How would she deal with losing me? It had been bad enough when Dad never came home, but her only child? It would utterly destroy her.
“Phoebe, Phoebe, Phoebe.” Malachi rested his chin on my shoulder. His lips fluttered near my ear. I detested the touch of his skin on mine but couldn’t shake him away. “Did Cain ever tell you about the first time you two met? How he thought about fucking your sweet body before killing you? But then he had an attack of conscience and wiped the memory from your brain.”
“What?” The question slipped out before I had time to think, and I swung my focus to Cain.
He looked away for a few seconds then glared at Malachi, straining against the dark angel’s oppressive power.
“I’ve had my eye on him for quite some time, waiting for him to slip up again. He always does.” Malachi’s hot breath blew against the fine hairs of my neck, tickling the skin. “But alas, he fell in lust and wanted you to see him as a good human.”
Cain’s eyes widened, and I couldn’t tell if he was surprised by Malachi’s comment about spying on him, or the part about Cain wanting me to see him in a different light.
“How disgustingly sweet. But lust didn’t stop him from turning you over to Lucian with the promise of wings in the balance. I think he planned to fuck you first then deliver you to Hell. Guess he’s not one for sentiment.”
What?I couldn’t believe anything this spiteful demon said, could I?
Even though Cain remained on his knees, ramrod straight and locked into place, every visible muscle bulged under his armor. Hate shone brightly in his beautiful, pale irises.
Malachi snickered and lazily twirled his hand toward Cain. “You can speak. Deny it, spew lies to your precious Phoebe.”
Cain swallowed then directed a scowl to the evil angel at my back. “How did you know...?” His stare went from Malachi to me, and his eyes softened. “Phoebe, I can explain—”
Wait, if Malachi lies, shouldn’t Cain be asserting that fact, not asking how Malachi knows?
“Is this true?” The pain stabbing my heart hurt worse than the burn of the handcuffs. I thought back to the day when Cain had appeared and stolen my necklace, then to later when he’d shown up out of the blue and stopped Brian.
Have I been a game piece to him over a worthless trinket...a hopeful one-night stand?And I’d almost given in. Quiet fury simmered my blood.
Shaking his head, Cain turned his face and investigated the trees, the sky, his attention anywhere but on me.
“Well, I’m nothing if not honest.” Malachi wrapped both hands around the sides of my head. “See for yourself.”
As if a veil lifted from my mind, I stiffened and gasped as memories poured through my head.
My professor mentioning the caves above the creek, me climbing the stone steps and entering a dark cave.
Cain, hiding in the dark, holding me with his magic, stealing a kiss and entranced by the pendant.
I stopped struggling against Malachi. Quiet rage continued to build in my muscles and I glared at Cain.
“You wanted to hurt me,stillwant to hurt me.” I blinked back tears. He would not see me cry. The sad thing about the whole lie? I might’ve sacrificed my soul for him if he’d told the truth because I could sense his pain and loneliness.Though death surely waited for me at Malachi’s hands, knowing Cain only needed me for power shoved an ice-cold shaft of hatred into my chest. Everything had been a ruse carefully constructed to make me trust him so he could get his precious wings and become a full-fledged demon.
How could I be so stupid?
“Let her go, Malachi. I’ll finish the assignment, but Lucian makes the rules, not you, and I still have two more days.” Cain pressed his lips together and jutted his chin toward Malachi. “What do you think he’ll do when he finds out you’re trying to disrupt his plans?”
“Thank me.” Malachi released my head. “I wouldn’t be so weak I’d let myself become enamored with a human” He snapped, and the manacles around my wrists disappeared. Stepping around me, he faced toward Cain, giving me his winged back.
If I had a sword, I’d plunge it between his shoulder blades.
A low, amused chuckle came from Malachi’s direction. “You could try, little human, but I’d have you on your back before you could blink.”
Is he reading my thoughts?
Only another wicked laugh answered.
I tried to blank my mind and think of nothing.
The dark angel sauntered to Cain, who stiffened, but held his ground. “I could kill you and no one would ever know, not even Lucian.” Malachi ran a finger down Cain’s cheek. “It would solve so many of my problems.”
