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“Shut the fuck up,” I hissed. “You—you, of all people—should be the most afraid right now.” The memories flooded me. The way he fought for my trust and weaseled into my heart. The late-night beer and pizza, the conversations on my bed, the stories of his family… the way he kissed me…
None of it had been real.
And even if the feelings were, that didn’t matter in the shadow of his lies.
“Besides,” I said coldly. “You’re the murderer. And it’s my job to expose you. Or did you forget that little detail?”
Razai’s chin dipped. He stared at me through the soft fringe of slate lashes. “Oh, Detective, Detective… do you think you would have found me tonight if I hadn’t allowed it?”
I scoffed. “Don’t tell me you weren’t surprised.”
“Oh, I was. But I’ve been expecting you to crack the code.”
Even though arguing was clearly useless, I shot back, “Liar. You’ve been pulling my strings. Manipulating me. Doing everything in your power—”
“To what?” he growled, suddenly very, very close. Holding my shoulders. His face hovering dangerously close to mine, those perfect lips twisted in anger. “If you’re so smart, why don’t you tell me why I did it?”
Shoving at his chest didn’t do a damn thing, but I did it anyway as I lashed out. “Because you’re a fucking psychopath, maybe? Because you have some sick power fantasy? Oh, how about this one: you’re bored and cruel, and you saw something to toy with. Besides, we all know how much archangels love to play with their food,” I spat, heaving by the end.
Razai’s jaw worked as he absorbed my words and the useless attacks. “Clave—”
The illusion professor huffed. “I have already taken care to conceal us. Please. What do you take me for?”
“Good,” Razai replied, never taking his gemstone gaze from me.
“You are not planning to do that, are you?” Clave hoped.
“Maybe I am.”
“It’s not a good idea.”
I stated, “My patience should be winning awards right now.”
Clave continued as if I hadn’t spoken. Of course. “Do not be foolish.”
“Quiet, you pompous prick,” Razai ordered.
To my utter shock, Clave actually fell silent. That was the first thing that made my anger take a pause.
Fear replaced it.
I tried to jerk out of Razai’s hold. He didn’t let go, of course. “Don’t fuck with me, Razai. Let go.”
“Or what?” he challenged, leaning in closer with a cruel glare. “Gonna make me ‘regret it’ too?”
Since there was no escaping his hold or fighting, all I could do was meet his stare with as much bluster as possible. Because even though I was ready to take on Clave, I knew Razai was stronger. Somehow, I just knew no matter what, he’d beat me. “Try and find out. I really, really hope you do.”
“I’m only holding you like this so you don’t attack me like a toddler and then run away. This is on you.”
Jerking against his iron grip was useless, but giving up wasn’t an option. “I don’t really care about what you say anymore, so can you get on with the murder? Or are you planning to do something else to me? I don’t think I’d look as good as Benjamin up on that pole.”
Razai didn’t flinch or deny his crimes. Without another word, he summoned his wings again. They flowed from his back in sweeping elegance. He wasn’t about to fly us away, was he?
When he did let go, it was only to remove the protective talisman from his neck. The same one he’d handed me that first day on campus, when I’d used my power on him. Again, this confused me, because—
A gasp filled my chest.
I stared in… in what?
