“But you’re nothing like that,” I finally said. “None of you are.”

His jaw rippled as he glanced away, his eyes lingering on the brilliant city lights beyond the windows. “I used to be more of a demon than I am now, Mia. If you knew the things I’ve done, you would not look at me the way you do.”

Taking a deep breath, I took his hand and stepped in so close that he had no choice but to meet my gaze. There was turmoil in his eyes. So much turmoil. “I don’t care what’s in your past, Az. Whoever you were, it’s not who you are now. I will face Lucifer by your side if you’ll let me.”

For a moment, I thought he’d changed his mind. He dropped his forehead to mine and breathed me in the same way I breathed in him. Our noses barely grazed, just enough for the zing to rip through me again. Somehow, this demon had gotten past my walls and into my soul in a way I’d never expected. Meeting Lucifer terrified me. But I’d do it if that was what it took to stay in this life.

He dragged a finger across the edge of my jaw, and I shuddered against him. Need flickered in my core. I pressed up onto my toes and wound my arms around his neck. His lips met mine for a fleeting second.

And then he pulled away. He stumbled back, eyes wide.

“I can’t,” he grunted out, twisting away from me and storming over to the windows. His body transformed into a dark silhouette against the city lights. “Mia, I can’t. He will destroy you.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, but a few tears escaped down my cheeks. Dammit. I couldn’t let him see me cry like this. Quickly, I brushed them away.

“You’re an asshole,” I whispered.

“For keeping you safe?” He whipped back toward me, danger glinting his eyes a shade darker than they normally were. “If that makes me an asshole, then so be it, Mia.”

I glanced away.

“Tomorrow morning, I will start hunting down a job for you,” he said bitterly. “Something normal where you sit at a desk and type shit into a computer. I know a few people. My recommendation will be enough to secure you the role. And then I’ll find you an apartment. Somewhere safe. Under a different name. That way Lucifer can’t track you down when he gets here. Even if we part ways, he’ll try to find you.” He nodded to himself, as if that confirmed everything. “We’ll need to get you some new documents to go along with the name. You won’t be Mia McNally for awhile.”

“You can’t be serious,” I whispered.