Page 60 of Touched By Death

“Who?” I press, then cry out when the flame at his fingertip grows higher, singeing the flesh of my nipple. With a flick of his hand, it’s gone.

He grabs my throat, engulfing the tender skin with his large hand. “He thought I would go down without a fight. That I wouldn’t retaliate.” The palpable disgust in his voice washes over me like the bucket of water beside us. He releases me, picks it up, and dumps its soapy contents over my head. A river of cold water floods the floor as I squeal and begin to shiver almost violently.

Teeth chattering, I look up at him as he stands and stares down at me like I’m dirt beneath his shoe. He steps closer to finger my soaking hair. I’ve long since stopped trying to use my tied wings. I don’t even have my hellfire at my disposal. To say that I feel powerless would be an understatement.

“I can sense their desperation. They’re hunting for you.” Fingers sliding into the damp strands, he pulls tight. “Does that make you feel good, knowing they’re searching for you?”

Tears spring to my eyes, and I push up onto my knees when he continues to pull. “Does it soothe the darkness inside you?” I hiss. “To hurt me?”

“I’m only doing what he wishes he had the balls to do to a pretty little thing like you. It’s in our nature to dominate. And with big wings like yours, I’m surprised he didn’t chain you up already.” He snorts disgustedly, tossing me to the wet floor. “I’m not as weak as him.”

My wings ache to stretch out, to flare aggressively. I settle for baring my teeth instead, and he backhands me hard enough to send me flying into the wall. Pain explodes across my cheek, causing a whimper to shake my trembling shoulders. I huddle, knees drawn up to my naked chest.

“Don’t piss me off.”

The candles blow out, descending the room into darkness as he leaves. Wrapped up in a black, empty void, I palm my throbbing cheek. Shivers wrack my body, the icy cold slowly seeping into my bones.

“I want this nightmare to end,” I whisper. “Please, let it end.”

DAEMON

As we walk up the front steps to the house, I slow to a halt and cock my head sideways. “The door was closed when we left, right?”

Too absorbed by his phone, Ronan bumps into my back.

Beside me, Dari laughs as she opens the door the rest of the way and enters.

Ronan claps my shoulder on his way past, and I fight the urge to grab him by the wing and haul him down the front steps. I point an accusing finger at Amenadiel behind me. “Don’t try any funny business. This is my house.”

“You mean my brother’s house?” he quips, stepping past me.

Alaric grasps my shoulder too and jostles me. “Interesting ceasefire, huh?”

I sneer at him, about to open my mouth to speak when Dari’s voice steals my attention from inside the house. “Guys, you need to see this.”

Frowning, I walk inside with Alaric and Dmitriy on my heels. The first thing that hits me is the coppery smell.

“Blood,” Alaric says behind me, his voice thick with alarm.

I pick up my pace and shoulder past Amenadiel and Ronan. My eyes widen as I take in the state of the grand entrance. Blood covers every inch of every surface—blood and body parts.

“Your guards?” Dari asks, her voice barely audible over the loud rushing in my ears.

“She killed them all,” I whisper, stumbling deeper into the room. “Holy fuck…”

“Well, that’s what I call a massacre,” Amenadiel points out.

“We miss all the good parties,” Ronan grumbles, and I shoot him a look over my shoulder. With a shrug, he steps over a severed leg, trying damn hard not to chuckle under his breath. I wish I could see the funny side of it, but now I have to think of a way to explain to my dad why his entire hired guard is dead. I see that going down well.

“How is it that a female angel can cause such destruction by herself?” Alaric asks, and Dari snaps her head in his direction.

“Did you have to bring gender into this?”

Rolling his eyes, he continues, “Well… gender aside, it was one against how many?”

“Fifteen,” I mumble, dragging a hand down my face.

“How is this possible?” Dari asks. “We left her chained to the bed. Both wrists.”

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