Page 18 of Grave Revelations

Pressing a hand to the compact earth, she cracked open the wall she’d built around the ember resting at the center of her heart. Pain flooded her, making her gasp, and she tamped it down. It hurt too much.

But Azazel needed her help. She closed her eyes. The crack widened, letting some of her energy trickle through. She shoved her fingers into the dirt lining the wall and imagined it loosening and falling to the floor.

It rumbled, the wall shuddering.

She pulled on the warmth inside her and doubled her efforts, shoving again. The wall blasted away under her palms, leaving a gaping hole in the side of the temporary house.

Rebecca stepped out into the chill air, wrapping her blankets tightly around her, and stopped.

“Raphael?”

The angel looked up, struggling under Azazel’s hold. “Little lamb?”

Rebecca gaped at the angel pinned to the ground. “What are you doing here?”

Azazel released Raphael, climbing off of him.

Raphael shot into the air, spreading his luminescent wings wide and hovered just off the ground. “Begone foul creature, return thyself from whence you came!”

Rebecca stifled a snort. Good to know he was no less comical on the mortal plane than he had been in Alaxia.

He raised his arms overhead, and a streak of lightning scorched the earth in the exact spot where Azazel had been standing a moment before. Azazel had misted out of existence and was nowhere to be seen.

Raphael landed, marching toward her. “Make haste, human, before the creature returns to torment you.” He held out a hand.

Rebecca glanced down at his outstretched hand and back up at the golden-haired angel. “Aren’t you supposed to avoid demon interference as long as they aren’t inhabiting my body?”

“He is no mere demon; he is a Prince of Hell. As such, his whims upon this mortal plane are mine to govern.

Azazelhadsaid something about ruling Primoria, hadn’t he?

She looked down at Raphael’s outstretched hand again and stepped forward. Pain lanced through her middle, and she doubled over, crying out.

Raphael darted forward, catching her.

Thick dark tendrils of smoke appeared and swirled around Raphael’s neck, squeezing.

Rebecca gazed up in horror as they snaked down his body, wrapping themselves around his wings and arms.

“Azazel,” she breathed.

Smoke materialized into the shape of a man as two of the tendrils wrapped around Raphael became arms. They tightened, pressing harder.

Raphael’s skin began to gleam, the brightness intensifying, and he grew, expanding his form.

Azazel grew with him, holding fast as he banded the angel in darkness. He pressed his mouth to the angel’s ear. “She’s mine.”

Rebecca rolled her eyes. “He wasn’t trying to steal me. I was leaving.” She leveled an accusatory stare at Azazel.

“You intended to leave with him?”

Was that hurt in his voice?

“You can’t keep me prisoner.”

“I am keeping you safe.” Raphael’s brightness intensified, only to be smothered once more by Azazel’s smoke. “You believehewill keep you safer than I could?”

He was acting like a child.

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