I blushed, tightening my arms self-consciously over my chest. I’ve been in this time period too long. I feel exposed and naked when he looks at me like that.
“I like your dress,” he said, his mouth quirking up in a heart-stopping half smile.
I tilted my chin up. “Alba lent it to me.”
Silence fell between us, awkward and poignant. Oliver rubbed the back of his neck. I chewed on my fingernails.
“What are you doing here, Desi?” Oliver said at last.
“Alba suggested I evacuate,” I said. “The mortals will help mask my scent. She wants you to return to the magical realm and help her.”
Oliver glanced behind him toward the other American soldiers. “I can’t just leave.”
“You had no problem abandoning your comrades when you wanted to hunt demons before.”
Oliver winced, his eyes pained. “I know. And that was wrong.”
I blinked, his words stinging me. He’d been with me during then. I couldn’t help but feel like he was labeling our time together as “wrong.”
My nostrils flared, and I clutched the strap of my bag so tightly my nails dug into my palm. “Okay, well, goodbye then.” I saluted him and strode forward, following the crowd of evacuees.
“Desi, wait!” Oliver grabbed my arm and spun me back to face him. “Are you—are you coming back?”
“No,” I said, forcing a smile. Just running away before someone else gets hurt. I’ll cast this damn spell on my own and go back home, far away from this place. “But it was nice knowing you. Good luck.”
His head reared back in shock as I tried turning away again, but he tugged on my arm. “Are you angry with me?”
I shook my head in disbelief, exhaling an furious breath through my lips. “Am I angry with you? You’re the one who’s been giving me these dark, angry looks for the past two days. You’re the one who’s avoided me, even when I was fighting for my life. Even when—” I broke off, my lip trembling. Even when Manuel died. And it was my fault.
Oliver’s face crumpled, his eyes heartbroken as he leaned closer to me. “I’m sorry. I heard about Manuel.”
I nodded, pressing my lips together. “Yeah,” I said in a shaky voice. “Thanks. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
I yanked my arm free, but Oliver placed both his hands on my shoulders. “Desi, I—”
“Gerrick!” a voice shouted.
Oliver closed his eyes in exasperation and turned toward the interruption. Another soldier waved him over.
When Oliver turned back to me with eyes full of regret, I raised my eyebrows and shrugged. “I’d say ‘See you later,’ but I won’t because I’ll be going back home. So, good luck with everything, Oliver.”
Oliver stiffened, his eyes wide and his mouth hanging open. “What? You’ve found a way to cast the spell?”
I nodded. “And I won’t waste any time, so I really should go now.”
Oliver’s eyes narrowed as he leaned even closer to me. A thin layer of sweat trailed across his brow, and the small flecks of brown in his eyes beckoned me closer. His tantalizing grassy smell enveloped me.
“Desi, what are you going to do?” Oliver asked in a low voice.
My breaths were shaky and disjointed. How is he doing this to me? It isn’t fair. I swallowed and dropped my gaze to the ground. “I’m going to banish a Second Tier demon.”
Oliver glanced around as if someone might overhear. “Desi, you can’t!” he hissed. “Do you even know how?”
I dropped my hands against my thighs in exasperation. “Either I’ll figure it out, or I’ll die trying. But I have to do something. Goodbye, Oliver.”
“Gerrick!” the voice called again, more urgently this time.
“Damn it,” Oliver growled.
His hand covered mine as he pulled me back toward the city, away from the crowd of evacuees.
“What are you doing?” I argued.
Oliver ignored me and steered me toward the cathedral before shoving open the doors. Huge, ornate stained-glass windows gleamed from the walls and ceiling, filtering heavenly light into the room. I glanced along the pews and carpeted aisle, but we were alone.
“Desi, you can’t do this,” Oliver said again, his voice firm and pleading. “You’ll be killed.”
“As much as I appreciate your faith in me,” I snapped, “I don’t see why you’d care.”
His eyebrows creased, his eyes hurt. “Why would you say that?”
I shook my head, feeling ridiculous. “You know what? We talked about this already. We both admitted we push people away. I should’ve expected this. So it’s my fault. I opened myself up, and you did what you do best. I won’t make that mistake again.”
Oliver’s eyes closed as he exhaled. When he opened his eyes, they were tainted with sorrow and sympathy.
“Save it,” I hissed. “I don’t want your pity. I just want to get out of here.”
“Desi.”
My name was soft and gentle coming from his lips, like a caress. I stilled. I wanted to glare at him, to shout at him, but I was frozen by his voice. My eyes were fixed determinedly on the wood-paneled wall just behind him.
“Desiree.”
I suppressed a shiver of pleasure. The way he said my name—my complete name—sizzled along my body like a splash of hot water. My insides turned to jelly.
“Look at me.”
His face was only inches from mine. His hot, sweet breath blew against my face. My eyes lifted to meet his, trapped by the olive hue that beckoned to me.
Oliver’s thumb grazed the line of my jaw, and a flurry of butterflies swarmed in my stomach. My skin was on fire.
“I’m sorry I pushed you away,” he whispered. “You’re right. That wasn’t fair of me.”
“I just”—I swallowed and licked my lips—“I thought you blamed me. For what happened with the wolves. For keeping Ramón and the refugees waiting.”
Remorse tormented his expression, and his lips pressed together in a thin line. “No,” he said quietly. “I blamed myself. For being distracted by you.”
I raised my eyebrows, my mouth opening in surprise. I didn’t dare to move, to even breathe.
“I was ashamed of myself,” Oliver went on. “I’d never lost focus
