Page 102 of Judge of Saints and Sinners

“I could never risk hurting you.”

“Don’t you remember? I’m stronger than I look,” Justine said. “Let me prove this to you. Let me show you how life can be when you aren't afraid.”

“How?”

She pressed a kiss against my jaw. “I have a new deal for you.”

“What?”

“Well, more of a rendition on the last one.” She held up her wrist, showing the lily that was still inked there. “You, Nephesh, heir of Hell, Judge of the Underworld, and all your other titles, will continue to protect me for the rest of our lives. And in return, I will be there, always, to make sure you remember to see the good in yourself.”

My chest was heaving. “What did you say?”

“The good in yourself?”

“And what happens if we default on our deal?”

“I don’t know, but whatever it is, we will face it together. Always.”

I stared at her, absorbing the feel of her against me, the waves of love and affection that flowed through the bond and into my body. She didn’t understand, maybe she never would, that somehow in my quest to keep her safe, I’d allowed her to protect me as well. And she’d found a way to not break down my walls around my heart, but to steal it for herself.

I could trust her. She was mine, and I was hers. A match made out of necessity but that had bloomed into so much more.

My arms suddenly flopped downwards, the chains releasing me in a splash of water. The muscles were sore, but not enough to make me stop as I lunged forward.

“Fascinating…” Arafel’s voice was filled with awe.

“Your little human just trapped you in another deal,” Father said calmly.

“She can’t do that. She’s not a demon.”

“She’s a witch though, isn’t she? Their magic is just as binding, though it usually manifests slightly differently.” His gaze fell to my wrist, and he gestured at it.

I turned it over to find a lily inked there against my pale skin. The deep-red ink looked close to the color of blood, as if my veins were just rerouted there to create the lily on my flesh.

“It’s been a long time since we had a living witch in Hell,” Lucifer said calmly. “I wonder what my wife was thinking when she set this one up.” He stood, dusting off his pants and clearly planning on leaving.

“She was probably thinking she would need help down here, and clearly you demons can’t be trusted to handle it on your own,” Justine spat at him, her face an angry snarl.

Father’s dark brows lifted as I bit back a laugh. “I think I see exactly why she chose you.”

I looked at my mate. Anna had been soft. She’d found me when I was unwilling to let anyone in. She’d shown me love, compassion, and kindness. But Justine had shown me everything. She’d let me in, let me become a part of her from the beginning. Two souls always meant to be together, the witch with no family and the demon with no hope.

Together we’d found both, in each other.

My hand on her lower back, I guided her out of the frigid water and up onto the rocks. Arafel reached for her, his hand extended, before I growled a soft warning and helped her out myself.

“Demons,” Lucia huffed quietly, but she was smiling.

Justine’s lips, which had begun to turn blue around the edges, quirked in a very small smile. Once we were standing aground, I looked straight to my father.

“The Drude is going to come for us. For all of us.”

The shadows in the cave shifted as he slowly smiled. “I'm looking forward to it.”

“No, Father, there’s more. He knows too much. He knew who Justine was. His people had been following her for years. And he’s collecting powerful souls and has his own witch.”

Justine shifted at my side but remained silent when I looked down at her.