Finale

just enough breeze to raise goose bumps, and I hoped it would temper my anger and the lingering sting of betrayal. I appreciated that Patch always had
my safety in mind, and I was touched by his concern and didn’t want to sound ungrateful that I was lucky enough to have a boyfriend who would go to any lengths for me, but a deal was a deal.
We’d agreed to work as a team, and he’d broken my trust.
    I heard the garage door glide open, followed by Patch’s motorcycle pulling in. A moment later he appeared in the living room. He kept his distance, but his eyes were all over me. His hair
was wind-blown, and a dark stubble dotted his jawline. He wore the same clothes I’d last seen him in, and I knew he’d been out all night.
    “Busy night?” I asked.
    “I had a lot on my mind.”
    “How’s Blakely?” I asked with just enough indignation to let Patch know I hadn’t forgiven or forgotten.
    “He swore an oath to keep our relationship quiet.” A pause. “And he gave me the antidote.”
    “So your text said.”
    Patch sighed and scrubbed his hand through his hair. “So this is how it’s going to be? I get that you’re mad, but can you step back a minute and see things from my side?
Blakely told me to come alone, and I didn’t trust how he’d react if I showed up with you by my side. I’m not opposed to taking risks, but not when the odds are clearly against me.
He had the better hand—this time.”
    “You promised we were a team.”
    “I also swore to do everything in my power to protect you. I want what’s best for you. It’s as simple as that, Angel.”
    “You can’t keep taking charge and then claiming that it’s for my safety.”
    “Making sure you’re safe is more important to me than your goodwill. I don’t want to fight, but if you’re set on seeing me as the bad guy, so be it. Better that than lose
you.” He shrugged.
    I gasped at his arrogance, then promptly narrowed my eyes. “Is that really how you feel?”
    “Have you ever known me to lie, especially when it comes to my feelings for you?”
    I snatched my handbag off the sofa. “Forget this. I’m leaving.”
    “Suit yourself. But you’re not stepping a foot outside until you’ve taken the antidote.” As if to prove his point, he leaned back against the front door, folding his arms
over his chest.
    Glaring at him, I said, “For all we know, the antidote could be poison.”
    He shook his head. “Dabria analyzed it. It’s clean.”
    I gritted my teeth. Controlling my temper was officially out of the question now. “You took Dabria, didn’t you? I guess this means the two of you are a team now,” I
snapped.
    “She stayed far enough off Blakely’s radar not to alert him, but got close enough to read bits and pieces of his future. Nothing there indicated foul play with regard to the
antidote. He made a fair trade. The antidote is good.”
    “Why don’t you try seeing things from my side?” I seethed. “I have to put up with my boyfriend choosing to work closely with his ex—she’s still in love with
you, you know!”
    Patch kept his steady gaze glued to me. “And I’m in love with you. Even when you’re irrational, jealous, and willful. Dabria has had substantially more practice in mind-tricks,
take-downs, and fighting Nephilim in general. Sooner or later you’re going to have to start trusting me. We don’t have a lot of allies, and we need all the help we can get. As long as
Dabria is contributing, I’m willing to keep her on board.”
    My fists were clenched so hard, I felt my nails threaten to break skin. “In other words, I’m not good enough to be your teammate. Unlike Dabria, I don’t have any special
powers!”
    “That’s not it at all. We’ve been over this: If something were to happen to her, I wouldn’t consider it unfortunate. You, on the other hand—”
    “Yeah, well, your actions speak for themselves.” I was hurt and angry, and determined to show Patch he was underestimating me, and all of the above led to my next startling
declaration. “I’m leading the Nephilim to war against fallen angels. It’s the right thing to do. I’ll deal with the archangels later. I can live in fear of them, or I can
get over myself and do what I know is best for the Nephilim. I don’t want another Nephil to swear fealty—ever. I’ve made up my mind, so don’t bother talking me out of
it,” I stated bluntly.
    Patch’s black eyes watched me, but he said nothing.
    “I’ve been