Page 90 of Saints & Sinners

My grip tightened around her waist. I thought about keeping what I had found out to myself, but it was impossible with her around. “He was sentenced today by the Council.”

The air between us stilled, and her small hands holding onto me fell.

“Sentenced?” she whispered.

I nodded; regretting having said it in the first place. “Yeah. Something like that... they don’t keep them alive for long.”

Her gaze dropped and I hated the sadness that clouded her face.

Pulling her closer, I shook my head. “I’m sorry.”

She sighed and closed her eyes. She’d hoped for another answer. I’d hoped for a moment when I didn’t have to disappoint her.

“Do you...” she said after a beat. “Do you think about what we’redoing? Sneaking around behind Celestials’ backs, breaking every rule, they’ve set? If Joe found out, he’d—”

“Kill me?” I finished with a wry smile. She glowered.

“This is serious.” She huffed, pushing me away with her elbows. “Do you regret any of it? Are we any better than that...demon?”

I regretted a lot of things in my life. For the first time, this wasn’t one of them. “No,” I said firmly. “Not a damn thing. Do you?”

Her eyes met mine. Wide and innocent as always. “No.”

I nodded, trying to push away the sinking feeling in my chest as she said that. Moments like this were borrowed time, and deep down, I could feel the clock ticking. Whatever we were would eventually come to an end, and I would end up losing in every scenario possible.

But for now, I pulled her toward me and kissed her again like she was the only real thing in this fucked-up world.

Chapter Forty-Four

I wasn’t used to getting gifts.

Not in the way Grace Martin had just handed me a package with an expectant face, like she was waiting for me to either hate it or have a life-altering epiphany over a piece of cardboard.

“Go on,” she said, “open it.”

I eyed the package suspiciously, sitting on the edge of my bed. “Is it a pair of handcuffs?”

Grace rolled her eyes, but her lips twitched in amusement. “Just open it.”

Sighing, I tore off the brown paper, revealing a small box. When I flipped open the lid, I went still.

A toy model of a ‘67 Mustang sat neatly inside, a sleek black finish with silver details. My chest tightened slightly.

I had mentioned—once—that night we went to the Riftkeeper’s, how if I could, I would drive this very car in the future, as far as possible from this place. She remembered. No matter how stupid the idea was.

I lifted the tiny car out of the box, rolling the wheels between my fingers. It was ridiculous. Completely pointless. And yet...

“I know it’s not the real thing but think of it as a step closer to your future,” she started rambling like she always did when shewas nervous. “I thought you’d like it, but if you don’t, I can throw it away, or I can—”

“Come here,” I murmured, and Grace blinked, her breath hitching slightly as I set the car aside and grabbed her waist, yanking her onto my lap.

She gasped, hands landing on my shoulders for balance. “That’s a strong reaction to a toy car.”

“Mm.” I smirked, tracing my fingers along her spine. “Guess you just know how to get me at your feet willingly.”

I crashed my mouth to hers, swallowing the small gasp she let out. Her fingers curled into my chest as I deepened the kiss, dragging her closer until there was no space left between us.

This girl was ruining me. And I was letting her.

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