Page 91 of Infernal

The sad truth was, I wasn’t normal, and I never would be, no matter how much I wanted it. I was a Slayer, and my only purpose in this world was to hunt monsters on the fringe of society, in the shadows—where I belonged. Every one of my friends were better off without me, and the sooner I accepted that, the safer everyone around me would be.

Realizing that was the easy part. Figuring out how to rectify everything was a whole different story. I had to find a way to bring Taylor home, and I had to send Lucifer back to where he belonged.

The Order had said it.

Tessa said it.

Hell, even Trace had said it.

They were all just waiting for me to hear it.

Unfortunately, I still couldn’t fathom using the sword on Trace…but maybe there was another way? Maybe I could make a deal with him—with Lucifer. One that would save Taylor and put Lucifer back in the place he belonged.

Put me where I belonged…

“I have to go to All Saints,” I said as I tried to lift myself off his bed, but he quickly pushed me back down.

“We will.” He brushed a piece of hair from my forehead. “After you’ve calmed down.”

“I’m calm,” I lied, ignoring thewepart. This was my fight, and I was fighting it alone.

He arched his eyebrow at me, knowing I was lying through my teeth.

“What? I’m calm, okay?!” I said as I pushed up on my elbows, bringing my face dangerously close to his. “See? Calm as a snail. Can I please go now?”

“No, you cannot,” he said with finality. “I can feel your emotions, angel, and they’re all over the place. The last thing you need is a storm in that pretty head of yours, particularly when you’re planning on facing off with the king of Hell.”

My body stiffened at his words.

When he put it that way, I probably could use a few minutes to simmer down.

“Fine.” Begrudgingly, I lay myself back down and pushed out an antsy breath of air as I tried to come up with some sort of plan to ditch him. There was no way I was letting Dominic anywhere close to that building. He would try to interfere, and that was if he even made it through the door alive.

“Now, while we’re waiting, would you mind telling me what you think you’re going to accomplish by going there?” he asked, pulling back for a better view as he sat beside me. “We both know you have no consort to speak of.”

“I haven’t really gotten that far in my plan yet.”

He quirked a doubtful eyebrow at me.

“Okay, so I don’t have a plan,” I admitted. Well, none that involved anything other than barging into All Saints and begging him for his mercy. “It’s not like I have an infinite number of options here, Dominic. He wants Arianna back for Taylor, and Arianna is dead. So…” I broke away from his gaze. “I’m going to give him the next best thing.”

“Why am I getting the feeling I’m not going to like this?”

His jaw muscle feathered as I quickly pushed myself up from the bed and crossed my legs so that I was sitting face to face with him.

“Lucifer told me something the day he took me to Trace’s cabin. He said I wasn’t meant for this world, that I was meant to be beside him…in the underworld.” Just saying the words out loud sent an icy chill skittering down my back.

“Care to explain why I’m only hearing about this conversation now?” he asked, his tone clipped.

“Because…it didn’t matter then. I wasn’t planning on goingthen,” I said as though it were so obvious. “But he was right, and I see that now. If I agree to go with him, he might be willing to spare Taylor, and that would be good enough for me. Everyone around here is better off without me anyway—”

“Angel—”

“And maybe this way, I could keep him contained, you know? Keep him away from everyone else—”

“ANGEL! ENOUGH.”

My plea died at the back of my throat. I had never heard Dominic shout before, and frankly, it stunned me silent.

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