Last Rite by Lisa Desrochers Read Free Book Online

black carpet as far as the eye can see. The ocean is nearly still, the crescent moon reflected in the vast blackness.
    The calm before the storm.
    I drop into the sand and stare out over the water, praying that I have the strength to follow through with this. We need to fight Hellfire with Hellfire, and the only way for that to happen is if I’m demon again. Which means Frannie needs to stop wanting me. I need to let go of any lingering hope that she and I can have a life together at the end of all this. The few months I had with her were a beautiful dream.
    But I’m awake now.
    The dream is dead, and my harsh reality is that Frannie will be too if I can’t keep up the charade. She can’t know how I feel about her. She needs to hate me.
    I prop my aching head in my hands, my elbows on my knees, and try to convince myself this is how it should be. I was never meant to be human, and as a human I’m weak. If Frannie is going to stand a chance, I need to stop being selfish.
    I need to give her up. For good.
    “I’ve never seen Gabriel this stressed.”
    I start at the voice behind me. When I pull my head out of my hands, I find Faith standing barefoot in the sand, Jasper’s leash in her hand. He’s tugging against it in my direction. Faith smiles and lets up on the leash. Jasper gives my ear a sniff and plunks himself in the sand next to me, tongue lolling. Faith lowers herself to the sand on the other side of Jasper, legs crossed in front of her.
    I look back out over the ocean. “There’s a lot at stake.”
    “So it’s true that Frannie has Sway.”
    I nod.
    She throws another glance down the beach at Gabriel, where he’s still sprawled in the sand. “I was surprised when Gabriel showed up with two mortals. Figured it would be just Frannie. Two of you are harder to Shield.”
    I think about telling her everything, but end up just saying, “It’s complicated.”
    “You’re … together? You and Frannie? That’s why?”
    “Not anymore.” I almost sound like I don’t care.
    The moonlight gleams in her eyes as she scrutinizes me, and I know I didn’t quite pull it off. I wait for her to say something—to push it—but, finally, she turns her gaze toward the water. “I love the beach at night. It’s so peaceful.”
    “Mmm,” I agree, feeling anything but.
    My mind is racing, plotting. There have to be a hundred ways I can hurt Frannie—a hundred ways I can destroy her, and myself in the process.
    We sit here for a long time, the only sound the gentle lap of the surf and Jasper’s panting. And the storm brewing in my head.
    “How well do you know Gabriel?” Faith finally asks, pulling me from my thoughts.
    I shrug. “Better than I want to.”
    She hesitates. “Does he…” She trails off and her eyes flick toward him. Her gaze dips to the sand in front of her. “Has he ever said anything … about me?”
    I look at her then, surprised by what I’m hearing in her voice. “Sorry. No.”
    She chews her lip but doesn’t respond.
    “How much has he told you about Frannie?” I ask.
    “Just that I should keep my eye out. He said she had Sway and the infernals would be coming for her.”
    Hearing it out loud is almost more than I can bear. My insides clamp at the thought of Marchosias or Lilith getting anywhere near her. “I want you to tell me if you see anyone … suspicious hanging around.”
    Her eyes lift to my face and she cracks a smile. “You’re mortal. What are you going to do about it?”
    I hold her gaze and her smile fades. “Just tell me. Please.”
    She looks at me suspiciously for a moment, then nods as her eyes shift over my shoulder. “Well, good night,” she says, pulling herself out of the sand.
    I look up and see Gabriel is now standing, staring out over the water.
    “Good night,” I say as Jasper pulls her past me, toward him.
    When she reaches him, he loops an arm over her shoulder.
    I haul myself up and head back to the house. I start for my room, but stop. My