Page 40 of Princess of Hell

“On that?” I whispered, angry as fuck. Why in the Devil’s name would I go up that?

“Don’t be afraid. It’s stronger than it looks.” He walked up the first few rungs and turned toward me, his hand stretched out.

“Fine. Go, and I’ll follow,” I muttered angrily under my breath. What was this guy thinking? A groan and a crack accompanied each step. Finally, we reached the small roof. Two beach chairs sat waiting with a bottle of whiskey on the floor between them. Preach signaled toward one and waited for me to settle in before sitting next to me. He took a swig from the bottle and offered it to me.

`“Here, have a sip. It makes little Demons grow big.”

I almost choked on the burning, amber-colored liquid.

“This is nice,” I said. “Here, the night, and stuff.”

Lights shone in the distance. Crickets sang their song of darkness and loneliness.

“How is it in your world?” asked Preach.

“It’s nice but different. Not the way humans believe it is.”

“I want you to know, Silver, I’m on your side. I’ve had visions of you since I was a boy. At first, I believed you were an angel. Forgive me for asking this. Did you ever ride a red dragon with one red eye and one green eye? That was one of my first visions of you. You sat on the dragon, the wind blowing through your hair. You were no older than ten. A tall, dark-skinned man sat behind you. He gave you the reigns and you guided the dragon. Beneath you were dark plains covered partially in snow. You giggled.”

“Yes, I did. Dad took me out that day for my first ride on a Dragon. It was amazing. One of the few good memories I have of him.” I snapped back to the moment. “How did you know that?”

“I know a lot, Silver. The man could touch your skin. I still remember the day we got the armor.”

“Wegot the armor?”

“After you got it, it hurt me, too. I was always a lonely, isolated kid. After they cut you off from being touched, it burned me, too. To this day, touch is painful to me.”

“I don’t understand. You and I are not connected.”

“And still, we are. Silver, I’m not trying to guilt-trip you or anything. Please, believe me. I’m just trying to tell you I understand. I see glimpses of your life. I feel what you feel for Jacks. You care for him deeply, and he cares for you. My heart is saturated with your feelings. So long as I can remember, my feelings were never mine only. Most of them were yours, feelings that seeped into my core, making it hard for me to function. It’s painful when no one believes you and you’re all alone.”

Preach sounded so sad. I felt his sadness. It hit me in my chest the way a stallion would if it kicked you, and it hurt. I watched him pull on a strand of his dark, shiny hair and play with it.

“What’s your real name, Preach?”

“What a peculiar question to ask. I’ve gone by Preach since I was a boy. One of my mother’s lovers called me that when I had a vision during a convulsion and seizure.”

I put my gloved hand on his. He allowed me to hold his hand. Preach was so sweet, so delicate. It made my heart ache with an incredible need to protect him from the world.

“I’d hug you, but my hair would burn your skin.”

Preach smiled then fell into an awkward silence.

“How did you end up there? In the Asylum, I mean.”

Preach looked down at his sneakers. “Are those River’s clothes?”

“Uhuh. They fit.”

“I never knew wolf shifters were a thing. I was shocked.”

I laughed, a deep laugh that shook me. “You knew about Hell and had a vision of Dad and me, but you’re shocked by the existence of wolf shifters?”

“Is that funny to you, Silver?”

“Kinda. What else do you know?”

“I know your Mother is alive. I remember her. She was so beautiful.”

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