Page 9 of Her Fallen Angel

"Your prayers won't protect you," he says, but his grip on my jaw loosens slightly.

I meet his gaze without flinching. "They already have. I'm still here, still faithful, despite your attempts to break me."

A dark laugh escapes him. "Is that what you think this is?" His thumb traces my lower lip, the touch sending unwanted shivers down my spine. "I've barely begun, little flame. Your defiance only makes the game more interesting."

I start another prayer, softer this time, watching how his wings twitch at the sound. Each word seems to both draw and repel him. But soon, that breaks as he drops me to the floor.

"I'll show you what it means to really break."

Then, he walks out.

A guard shoves me forward,separating our group into smaller clusters. Gabriel lunges between two bronze-winged warriors, his fingers grazing my sleeve. "Aren?—"

I plant my palm against his chest and push him back, shaking my head. The desperation in his warm brown eyes tears at my heart, but I can't let him risk himself. Not for me. "Stay back."

"How touching." Kai's voice cuts through the chaos like a blade. The temperature drops as he stalks toward us, violet eyesblazing. His wings flare wide, casting us in shadow. "Attempting to protect your little friend?"

Gabriel tenses, ready to defend me, but I step between them. "He meant no harm."

Kai's hand shoots out, fingers wrapping around my throat. Not squeezing, just holding – a reminder of his power. "You dare interfere with my guards?"

I meet his gaze, keeping my voice steady despite the thundering of my heart. "I pushed him away. The fault is mine alone."

"Indeed it is." His grip tightens fractionally. Behind me, I hear Gabriel's chains rattle as guards restrain him. "Your defiance requires... correction."

"Do what you must." I begin another prayer, watching how his jaw clenches at the words. "Through trials we find strength?—"

His wings snap forward, caging me between dark feathers as he forces me back against the wall. "Your prayers won't save him from punishment."

"Then punish me instead." The words come out clear and strong, though my pulse races beneath his fingers.

Something shifts in those violet depths – hunger mixed with fascination. His thumb traces my racing pulse. "Such nobility." His lips curve into a cruel smile. "Very well, little flame. You'll take his punishment. But he'll know it's all because of him."

I lift my chin. "As long as he remains unharmed."

Kai's laugh holds no warmth. "So eager to sacrifice yourself. I look forward to breaking that spirit of yours."

"You can break my body," I whisper, "but my soul remains my own."

His wings press closer, feathers brushing my cheeks. "We shall see about that, little flame. We shall see."

He steps back as I'm shoved into a new cell, a larger one. This time, Gabriel is dumped in with me.

Moving back into the corner and away from the cell doors, I take a breath and try to get my bearings. Try to ignore the violet eyes that stay on me even now.

Through the narrow windows, an alien sky stretches above – deeper blue than Earth's, with two moons hanging like pearls against velvet. The larger one gleams golden, while its smaller companion shimmers with an ethereal silver light. My breath catches at their beauty, even as my heart aches for home.

The compound's architecture speaks of power and dominance – all sharp angles and imposing heights. Banners bearing unfamiliar symbols ripple in a breeze that carries strange, spicy scents. The stone beneath my feet pulses with ancient magic that makes my skin tingle.

Bronze and silver-winged warriors line the corridors, their faces masks of cold indifference. Their wings reflect the light from crystalline orbs, creating shifting patterns across the walls. Some wear elaborate armor that catches the light, while others dress in simple leather and metal combinations. All carry themselves with the same predatory grace as their commander.

My gaze drifts to Kai despite my attempts to focus elsewhere. He leans against the bars of a cell, those violet eyes burning into me as I take in my surroundings. His ash-gray wings twitch slightly when our eyes meet, and his perfect lips curve into that cruel smile that sets my pulse racing.

I force myself to look away, continuing my study of this alien world. The air itself feels different here – heavier with magic, crackling with potential that makes my hair stand on end. Through another window, I glimpse buildings that seem to defy gravity, their spires reaching toward that strange sky like golden fingers grasping for power.

"Fascinating, isn't it?" Kai's voice slides over my skin like silk wrapped around steel. He hasn't moved from his position, but his attention weighs on me like a physical touch. "Such wonder in those eyes, even now. Tell me, little flame, does our world match your prayers' promises of paradise?"

I keep my voice steady, though my heart pounds. "Paradise isn't built on the backs of slaves."

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