“Do you miss Hell?” he inquired.
“I miss the heat. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the cold of Earth, but that’s all I miss. Do you miss it?”
“Do I miss being locked behind a seal and unable to enjoy any freedom whatsoever? Only sometimes.”
I couldn’t help but smile over his sarcastic tone. “I guess there’s not much to miss there.”
He tapped his fingers on his shin while he studied me. “You’ve spent your whole life fighting, haven’t you?”
“Haven’t you?”
“I think there was a time when I didn’t fight, but I’m not sure. I always enjoyed causing problems, and many times I’d get demons riled up so I could kill them.”
He gave me a smile that revealed his dimple. I should be keeping my distance, but I was so glad to see that dimple again. However, no one should look that gorgeous while discussing how they liked to use their power to entice demons into a fight to the death.
“What?” he asked innocently. “It was fun.”
“We haveverydifferent ideas of fun.”
His gaze fell to my mouth and then my breasts. The amusement was gone from his eyes when they met mine again. “Oh, I’m sure they’re not that different.”
I gulped and resisted tugging at the collar of my shirt.
“But, unlike you, I didn’t spend my entire life fighting against something. I spent it having a good time until the varcolac ruined that.”
“What an asshole he was for trying to keep demons alive.”
His dimple returned. “I couldn’t agree more.”
I was shocked to find myself laughing. “You’re an asshole.”
“I would never argue that.”
When I realized I was flirting with him, some of my amusement vanished, and I looked nervously toward the front of the cave. “I want things to be peaceful on Earth.”
“Then what will you do with yourself?” he asked.
“I don’t know.”
I’d been fighting for so long, I didn’t know what else to do or if Icoulddo anything else. Sometimes I worried I might go a little insane without the fight, and other times I coveted one minute of security. I’d never fallen asleep without the worry something might attack and kill me before I woke. One night of knowing what that was like would be amazing.
“I’m nervous about my life without the constant fight, but I’m more scared I’ll never know a single moment of peace,” I said.
I couldn’t believe I’d admitted such a thing to him. However, until I said it, I’d never realized Ithoughtit, but as soon as the words left my mouth, I knew they were true. The idea of not having a goal scared me, but the possibility of spending the rest of my life fighting others, petrified me.
His inky black eyes studied me as if he didn’t know me, but I also saw fascination in them.
“You’re a bizarre demon, Bale,” he murmured.
“So are you, Wrath.”
I turned my attention back to the cavern and stifled a yawn. I barely slept last night, and what little sleep I got was fitful at best. As the silence stretched between us, I found it increasingly difficult to keep my eyes open.
“Go get some rest,” he said. “I’ll keep watch.”
I was about to argue with him, but I didn’t see the point. I needed sleep, and it wouldn’t do either of us any good if I were exhausted. Resting my hands on the ground, I pushed myself up.
“Wake me in a little bit, and I’ll take over,” I told him.
