Eliza turned fully in her seat, her eyes sharp.“Oh, hell no,” she said firmly.“This isourproblem now too.This isourhome.And we’ll fight, even die, to protect it.”
Huh, guess not.
Her words hung in the air.I truly didn’t know what to say.Part of me wanted to push back, to tell her that she didn’t understand, that this was more dangerous than she could imagine.But the determination in her eyes was unmistakable, and I knew arguing was pointless.I wasn’t going to convince them to walk away—not now.
I looked at Mason, who gave me a small nod.“We’re in this together,” he said.“No matter what comes through that portal.You can’t continue guarding it day in and day out.We can help with that.Eliza has contacts with the merc guild.And I know people too.We canhelp, Lily.You just need to trust us.”
Ah, my least favourite words.But it seemed I didn’t have a choice in this matter.And honestly, I was willing to say anything if it got me out of this car and upstairs, where I could take a look at Rathiel’s wounds.
“Fine,” I bit out.“But I would like it stated for the record that I’m against this.”
“Noted,” Eliza said, smiling.
I nodded once, then reached for the door handle.“Alright.I need to get Rathiel inside before he passes out.We can figure out our next steps once we’ve all had some sleep.”
Eliza bowed her head with a mocking smile.“You got it, Princess.”
Oh, I was going to regret this.Grumbling under my breath, I reached for the door handle and stepped out before helping Rathiel.He wound an arm around my shoulder and staggered up against the side of the car.
“You got this?”Mason asked.“I can help get him upstairs.”
“We’re fine,” I replied, shutting the car door.
Eliza peered at me through her open window.“You sure you can handle him?”
“We’re good.Get going.”
I repositioned Rathiel’s weight, then hauled him toward the apartment door.Once there, I paused to watch Eliza and Mason drive off.Relief had me blowing out a breath.No more awkward FAQs—at least, for a little while.I could only imagine the questions they’d come up with next.But for now, Rathiel and I were alone.
I pulled him inside the apartment complex, then froze.Somehow, I’d forgotten that I burned everything.And no keys meant no building access.
I cursed quietly.Without my keys, we’d have to wait for someone to open the door, and at this hour, I wasn’t sure how long it would take.A quick glance at the time revealed that it was nearly four in the morning.
“Fuck it,” I grumbled.
I braced Rathiel against the wall, then grabbed the door handle and gave a sharp pull, one that broke the deadlock and allowed me to open the door.One hurdle down.I grabbed Rathiel and eased him into the hallway, then toward the elevator.Three floors later, we stood outside my apartment door, which also needed keys.I could also break this one down, but I’d prefer not to.So instead, I leaned forward and rested my forehead against the door.
“Vol,” I murmured, hoping the little imp heard me.“Now would be a superb time for some help.Can you unlock the door, please?”
The only response was silence.I cursed under my breath and was considering other options when a loudclickechoed through the hallway.I grabbed the doorknob and gave it a twist, relief untwisting my stomach when the door opened.
Vol stood in the middle of the room, a triumphant grin on his wrinkly little face.I gave him a quick smile, then dragged Rathiel inside to the couch.
“Here, lay down,” I urged, helping him lower himself onto the cushions.He fell forward with a grunt, his face twisted with pain.I quickly knelt beside him and lifted his shirt to get a better look at the wounds.
His blood-soaked shirt clung to him like a second skin, but below were a series of four gashes where the vampire’s claws had ripped through his flesh.I couldn’t see the bone anymore, nor was he bleeding profusely, so the wounds were healing, but they hadn’t healed enough for my liking.Rathiel wasn’t a true celestial anymore, thanks to Lucifer’s meddling, but he should have been healing faster than this.I would have.
Celestials were a difficult lot to kill.I knew that from my own personal experience.I also knew a wound like this should heal in under an hour.
Well, it’d been two hours since the attack.And in that time, Rathiel had barely improved.Definitely cause for concern.
While studying Rathiel’s injuries, a small head popped up next to me.Vol’s eyes widened, though he quickly masked it with a smirk.“What happened to him?He looks like he’s been through a meat grinder,” he commented.
“Vol, not now,” I snapped.
“Go away, imp,” Rathiel growled, his voice tight with pain, though his glare lacked its usual intensity.At least he’d finally spoken.I was beginning to worry.
Vol raised his hands in mock surrender, though the grin on his face remained.“Hey, just trying to lighten the mood.You’re looking a little worse for wear, that’s all.”
