Page 71 of Infernal

Thank God for accelerating healing.

“So, now what?” asked Nikki with her hands plastered back on her hips. “How are we supposed to get to Weston with Sir-Bakes-A-Lot?”

Dominic scowled at her.

“Nothing’s changed. We’ll just take your car,” I said to her and then turned back to Dominic. “Don’t leave the hotel. I’ll meet you back here in an hour.”

I started to turn on my heel, but he promptly grabbed my elbow and hauled me back.

“You don’t actually think you’re going there without me, do you?”

I pulled my wrist free and glared at him. “I’m perfectly capable of getting myself there without you.”

“It’s not the navigational part I’m worried about,” he said and leaned closer. “You’re walking into a trap, angel, and I’ll be damned if I let you do that alone.”

“I’m aware of how much of a bad idea this is, Dominic, but what choice do I have? There’s hundreds of innocent people there. Myfriendsincluded. I’m not just going to hide out in a hotel and leave them all to his mercy.”

“Why not?” he asked, completely serious.

“Because I—look, this isn’t up for debate. I’m going!” I took half a step before he grabbed my hand again and held it, though this time, he didn’t say anything.

My gaze lifted from where he was holding me to his eyes, and I faltered.

There was so much worry swirling in them, so much fear. I’d never seen that kind of emotion from him before and certainly never so blatantly aimed atme.

Realizing what this was really about, I closed the gap between us and then lifted on my toes so that I could whisper in his ear. “I promise I’m coming back. I have the Amulet. Just trust me.” I tried to pull back to read his eyes, to see if the fear had left them, but he quickly slinked his arm around my waist and held me there against him in a sweet embrace.

“Don’t make me walk out into the sun to come find you, angel,” he warned, his voice a quiet whisper against my ear. “Because I will,” he said and then released me from his hold.

Hearing his message loud and clear, I smiled at him once more and then walked out of the hotel lobby with Nikki freaking Parker by my side.

25. DEVIL IN THE DETAILS

A cold chill crept down my spine as Nikki and I walked through the front doors of Weston Academy. The hallways were brimming with students, laughing and chattering without a care in the world, completely clueless to the fact that they were currently occupying the same building as the Devil himself. This could very well be the last day of their lives for all they knew, and not a single one of them could be bothered to look up from whatever it was they were doing.

I had no idea what Lucifer was doing here in my school, but I imagined it was nothing good. An intense feeling of foreboding slipped under my skin as I turned the corner. The building was filled with innocent, unsuspecting kids, and Lucifer knew that. This really was the perfect place to cause a whole lot of devastation.

“We need to figure out a way to get all these people out of here,” I said to Nikki as we stalked the hallways.

“Well, don’t look at me. I need time to prepare for a spell like that,” she said sounding a tad bit defensive.

“Cover me,” I said and then cut in front of her. Plastering my back against the wall, I motioned for her to come and stand in front of me. “Just pretend you’re talking to me.”

“And what exactly would you like me to say?” she said and crossed her arms over the chest. “Maybe I should start with how ridiculous we look standing here pretending to talk when we’re supposed to be finding Lucifer.”

“Yeah, sure. Totally,” I said, and scanned the area around us. When I was sure no one was looking at us, I took a sideways step and then yanked down the red lever that sounded the fire alarm.

The blaring bell blasted throughout the school, causing the students and teachers to rush frantically towards the exits.

“Nice one.” Nikki nodded her approval, looking as though she were actually impressed. “Now what?”

“Now you go outside with everyone else and I find Lucifer.”

“By yourself?” She arched an eyebrow at me.

“It’s what he wants,” I said, and while I had no actual proof that that was the case, I felt it in the pit of my stomach.

“Fine by me. Just make sure you come back in one piece,” she said and took a step back. “You know, for Trace’s sake.”

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