Page 69 of The Devil's Dilemma

He stirred in his sleep and rolled onto his back, revealing the angel mark to me.

It was definitely darker than before. I reached out, hovering my hand a few inches away, tempted to touch it again.

Or maybe it was an overwhelming urge to touch him again.

Either way, I pulled back my hand and brushed a lock of hair out of his face.

He sighed, his eyes darting from side to side behind his lids, his limbs jerking. Was he having a bad dream?

He quieted, and his breathing evened out. He needed his sleep as much as I did. I was sure he’d seen more violence these past couple of days than he ever had.

I wasn’t exactly making a good impression, but then could he blame me? I was no paragon of virtue. I’d committed some heinous crimes in my lifetime and regretted none of them.

My only regret was allowing myself to be comfortable with the humans of this world as time had progressed, and now I’d lost my identity.

No one remembered me as I had been. So many books and movies were written about me, but not one depicted the real me.

Maybe it was time I reminded them who and what I was before we were lost to a world of nothingness and complacency.

Chapter sixteen

Austin

The next morning, Iwoke up alone in the bed. Not that I’d expected Dante to be there. No, what we’d done yesterday was a product of pent-up emotions and hatred.

Hatred for him and what I’d seen him do, and what he’d done.

One thing I couldn’t forget was the flavour of him on my tongue. I touched my lips, wishing to taste the tang of his release, but there was nothing.

I stretched, pointing my fingers and toes, tensing and releasing my muscles. I’d never felt so rested, yet the bed was no more comfortable than the one I had at home.

Home. My fear for Grandpa surged up again, although Dante had assured me nothing would happen to him.

What the fuck was I supposed to do on my own here all day? I made my way to the bathroom to pee, then followed the powerful aroma of coffee coming from the kitchen.

I poured myself a mugful and walked into the lounge, where Dante and Conrad were chatting with another man I didn’t recognise.

“I see you’ve made yourself at home.” Dante smiled.

“You won’t let me go home, so I’ll make the best of a poor job.”

The apartment was fancier than anything I’d stayed in, even my childhood home.

Which was full of painful memories and antique furniture.

This was modern and held no reminder other than of me on my knees in front of a man I should hate, but I was finding it harder to do with each passing moment.

I’d heard him return in the early hours of the morning, felt the bed dip as he sat next to me, smelt his subtle aroma.

I’d held still, not wanting to let him know I was awake, wondering what he’d do. I hadn’t expected the tenderness he’d shown after the events before.

Funny, but I hadn’t feared for my life, even if every sign was telling me he’d gladly kill me.

Instead, our animosity towards each other had manifested differently, one I’d happily repeat.

“Care to share your thoughts?” Dante smirked and looked pointedly at my groin. I glanced down. Fuck.

“I think you know where they might be.” I refused to be intimidated by him, devil or not.

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