Page 78 of Demon Hunger
He doesn’t deserve to win, some stupid part of my brain decided.
Without thinking, I dropped Drevan’s hand, rose to my feet, and aimed a hand backward, exactly toward the spot where I’d last seen Blazebringer. Using the bulk of my telekinetic power, I jerked the weapon forward. A split second later, The Brave Hunter’s Quellerzippedright over my shoulder, flying faster than a bullet, and rooted itself in Jophiel’s throat.
The angel’s eyes grew wide as he froze, with Sage’s sword held high in one hand. A gurgling sound began in his throat, and he dropped the weapon, grabbing at his neck with both hands. For a short moment, I watched ichor spill through his fingers. He stumbled like a drunkard, eyes rolling backward. I felt nothing but indifference and collapsed back to my knees at Drevan’s side.
Crying, I buried my face in his chest.
It wasn’t fair. None of this was fair.
“I can’t live without you. Please take me with you.” I gasped for breath and, too late, told him what I’d known for a long time. “Drevan, I love you. I love you.”
There was a thud, which I assumed was the angel collapsing to the floor, then deep silence fell over the remnants of the destruction.
As I cried over Drevan’s body, he seemed to tremble slightly, then the bulk of his shape shrank under me. Sucking in a sharp inhale, I lifted up my head and noticed that his demon semblance had disappeared and had been replaced by his human one.
There he lay, my beautiful Drevan, his raven hair mussed, his face streaked with golden blood. The sight of him made my heart ache more fiercely. I interlaced my hand with his and kissed his long fingers. It seemed in death the curse they’d laid on him had disappeared. He looked human even through my Truesight.
The lash rested limply around his forearm, its fire seemingly dead. Angrily, I clawed it away and threw it aside. Next, I pulled the dagger from his chest and also discarded it. When that was done, I wiped his face clean with the sleeve of my hoodie.
I was sobbing, trying to make him perfect again, hoping to erase any trace of the violence perpetrated on him. But it was impossible. His shirt was stained, and I couldn’t clean that. It was ruined. He would hate it. He was always so impeccable. I resisted the urge to tear it off him.
I grabbed his hand again and hung my head, a stuttering sob racking my body.
His fingers moved in my hand. My attention snapped up, and I stared at his face, squeezing his hand back. Had I imagined that? Was I going crazy?
“Drevan?” I leaned closer and placed my free hand on his cheek.
Cold.
The heat that always emanated from his body was gone. I despaired, feeling my sanity teetering on the brink.
Another twitch from his hand.
This time I glanced at it intently, then I saw his index finger move.
He wasn’t dead. Somehow he’d survived.Oh, witchlights!I needed to take him to my sister. She would heal him the way she’d done before. I pressed a hand to his face again and leaned closer.
“Drevan, wake up. You have to transport us out of here. Please, please, wake up!”
He gave no sign of hearing me. I started to get up—Khargon could take us. I had to find her—but Drevan’s hand tightened around mine, stopping me.
When my eyes stared back into his face, I found his golden gaze locked on mine. He gave me a gentle smile as a tear slid down the corner of his eye.
“You have to take us to Dani!” I begged.
He blinked slowly, and I could tell from a slight tightening of his mouth that he wasn’t even going to attempt it.
“Please, you have to try,” I begged again. “I can’t lose you.”
“Y-you won’t,” he said in a raspy voice.
The sound of his voice surprised me. I thought he didn’t have enough strength to talk, but what was he saying?
“You… love… me.” His words carried conviction as if he’d heard me say them, but he’d been… dead.
“I do.” I nodded.
Maybe he only needed to hear it before the last of his strength was gone, and I would not deny him that.
