Page 34 of Infernal

“Angel, did you not hear what they said?”

I stared at him, blank faced. “Yeah…I heard them say they weren’t sure about anything.”

“Here we go again,” muttered Dominic as he turned for the bar.

Apparently, he had heard something else.

“Look, no one is forcing you to be a part of this,” I said, talking to his back. "You can leave town like you wanted to, and I’ll find someplace else to crash. I can do this on my own.”

“And miss all this fun?” he said, spreading his arms wide. “That’s not my style, love.”

“Then stop making this harder on me and help me!” I was damn-near begging him for it.

“Alright, angel. I’ll help you if that’s what you want, but riddle me this,” he said as he ambled back over to where I stood. “How exactly do you plan on saving him when everyone and everything is telling you it isn’t possible?”

Both their gazes fell heavy on me as they waited for me to answer the million dollar question.

The sad truth was, I wasn’t sure how I was going to save him. I just knew that Ihadto. It wasn’t logical or practical or even something I could put into words. I had to believe there was a way to stop this—to bring him home to me safe and sound, because the alternative was that there wasn’t, and he was gone, and that was too much pain for one person to bear.

Life wouldn’t be this cruel. Not after everything I’d already given up.

“If Lucifer was able to find a way inside of him, then there has to be a way to get him out.”

It was as simple as that.

“But you heard what William said,” answered Gabriel. “He’s the Senior Magister, Jemma. He knows the Scripture inside out. If there was a way, he would know it.”

“Well, maybe we’re reading the wrong books then,” I blurted out, grasping at straws now.

“The wrong books?” Gabriel crossed his arms as he needled me with a stare. “I’m not following.”

“If the Order doesn’t know anything about the vessel, maybe The Dark Legion does.” The more I thought about it, the more I felt as though I were on to something. “They knew about the Ritual. They knew how to get Lucifer into Trace’s body, so who says they can’t—”

“Jemma, please. Do you have any idea what you’re suggesting right now?” asked Gabriel, aghast. “If the Order caught wind of this, they would—”

“They would what?” I quickly cut in, not worried in the slightest. “What would they do, Gabriel? Whatcanthey do? They can’t kill me. They can’t do anything to me…and now they need me.” I could feel the darkness, the desperation trilling under my skin, but I didn’t care. I would let it consume me from the inside out if it meant moving me closer to bringing Trace home.

He shook his head, his jaw clenched rigidly. “I can’t be a part of this. This isn’t the way it’s supposed to be.”

“Says who?” I asked, anger broiling just below the surface. “The Order? The Magister?God?”

He didn’t answer.

“What if it was someoneyouloved, huh? Would you give up so easily if it was your family? If it was Tessa?”

He seemed taken aback by my question—by my assumption. “I would do everything in my power.”

“Then why do you expect anything less from me?”

“I’m not suggesting you give up, Jemma. But I can’t support you turning to the Dark Legion for help.” His forehead creased with worry. “That’s a door that should never be opened.”

“Right. The big, bad Dark Legion. Because the Order is so righteous and holy, right?” I said tartly, making sure he didn’t miss my sarcasm. I’d seen enough from both sides to know that neither one was free of guilt.

He furrowed his brows and shook his head, apparently not appreciating my sentiment as much as I had.

“After everything I’ve been through because of them…because of what they did to me, how can you still trust them?” My question wasn’t harsh or judgmental. More than anything, I was curious.

“Because, Jemma. I have to.” His chin rose ever so slightly, as though arming himself with his self-appointed badge of honor. “I may not always agree with their methods, but I know I’m on the right side. I’m on the side of good.”

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