Angel rests his cheek on my head, and my hands instinctively curl around his strong arms at my waist, fingers tracing the markings on his wrists like we’ve done this a thousand times before.
He ishuggingme.
What kind of magic is Angel using that my entire being, body, and soul accept him as my solace? Everything inside me refuses to pull away from his touch.
I can’t even remember the last time someone touched me without the intention of hurting me. Maybe that’s why hisgentle hold feels impossible to resist.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart, but you’re a walking disaster.” He teases, kissing the side of my head. “What happened to your heightened senses and pure Divine power?”
“It’s not my fault! The glass was too clean. What kind of idiot uses see-through walls instead of actual solid walls? I don’t think this building is well-made, Anxo.”
Angel can’t stop laughing when I keep blaming the glass for what happened as he leads me downstairs. I’m hoping he’ll forget everything mortifying about my behavior before we meet his friends.
At the bottom of the stairs, he pauses and turns to face me before hesitantly asking, “Do you trust me?”
“No.”
It slips out without a thought. It’s an automatic response because it’s the truth. No matter how kind Angel is or how much I like being around him, I can’t trust him… not yet. And he shouldn’t trust me either. He has no idea what the coven turned me into.
I’m not exactly proud of the blood that stains my entire being, but I learned to strike first and think later.
“Wow. You didn’t even have to think about it.”
I search his eyes for hurt, anger, or even disappointment, but all I find is quiet curiosity.
I drop my chin, hoping to hide the shame burning in my chest. I know I’m not good or normal enough to deserve his friendship. Angel has an entire kingdom depending on him. I can’t selfishly hope that he’ll help me carry the baggage I drag behind me everywhere I go.
Angel pats his back pocket and, to my shock, pulls out a chocolate bar, dangling it in front of my face. “What if I bribe you?”
I haven’t tasted anything decent in a decade, and I’m practically drooling just by looking at it. Angel is silly asking for trust when I’d willingly hand over my kidney for that bar.
I snatch the chocolate and nod my head sincerely. “I’m willing to reconsider.”
6. His collection of weirdos
Nevaeh
Iask Angel to take me to see my little Monkey before I meet his friends. He warns me the kid is still unconscious, but I need to see him. The thought of him lying in a bed alone and scared keeps haunting me.
Angel introduced me to the healer who helped me yesterday and is now responsible for my boy’s care. The kind, older man assures me there’s no need to panic, and Monkey will be waking up soon.
He explains that Monkey’s body shutting down like this is a natural response to all the trauma he has absorbed, and it’s a good thing that his mind and body are taking some time to rest and heal.
Angel sees my reluctance to leave the kid alone and tells me the living room, where we’ll be sitting, is right down the hall from Monkey’s room, so I’ll be able to hear if he stirs and asks for me.
Angel assures me he trusts the healer completely, but I still pause at the door to observe as the older man gently applies a thick green paste on Monkey’s head and covers it with a soft white cloth.
Angel squeezes my hand twice. “Are we trusting him?”
No questions, no pushing, just trust. Fates, why is this man so good?
“Yeah.”
With a smile, Angel leads me away from Monkey’s room.
We stop in front of a door rattling from the music blasting inside the room. Angel bangs on the door twice, then yells, “Seiji!”
The sudden volume catches me off guard, and I flinch without meaning to. My fingers clutch my hoodie, knuckles turning white as I try to suppress my rabid instincts. I take a shaky breath with a hand over my heart and wait for the pounding in my head to pass.
