Page 106 of Grave Revelations

Astaroth backed up, glancing up at him. “Will you let her harm one of your own?”

He snorted, crossing his arms over his chest. “Absolutely.”

Rebecca tossed her ball of flame at the creature; it evaporated and dropped into a nearby shadow.

“He’s there,” Azazel said, pointing to Astaroth, tucked into the fold between darkness and light.

Rebecca’s grin was feral as she hurled ball after ball of fire into the darkness.

Astaroth moved again, disappearing around the side of the house, and was gone.

“What did he want?” she asked, coming to stand beside Azazel.

Even after they’d lain together more times than he’d thought her mortal form could safely handle last night and this morning, his whole being strained to be near Rebecca, to take her back to their tiny moment in time and remain there with her forever.

Her cheeks flamed, telling him she’d heard those thoughts. Not that he had tried to keep them from her; Azazel could deny her nothing.

“He wants me to return to Primoria.”

Her smile fell. “Will you go?”

“No, but I fear our time is up.”

Dina landed beside them on the porch, glancing over his nude form and Rebecca wrapped in her blanket.

“Have I interrupted something?” she asked.

“Astaroth came proclaiming I am needed in Primoria,” Azazel answered.

“You can’t mean to fight with them, brother.”

To Rebecca, he sent the thought,Get dressed. Others will follow. To Dina, he said, “Of course not.”

Rebecca nodded, turning to go inside.

“When I last left Primoria, he was preparing his demon army to march on the human realm, but he was waiting for something. I would have felt if they crossed over.”

Dina nodded, darting her gaze at the door. “Have you warded the house?”

“I cannot ward against my own kind.”

Dina turned, stepping through the door into Rebecca’s foyer. She raised her arms overhead.

“Dina. You can’t.”

She looked him over. “You aren’t a demon.”

“I plan to use the lance to lure him in.”

“Why would you risk it?”

“It’s the only thing that would bring him to me rather than forcing me to come to him.”

Dina’s snow-white brows dipped low over swirling iridescent eyes. “What is your plan?”

Azazel moved past her, going down the hall until he reached the stairs leading to Rebecca’s father’s lair. “I plan to use the gargoyles to trap him. They won’t hold him for long, but I only need moments.”

“If he marches with his army, you’ll be no match for his might.”

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