"When you make those faces, you make me feel like I'm quasi-modo," I commented.-Do not be silly. "Him," she shook her head irritably. You are like this because of my carelessness. How do you think I feel seeing you hurt like this?"Let's see if this works, then," I resolved, trying hard to sound positive.He nodded. He wrapped his arms around my torso and carefully pressed me against him. I knew immediately that he must be reminding himself that he had to be cautious with me right now; Seeing him hesitate was not a common thing.I closed my eyes and let my head fall into the space between his shoulder and neck. A short sigh, one that hurt my entire chest, escaped my lips. Nervousness swirled through me, but I tried to muster my patience and convinced myself that I should trust. That, if he hadn't known what he did, he wouldn't have proposed it to me.I hesitated if I should do or say anything to help it work. But, just as I was about to open my mouth to ask, a strange, unnatural, unc

"What's happening is..." Khaius cleared his throat. Asmodeus is the one we must answer to."Oh, he's like his boss," Nat muttered."It's much more than that," Akhliss said, now clearly affected. We could face Mabrax and Naamah... Not Asmodeus.—Is he that strong? I asked in a whisper, feeling a pang of dread."More than you could imagine," she answered in a low voice.I swallowed."I-you mean that," Nat stammered, fear dripping from his voice and face, "if that guy feels like killing Amy, he's just going to do it and that's it?""No, it is not so," Khaius replied harshly. We won't let it happen.—And what do we have to do now? —I asked quietly.—You, nothing. "It's serious," Akhliss told me, with a stern tone. Don't think too much about it. We will solve it.A new knot of anxiety formed in the pit of my stomach. The irrational fear of a being I didn't even know transformed into a huge monster that clung to me and prevented me from breathing easily.Fear for me, for my loved ones. The

"Okay..." I mumbled reluctantly, more than clear that insisting too much meant starting a new argument. So I chose another path—: But I have other doubts, about what happened yesterday.He grimaced for a moment.-Which is it?—Did you find me thanks to Alexander? —I asked and he nodded—. And... were you the one who freed Claire to attack Mabrax? "He" confirmed it again silently, this time showing some irritation. But how?“The same way I do these things,” he answered simply, stretching an arm toward the door, and I heard the lock mechanism click. For some reason, a knot of longing settled in my stomach. At that point, much of my uncertainty had been put to rest, but I still felt strange and wasn't sure why, beyond the obvious fact. I lowered my head, and he frowned in obvious bewilderment. What happen?—It's just not easy to forget all this... Everything that Mabrax and Naamáh told me. —I shrugged, grimacing. And also she...-That?-No, nothing. I shook my head in obstinate denial. Fo

Without having the strength or courage to admit it out loud, I nodded. I felt a sudden pang of dread, for it was as if he had known exactly what was going through my mind, even though I knew that wasn't possible.Azazziel pursed his lips in pain and looked away from me."I know I'm not the best guy you could have encountered," he said in a dull, almost inaudible tone. I know there are a lot of people, people like you, humans ... who would do this much better than me. That, possibly, would not make you doubt or have the insecurity that you feel now. "Him," she shook her head. I told you that time, remember? That day when I told you about Zeross and Aeriele: I can't give you what you need, because I don't know how to do it. And you deserve someone who is capable of loving you and showing it to you.Suddenly, I felt my stomach plummet.-What are you saying? I asked in a shaky whisper.He looked at my face carefully for a couple of seconds, before taking a deep breath and shaking his head

-Why do you think that?—Because… Damn! —She growled, with her jaw tense and a wrinkle of anxiety furrowing her forehead, in a gesture filled with frustration—. It would be your first experience in this. It should be with someone like you.—What does “someone like me” mean?"A human, " he replied through his teeth, in an anguished tone as if, despite having suggested it himself, the idea tortured him.I pulled my hands away from him, feeling a painful tightness in my chest.—What's wrong with whoever wants me to be with you?—You shouldn't want this. —She shook her head—. No with me.For some reason I didn't identify, a lump formed in my throat. I bit my lower lip as a way to lessen the strange discomfort that was beginning to overwhelm me. I didn't understand why, somehow, I felt so… disappointed?Azazziel raised one hand to cup my cheek and traced caresses with his thumb.—Do you really want this? "She," she inquired in a whisper. Are you very sure?I looked up at him, meeting the u