“What are you doing here?”

“We need to talk, Danica. Now that you know about the prophecy–”

“I don’t believe in fate. And I don’t have to attempt to kill Lucifer if I don’t want to. The prophecy says only one of us will live. Which– let’s be real– means that I’ll be the one to die. I’m not going anywhere near the guy.”

“You can’t bury your pretty head in the sand over this. The moment you opened that book, Lucifer learned all he needed to know. He’ll send his people after you. You’re a threat to his power. To his life. He’ll never let that stand.”

Bitterness flooded my mouth. “Oh, now you care what happens to me? Maybe you shouldn’t have left me ignorant then. Maybe if I’d known about what would happen if I read the prophecy, I would’ve been on the lookout for glowing books.”

Samael’s voice was a blade coated in sweet poison. “Be very careful, bounty hunter. I have given you freedom I have never given anyone else. If I wanted to, I could make you do anything I wished. Everything I’ve done was to prevent you from reading that prophecy. You may thank me whenever you please.”

He turned and walked away. My eyes burned and I blinked furiously. I wouldn’t cry over him. Not again.

Thank him my ass.

I ordered a Lyft and waited on the corner of the street.

Samael had gotten through my wards while I was sleeping and left the keys to the car I’d borrowed on the counter. I’d dropped the car back at his tower and left the keys at the front desk.

He’d simply walked back through my wards and left them on my counter again, the overbearing jackass. Later today, I’d be replacing my Toyota.

But first, I had a meeting. I was done being Samael’s toy. By now, it was evident that he wasn’t removing the bond and getting the hell out of my life unless I made him.

The Lyft pulled up and I got in. The human driver realized I didn’t want to chat and hummed quietly along to a song on the radio. I stared out the window. Samael’s tower shot into the sky in the distance and I forced my gaze away. No matter what happened, that tower would always stand as a reminder of the demon who lied to me at every turn.

I closed my eyes. Samael had already enjoyed centuries of life. I’d had less than thirty years. The writing had been on the wall since the moment we met. One day soon it would come down to me or him. And I was choosing me.