Aiden Lobo is a graduate student in a world where magic, gods, and demons are part of everyday life. After a terrible betrayal, he is cursed with a Crack in his heart, slowly turning him into a living doorway for an ancient war demon. If Aeshma breaks through to Earth, he will kill millions.<br><br>But before Aeshma can open the Crack, Aiden is rescued by his guardian angel, who uses his own Light to seal Aiden's heart. As a servant of the divine, the nameless angel was supposed to kill Aiden to avert the growing cataclysm inside him. But he loves Aiden too much to end his life, even to save the world.<br><br>It's impossible for Aiden not to love his warm, generous guardian in return. He names the angel Eskandar, but then learns to his horror that because Eskandar was created for him, when Aiden dies, Eskandar will too. The angel has long since accepted this fate, but Aiden refuses to. He will do anything to keep his beloved angel safe. But with no other recourse than to sacrifice himself to prevent the apocalypse, there's only one way for Aiden to save Eskandar: a terrible betrayal of his own.

A Crack in the Heart

Aiden couldn’t even comprehend the depth of that kind of devotion. It was like staring over the edge of an abyss, looking down and down and down, and knowing there was no end to it ever. No one had loved Aiden that much, not even his parents. He didn’t think any human couldlove someone else that much. It was enormous, fathomless, and overwhelming. Aiden felt as if he would drown in it, like if he didn’t step back he’d be swept away, disappear completely into the divine. It felt…glorious. As wonderful as it was overpowering. But he still couldn’t help pulling back.


Chapter 18