Chapter 21 The Almost Kiss
MIREYA'S POV
Twelve demons materialize in our cathedral courtyard, and I'm ready to fight every single one of them.
My shadows coil around me like living snakes. The soul mark on my chest burns hot, feeding me power. After watching Nyx touch Azraeth like she owned him, I'm in the mood to hurt something.
"Stand down," Azraeth commands, his hand on my shoulder. Through the bond, I feel his calm—and his pride in my readiness to defend us.
The lead demon steps forward—a massive male with horns like a crown and scars covering his arms. He drops to one knee.
"My king. We've come to pledge our service."
I blink. "Wait, what?"
"You're alive," the demon continues, his voice rough with emotion. "After five hundred years, you're free. We felt your power return. We've been hiding, waiting, hoping. Command us, and we'll follow."
One by one, the other demons kneel. Warriors, mages, even two who look barely older than teenagers. All of them desperate and hopeful and looking at Azraeth like he's their salvation.
Through the bond, I feel his shock. He wasn't expecting loyalty. He was expecting attacks.
"Rise," he says quietly. "All of you. You don't need to kneel."
"But you're our king," a female demon says. "You protected us during the purge. Saved those who couldn't fight. We owe you everything."
This is news to me. The history books never mentioned Azraeth protecting anyone. They called him a tyrant, a monster, a destroyer.
More lies. Just like everything else.
"We need to organize them," Nyx says, appearing beside us. "Assign quarters, establish patrol schedules, figure out who's actually useful in a fight—"
"I'll help," I offer.
Nyx looks at me like I suggested something ridiculous. "Sweetling, you barely know how to use your own power. Maybe let those of us with actual experience handle—"
"She handles it." Azraeth's voice is absolute. "Mireya's my second. My partner. Anyone who has a problem with that can leave."
The demons exchange glances but nod acceptance. Nyx rolls her eyes but doesn't argue further.
We spend three hours getting everyone settled. The cathedral's bigger than I thought—plenty of rooms for refugees. Some demons cry when they see their quarters, like they haven't had a safe place to sleep in centuries.
It breaks my heart. Makes me angrier at the angels who caused this. At Kieran who wants to trap Azraeth again. At everyone who ever called demons monsters while hunting them like animals.
By the time we're finished, I'm exhausted. My power's drained from using so much demon magic to help establish wards and protection spells.
Azraeth finds me in the courtyard, sitting on the fountain edge. The stars are out, making the water sparkle.
"You did well today," he says, settling beside me.
"I almost attacked your own allies because I was jealous of Nyx."
"Key word: almost." His smile is slight but genuine. "You controlled yourself. That's growth."
I study his profile in the moonlight. Strong jaw, sharp cheekbones, those golden eyes that see straight through every wall I've ever built. He's beautiful in a dangerous way, and I'm so stupidly in love with him it hurts.
"Why did you tell Nyx you loved me?" I ask quietly.
He's silent for a long moment. "Because it's true. And because I'm tired of pretending it's not."
My heart hammers. "You said I'm nothing like Morwenna."
"You're not. She was gentle. Patient. Everything soft and good." He turns to face me fully. "You're rage and fire and chaos. You fight back. You refuse to break even when the world tries to crush you. You're exactly what I need, Mireya. Not what I had before—what I need NOW."
The soul mark pulses between us, hot and demanding. I want to kiss him so badly I can barely breathe.
"We should train," he says abruptly, standing. "Your defensive magic needs work."
"Now? It's midnight."
"Best time. Enemies don't attack on schedule."
He's deflecting. Scared of what might happen if we stay here, alone, with the bond singing between us. But fine. I can deflect too.
We move to the open courtyard. He starts teaching me combat stances, correcting my posture. His hands land on my hips, adjusting my position.
"Wider stance. You're too easy to knock over."
I shift my feet. His chest presses against my back as he guides my arms into a defensive position. I can feel every muscle, every breath. His warmth seeps into me.
"Like this?" My voice comes out breathier than intended.
"Yes." His breath tickles my neck. "Now when someone attacks from behind—"
I turn in his arms before thinking it through. Suddenly we're face to face, inches apart, his hands still on my waist.
Those golden eyes drop to my lips. Heat floods through the bond—his desire matching mine.
"Mireya," he breathes, and it sounds like a prayer and a warning.
I lean up slightly. He leans down. We're a breath away from kissing, the soul mark burning so hot it's almost painful—
A demon crashes through the courtyard entrance, wild-eyed and bleeding.
"My king! The sanctuary on Fifth Street—the Celestial Guard found it! They're attacking right now. Twenty refugees trapped inside, including children!"
Azraeth and I spring apart, the moment shattered.
"How many guards?" he demands.
"At least thirty. Maybe more coming. They've got Seraphina with them."
My blood turns cold. Seraphina. The archangel who killed Morwenna. Who's been hunting us since the beginning.
Through the bond, I feel Azraeth's fury and his fear—not for himself, but for the refugees. For me.
"We evacuate now," he says. "Gather everyone who can fight."
"I'm coming with you," I say.
"Mireya—"
"Those are OUR people. I'm not hiding while you risk your life."
He looks like he wants to argue, but there's no time. We can already hear the distant sounds of battle—screams and explosions.
We shadow-walk to Fifth Street with Nyx and six warrior demons. The sanctuary's in flames. Angel guards surround it, their holy weapons glowing.
And standing in front, beautiful and terrible, is Seraphina with her star-metal blade drawn.
She smiles when she sees us. "There you are. I was hoping you'd come."
That's when I realize—this isn't a random discovery.
It's a trap. And we just walked right into it.