Page 37 of Premonition of Peace

As she turned to gather her supplies, I felt a strange mix of relief and terror wash over me. This was it.

There was no turning back now.

thirteen

LUCIFER

New Chicago wascold and brisk as I walked with my hands in my pockets down the street. I had just managed to extract myself from Not-Sasha’s relentless clutches after what could only be described as the single most exasperating hour of my existence.

The woman’s incessant need for physical proximity and her probing questions had tested every ounce of my patience, but I did as my little witch had asked. I didn’t make it worse. I only intervened when I overheard Not-Sasha tell her sister that they should find Nat for something “business related” so they could meet up, insisting they call her. My presence did as expected. I was a distraction. Not-Sasha’s interest in Nathalie suddenly gone.

I had barely managed to slip away when Nathalie’s text had come through, letting me know that she was on her way home. I’d found an excuse to get out of it, and Sienna played into it well.

I could have simply moved through the veil to get back to Nathalie’s apartment, but I needed the time to clear my head.I didn’t get much of a chance when a sudden, sharp pang of distress sliced through me.

It was so intense that I stumbled for a moment, gripping the nearest lamppost for support. My breath hitched, and my heart pounded with a fierce urgency. The sensation wasn’t mine and I knew that as certainly as I knew whose it was—Nathalie was in trouble.

My instincts screamed at me to protect Nathalie, to tear apart anyone who dared to harm her.

Without a second thought, I plunged into the veil, the familiar swirl of energy enveloping me as I blinked out of existence and reappeared at Nathalie’s apartment. I knew instantly that she wasn’t inside the apartment, but was in the building, meaning she had to be with Señora. Flashing out and back in again, I found myself in Señora’s side room, a bright light glaring where a large table stood.

My eyes were immediately drawn to the sight of Nathalie lying on the operating table, her face smeared with blood. The air was thick with tension, and I could feel it knotting in my stomach. Standing over her was Señora, her hands were steady as she held a scalpel. I was seized by an overwhelming surge of rage, fear, and confusion. Señora’s calm, unperturbed gaze met mine, and I registered the gleaming gold object she held in her other hand.

“Hold the Eye.”

Her words pierced through my emotional turmoil, and for a moment, I stood frozen. My primal urge to protect what was mine was tempered by the reality that was slowly sinking in. Without question, this was Nathalie’s plan. Yet another thing I was left out of. I clenched my fists, feeling the sharp bite of my claws digging into my palms as I fought to steady myself.

Taking a deep breath, I extended my hand, accepting the Eye.

The rhythmic tapping of my fingers on the armrest of the chair was the only sound in Nathalie’s bedroom as I sat by her. The room was dimly lit, with only the faint glow from the city filtering through the curtains. Nathalie had been out for hours, and I tried not to let that worry me. It was hard considering the old witch downstairs couldn’t even give me an estimate for how long a magical eye surgery took to heal from.

My little witch had rushed headlong into danger, determined to save the world as always. She’d told no one else, of course. Why would she seek help from the people who cared for her? She was the most infuriating, stubborn, and wonderful person I had ever known.

And she was mine.

I pulled a seat into the operating room, and I watched the Señora work for over two hours. Afterwards, I helped the witch clean Nathalie up and clear out the space. I moved her body upstairs to her own bed, changing her into comfortable sleepwear. I had a cup of tea in my hands, being warmed every few minutes by magic flowing from my palms. I had a cool compress laying over Nathalie’s closed eyes.

And now my job was sitting. Sitting and waiting and watching as she lay there unconscious. Just sit and go mad with the feeling of helplessness. I stared down at her in frustration.

She didn’t know how deeply she’d ensnared me, how her every action, every glance, every breath pulled me deeper into her orbit. It wasn’t just about the bond we shared as familiar and witch; it was more. It was everything. And it was terrifying.

Demons don’t feel love, not in the way humans do. We’re not built for it. Our emotions are twisted, dark, and driven bydesire, possession, and power. But what I felt for Nathalie was an all-consuming need to make her mine, to be claimed by her in return. It was the closest thing to love a demon could experience; this relentless hunger that gnawed at my insides constantly.

When would I be trusted enough to be included in her plans before they happened? Was I truly so reckless that she felt she couldn’t trust me with anything?

I supposed yes, considering a large part of me wanted to storm into Sasha’s home and rip her apart myself. Of course that would result in Real-Sasha’s death, which I knew was what we were all trying to avoid.

The memory of finding Nathalie, her face pale and bloodied, would likely haunt me forever. The raw, primal fear that had gripped me in that moment was unlike anything I had ever felt. It was a reminder of my own vulnerability; of how much I stood to lose. And I hated it. I hated feeling so powerless, so out of control.

But for Nathalie, I would endure it. I would endure anything.

I watched her chest rise and fall with each breath, my eyes tracing the delicate lines of her face. She looked so peaceful, so fragile. And yet, I knew better. Nathalie was stronger than anyone gave her credit for. She was brave, determined, and fiercely independent. It was one of the things I loved most about her.

I reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face, my fingers lingering for a moment on her soft skin. “You’re not alone in this, little witch,” I murmured, though I knew she couldn’t hear me. “I am with you. Always.”

As the night wore on, I continued to sit by her side, until finally, as the sun set and night came, Nathalie finally stirred.

She made a soft moaning sound in her sleep, and I leaned forward watching her shift. Her body twitched as she returned to consciousness. A groan fell from her lips as she put her handto the cool compress on her eyes. I leaned forward, my heart pounding.

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