Cain’s nostrils flared, but over Malachi’s shoulder, he locked his gaze onto mine. With his eyebrows drawn downward, his iceberg stare lasered me, as if pleading for understanding. Or forgiveness.
An urge to look away hammered in me, but I fought it. Instead of averting my gaze, I let the disgust and anger I felt toward him pour out, narrowing my eyelids and curling my upper lip. “You mightlooklike a human, Cain, but your heart is as black as his.” I nodded to Malachi’s back. “I didn’t want to believe you were so broken and desperate, but now I remember the first meeting you hid from me.” My voice broke on the last few words, but I plodded on, determined to show him how his lie had affected me. “You don’t need wings to prove you’re one of them—you only need to breathe.”
“She’s really quite spirited and lovely. Like I said, be a good little soldier and I might be generous.” A dark chuckle floated from Malachi. “After my army and I have finished playing.” Malachi glanced over his shoulder at me. “Well, with what’ll be left of her.” A lascivious grin flashed.
I hate you.I hoped he could read that thought.
“Lucian will have your head, you—”
“Malachi, what are you doing?” said a deep voice from the direction of the forest, toward the cliff overlooking the creek.
I could’ve sworn Malachi jumped a tiny fraction. He whirled around, his purple-black eyes scanning everywhere at once.
This is your chance. Run, Phoebe, shouted a voice of reason in my head. But if I ran, Malachi or Cain would drag me back, either with wings or their ungodly power they both wielded.
“Samael?” Malachi stepped toward the trees then stopped, his wings stretched outward, as if readying himself to lift off the ground.
“Don’t you grow bored with your petty torture of Cain?” From above, a dark, winged shadow fell over the three of us, blotting out the moonlight.
Shivering, I rubbed my arms, wishing I’d wake up in bed, warm and safe.I want to go back to being a normal girl who always believed angels were beings of light and kindness, not these grotesque monsters made of nightmares.
Samael landed without a sound. A gust of wind from his flapping wings sent leaves and dust to swirl into the air.
“What are you doing here?” Malachi’s tone, no longer indolent and arrogant, sharpened.
“Our master sent me on an errand. He said you’re needed back at home, and expressly forbids your interference in Cain’s assignment.” Samael brushed Malachi aside as if he were nothing more than a piece of dirt on his skin. He strode toward me and stopped.
Long, flowing black hair framed his face. His pale, golden gaze seemed to appraise me with a hint of mirth. He tucked ashen-colored wings behind his back and tilted his head.
I tried to gather moisture into my mouth. Like Malachi, Samael held an otherworldly beauty, yet his features seemed softer, not as harsh. Tall and lean, he didn’t possess the bulk of Malachi or Cain, yet I sensed a wiry strength and dexterity in his build.
“You are quite the enigma, Phoebe Blutengel, perhaps more than either one of these buffoons realize. Do you even know what your surname means?” Not giving me a chance to answer, he swiveled toward Cain and Malachi. “Cain, you will finish this assignment as you’ve sworn.” Samael snapped his fingers, and Cain’s chains evaporated. “And you, Malachi, will no longer spy, follow, or torment Cain. Do you understand?”
Malachi crossed his arms over his chest and grunted.
Cain shot to a standing position and rubbed his wrists, not taking his attention from my face.
I focused on the newly arrived fallen angel, sure I was about to endure another round of torture.
“As for you...” Samael twisted toward me and shook his head. “It is time for you to return home.” He stretched out a hand.
I stumbled backward, not eager to have another angel’s hands on me.
He sighed.
A force propelled me toward him, and against my will, I gripped his hands. Revulsion and fury welled through my veins.I hate how easily they control and manipulate.
Samael snickered and closed his fingers around mine. He leaned his head close, the skin around his golden eyes crinkling with amusement. “Itcanbe quite annoying, can’t it?” With that, he wrapped his silvery ashen wings around my body as a cage and enclosed me in darkness.
“Wait, Samael,” Cain shouted, “I need to speak with Phoebe.”
“Oh, I’m sure you do,” he drawled, giving me a conspiratorial wink.
I struggled against his chest for half a second then fell through a black void, wondering how long it would take for me to suffocate in such an imprisoning embrace.
