Page 55 of Their Offering

He took a deep breath and glowered at me. I felt like he could see my poor, shriveled up soul. “You can only close it if you’re onthisside.”

His confession hit me like a ton of bricks. A moment passed as his words sank in and closed around my heart, squeezing it to the point of pain.

“No.” I shook my head in disbelief. “No. There has to be another way.” I looked at him, waiting for him to tell me there really was another way, that he was just throwing this option out there.

His face fell, and I knew my answer. “There’s not.” He placed his hand on my arm. “I’m sorry.”

“So I’m supposed to just leave my life behind, come to Hell, and trap myself here forever? Wait around for your dad to kill me? Do you realize what you’re asking?” Tears streamed down my cheeks, and my chest heaving faster by the second.

“I do.”

I shook my head again. “No, you don’t. I have a life, Keir. I have people who love me and care about me. Here? Here, I have no one,andI’m wanted dead. You might as well kill me now.”

“I’d hardly call one friend having a life.” He pressed his lips into a tight line.

“I have more than one friend.” He raised an eyebrow at me. “There’s Katie… and… oh, there’s Garrett.” I regretted throwing his name out immediately.

“Who’s Garrett?” Keir’s face darkened.

“No one.” I shook my head, hoping he wouldn’t press me.

“Mmm-hmm.” He just stared at me, but the corner of his mouth curled up cockily. “Whatever you say.” I let out a relieved breath. “So, are you gonna save Katie andGarrett?”

I bit my bottom lip hard, trying to stop the tears. “This is crazy. This isfuckingcrazy.”

“If you close that portal, your world will be safe, and so will you. If you don’t, you and your world will burn, possibly literally.”

I laughed. “And your father? Are you going to protect me from him?” He nodded, and I cocked an eyebrow. “As if I believe that. I wouldn’t put it past you to have me close the portal before you kill me yourself and take my body to your father for brownie points.” I turned on my heel and started walking back to the building. “Take me home.”

I was shoved into the side of the building as Keir pressed himself against me. It hurt, but some dark part of me couldn’t help thinking about him taking me against the wall. I’d let him strip me bare and fuck me, all he had to do was ask. I wanted to feel his skin on mine. I wanted to taste his lips. I wanted him ins––

“Stop, Lillian. We aren’t doing that.” He’d heard my thoughts. My cheeks burned as he stayed pressed against me.

“Why not? No one would know. I’ll be dead soon anyway,” I snapped bitterly.

“I’m serious, Lillian. Iwillprotect you. My brothers will too. I can’t explain everything, you wouldn’t understand, but I will not let him kill you. I won’t let anyone hurt you.” He let me go and I turned myself around. His body was inches from mine; I dragged my gaze up his body and stopped at his face. He looked different: soft, sweet even. “I know I’ve been cruel. I know it's not fair. Just come with us. You’ll never want for anything. You will be provided for, cared for, safe. I swear it.”

I stared into his eyes, and I could practically hear him pleading with me to give in, but I needed to know more. This wouldn’t be a vacation to Hell. It was eternal.

“Why would they come through the portal? What did you mean, an invasion?”

He stepped back, and my body whined at the loss. “My father is ruthless. You think I’m cruel? He makes me seem merciful. This portal opened doors for me that I don’twantopened. He’s waited patiently for one of you humans to open the portal and let him into your world. He wants to invade Earth and turn it into another realm for him to rule over. He’d expect me to lead the army and slaughter anyone who resisted. I can’t do it. Iwon’tdo it. Which is why this is the only option. You have to close that portal. To save your world, but to save me, too.”

My heart broke as I watched Keir crack in front of me. He wasfinallybeing transparent. For the first time since we’d met, I think I knew why I was so drawn to him. We were the same: shitty parents with shitty expectations. We both just wanted to forge our own path. I wanted to hug him, but I was too afraid I’d be rejected. Instead, I stood tall and stuck my pinky out.

“Promise me nothing bad will happen. Promise me I won’t die.” I knew what I was saying, that I would come with him, but the rational part of my brain wasn’t working. I couldn’t argue with my heart; it wanted to be here, with them. Oh, and I wanted to save the world.That too.

He snorted with a small smile, sounding relieved as he took my pinky in his. “I promise.”

His hand stayed intertwined with mine longer than necessary. He made me look so pale against his tanned skin. After a beat, he drew back, and I felt him close himself off again. I couldn’t be bothered by his reaction. Tears stung my eyes as the realization of what I’d just agreed to washed over me. “I’m gonna do it. I’m going to close that portal.”

Chapter 27

Lillian

Aiden picked me up and squeezed me so tightly, my head might have popped off my shoulders had Nicholas not stolen me for an assault of kisses.

“Why is there blood? Whose blood is that?” the twins questioned as they examined me.

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