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She touched him, a gentle caress full of sadness. “Ditto,” she whispered.
The bitterness of regret and the weight of his mistakes punched him in the gut. He looked away from her and into the hard eyes of Nico.
“Take me instead,” the warrior whispered.
“It’s not that simple, my friend,” Bill said, his tone still jovial, though his eyes narrowed as he studied the other jaguar.
Nico glared at the small man, his teeth exposed as he snarled in anger. “Let’s make it that simple. I’ll do whatever you ask. Something good has to come out of this entire mess.”
Bill puckered his mouth. “I suppose—as long as I return with the two bodies I promised.” He glanced down at Julian. “Are you willing to live in limbo?” he asked, and nodded to the woman in his arms. “She is your true path to salvation and is the only thing that will keep the darkness from claiming you whole.”
Julian didn’t speak. He looked at Nico, saw the determination, and knew his sacrifice was for Jaden. Nico’s dark eyes were focused, clear. He knew what he was doing.
He turned his attention to Bill, tried to be strong, but his voice broke as he spoke. “I will never leave her.”
Bill glanced up at his brothers. “If he strays, the darkness will corrupt. I will destroy him.” The small man’s true face was revealed, only for a second, but there was no doubt his stature hid great power.
Jaden stirred in Julian’s embrace, and he knew she was weak from her wound. “Let me . . .” He let her go and stood as she stumbled toward Nico. She wrapped her arms around the warrior, but Nico hesitated, before pulling her close. She cupped his face and kissed him softly, whispering words not meant for anyone other than the jaguar.
“All right, Azaiel. It’s been a long time, old friend. Lots to catch up on.”
Azaiel stretched out his long limbs. The blood had finally stopped flowing, and his features were sharp as he nodded at Bill.
“I’m ready.”
“Where the hell is the portal?” Crane exploded.
“I am the portal.” Azaiel turned to them, his golden eye
s clear of the darkness that had bled into them earlier. “It is inside me.”
Bill clapped his hands together. “This is good. We’ve taken care of some nasty business, recovered a fallen. Good times, my friends, but it’s time to go.”
Julian looked at Nico and nodded, unable to articulate his thanks.
“I’m not doing this for you,” Nico said roughly. “Take care of her. She tends to run first without looking.”
Julian nodded and welcomed Jaden back into his embrace. Inside, the cat that had long hungered for a mate was finally at rest.
“Mr. O’Hara?” Bill nodded toward the sorcerer. “You ready?”
The sorcerer knelt by Ana’s still form. His hand grazed her pale cheek, traced the lines of her mouth, then he stood. He cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders. His eyes were still fully black, and, when he looked at Julian, he was shocked at their dead countenance.
“There’s nothing for me here.”
Bill winked at Julian, as if they were sharing a beer or a joke, then a blinding light swallowed them whole.
For several long seconds, there were no words, and Julian was content to cradle Jaden as she breathed against him. Her heart was beating like mad, and he found the rhythm intoxicating. It meant that she was alive, and, after so many months of darkness, so was he.
“You gave up peace to be with me?”
“I gave up nothing,” he replied. “In fact, I gained more than I deserve.” His mouth lowered, and he caressed her lips softly. “Nothing will part us. That’s my promise to you.”
Jaden snuggled against his chest. “That man, Bill. I’ve met him before. He was the drunk at the bar who said I’d find something of value in your penthouse. It’s why I went there, or I might never have . . .” She shook her head. “I thought he was a shifter, but he was a freaking angel.”
She looked up at him, and his heart constricted painfully. “I mean, isn’t it a sin for them to booze it up?”
Julian snorted. “I think the Seraphim have their own rules and don’t give a damn about anything else.”
