Page 48 of Grave Revelations

“She shares my gifts,” Azazel said, standing taller. “You know what my abilities are.”

His menacing stare sent heat through her veins. No one had ever had so much confidence in her abilities before.

The side of Azazel’s mouth quirked up, a dimple appearing on his cheek.

She dug her nails into his palm.Don’t laugh at me.

I would never.

Rebecca struggled to hold her grin at bay.

“You’ll protect her?” Sariel gave Rebecca another once over.

“With my immortal soul.”

His words made that warmth in her chest pulse. She was smiling like an idiot now.

“Very well.” Sariel turned his attention to Rebecca when he said, “It’s housed in a chest inside the cave’s mouth. The Fallen has waged war more than once, seeking to end the lives of the seraphim by claiming the lance for himself. When he knows I no longer guard it, he will try again.”

Rebecca blinked. “Okay.”

“To unlock the chest, seraph blood must be spilled.” Sariel’s green eyes bored into hers. “Have you unlocked your seraphim side?”

“No.” Rebecca looked to Azazel, prepared to ask him for clarification, but words died on her lips as she took in the pain in his dark eyes.What is it? What’s wrong?

To get to Primoria, he must vanquish me.

No. You can’t. What if you can’t get back this time?

I can,Azazel reassured her.Stay in the church. Protect the lance until I return. If it’s longer than expected, use your earth magic to sustain your strength. Don’t venture into town on your own.

No, Az. Don’t go.

“Rebecca?” Sariel’s voice drew her attention. He’d said something else, but she’d missed it.

“Yes. I’ll guard it.”

He nodded. “Demons cannot enter the church, but the nasdaqu-ush can. If you see one, you must end it immediately.” He fished in his pocket, pulling out a small dagger, gleaming in the light. “I will leave this for you. It’s blessed.” Rebecca reached for it, but the angel held it out of her grasp. “I’m sorry, Rebecca. I wish you luck.”

Without another word, he spun, plunging the dagger into Azazel. A scream tore from Rebecca’s throat as the pair blinked out of existence, and the shining blade dropped to the ground.

Chapter 30

Dina

Dina raced through halls gilded in gold, feeling the crushing weight of time bearing down on her—on all of them. When she reached the archway to Daniel’s room, she slid to a stop.

“What news have you?” she asked, composing her features.

Daniel looked up from his bed of golden feathers, a soft smile playing over his lips. “No news, sister.”

Dina held in a vicious retort. How he had been tasked as a watcher when he cared so little would confound her to the end of eternity. “The nasdaqu-ush has taken many lives, yet there have been no souls to breach the pearly gates in five days. Father only knows what occupies your mind, but it seems it is not the humans.”

Daniel’s dark brows slid down his forehead, furrowing between his eyes. “And why should they occupy my mind? Their end draws near; we all sense it. Let them perish.”

Dina squeezed her hands into fists. “In case you have forgotten,brother, our mission in this long existence is to watch over and guide them to an afterlife of peace.”

Daniel lifted a silver feather, watching it float gently back down. “The reashes in the fertile crescent detected a nest, but it was empty when they arrived, and they found no new creatures.”

---