The sound of Katherine's scream when she went over the edge wasn't a sound Nex would ever be able to get rid of. It was like the sound itself somehow made its way inside him, tearing at his very soul that he didn't know he had until he met Katherine.

Do not let that fucker get away. I'll deal with him later, Nex echoed in Lucian and Marcus's minds as he raced forward and jumped off the bridge, releasing his wings and diving down after Kat.

He caught her well before she hit the ground and held her close to him as he flew away from the demon. Kat was shaking in his arms but between the wind and how fast he was moving, he couldn't comfort her until they got home. In a way he was thankful the demon threw her over the edge, he was certain it would just kill her instantly but throwing over the edge gave him time to get to her.

Nex landed in the backyard and moved through the walls with Kat in his arms. The second they were inside he set her on the kitchen counter and slipped her coat off, checking her for injuries.

"Nex," she whimpered, her voice trembling. "That... I-it..."

"I know," Nex sighed, pulling her into a tight hug. "It's all right. I've got you. You're okay," he said, cradling her head in his chest. "Did he hurt you? Did he touch you other than throwing you over?"

"N-no but what was that? What happened?" She asked, wrapping her arms around his neck tightly.

"That," Nex said, closing his eyes and holding her tighter, trying to keep his rage inside so he didn't scare her. "That was my fucking fault," he whispered, burying his face in her hair. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, my angel. I should've been watching you more carefully."

Kat didn't understand what he meant but was too shaken to ask him too much. She just wrapped her arms and legs around him to be closer to him and he held her just as tight, until the shaking stopped, until her heart wasn't racing so much.

"Katherine," Nex murmured, kissing her head and stroking her back. "Have you met any new people recently? Anyone that gives off a strange feeling? Maybe even a peaceful feeling?"

Kat frowned and lifted her head to look at him, wiping away a couple tears that came out. "Why are you asking me that?"

"Because it's very important," he said, kissing her forehead. "Have you?"

"Just Gabriel and that weird customer," Kat mumbled, sinking her head against his chest again. "I thought he was nice at first but then he started being a jerk."

"Gabriel," Nex growled, tightening his arms around her. "What did he say to you?"

"Do you know him?" Kat asked, frowning in confusion.

"You could say that," Nex said, clenching his jaw.

"He's a demon?" Kat asked in confusion. "He can't be. I met him at church."

"How long ago?" Nex asked, narrowing his eyes. "Was he the one bothering you?"

"I don't know, a few weeks ago and yeah, he was," Kat said, biting her lip and lifting her head to look at him. "What's going on? How do you know Gabriel?"

Nex sighed and pressed his lips to her forehead, letting his eyes shut as he held her closely. The image of her going off that bridge wasn't going away anytime soon but he had to make sure she was okay before he could deal with the people responsible.

"You could say Gabriel and I... Work together," Nex said.

Kat pulled away from him and looked at him questioningly. "Work together?"

"He's..." Nex sighed and shook his head, pulling her into a tight hug once again. "He's an angel. He's an angel and they're not particularly keen on demons interacting with humans the way I am with you. Still don't know how he thinks killing you is the right fucking way to handle it," Nex growled, holding her even closer, resting his head on hers and trying to not think about it too hard. He could've lost her today. "He could've fucking come to me first."

Nex expected questions but he got none. Kat just tightened her arms around him and stayed unusually silent. He was about to question her when Lucian and Marcus entered the house.

"You all right, Kat?" Marcus asked, walking over.

Kat nodded but stayed holding onto Nex tightly. Nex frowned and kissed her head, glancing over at his two friends.

Where is he? Nex asked

We have people holding him, Lucian answered. We're not the only ones upset about this, Nex. She's grown on a lot of demons. They're pissed and ready to fight over it.

Good. I could use a fight, Nex answered, tightening his hold on Kat. Keep watch outside for me. Until I get her settled in bed. Then we'll deal with this bullshit.

Lucian and Marcus nodded, going out the back door and leaving the two of them alone. Nex slid his hands under her legs and lifted her up, carrying her towards the bedroom.

"What are you doing?" Kat asked, not moving from her place in his chest. She was still scared and in his arms was where she felt safest.

"You've had a shock, Katherine. I think we need to warm you up and get you in bed," he said, kissing the top of her head.

"What's going to happen?" Kat asked, lifting her head to look at him.

