You and everyone else. I rubbed my arms and didn't say anything. A heartbeat later, the white light died and I found myself blinking at the abrupt darkness.
"You were successful?" Azriel said, then raised a hand and lightly brushed the hair from my eyes.
I nodded. "He said whatever he creates will not restrict anyone in flesh form from entering, though, so we still could be attacked."
"It wasn't so much the attack that was the problem last time, but the fact that the sorcerer used it to pert our attention from his arrival."
"Well, he can still arrive, just not via magical means." I paused. "It also means Lucian will not be blocked."
"Trust me, it will be my great pleasure to deal with him if he does attempt to take the key from us."
I eyed in him for a moment, then said, "You're hoping he does, aren't you?"
"Yes." His reply was short, sharp. Angry.
"Because you want a reason to kill him."
"Yes."
"Why? Because of me? Because he was using me?"
He didn't reply, but he really didn't need to. I could feel the answer echoing deep inside of me. I reached out and placed a hand on his leg. His muscles tensed under my touch. "You cannot kill Lucian because of me, Azriel. I don't want that guilt on top of everything else."
"The guilt would not be yours—"
"If you break reaper rules to gain revenge for the way he's treated me, then that is my problem. We've broken enough rules lately, Azriel. Let's not top it with murder."
"There are some rules worth breaking." He sheathed Valdis and crossed his arms.