I lifted a shoulder and nodded.
“Why?” Eagerness shone from her face as she placed a hand on my wrist.
“It was the least I could do.”
She gnawed on her bottom lip for a couple of seconds. “Thank you.”
I looked away, embarrassed at the gratitude in her voice. “You shouldn’t be thanking me. I’m the reason you were hurt.”
Families, carrying ice chests, lawn chairs, strollers, and an assortment of items, followed sidewalks leading from the parking lot to swarm into a central area just out of my view.
Her soft, warm fingers slid into my palm, then she laced her fingers through mine.
Pleasurable tingles danced along my nerves, and I closed my eyes for a moment, reveling in the warmth.I don’t want her to let go. It feels so good.
“Cain, you’re not as evil as you think you are.”
“I wish you were right.” I swallowed a lump of pain. “But the things I’ve done to get where I am are irredeemable.” My vision skimmed to the people hurrying to the zoo’s entrance. Most of the adults smiled and laughed while the kids skipped, ran, or shouted with joy.
Bright sunlight, no longer hindered by clouds, blasted the parking lot, throwing reflections from standing puddles on the pavement, sending a myriad of light so bright it hurt.
I turned my attention to Phoebe. Her smiling face seemed to glow as her eyes glinted with hope and an inner fire. “Besides, even if I wanted to change, I don’t deserve a second chance.”Second chance?Why did I even say that? Only one future lay ahead of me, and it was as a Chosen. There could be no second chances for me...for Phoebe.
“You can still make the right choice, Cain. You don’t have to be what you think you deserve.”
I gripped her hand and pulled it to my mouth, grazing the knuckles with my lips and inhaling her floral, fresh scent. “It’s too late for me, Precious. I’ve done unforgivable things and...” I didn’t want to confess my sins to her because I was afraid. Not of her judgment, but of her acceptance and forgiveness.
I can never be forgiven for the crimes I’ve committed in the name of Lucian.
Armoring my heart, I opened my gaze to hers. Surely, she only pretended to care, so of course she’d try to dissuade me from my goal, not because she genuinely felt something for me, but because she didn’t want to lose her soul to the dark side and endure Lucian’s torture. I couldn’t blame her, yet a tiny, selfish part of me scorned her attempt at deceit.
“The things you did are done. Nothing you do can change the past.” She pulled her hand from mine and unbuckled her seatbelt. “Trust me, I understand to some extent.” Pushing her door open, she stepped out of the car. “Now, come on. Let’s forget about your crazy demonic world and enjoy being human.” She twisted toward the entry area, where the people milled. “This used to be my favorite place years ago. I haven’t been back since—” Swallowing, she ducked back inside the car and grabbed her purse from the center console. “Well, it’s been a few years. I wonder how much has changed.”
I slipped on my sunglasses and exited, trying to ignore the screaming, happy kids chasing one another around their parents’ legs.
When she said a public place, this isn’t what I’d had in mind.
Releasing a long sigh, I shook my head and shut the door, meeting her at the front of the car.
A cheek-to-cheek grin lit her face, and she grabbed my wrist. “I feel like one of those kids. Isn’t it crazy to go from nearly dying last night to feeling giddy with excitement in less than twenty-four hours?”
The autumn sun bathed her in a golden glow and my heart contracted. Stumbling and forgetting to breathe for a moment, I could only stare. Or maybe it was her sheer beauty and undying persistent need to see the good in everything stopping the air in my lungs.
“Come on, let’s go,” she said as she tugged my arm, almost dragging me in her wake.
I couldn’t keep a small smile from curving my lips.
A lightness entered my chest, lessening the pressure of Lucian’s command until I could almost forget it.
Phoebe lifted her long, pink hair from her neck and gave me a shy glance from over her shoulder. “I hope they still have the carousel. Even if it’s packed with kids, I might ride it again if you don’t mind?”
“We can do whatever you want.” I’d happily tolerate ten thousand yelling, annoying children if it meant I’d continue being the recipient of such a gorgeous smile.
She pulled me to her side, not letting go of my wrist. “Doesn’t it feel great being out in the sun, with the world freshly-cleaned by the rain?”
“I wish I could see through your eyes.” When I looked at the crowd, the man-made buildings, the polluting cars, all I could discern were potential sources of fuel for ether or souls in need of claiming for Lucian.
“Well, that’s why I wanted to talk, too. You’ve been in the darkness for too long, Cain. You weren’t meant to become something like Malachi.”
