Page 139 of Princess of Bael

“We don’t have time.”

He sighed, his chin going to my shoulder as he continued to stare into my eyes. “You’re right. We don’t. I propose we go to your father’s realm first. I want to question him about Yaz.”

“It’s not Yaz, Ezra.” I was sure of it. “I know he looks guilty because he gave me the cuff, but he would never try to hurt me like that.”

“It’s not just the cuff, Kayla. He was between the realms with us when the attack began, and he went back to Bael just before the latest attack—where the demons came from his realm to Heaven.”

My jaw clenched. I knew it looked bad. But I also knew Yaz. “He’s innocent, Ezra.”

The Archangel studied me for a long moment, then gave a slight nod and brushed his lips against my pulse again. “Then we’ll use this opportunity to prove his innocence.”

“Just like that?”

“Just like that,” he echoed, his hands going to my hips and giving them a subtle squeeze. “We’re a team, Kayla. I trust your judgment.” The truth of that statement flourished between us, his mind wide open to mine.

We’d created a new form of Divinity between us, a breed of energy that pulsated through our veins, cementing a new kind of balance.

Ezra’s entire purpose in life was to protect the Divinity.

And nowwewere the Divinity.

“Will our future children be like Kristina and the others?” I wondered aloud, frowning as I considered that question more thoroughly. “Wait…” I pressed a palm to my stomach. “Isthatthe power we created? Did you use me—”

“Do not finish that statement,” he interjected, his expression going from docile to thunderous in an instant. “I wouldneverdo that to you, Kayla.” And he forced the truth on me through our open bond, his fury at the impending suggestion a whiplash against my senses.

I shivered and swallowed, my eyes falling closed. He grasped my chin and rotated me in his arms to face him. “I understand your innate need to distrust me. I’ve earned that. But you have full access to my soul, Kayla.Useit to see the truth.”

He was right.

This knee-jerk reaction to distrust him was hampering my ability toseethe truth, to believe it, to put my faith in him and in us.

However, we hadn’t used protection.

And he’d had a penchant for using me in the past.

Replacing Kristina would be exactly what he needed to do to right the scales, and the best way to do that would be to mate with an Archdemon. I might be a Halfling, but I still possessed the powers required to be that other half for him.

I was also the only one he could be with because of our bond.

“Ezra…”

“Don’t,” he snapped, his grip on my jaw tightening as he wrapped his opposite arm around my waist. “I can hear what you’re thinking, Kayla. And you’re wrong.”

His bare chest burned through my towel, his wings curling around us in a protective shield of black-brown feathers.

“You’re also old enough to know how difficult it is to produce children, Kayla. There’s a reason you are your father’s only offspring. That’s why I chose you in the beginning—because I knew he would never hurt you. And you would be the leverage I needed to save Johanna.”

His grip tightened when I tried to look away, the memory of that event the reason I questioned his integrity even now.

“The power inside you is the energy formed by our bond. I meant what I told you—it’s not about feeding off each other’s auras or spirits. It’s about creating a new state of existence.Together.” He released my chin to palm the back of my neck. “And yes, our future heirs will be children of the Divinity. But that likely won’t be for centuries to come.”

I swallowed, the intensity of his stare burning a hole straight through my spirit. “I’m—”

“I don’t want an apology,” he interjected, clearly hearing the one forming in my thoughts. “I know I’ve hurt you, Kayla. Questioning me and my intentions is only natural. But I need you to be my partner right now.” His hands shifted to cup either side of my face. “I need you to hear my mind and to try to believe in me, or we’re not going to survive what’s coming.”

My throat worked as I tried to form the words he wanted to hear. I knew I was being stubborn and borderline petulant, but I’d spent thousands of years hating him.

He’d haunted my dreams and my nightmares. He’d been my primary motivator to wake up and fight every day. He’d been my sole focus, my end goal, the only one I’d ever truly cared about.