Memories replayed in my head. Priscilla asked me to show her how I loved her, and I couldn't help but think of her body trembling at my touch; of the way her voice sounded when she cried out and moaned. If I showed her that, wouldn't it be too soon? I know she ached for it. But after meeting me, was she ready to give it all away?

She already has. Every part of her is with you.

I twisted my neck to press my ear against my shoulder and followed Priscilla back to the couch. She sat, legs crossed, looking up at me with such curiosity. It made me wonder if she knew exactly what we'd done. Yes, we were connected, loved each other, and had a wild adventure for a few days. But the stakes of it? What I knew and what she'd agreed to...Thinking back to the night, I lost it all and brought her down with me. It was just one night, but a night with Sin meant an eternity in hell.

Priscilla then, just like now, had to know. Only then, when I gave into the smell of her skin and the need for her sex, there was no before to learn. Priscilla knew what was in front of her; the 'man' who rescued her more than once without questions, without demands. What she wished to learn was me, my darkness, and the allure of my immortality. And as she had become fascinated by my existence, she fell into love quickly, allowing us to share a night, and another, and a third, intertwined in each other's arms.

Priscilla now needed to know what had happened, in detail, and for me to show her how I loved her. I couldn't put the love I continued to feel in my heart into words. I couldn't. It was indescribable. And as I fell deeply in her light and soul, I believed we'd be inseparable. I thought her spirit alone could keep us from the dark.

I was wrong.

Sitting on the left side of the couch, Priscilla crossed her legs under her and cleared her throat, looking up at me with curious eyes. "I'm sorry if I was coming off... forward, I guess. I'm a person who likes knowing every detail of everything. So, tell me, or show me that you loved me."

Don't be like this. Just do it.

As she looked up at me, I pressed my hand against my ear and sighed. "Yes, I loved you," I let the honesty remain in the past tense, "but loving you left us in the dark, unprotected and open to attacks."

She blinked, pursing her lips. "The world is dark, Octavio. So what difference would it be?"

"Me." I raised my brows. "Loving you meant I needed to give up my seat within the Deadly Seven. I didn't think of dismantling them. I thought... shit," I rubbed my brow, "I thought I'd be able to live a life with you."

"Why can't you?"

Can't. Present tense. It made me laugh and trail my tongue over my bottom lip. Lifting my gaze, I stared at her and her undefeated aura. "Because I'm not a part of this world, Priscilla. Without my seat, the realms would clash, and mortals would suffer. And because of my crimes, I would've been endlessly hunted. I was putting you in danger," I pinched my brows together, "I was selfishly killing us both."

"But I agreed to it, right? I wanted it because I love you." Again, present tense. I gulped, watching as she pushed up and away from the couch. Priscilla came toward me with a quick stride. She placed both of her hands on my chest. "I promised to save you, too, didn't I?"

How did she know that? Slightly leaning back, I stared at her face, searching her eyes. "Priscilla, how much—"

"How much do I know? A lot," she said with a slight shrug. "It may have happened a hundred years ago, but it's in me. It's my life. And every second I'm with you, the more I remember."

My stomach flipped. A tinge of joy came over me. She remembered and welcomed all of this. It had been the one thing I'd wanted for so long; for Priscilla to come back and fall back in my arms, no questions asked.

And here I was... denying my love what was truly hers.

Why would I do that?

You're a fool, Octavio, in more ways than one.

I lifted my hand and brushed my fingers over her cheek. "I think this is weird because I honestly thought you were reaching."

Raising her brows, she blinked. Yet, despite the disbelief, she blushed, cheeks darkening. "Reaching for what?"

Snorting, I rubbed my lips and looked away with a shrug. "Dark fantasies, wild night, you know," I glanced at her, "so I'd be the hot demon from your dreams."

She pursed her lips as she nodded, a quiet snort echoing in her throat. "But you are," she said, looking up into my eyes, "yesterday, you were the hot guy who walked into my gallery. Today you're fate."

I looked down, sliding my hand over her chin, and gently brushing her bottom lip. "Do you think that? Not just saying it?"

"If I didn't think it, I wouldn't say it." She pressed herself up on the tips of her toes. Her lips came close to mine. The scent of her clean breath hit me. Had she gone upstairs to wash up since she'd slept in the car? Cute.

