“And I’m a demon…” he turned then, his eyes blazing white meeting my yellow, “… and we don’t take these things lightly. You saved my love, my life, and I owe you mine.”
Zaqiel almost smiled, a slight lifting of his lip before it disappeared. “You’re all God’s children, and I am his vessel.”
I nodded. I didn’t know what else to say. Demons as God’s children seemed obscene, but it made sense, and while most of us would deny it until our last breath left us, I guess it had to be true. The legends of the Devil being a fallen angel, cast down to the underworld and running a world of demons and darkness, while never proven, was still the most accepted tale. I stayed silent as I watched him leave, wondering if he knew the answers. But watching Nikki, I didn’t care. I left that world behind before I met her, and then when I had her, I was certain I’d never needto return.
Nikki’s eyes were moving behind her closed lids, and I reached out and stroked her forehead, telling her I was there, that I loved her, and that I was sorry. The movement eased, and I hoped she could hear and forgive me. I hoped she was having nice dreams if she were dreaming at all, that she was in no pain, and her heart didn’t ache like mine. I’d bear the pain for her a thousand times over and would have my kin dig into my chest and remove my mark, a torment I’d live through again and again if I could take away the pain I had caused Nikki.
And Zaqiel, I’d give him my life if I had to for saving mine.
NIKKI
This wasn’t my bed.
There was no denying I had drunk too much,waytoo much, but my memories should be clearer.
I was on my way to the cemetery to visit my father’s grave, the man who was now nothing more than a stranger to me, information I had found with the cost of my sanity. Beyond that, the memories were nothing but confusion. There was screaming. Was it the car tires or was it coming from me, I couldn’t be sure. At the same time, there was pain and darkness, and since then, more confusion. Bright lights and sounds I couldn’t decipher or understand. They could have been voices, music, or the grinding of machines, I wouldn’t have been able to say with any certainty.
Now, the darkness remained, but a pulsing pain in my head was making itself known. I tried to lift my hand to rub my forehead. I couldn’t. Was I being restrained or was I paralyzed? There were so many things I didn’t know, and I groaned, thesound tearing through my throat, dry and uncomfortable.
“Shh… it’s okay.”
The voice was deep, soothing, and accompanied by a sweep of cool fingers across my forehead.
Cade?
I wanted to reach out to him or say his name. I felt my lips part, dry and parched, and my tongue move in my mouth, but the sound didn’t come. Did I want Cade to be here with me? Whereverherewas, I wasn’t sure. The lights were bright and painful, so I kept my eyes closed, though I’m not sure if I could open them if I wanted to. I remembered Cade as I knew him. I remembered him being there when I needed him more than once and the feel of his hands on my body.
Moaning, I also remembered when he changed into a monster, and my life spiraled out of control more than it already had. But somehow, that didn’t matter so much because the comfort of his presence surrounded me. Cade had never once tried to hurt me. In fact, he’d protected me.
“Ca…” I managed the first part of his name and nothing more. Choking back a dry sob, the hand was on my face again, stroking my cheek.Why was it so hard to talk?
“No, I’m a friend. Keep still. You’ve been in an accident.”
Pulling my eyes open, I blinked against the bright light above my head. Turning my gaze, my eyes fell upon a man standing next to my bed.
He was beautiful.
There was no other way to describe him. All chiseled features with blue eyes and brown hair kept cut close to his scalp. He was stroking my face, and there was something about simply looking at him that was soothing. He looked like an angel.
“I’m dead?” I whispered.
His lip twitched, almost a smile. “No, you’re okay. You were in an accident, but you are fine. He never left your side.”
“What?”
The man nodded to my other side. “Cade, he’s been here by your side every minute.”
The tears that prickled were painful. Everything was painful. My throat was dry and raw, my head throbbing, but I managed to roll slightly to the other side and stare blearily at Cade asleep in the chair next to my bed. He looked like hell, and I realized the irony of thinking that considering I was the one in the hospital bed, judging by the tubes and lines surrounding me. I couldn’t feel them, but they were there, making me feel like a science experiment. I never was good with being at the doctor’s office.
Cade.He had overgrown stubble I’d never seen him with before, black circles under his eyes, and his hair was oily and needed a wash.
“He’s a good man,” the man said, touching my cheek and turning my gaze back to him.
I wanted to shake my head but only managed a frown. “Noo… not man.”
“Nikki, please listen to me. Whatever you’ve seen, I promise you that’s not all there is to him. Every being has an aura, and while his DNA may be demon, he’s too good to be truly considered one. He loves you.”
“Not… Devil?”
