Hugging Jada goodbye as we parted ways was hard, because those words I didn’t want to give life to the night before haunted me. It could be the last time I saw her.

Zayne and I spent the rest of the time alone. We watched several episodes of Fresh Prince. I got Zayne to drink a can of soda as we shared a bowl of superyummy berry-flavored Italian ice and then we shared ourselves with each other.

And as I dressed an hour before we were supposed to meet with everyone, I kept searching for Peanut. As I strapped on my daggers and then braided my hair, I listened to hear any sign of him. As we walked out the door, I stopped to look for him once more...just in case.

He wasn’t there.

The drive to the farmhouse was quiet, as was the walk to where we were supposed to meet the others. We held hands the moment we stepped out of the Impala, both reaching for the other at the same moment. When we neared the group, Zayne stopped us.

He kissed me.

And it was the kind of kiss that held everything we felt for one another. It was a kiss that was deep, claiming and carried a hint of desperation. It was a kiss that promised more—demanded more. I was a little shaken when he lifted his mouth from mine, and neither of us moved for a long moment. I think we both wanted to stay there, right there, but we couldn’t. We knew that, and we started walking again.

As Zayne and I approached them, I saw only Dez and Nic were there, standing as far away as they could from the other three. I really couldn’t blame them since one of them was Lucifer, who... I squinted. Who was apparently watching something on an iPad.

“You guys are here.” Nicolai turned to us, and there was no mistaking the relief in his voice.

“Where is everyone else?” I asked.

“We figured it would be better if the others hung back,” Nicolai explained, glancing toward the fallen tree Lucifer was perched on. “Less chance for things to go south.”

“It’s a good call,” Layla said. “His legion of unwanted houseguests is also staying back.”

“I don’t think any of that is really necessary,” Roth said. “Like Lucifer is even aware of what is happening right now.”

Lucifer didn’t even appear to hear us.

“He has earbuds in,” Zayne explained. “Let me guess—Supernatural?”

Layla nodded.

“I can’t believe Lucifer is sitting over there with an iPad,” murmured Dez. “This feels like a lucid dream.”

“The last several days of my life have felt like a lucid dream,” Layla replied.

Grinning at her, Roth then turned to me. “You ready to do this?”

My heart skipped a beat. “Yes. Is he?”