Are we simply the same as the angels, in different locations, and different surroundings?
The concept had never occurred to me before, but perhaps it was true. Neither side coveted what the other had. I couldn’t care less about ever seeing the fluffy clouds of Heaven, if there were clouds up there, just as I was sure they wouldn’t give a shit about the fiery pits that had given birth to me.
Though I was sure the new situation the humans had thrust upon Hell and Earth had all the angels in a fit. The planes had been upended, and the existence of all our species hung in the balance after all. If we lost, the balance would be forever altered, the flow of souls changed. Demons and angels alike would die as angels thrived on the purity of a soul as much as we thrived on its impurity. The flow had to remain consistent to sustain us all. We needed the human race.
How our fates became hinged on the shoulders of the dumbest and greediest of all our species was beyond me, but it was.
I stared at River as she ate her sandwich and watched the sunset over my shoulder. No, our species could hinge onher. And I believed she was someone who could do anything she set her mind to. I believed she was capable of far more than she realized.
One thing was for sure, no matter what she feared, she was nothing like her father. She never could be. I could sense the purity of her soul, the warmth she radiated from her. Lucifer was none of those things. I couldn’t imagine going back to a life without her. The prospect was so barren and bleak that for the first time in my life, I actually felt hollow inside.
Turning, I glanced at Bale who was watching us both from under her bright red lashes. Her gaze slid from River to me and back again. “Will I see you tonight?” Bale asked me.
River froze with her apple halfway to her mouth. “Perhaps,” I replied.
Bale bowed her head before turning and walking away. River bit into her apple before focusing on the sunset again. She didn’t speak, but a line marred her forehead.
“We’ll work on having you draw on the pulse of life again tomorrow,” I told her as I settled beside her on the grass.
“I had no doubt,” she muttered. “But if you don’t know how to bring it out and neither do I, it could prove to be useless.”
“We’ll return to your regular training tomorrow too, just in case, and we’ll add this in at another time.”
Her eyes flashed when they slid to me. “Where will we add it in?”
“In the morning, before you eat.”
“Who needs sleep?”
Sensing she didn’t expect an answer to her question, I didn’t respond. I stared down at her hand in the grass; it was so much smaller than mine and tanned a golden hue on the back with the delicate bones visible. I could easily recall the feel of them when they had run over my shoulders and back.
I’d never be able to forget the vision of those beautiful sparks shooting from them, illuminating her eyes with an inner glow. I’d been nearly certain she was Lucifer’s daughter before then, but I hadn’t expected this depth of power from her. Nor had I expected the gut reaction I’d had to the beauty of those sparks and the look of joy that had suffused her face.
I wanted that light, even if it could blast me onto my ass and possibly kill me, if she ever learned to use it well.
Placing my hand on the ground to push myself to my feet, my fingers brushed over hers. A single spark shot from her, seeking me out. It had always been rumored the life force was the most lethal weapon an angel had, but I felt no pain from it as warmth flashed over my hand and through me.
I looked at her, but she was so focused on the sunset she hadn’t noticed the small spark between us. Rising to my feet, I walked away from her and toward the hill overlooking the wall and town below as I tried to gather my scattered thoughts.
I couldn’t have her, but I couldn’t stay away from her either. A return to the fire tonight was exactly what I needed to get my mind off of her.
CHAPTER 29
River
My eyes fluttered open before closing again. Grabbing my pillow, I dragged it over my head and rolled to the side to try to block out the noise. After barely getting any sleep last night, and the demanding day of dealing with Kobal and his endless training, I’d passed out as soon as my head hit the pillow, and now he was doing something over there…
Whatishe doing?
I lifted the corner of the pillow off my ear to hear what was going on. Was that a moan? No, it was definitely a groan, maybe? I buried my head under my pillow again, determined not to care what was going on over there, but I found myself pulling the pillow back again.
I had never heard anything from the main part of the tent before at night. My hands clamped around the pillow as something clattered against the table. I listened to it rolling across the solid surface before the sound ended abruptly. It must have fallen off, or maybe he’d caught whatever it was. It had sounded like one of his goblets. Was he over there getting drunk?
Fan-freaking-tastic, I’d have a hungover, dissatisfied demon to deal with tomorrow. Could things get any worse?
They could, I knew they could, but I still didn’t want to have to deal with it. Something knocked against something else. With a sigh, I threw the sheets and blanket aside and sat up on the edge of the bed. I didn’t know what I was thinking, the last thing I needed to contend with was a drunken demon, but I would never get back to sleep with him staggering around over there doing whatever he was doing.
Rising to my feet, I walked over to the flap, pulled the buttons apart, and stepped into the main tent. At first I didn’t see him as my eyes immediately went to the lantern burning on the table beside the large cot he’d set up in the tent. Then a flash of motion to my right caught my attention. I took a step forward and froze when I spotted him.
