“Phoebe,” I said, letting my exasperation roughen her name. “I don’t know what you think you see, but you’re wrong.”
She shrugged then threaded her arm through mine and blasted me with her dimples.
The argument dried in my mouth, and my heart flopped in my chest.
She’s the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen, inside and out.
Chapter 26
Phoebe
Something is seriouslywrong with me.
Cain stumbled but regained his balance with a fast, lopsided grin.
Why am I day tripping to this place, ofallplaces, with him after knowing how he plans to use me?
Because I still believe there’s goodness in him.He didn’t want to see it, but that didn’t matter because I knew it lay inside his heart, yearning to come out.
If he were truly evil, he wouldn’t have saved me from Brian. He could’ve forced me to tell him the information he wanted then turned me over to Lucian.
But he didn’t. Instead, he went out of his way to make good on being my date at the dance, then tried to protect me from Malachi. For this, I wouldmakehim see what I saw—a good man, a decent man, anewman.
He and I waited in a ticket booth line, and I dug my debit card from my purse.
Cain’s dark sunglasses wrapped around his eyes and temple, covering the tattoo and whatever emotions might’ve played in his heavenly irises. His head swiveled to take in the crowd, and he rubbed the back of his neck, as if uncomfortable being out in public.
When he saw me glancing his way, he wrapped an arm around my shoulders and drew me close. “Is this a date?” he murmured into my ear.
His smell floated into my nose, and I breathed it in, resisting an urge to yank his lips to mine.
Wasthis a date? “Um.” My last time here had been tainted with the worst thing that had ever happened in my life, so why in the world had I chosen to visit again, on today of all days? “How about we call it a lunch date? We can see the sights then grab a bite to eat and talk about...everything.”Like your insane demonic family and why they want to steal my soul.
The family in front of us paid the cashier, then it was our turn.
“Welcome to Barkley Zoological Gardens,” said an older lady with curly gray hair and reading glasses perched on the tip of her nose. She held up a couple of fingers. “Tickets for two?”
