was no way to explain how important she’d become to him, how she’d changed him, so he didn’t try. “Who knows their reasoning?”
“Then what? What happens when you lose your soul?”
“I become a monster the likes of which has never existed.” Maybe it was time to end it all. “Heaven and Hell would most likely sanction me, join together, and end me.”
“Why haven’t they done that already if they can?” Her question was a reminder of how little she understood the other realms.
“There are rules. Heaven and Hell never mix. But there would likely be an exception for me.” Maybe he should find it flattering.
“So, I’m the catalyst to bring about your death.” When she pushed up off of his lap, he let her go. She paced in front of his desk. Back and forth. Back and forth. He let her be, let her burn off her anger. She’d burst into his life, a brilliant flame, brightening it, even if only temporarily. He’d experienced more emotions in his short time with her than he had in all his years of living.
It was time to stop her from wearing a hole in the priceless Persian carpet beneath her feet. Before he could, she stopped and whirled to face him.
“If I can be the catalyst of your death, can’t I be one that might save you?”
Was this love?
Warmth swelled from the very depths of him. For a brief second, the light in him flared before receding. He might love her, or at least as much as he was able to. He didn’t truly understand the concept. It meant everything to him that she thought there was a way to save him.
And herself, the more cynical side of him pointed out. So what? She was entitled to live as much as he was. More so. He’d killed thousands both as an angel and after he’d fallen. All she’d done was to be loyal to a sister who didn’t deserve it.
“I’m past saving.” Best not to let her build up false hope, only to be disappointed.
Her gaze fierce, she slapped both hands on his desk and leaned forward. “Don’t say that.”
“It’s the truth. I told you I’d never lie.” He’d stopped lying to himself the second he’d fallen from grace and into darkness. There was no room for lies there. Reality was too brutal.
It was fascinating to watch her eyes gleam like emeralds in the light. She didn’t belong in Hell and was far too good for Heaven.
And she would betray him.
But that time had not yet come.
She shoved away from his desk and crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m not ready to give up. I didn’t think you were a quitter, either.”
Anyone else would be dead for suggesting such a thing. Maccus rose and stalked toward her, but she stood her ground, glaring at him. “I want to show you something.”
All her anger and frustration bled away, turning to confusion. “What? You change topics so fast you’re giving me a headache. You know that?”
He walked away. She’d follow. Her curiosity would allow nothing else. Sure enough, her muttered curses followed him as he went down the hallway to the full-size gym he maintained. The corners of his mouth twitched when she used a particularly inventive curse. “Demon angel,” she finally mumbled before falling silent.
After he pushed open the door, he hit the lights. Peering around him, she examined the space. “Nice.” She drew the word out, her eyes wide as she took it all in.
The walls were lined with weapons from every age in the history of mankind, but they all had something in common. They were all edged weapons. There wasn’t a gun in sight.
She strolled to the far side and ran her fingers over the hilt of a knife from biblical times. Next to it, she stroked the flat edge of one from the Bronze age.
“These are incredible.”
He grunted his approval and stripped off his shirt.
“Not that I mind the view, but what are you doing?” Her gaze ran over his shoulders