Nex didn't know what to say. He knew it might become a problem at some point but he assumed as long as he wasn't hurting anyone they would let it slide and if they didn't they would come for him, not her. He didn't understand why they went after her and not him. There was no reason she should be punished for him breaking the rules. The angels historically let other things slide, Nex considered it complete bullshit they reacted so extreme to this.

"Nothing's going to happen," Nex said with determination. "They can't keep us apart. I won't let them but more importantly," he said, setting her on the bathroom counter and cupping her face. "I won't let them hurt you. I promise. I won't be leaving you out and vulnerable like that again," he said, pressing his forehead against hers. "I'm sorry," he whispered, his eyes sliding shut. "I'm so sorry, my angel. I won't let anything like that happen again."

"It wasn't your fault," Kat said, setting her hand on his face. Nex opened his eyes to look into hers, giving her a pained expression. "It wasn't," Kat insisted, pressing a quick kiss to his lips before pulling him into another hug.

They were silent for a moment and Nex wasn't ready to let her go or stop hugging her but he had angels to deal with. That and Kat shivered, reminding him she still needed to be warmed up. So he pulled back and turned on the shower, making it as hot as she normally liked before setting his hands on her hips and grabbing hold of her shirt.

"What's so wrong about us being together?" She asked quietly, looking up at him.

"Demons aren't meant to be with humans," Nex said, tugging her shirt up and off her. "We're meant to stay in our realm and not bother humans unless we are ordered to. They don't like us meddling with people and 'tainting' their souls."

"But you aren't tainting me," Kat said, biting her lip. "And I want you here. Doesn't that count for anything?"

"Apparently not," Nex sighed, tugging off his shirt before setting his hands on her face. "I'm going to fix this," he promised, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips. "If they think they can take you from me, they have another thing coming."

"I don't want you to get hurt," Kat said, draping her arms over his shoulders and shivering again.

"Don't worry about me, Katherine," Nex said, nuzzling into her neck and lifting her off the counter. "I have a few tricks up my sleeve."

Nex got them both undressed and stepped into the shower with her, holding her close as the hot water cascaded down on them. He drifted his hand up and down her back. Normally he'd start washing her and it would lead to something fun but at the moment that was far from his mind. He just wanted her to warm up and relax enough to go to sleep.

They stayed until the water started to become not so hot. Kat slipped on leggings but opted for wearing one of Nex's long sleeve shirts instead of her pajama shirt that was so long it almost reached her knees and they climbed into bed. Nex held her against him, running his hand through her hair and watching over her shoulder out the window where more of his fellow demons were arriving.

He glanced down at Kat who had her hands fisted in his shirt, her eyes wide open. He sighed and brought his hand around to her face, tilting her chin up towards him.

"Sleep, my angel," he said, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. "I'm here. No one can touch you."

"How are you planning to fix it?" Kat asked hesitantly.

"Let me worry about that," he said, running his fingers through her hair.

"Last time I let you worry about taking care of something, Lilith showed up," Kat pointed out. "What are you going to do?"

"I'm just going to have a chat with Gabriel," Nex said, smiling lightly. "Explain the situation and make an appeal. Don't worry yourself over it, Katherine. You've been through enough for one night."

"Would it help if I talked to him too?" Kat asked.

"No. I'm afraid this needs to come from me. I'm the one breaking the rules. You didn't even know the rules were there. I created the problem and I will fix it," Nex assured.

"Don't get hurt," Kat said, sinking her head into his chest. "Please don't do anything where you could get hurt."

"I'll be fine," Nex said, resting his head against hers. "Just sleep with me for now."

Kat cuddled closer to him and he brought the blankets snuggly around her. It took much longer than usual for her to fall asleep but once she did, he carefully untangled himself from her then stared down at her sleeping form. Her red hair spread out over the sheets, her eyelashes brushed against her cheeks and her hands reached out when he was gone, finding a pillow and tugging it to her chest.

Nex bent down and placed a kiss against her forehead, brushing his fingers over her freckle-covered cheek. He only allowed himself a moment longer before he stepped outside.

The wind whipped around him and his fellow demons but the snow melted before it even reached him. His anger was heavy enough it melted the snow around him with each step he took. He paused and looked over at the group of his demons in Kat's backyard.

"I need several guards to stay with her," Nex said. "The rest of you come with me," he said, shifting into his demon form, his eyes glowing brighter red than usual. "We have an angel to visit," he growled.

A/N: