Devil With Benefits (Gods & Guardians)

"How are you feeling?" I ask her.

She laughs and leans her head against mine. "Only you would ask how I'm feeling at a time like this," she says.

It's the absolute wrong time, but I kiss her and savor the taste of her lips. I can feel her heart pound against mine as I move up against her. This could be the last time we get this close, and I just want to appreciate the moment.

When I pull away, I say, "After this, I'd like to marry you, Raven."

Her pupils widen. Her body goes into shock. "Don't mess with me, Ash. Are you serious?"

"You don't have to answer now," I say.

She closes her mouth and lingers on an unknown thought. "I just want you to promise me one thing," she says.

"Anything," I mutter.

"Promise me you have no connection to Lucifer," she says. "Promise me you're not a devil like him."

I lower my head.

There are things I still don't know about. Things I wish I could understand.

"Ash?"

The only thing that comes to mind are the fragmented visions and memories that I'm forced to dissect. There's a connection between us. I can feel it. I just don't know what it all means.

Not yet.

I could lie to her, but I'm not a storyteller. I'm an honest man. "I can't give you an answer," I say.

Her eyes search mine. She looks toward the carnage outside our windows. I can tell she's hurt.

"Then I can't give you one either."

My heart drops into my stomach. "I understand," I say.

But it's hard. It cuts deep. She is the one thing that keeps me going.

Without her, I am just another rambling idiot.

Loki glances back, eyes distrusting. Heimdall sits in silence. I know their trust in me has broken, and I want nothing more than to be able to repair it in an instant.

But I can't.

If there is a connection between me and that darkness outside, Lucifer has gone to extreme lengths to cover up the reason. I must talk to him to find out the truth. Maybe I'm not the man I always believed I was.

Another portal tears through an entire block of buildings. The sounds of gunfire is drowned out and replaced by the harsh noises of reptilian screeching. We slam on the brakes and swerve out of the way, but every section of the street has now been cut off.

Three of the Nephilim rise from the cracks in the earth. They are large demons with wings, and they quickly rip through the sky.

"We need to get to the angels," I shout.

"We'll have to proceed on foot," Loki says with a troubled look in his eye.

With no time to argue, we jump out of the car and start firing. Demons are everywhere. Citizens are everywhere. The entire city has devolved into absolute chaos.

We all take turns blasting and exploding the pathetic devils, beasts, and reptilian underlords.

Loki lodges another bullet in the throat of one tall monster. It explodes into a flurry of dying winged insects.