Finale

“I saw you, and I wanted to be close to you. I wanted you to let me in. I wanted to know you in a way no one else did. I wanted you, all of you. That wanting nearly drove me mad.”

Inside our cozy, private room, I reached up and tugged on his silk necktie, undoing the knot. “You dress to impress,” I said approvingly.
“No, Angel.” He leaned in, his teeth softly grazing my ear. “I undress to impress.”

“I swear to you, Patch, to take your love and cherish it. And in return, to give you my body and my heart—everything I possess, I give to you. I am yours. Wholly and completely. Love me. Protect me. Fulfill me. And I promise to do the same.”

every touch, every thought, they all belong to you. I’ll make you happy. Every day, I’ll make you happy.” The antique, almost primitive band he held between his fingers caught the sunlight, glinting silver. “I found this ring shortly after I was banished from heaven. I kept it to remind myself of how endless my sentence was, how eternal one small choice can be. I’ve kept it a long time. I want you to have it. You broke my suffering. You’ve given me a new eternity. Be my girl, Nora. Be my everything.”
I bit my lip, snagging a smile that threatened to split my face. I checked the ground to make sure I wasn’t floating. “Patch?”
He scraped the rough edge of the ring on his palm, raising a thin trail of blood. “I swear to you, Nora Grey, on this day, from now and forever, to give myself to you. I am yours. My love, my body, my soul—I place in your possession and protection.” He held out the ring, a single offering, a binding promise.
“Patch,” I whispered.
“If I fail my cove fail mynant, my own misery and regret will be my endless punishment.” His eyes pinned mine, a stripped sincerity clear in his gaze. But I won’t fail, Angel. I won’t fail you.

“I want to be with you,” I said. “I need you close, Patch. I need all of you.”
I kissed him, frantic and bold, my mouth crushing forcefully to his. I pressed deeper, drowning in his taste. His hands tightened around my back, pulling me closer. I shaped my palms to his shoulders, to his arms, to his thighs, feeling his muscles work, so real and strong and alive. His mouth ground against mine, bright, needy pressure.
“I want to wake up with you every morning and fall asleep beside you each night,” Patch told me gravely. “I want to take care of you, cherish you, and love you in a way no other man ever could. I want to spoil you—every kiss,

“I’m either in this with you, or I’m out,” I told him, and I meant every word. I’d lost Patch once before, and not to be melodramatic, but death was preferable. Patch was in my life for a reason. I needed him. We were two halves of the same whole.

You dress to impress,” I said approvingly.

“No, Angel.” He leaned in, his teeth softly grazing my ear. “I undress to impress.”

His eyes locked with mine. A slow burn of confusion filled his expression. “My hand is tingling where you mixed our blood.”

“You feel it,” I

Basso said. “Once I’m gone, he’ll need a good home.”

I took a cautious step backward. “What’s going on here?”

“You did it,” he repeated. “Devilcraft is eradicated.”

“Tell me I’m dreaming.”

“I’m an archangel.” The corners of his mouth crooked, almost, but not quite, sheepishly

I stared at Vee, revisiting every word of our conversation. I had definitely not told her. My brain seemed to struggle forward in slow motion. And then, just like that, understanding came rushing at me much too fast to digest. I covered my mouth with my hand. “You . . . ?”

Vee smirked. “I told you I was keeping secrets from you.”

“But— It can’t be— It’s not—”