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

“Oh, yeah. Neat.” That certainly fit his angel’s Persian clothing and his looks. “Seriously, though,” he said to him, “you like it? It’s okay? And not just because I gave it to you,” he added quickly. “I mean, I’m going to be calling you this from now on. You need to like it.”


His angel beamed at him. I do. Thank you.


Aiden grinned again, helpless not to return it. “Pleased to meet you, Eskandar.”


The pleasure is mine. Eskandar kissed Aiden again, and Aiden could feel his happiness.


You’re welcome, Aiden thought, knowing Eskandar could hear him like this. He wished he could share completely in his angel’s happiness at his gift, despite how small it was. But all he could think of was what Eskandar had already given him: love and life, and Eskandar himself.


Chapter 27