Page 64 of River of Flames

He shrugged one heavy shoulder. "Souls are not meant to be trapped in objects. Not human souls, nor angels, nor demons. Especially not for hundreds of years."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "If I'm to believe Luca's story, you're the one that trapped her there, and—wait, hundreds of years?"

Julian's expression was unreadable. "Four hundred and ninety-four."

"Four hundred and—wait." My chest hurt and it was suddenly hard to breathe. "You're trying to tell me that…Luca—Abigor—whoever he is—and you—you're hundreds of years old…and I…this is real—I have a fucking demon trapped inside me, and she's trying to kill me…and—I—" I went over a waterfall and I can't even remember it.

"Breathe. River, breathe."

Julian dropped to one knee in front of me, dark worried eyes boring into mine, and I tried to do as he said, but my breaths were coming in short, harsh gasps. My heart was thundering in my ears, and it was all too much, more than I could handle.

Strong hands wrapped around mine, firm and solid. "Breathe, River. Slowly. Look at me."

I did, panting, straining for breath. He bent his head close to mine. His face was severe, fine lines around his eyes, a faint scar tracing through one cheek and disappearing into the short hair of his beard. His dark eyes were steady, reassuring. "I'm here. You're okay."

I'm here.

I latched onto the mantra.

I'm here.

I'm still here.

Slowly, my breathing eased. My heartbeat slowed.

Julian's face was still close, his eyes searching mine. I wondered what he could see in my red gaze.

"Thank you," I whispered, when I thought I had myself under control again.

He released my hands, sat back.

"You're…not a demon," I said hesitantly, not sure if I was asking a question.

A corner of his mouth lifted, the first semblance of a smile I'd seen from him. "No," he said. "Not an angel, either. Just a human."

My brow furrowed. "But you said…”

"Yes. I know. It's complicated."

"Are you…immortal?" The word felt strange on my tongue, like a word in a language I'd never spoken before.

I half expected him to laugh, but he only continued to watch me with those unreadable eyes. "I don't know."

I didn't know what to say to that. So many questions swirled within me—how could a person not know if they were immortal? Why had Luca brought us here? What was going to happen to me? How could any of this be real?—but I was too exhausted to try to make sense of them.

"Where are Luca and Theo?" I finally managed.

"Back at the cabin, hopefully. Where I told them to stay when you took off into the woods."

"How did you know where I was going?" I asked.

He shook his head. "I didn't. I followed. I'm a good tracker, and I know these mountains." Abruptly, he rose, brushing mud from the knees of his waterlogged pants. "Can you walk?"

I took stock. I was sore, and in the daylight I would likely find bruises I didn't know I had, and my lungs hurt, but I'd stopped shivering. "I think so. Is it far?"

"Yes."

I stood as well, unwrapping his shirt from my shoulders and offering it to him.

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