"When I kissed you the other day, did you feel my love?" I whispered, searching her gaze.

Slowly, she nodded. "I felt it," she said. "It like... filled me. Intoxicating. I couldn't get enough."

I smirked. "And that's why you wanted me on the couch?"

"Yup." Priscilla didn't wait for another second. She forced herself up, body pressing against me. I knew what she wanted, and I gave it to her.

Swooping my hand around her waist, I pressed my fingers into the small of her back to keep her steady. My nose brushed against hers before I tilted my head, taking her mouth in a soft, deep kiss. She sighed immediately, her moan filling my mouth. I flicked my tongue against her lips for entrance, and when she complied, I groaned with her.

While we kissed, I slid my fingers into her curls, grabbing hold to tilt her head with mine. Her leg slid between my thighs. Her hands gripped the bottom of my shirt. The power of her pure soul slipped into me, filling the cracks and holes caused by years of loneliness. With just her kiss, I was mending, returning to normal.

Buzz.

I inched back because a small vibration hit my thigh. Looking down, I had to break our kiss because the buzzing came from her. She was oblivious to it, mouth hanging open as she waited for another kiss.

"Priscilla," I whispered, touching her chin, "you're vibrating."

Her lip twitched up into a small smile. "I know," she said.

I laughed. That wasn't what I meant at all. "No." As I touched her cheek, the buzzing came again. "I think it's your phone."

"My phone." Her eyes slowly opened. "Can't I just kiss you without being disturbed?"

Scanning the room, she inched back before she patted the sides of her jeans. Her phone was nestled in her back pocket and buzzed once more. She huffed as she slid it out and held it in her hands. As she read the screen, her eyes widened. "It's Gabriel."

"Gabriel?" Shit. That had to mean he had news about Gluttony. "Answer it," I looked into her eyes, "please."

"Okay, okay." Biting her lip, she answered the call on speaker so I could hear. I was thankful for that. "Hey," she said to Gabriel, "did you find his friend?"

"I need your boyfriend," his voice echoed.

My eyes widened as I listened. "What...?" I breathed.

"Boyfriend?" Priscilla moved back and looked up at me

Gabriel cleared his throat on the other line. Was it that quiet around him? The sound of his breaths seemed louder than it should be. "I found Gluttony, but I think I'll need another set of hands to get him out. If you're up for a fight."

Up for a fight? For Gluttony, I would. He'd done the same for me, time and time again.

Leaning over Priscilla's shoulder, I glanced at the screen. "Where do we need to go?" I asked.

"I'm coming back," he said. "I'm only ten minutes away, but when I'm there, run out so we can go."

Priscilla slid her thumb over the screen to brighten the time. It was late, nearing midnight again, and her worried eyes looked back at me. To Gabriel, she spoke. "What about me?" she asked.

"You're staying in the house," he said without hesitating.

"Staying?" She whipped around and looked up at me with wide eyes. She didn't want to stay. That wasn't like her then, and I knew she wouldn't stand for it now. If Priscilla was precisely as she'd been a hundred years ago, she'd want to help, fight, and see any challenge to the end.

She promised to protect you. Does she remember that, too?

"I'm not staying," she said, shaking her head. "I'm going, too."

"You're not," Gabriel hissed on the other line. "I've protected you to keep you alive—"

"You've also trained me to wield weapons, clean wounds, and harness the aura of my soul." Priscilla held her phone close to her lips as she grew impatient. "You did that for a reason, and that has to be for today. I'm not sitting here like some fucking damsel in distress. Octavio needs to help his friend, and I will, too."

"Priscilla," Gabriel sighed, "think about this."

"I am." Priscilla straightened and looked up at me. Her gaze brightened as we locked eyes. "You both have some plan, and if Octavio and I are a part of it, then we can't sit back. So if he goes, I go. We're one."

Her determination warmed me. If only Gabriel could see the look on her face, he'd see her strong spirit and willpower. He wouldn't be able to say no.

So why should I?

Taking her phone from her hand, I held it to my lips, leaving it on speaker for Priscilla to keep listening. "Gabriel, she's coming," I said. "She'll follow us if you don't let her, so we might as well let her join the fight."

Gabriel scoffed on the other line. "What gives you the right to—"

Biting my lip, I looked into Priscilla's eyes. "You heard her. We're one. If you want me, you'll have to take her, too."