Page 12 of Grave Revelations

“Come, you need to eat.” He held out a hand.

She didn’t take it, narrowing her eyes. “And if I don’t come with you?”

“If you work to separate us,” he sucked on a tooth, “well, you’ve already seen what happens.”

Rebecca’s eyes narrowed further. “Are you trying to tell me the pain wasn’t something you did?”

“You can’t think I’d harm you.” He raised a brow.

“We’ve been apart my whole life. Why would it hurt only now?”

“It only hurts when you decide to separate yourself from me and act on it.”

“That’s unfair. Why don’t you have the same problem?”

The smirk that had been playing at the edges of his mouth fell. “I do.” As if to prove himself a liar, he stalked past her, heading down the steep hill.

Rebecca spun on her heel, marching after him. “What do you mean? You’ve left me a hundred times.” He ignored her, parts of him misting in and out of his solid form as he walked straight through tree branches and logs. Rebecca cursed, stumbling over a branch. “Hey! Don’t ignore me. What did you mean by that?”

She fumed, her temper flaring as he continued, saying nothing. “Gabriel, I’m talking to you!”

He spun so quickly that her cheek smacked into his chest.

“This is the last time I will tell you. My name is Azazel. Gabriel died in Primoria. Do not mistake me for him again.”

Planting a hand on his chest to steady herself, she peered up and up to meet his gaze. From this close, the red and black swirling in his narrowed eyes was menacing.

“Answer my question.”

“We’re in town,” he reminded her. “Hold my shorts so I may remain out of sight.”

She blinked as he lost form, stretching into a tree’s shadow. His pink shorts dropped to the ground. She scowled down at them.

“Why should I?” She glanced around, but he was gone.

She squinted into the shadows stretched long by the setting sun. If he was there, she couldn’t make him out. How many demons slid among the shadows out of sight every day?

Dropping her gaze to the enormous pair of swim shorts, she considered leaving them, but remembering the alternative was a very naked Azazel, she stooped and swiped them up.

Rebecca stepped onto the street and sucked in a breath. She hadn’t realized how much magic she’d been channeling from the earth until it was no longer coursing through her. The stone was cold and dead under her feet. An ache started in her stomach, and it grumbled loudly.

“This way,” a voice like smoke curled against her ear as phantom fingers touched her shoulder, guiding her to the right.

It wasn’t quite dark, but it would be soon. They’d wasted too much time in the woods. If Elizabeth had something planned tonight, she was nearly out of time. He’d been right. Not that she would ever tell him that.

Bleached white buildings lined her path. Vines crept up their sides, making them look cozy and inviting. She would have killed to spend the night in a real bed with blankets and pillows. Sighing, she continued down the cobbled path, peering in windows and down alleys as she passed. It was silent apart from the soles of her shoes slapping stone.

“Azazel,” she whispered into the chill quiet.

Silence.

The smell of yeast and something deliciously spicy hit her, making her mouth water. She turned, following her nose. The low hum of voices drew her forward, and she stepped out of the shadows, stopping in front of a small shop. It was brightly lit with shelves lining the window facing the street, filled with pastries of all shapes and sizes.

A TV was mounted in its far corner, playing the news in a language she didn’t know.

Rebecca wiped the drool pooling at the corner of her mouth, stomach gurgling loudly. She would give her left arm for any of the delectable treats trapped behind glass. Pressing a hand to the pane, she leaned closer. Dizziness hit hard, and her vision went white at the edges as her focus narrowed on the pastries before her.

“Take what you want.” Soft words brushed against her ear, making her stagger back.

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