Page 25 of Sinful Obsession

A knock at the door sends a jolt through me and Nevan’s hand slips away as the door creaks open. Michael steps inside, his presence as unsettling as ever. The air around him seems heavier, colder, and I can’t stop the way my body tenses.

Michael’s smile is polite but hollow as he closes the door behind him, his eyes flicking briefly to Nevan. “I thought you’d be in your own room by now,” he states, no room for argument.

Nevan stands, his expression unreadable. “Just making sure she’s settled.” He glances at me, his eyes softening for a moment as he squeezes my shoulder and then excuses himself to leave.

Michael steps closer, his gaze lingering on me as he takes a seat beside the bed. “I would have called you to my office, but you seem comfortable here.” What he means to say is that he wanted to catch me unaware, away from everyone else. However, since Nevan saw him, I know that the four horsemen will be impatiently waiting for Michael to leave so that they can return.

Especially after I just found out that Michael is a motherfucking angel.

I don’t respond, my stomach twisting as his unsettling presence fills the room. He leans forward slightly, his eyesnarrowing just enough to make my skin crawl. “How are you fitting in, Vienna? How are things with the others?”

“Okay,” I reply shortly, forcing my voice to stay steady.

Michael’s smile tightens. “If you don’t truly answer the questions, I can’t help you get better. And you do want to get better, don’t you?”

The way he says it sends a chill down my spine, like he already knows the answer. Like he already knowseverything. His gaslighting skills are impeccable but just not good enough.

“You’re treading down a dark path,” he continues. “I’ve seen it before. People like you, drawn to the wrong things, the wrong people. It never ends well.”

The way his words linger feels deliberate, as if he’s referencing more than just my time here. It’s almost as though he knows about Asmodeus, about the portal, about the horsemen. The realization makes my heart race, but I keep my expression neutral. I fully sit up, glad that I pulled my scrubs back on after spending the night with Asmodeus.

Michael reaches into his pocket and offers me a small packet of sweets—something so out of place in this sterile, suffocating room. “Here,” he says. “A little treat. Maybe it’ll help you open up about your first two days here.”

I shake my head and then regret it, my body still lagging from the effects of the medication they slipped me. “I’ve just wandered a bit.”

“I see. Well, I think it’s time we give you some structure. Starting tomorrow, you’ll attend some of the classes we offer. Group therapy, activities. It’ll help you keep a schedule, keep your mind focused.”

My throat tightens, but I force myself to nod. “Okay.”

“Good.” Michael’s smile returns, cold and empty. He sets two pills and a glass of water on the bedside table, his gaze locking onto mine. “Take these. They’ll help you sleep.”

I hesitate, but the weight of his stare is suffocating. Slowly, I take the pills, washing them down with the water as he watches. Satisfied, he stands, his movements unnervingly smooth. “Rest well, Vienna. Tomorrow’s a new day.”

He leaves without another word, and the moment the door closes behind him, I collapse back against the bed, my limbs heavy and unresponsive again. Panic sets in as the medication takes hold, and I can feel myself sinking, slipping into a numb haze.

But then, strong arms lift me, cradling me against a solid chest. Nevan’s voice cuts through the fog. “I’ve got you,” he murmurs. “You’re safe.”

The effects of the medication begin to fade, the heaviness lifting as he carries me down the hall. By the time we reach the others’ room, my mind is clear again, and I cling to him, my breath shaky but even.

As he sets me down, I look up at him, my voice barely above a whisper. “Thank you.”

Nevan brushes a strand of hair from my face, his expression soft but serious. “We’ll protect you, Vienna. All of us.”

I close my eyes, exhaustion tugging at me, and reach out in my mind for Asmodeus. His voice is immediate, smooth and reassuring.Trust them,he says, his words settling over me like a warm blanket.

So, I do, curling up tighter against Nevan’s chest.

20 – Vienna

The room is quiet when I wake. I’m curled up on one of the beds in the four horsemen’s shared space, my body aching and heavy from the medication still clinging to me despite Nevan’s intervention. It’s as though the drugs left a shadow over me, dulling everything to a muted hum.

Ewan is sitting beside me, his long fingers gently combing through my hair. His touch is surprisingly tender for someone who radiates power and death. His gaze meets mine as I stir, a faint smirk pulling at his lips. “Finally awake,” he says, his voice low and smooth. “You’ve been out for most of the day.”

I try to sit up, my body protesting every movement and glance toward the single window in the room. The glass is filthy, the faint outline of the outside world barely visible through the grime. Darkness presses against it, reminding me of how much time I wasted.

“How long?” I ask, my voice hoarse.

“Almost an entire day,” Ewan replies, reaching to a small tray on the table beside him. “We brought you some food. Figured you’d want something that isn’t gray and flavorless.”

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