Page 111 of Demons & Damnation

But it wasn’t just that.

He was her demi-soul. Was death really preferable to him than being with her? A small whisper in the back of her mind told her she had her answer to her mess with choosing between Dylan and Azazel. However, even though he willingly wanted death, she didn’t like it.

She wanted him alive.

She needed him alive.

“Kyla,” Lily said, rubbing a hand over her granddaughter’s back. “Are you ok?”

Kyla sucked in a deep breath and looked up, straight at Azazel. Her decision was made. She held out her left hand, palm up, and motioned with her fingers for him to pass something. “Give me the damn rose.”

Azazel froze. He hadn’t been expecting that. A fizz of adrenaline shot through his veins. Was this it? His death? Would it hurt or would he go peacefully? Would Lucifer take his soul, or would he just float around in nothingness for all eternity?

“Kyla...” Dylan said, his voice all but a hiss. “What are you doing?”

She met Dylan’s eyes, nothing but determination rolling off her in waves. “I can’t live with this going around and around in my head until frickin’ June, Dylan. I want it over with now. Short, sharp, done. That’s it.”

Balthazar glanced at Azazel, a wry smile playing on his lips. “I told you you’d met your match, didn’t I?”

Azazel took a gulp of his tea, reached over for a chocolate cupcake, peeled the wrapper off and stuffed it in his mouth in one go.

As everyone watched him chew, in silence, Kyla knew her decision already. She had this.

Finishing his mouthful, Azazel stood up, his chair scraping back against the kitchen floor. Pulling a thorny red rose from his back pocket, he held it between his thumb and forefinger. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”

Kyla rolled her eyes. “Don’t second guess me. Give it here.”

“Very well.” He glanced at Balthazar and smiled. “See you on the other side, brother. It’s been a pleasure.”

Chapter 45

As Azazel reached across the table, offering Kyla the rose, she snatched it from him, impatient to get this over and done with.

Wrapping her hand around the stem, several of the thorns pricked her skin, drawing blood. She gasped, looking up at Azazel.

The second their eyes connected, their whole world shifted entirely.

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