"Haven't you ever wanted so desperately you'd do anything to have it?"
That was how I wanted Ethan, but it wasn't just want. To say want almost seemed selfish — I needed him.
Just thinking about him had my heart racing. My entire body trembled with a need to just be in his arms.
"I wanted," Aziel continued, "so I took."
"And you were punished?"
"Very much so." Aziel nodded. "I can no longer fly." He shrugged. "I'm grounded with chains, and now I must watch history on repeat until the balance is restored."
"Until humans stop dying," I clarified.
"Yes."
"Is it me?" I was afraid to ask but needed to know. "Will I bring balance?"
"We could have waited to discover the truth." He ignored my question. "Better this way — to get it over with. I pushed Sariel to pursue it, though he'd deny my involvement. I smelled her on you. And I knew we needed to try."
Great. So I had two people to blame for my captivity.
"Soon." Aziel faded into the air briefly before flickering back. "Very soon now."
The sun had already set, casting a pink glow across the sky.
Ethan was out there somewhere… I wished in that moment I could communicate with him, tell him not to come for me. I didn't think it was a trap, but something in my gut told me things wouldn't end well, and I'd rather sacrifice myself than see him hurt.
I swallowed the fear.
Cassius had made sense when we'd talked earlier.
Fear was selfish. It kept me thinking about me and not about others. It kept my heart safe, because if I stayed afraid, I wouldn't risk losing.
But for Ethan? I would risk it all.
My life.
My soul.
My heart.
"So the Vampire has decided to work with the Dark One." Aziel clapped his hands together, shooting me an amused grin. "Perhaps you are worth the trouble."
Sariel walked through the door, eying Aziel briefly before making his way toward me. "They're close. Shall we begin?"
I took a step back.
"Fear?" He smiled mockingly.
"Let's try excitement."
His mocking smile faded into a real smile. "Ah, that's better."
"What?"
"I can see why my son was so enraptured with you."
"Aziel?" I guessed.