” she said, wrinkling her nose as she lifted it from the chest.

“I cannot lie, Rebecca,” Dina said, leaning forward to peer at the object.

Rebecca dropped it, sliding back. “Gross.”

“Not just any bone,” Dina said. “It is a bone of the man responsible for betraying our Father. Judas. ”

Rebecca blanched. “I don’t want to touch it.”

“You won’t have to,” Azazel said, reaching for the lance.

Dina made a sound low in her throat before her hand snapped out, fingers wrapping around Azazel’s arm.

“I can’t let you have it,” she said. “I’m sorry, brother. But every fiber of my being rebels against this.”

“You aren’t strong enough to stop me, Dina,” he retorted.

“Don’t make me try.” Her eyes were pleading as she glanced between his arm and face.

Azazel’s brows dipped low as bright eyes narrowed on her. “Your fight is with the seraphim, sister. They will need you.”

Dina’s hand loosened on his arm. “Rebecca could do it.”

A chill raced down Rebecca’s spine. Could she? Defeat the devil? With an object that, although it didn’t look like much, struck fear into the hearts of these immortal creatures?

You are strong, Light. But this isn’t your burden to carry.

Rebecca sucked in a sharp breath. Azazel had already sacrificed so much for her, and he would do it again. Not for the rest of humanity. For her . But fighting his sister might be the thing that broke him. She couldn’t let him do it.

I’ll do it.

Rebecca stretched her fingers out, reaching into the box, and carefully lifted the lance. To save them all, she would end the devil.

“How do I kill him?”

Jophiel brought the sheath tucked in the back of Rebecca’s closet downstairs, handing it to her.

“You’ll need something to carry it in if there’s a fight,” Jophiel explained. “Guard the lance with your life. If he gets his hands on it, no one is safe.”

Rebecca dipped her chin, nodding solemnly as she strapped the sheath over her shoulder and slid the lance inside .

Azazel’s gaze darted to the window. “He’s coming.”

Rebecca rubbed sweat-slicked palms against her side, watching the horizon through the windows lining her foyer.

Azazel pressed himself into her back, letting her lean into him, and she reached behind, clasping her hand in his.

He squeezed her fingers. I’m with you.

A cool breeze prickled the hairs along the nape of Rebecca’s neck, and she knew it was unnatural. Although the temperature had only continued to drop, she was impervious to it. The ice sliding down her spine was in anticipation of the King of Demons, who would shortly be on her doorstep.

A knock sounded at the door. Terror shot through her.

“It isn’t him,” Azazel said aloud for Jophiel’s benefit.

Rebecca slid forward.

Wait, Azazel thought. Let me.

The knock came again, more insistent this time.

What if it’s a human? You’re not in disguise.

It’s not human, he thought as he twisted the doorknob, pulling the door wide.

Rebecca let out a small gasp as Sophia stumbled through, deep cuts marring her neck and shoulders.

Azazel moved too fast for Rebecca to stop him and wrapped his hand around Sophia’s torn flesh. “You’re dead, witch.”

“Stop!” Rebecca screamed, lunging forward and trying to pry his fingers from Sophia’s neck.

His grip loosened a fraction.

“She’s… coming…” Sophia gasped out.

“Az! Let her go!” Rebecca pounded her fists against his iron biceps.

Azazel reluctantly released Sophia, dropping her on the floor as he stepped between her and Rebecca. “Make a move toward her, and your life is forfeit.”

Jophiel knelt beside Sophia and pressed glowing fingers to her cuts. “Tell us, girl, who is coming? ”

Sophia's eyes were wide as she huddled against the wall, but some color had returned to her face. She held up her hands, and Rebecca's stomach soured as she took in Sophia’s middle finger, partially torn away at the tip.

“Elizabeth… She’s… coming for you.”