Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 66383 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66383 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
I miss Max.
And even though I know it’s a york standing on the other side of that barrier, it doesn’t mean that my heart rate doesn’t pick up at the mere sight of him. He looks exactly as I remember. Even when he smiles at me, it’s soft, and I know it’s just for me. I want to reach out, but an arm wraps around my waist and pulls me back. When I turn, I see the real Grim standing tall amongst the frozen wolves and witches. He doesn’t smile or even speak.
I raise my hands, and before I know it, they are smacking his chest, hitting him over and over again. He lets me, not bothering to move as I strike him.
I hate him.
I hate that he just left me there to deal with everything.
It’s unfair and simply not right.
“Max told me to tell you something.”
My hands pause at his words. “What?”
“I took Max, little fighter. You would have known that.” He reaches out and wipes away a tear I didn’t know had fallen.
“You saw him?” I ask on a choked breath.
“Yes.” He nods, and then he drops to his knees in front of me, leaning forward until his head rests against my stomach. I’m so confused, but my hand lifts and lands in his hair, stroking through it. “I’m sorry for your loss. Your pain screams at me.”
I pause the movement of my fingers sifting through his locks. “It does? Then why didn’t you come sooner? It’s been weeks since his death.” The last word physically hurts as it leaves my mouth.
He remains where he is, head pressed against me. This is a new side of Grim I have never experienced, and I don’t know how to feel about it all.
“I didn’t expect to see this.” I turn to the sound of that voice and see Lucifer with his black wings extended wide behind his back. His eyes lock on me. “You are in love with Death.” Grim pulls away and stands. His hand finds mine and clamps around it, squeezing it tight. Lucifer’s eyes fall on our joined hands. “Why are you here, old friend? You know this can never work.”
“I stayed away.”
“Have you, though?” Lucifer nods. “You know what will happen if you fall for a witch. You will be cast out. Do you really want to risk that?” he asks. “You take great pride in what you do, and you have been doing it long since before she was even a thought.” I look over to Grim and see him already watching me.
“I stayed away,” he repeats.
“So you said,” Lucifer replies. “I can’t approve of this.” He shakes his head and looks at me. “You are not meant to rule with an Angel by your side. It’s your birthright and no one else’s. Ask him who is by your side when you die. Go on… ask him.”
Grim looks away from my questioning gaze.
“Why so quiet, old friend?” Lucifer presses, stepping closer. When he reaches us, he halts. His eyes zoom in on my face before they track down to my stomach and then to Grim. “You knew?” Lucifer accuses.
I turn to Grim, confused.
“Do you plan to tell her? She has a right to know,” he growls out the words. “Do you want me to drag you to Hell with me, friend, because I will. No god of yours will stop me once he knows.”
I step away from Lucifer as his face hardens. This man is scary, and I would like to keep my body intact.
Grim shakes his head and glares at Lucifer. “You need to leave.”
“Not until you tell her,” Lucifer snaps at him. “Tell her, Grim.” That is the first time I have heard any other person other than me use his name.
Grim looks at me, unsmiling. He grabs my hand again and lifts it. “I—” He stops himself, glances over his shoulder, and shakes his head.
Lucifer moves quickly, grabbing Grim and throwing him like he weighs absolutely nothing. Lucifer storms past me and reaches Grim as he stands again. This time, Grim stops his hit and moves out of the way.
“Tell her… or I will.” Lucifer grabs his shoulder and pulls him back, throwing him into a tree. Hard. The tree cracks and somehow doesn’t fall over.
“Stop it!” I scream, but they ignore me as they fly at each other.
Lucifer’s wings flap harshly, and I watch in awe as Grim’s black wings unfurl around him as they fight. I stand there, frozen, unsure what to do or how to stop them.
Do I even stop them?
Is that what I am meant to do? My hands clench at my side as I watch helplessly.
“Stop it, please,” I try again, and this time, Grim looks over at me. Lucifer manages to get in a hit, knocking him backward and cracking his jaw.