Page 9 of Angel Condemned

Jody

Ichewed on my nails, pacing back and forth. My cellmate had to be wrong about the Roulex. I mean, they were helping out my dad and me so much. And all they wanted was me to get pregnant and have the baby for them. They’d told me it was for an infertile couple from this winged guy’s world. That the baby would help others who wanted children and couldn’t have them.

“You mentioned healing?” I ask, pausing to walk. “What did you mean?”

He narrowed his golden eyes at me like I was a bug on the wall he was debating squashing. “They didn’t tell you?”

“No.” I placed my hands at my sides so I’d stop biting my nails and he wouldn’t see my nervousness. “Why would they?”

“How do I know you’re not lying to me and that you’re working for them?”

I rolled my eyes because in part he was right. I needed his trust…well, his lust…to have sex with me so I could get pregnant. But I didn’t know about his abilities. “Gee, I don’t even know your real name, Dilbert, and I’m pretty sure the Roulex here knows at least that much. And since they’re keeping you here either you’re dangerous or psychotic.”

Before I could blink, he was looming over me. I let out a squeak as he pressed me into the back wall. His golden eyes darkening.

“Make no mistake, little human, I am both dangerous and psychotic. I’ve been imprisoned here for almost four years and heard my sister’s cries as she died.” His nose flared and he shook his head like he smelled something odd.

He pushed off me so fast the breeze blew hair into my face. It took me several heartbeats to realize I wasn’t breathing deeply enough and took in a gasping breath.

“I’m so sorry about your sister. Do you know what happened?” The Roulex had told me that he’d tell me wild stories about them. That he was delusional at times, but promised they’d be watching to ensure I was safe. With him plastered so close to me, I didn’t feel safe. I felt like he could’ve ripped my heart out.

Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.

Except, I’d signed a contract and taken the down payment of the money to pay rent and my dad’s medical bills while I was in here. I refused to break my word over a misunderstanding.

“The Roulex are monsters,” he said. “Taking what doesn’t belong to them. Torturing innocents.”

I had to get him off this rant because it wasn’t going to help my agenda, but I didn’t want to be heartless either, especially with his reality being so dark and painful. I had to get him to open up, to trust me or we were never going to get anywhere.

“What was your sister like?” I sat down with my knees pulled up to my chest and wrapped my arms around my shins. “If you’d rather not talk about her, I understand.”

“I will tell you about her.” He nods to my untouched food tray. “If you eat.”

My stomach was still in knots from our earlier confrontation, but he was right. He’d devoured his meal in mere seconds after they delivered it. I tore off a piece of what looked like bread. The taste was bland but edible. What I wouldn’t give for some honey though to help.

“Celica was the opposite of me. Golden hair, fair skin, and always saw the good in everyone.”

His voice was reserved, quiet and I kept eating while he continued, afraid if I spoke, I’d break the moment.

“She loved the ocean and used to sit for hours on the beach. Her skin would be as dark as mine by the end of the summer and her hair as radiant as the sun. She could dive into the waves and come out with a fish every time. If we couldn’t find her around the home, the ocean was the first place to look.” He leaned back against the wall opposite mine, closing his eyes. “When the Roulex invaded, our elders used their powers to create a forcefield to protect our mountain home. All were forbidden from leaving. The hope was that the Roulex, realizing that they couldn’t get in and how we continued to best them in battle with our quick healing, would get bored and leave.”

“But they didn’t.” I took another bite of the weird bread, my hunger slowly wakening.

“No.” He opened his eyes, which appeared even brighter gold against his tanned skin than before. “She convinced her husband to sneak out to the beach with her. I tried to warn them—” His voice cracked, and he looked away.

“And that’s when the three of you were captured.” I shuddered. “You can’t blame yourself though.”

He met my gaze and terror knifed through me. “I don’t. I blame the Roulex and my brother-in-law who will pay with his life when I get my hands on him.”

Something inside me loosened at the conviction in his words. “I had a younger sister, but before Vivian was old enough to be a pain in my side, I longed for a truckload of siblings. All my friends told me I was crazy and that they fought with their brothers or sisters all the time. Wanted them so bad that I had six imaginary friends until I found out how much trouble one was.”

A sad smile lifted the corners of his mouth and made me long to hug him. The pain was tangible even from across the small cell. “Celica wanted a sister, but she got stuck with three brothers.”

“Wow.” I dusted my hands off and reached for the small fruit that looked like a cross between a plum and a pear. “Guess that would be difficult with all those macho egos and testosterone.”

He chuckled. “She knew how to put us in our place though. And she was better at lots of stuff, but never boasted and encouraged us to strive more.”

“Sounds like she was an amazing person.” I took a bite of the fruit. It was tart and the skin was thicker than I expected.

His eyes widened and a flush colored his cheeks.

“Do you want a bite?” I asked, holding out the fruit.

He clamped his mouth shut and laid down, turning away from me, his wings cocooning him.

Shit! What the hell had I done now?

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