from his grip.
“I realized two very important things tonight.”
He tore his confused gaze away from the locket to meet mine. “The first?”
“That I can’t have my soul back. Not yet, anyway. What’s been happening here in Trinity is bigger than me. Bigger than any of us. And now with Zach and Cassandra gone...” My voice broke. “Well, you guys need as much help as you can get. I won’t be able to access my nexus abilities if I have a soul again. I won’t be able to help you if I’m just a human.”
Bishop stared down at the gold locket as if stunned I’d give such a thing to him. “What’s the second reason you’re giving me this?”
A smile tugged at my lips and I gave him a small shrug. “I guess I’m a sucker for symbolism.”
His gaze met mine again and there were so many questions and doubts in his blue eyes, but he didn’t give voice to any of them.
“So?” I ventured when silence fell between us. “Will you take it? Will you keep it safe for me until I need it back?”
Finally, he nodded, then pulled the chain over his head, tucking the locket underneath his shirt. “I promise to take very good care of it.”
“Thank you.”
The smile he gave me then made my heart swell so much I thought my ribs might break. But it felt good. Really good.
He slid his fingers into my long, tangled hair and drew me closer so he could kiss me. Electricity shivered between us, and I swear I could see sparks, even though my eyes were closed. I felt them, that’s for sure.
It felt so good to kiss Bishop with nothing at risk except my heart.
Chapter 30
There was a demon waiting for me in my bedroom.
He reclined on my bed with his arms folded behind his head.
I froze in the doorway.
“What are you doing here?”
“Rough night, huh?” Kraven said.
“Get out of my bed.”
He grinned. “I like how that sounds. Your bed. Me in it.”
“I swear, Kraven. Don’t mess with me right now.”
He sat up and glanced around at the room. “It’s a bit frillier and pinker than I pictured for you, but not bad. I could get used to this.”
He was messing with me. I decided not to feed the troll by making any more demands or stomping my feet like a child. Instead, I stood there with my hands on my hips, glaring at him.
“Ouch. I can feel that all the way over here.” He swung his legs over the side of my bed and stood up. “Saw my little brother take off a minute ago. No sleepovers planned with your beloved? Sad, gray-girl. Very sad. Oh, wait, you’re not a gray anymore, are you? You went through stasis, though. I know that. I saw it with my own eyes. You were in bad shape. And then—boom—you’re all better.”
I spread my hands, trying my best to ignore his taunts about Bishop. “I died. I came back.”
He studied me carefully. “As what, exactly?”
“As myself. Nothing else. I feel fine.”
“Not evil?”
“No.”
“Too bad. Evil can be fun.” He moved closer to me, cocking his head as he watched me. It made me extremely uneasy about being alone with him.
I slid my hand down my right thigh so I could feel the outline of my dagger. “Don’t even think about trying to hurt me.”
He let out a quick laugh, one of surprise. “You really think I’d do that?”
“I don’t know what you’re capable of.”
“You’re right. You don’t.”
“It’s been a rough night, Kraven. I want you to leave.”
“We lost two angels tonight. Zach—I actually liked that guy.” His expression darkened. “He didn’t give me any problems. Shouldn’t have died. Then little Miss Secret Mission. She should have told us the whole truth from day one.”
“Why? Would you have helped save her?”
He didn’t reply to that. “Roth is MIA.”
“He liked her. A lot. They were falling for each other.”
“Roth’s a dick. You really think he’s capable of feeling anything for anyone?”
“I do.” I said it with certainty. I’d seen the look in his eyes when she’d been wrenched out of his arms. There was no doubt in my mind that his feelings toward her were completely real.
“And you think my brother feels the same way toward you?”
I glared at him. “It bothers you that I like him.”
“Like? Not love? Was it his love that brought you back from death?” He said it mockingly. “Do you two have a Romeo and Juliet thing going on? The