Simone clears her throat. “My eyes are up here, Az.”
I smile, blinking at her innocently. “And as lovely as they are, they’re nothing compared to your incredible?—”
I don’t manage to finish the sentence before another pillow slams into my face.
10
SIMONE
Idon’t know how long it’s been. A month? More? Long enough that my friends at Abaddon probably think I’ve been eaten and aren’t bothering to look for me anymore. I wonder what they did with my things. Not that I had that many, only a few comforts I begged Maalik to bring me from the human world.
I probably have more things here now. There’s a bookcase Az is slowly filling with my favorites and the classics. There are playing cards and board games. He even brought drawing pads and pencils, and I started sketching dresses again. I haven’t had the time or will to do that since high school.
And, of course, he brings me the most delicious food—better than I had when I lived with humans, certainly better than what’s served in Purgatory. This morning I had the most delicious fettuccini, brought still warm straight from Italy.
I thought I would be lonelier, kept alone in a cave, with only the Fallen who imprisoned me visiting. But even though I did grow to enjoy the company of my teammates in Abaddon, I always looked forward to being alone afterward. I haven’t had the opportunity to be alone much my entire life—first with my crazy family, thenasshole boyfriends like Thomas, modeling agents, people at work, other Elioud and the fallen angels at Abaddon. But I’d sooner face Hell naked than admit to my cocky jailer that he’s given me something I didn’t know I needed. It’s bad enough that he can see that I’m not immune to him.
I don’t think I’ll ever truly want to be with a man again, not after Thomas and the ones like him who came before. So he’s wasting his time keeping me like a bird in a cage. I keep telling him that, but he just gives me that enigmatic smile of his.
Being pissed off and yelling at him achieved nothing, so I’m going to switch gears. I have no doubt he’s doing everything he’s doing to get into my bed. But maybe I can take advantage of that good side he’s displaying to convince him to let me go.
I put on one of the dresses he picked out—one that mercifully doesn’t have a corset. In front of the mirror in my little bathroom alcove, I brush my hair and style it in a chignon, then use some of the fancy beauty products he stocked my vanity with. Satisfied with my appearance, I take a seat at the table and start shuffling cards for a little game ofBataille.
“Az,” I call out, confident that he somehow listens. After all, he knows when I’m awake, when I’m hungry, when I’m smashing the items in the cavern to smithereens.
A moment later, his immense presence fills the cave. His amber and sandalwood scent hits me first, then his deep, seductive voice.
“You summoned me, little fairy? Though I must admit,” he says while sauntering to the other side of the table, “I had hoped to find you waiting naked on the bed.”
He sits down casually, like he didn’t just make a comment that somehow both thrills and disturbs me. His green-gray eyes go to my hands, where I’m still shuffling the deck.
“What are we playing,ma petite fée?”
“Why do you call me that?” I ask, refusing to comment on his expectations.
“Because you are small and ethereally beautiful.” Az winks at me—he’s in a playful mood again today. “You didn’t answer me.”
For a moment, I think he meant I didn’t answer about waiting for him in bed naked. Then I remember he asked what game the cards are for.
“War,” I say simply.
Az’s smile turns feral. “I always play to win, Simone. I hope you’re ready for that.”
I roll my eyes at the arrogant behavior and deal us in.
“So,” I begin, dipping my toes into the pool. “When can I leave this cave and take a walk? It’s beginning to feel claustrophobic.”
The corners of Az’s lips twitch, though he doesn’t take those dangerous eyes off the cards he’s holding.
“You wouldn’t like what’s outside the cave, Simone,” he says nonchalantly, throwing a card down on the table between us. I don’t even look at it.
“Why don’t you try me?” I ask, struggling to keep my voice warm and not turn this game into another argument.
“What is it you’re trying to achieve here, little fairy?” The look he gives me brings a flush of embarrassment to my face—I’m not fooling him at all. “You think if you go past these wards, you’ll somehow be free to return to your questionable life in Purgatory? You think you wouldn’t be dead within an hour, or wishing you were?”
When my lower lip starts to tremble, I slam the cards down. The chair tips back as I stand up, falling onto the hem of my skirts. I try to stomp away, but my dress holds me hostage as much as the man sitting at the table and watching me with one mockingly raised eyebrow. I pull and pull, until finally it gives way with a drawn-outriiiiip, nearly making me stumble into the bed.
Thankfully, the brute stays silent as I march into the alcove and sit at my vanity, pretending he doesn’t exist. Eventually, his presence fades away, and I’m left alone with my frustrations.
