Page 30 of Unholy Fate

My muscles tensed in anticipation of the forbidden pleasure that I knew awaited me. The sinful sensations swirling within me were a stain on my purity, a mark on my very soul. I thrashed against him, begging him to stop, but my words were lost in my moans of despair… and ecstasy.

The demon’s thrusts became more frenzied, driving me closer and closer to the edge of the abyss that awaited. I prayed for deliverance, for this nightmare to end, but the darkness only closed in around me, blotting out the meager light of day. The world spun away from me, consumed by the flames of my own depravity.

As the climax washed over me like a scalding tide, I was vaguely aware of a distant sound. A chirping, like that of a... a...

My eyes flew open, adrenaline coursing through my veins as I looked over at the alarm. The bedside clock read six in the morning, the digital numbers blinking in sync with the chirping alarm.

I looked back up at the demon but… there was no demon. I was alone, untied, fully clothed in my nightgown. The feeling of fullness, the unbearable sensation of being stretched and used, vanished abruptly, leaving me empty in a way that was disturbingly real. My thighs were soaked, the sheets underneath me damp with arousal.

As I sat up slowly, I was horrified by the sticky, creamy substance clinging to my inner thighs. It was tinged pink with what had to be my blood. My hands trembled as I reached up and touched my forehead, feeling the bandage still in place.

My mind raced.Was it real? Was he here?Tears sprang as the guilt crashed over me. “What is happening to me? Why am I like this?” My thoughts were frantic and chaotic.

The insistent buzzing of my alarm clock reminded me of my commitment to the homeless shelter. I had work to do today.

The musty smell of sweat hung heavy in the air as I silently freed myself from the sheets clinging to my limbs like a shroud andpadded to the bathroom, discarding the clinging, sweat-stained nightgown and carefully peeling off the bandage.

Climbing into the shower, the water hit the brand seared onto my forehead, and a jolt of pain shot through me as tears streamed down my face. I tried to wash away the lingering stain of the nightmare, scrubbing between my legs with lavender soap, its calming scent doing little to soothe my frazzled nerves.

Avoiding my reflection in the mirror, I dried myself off before finally mustering the courage to confront the image staring back at me. I was met with haunted, bloodshot eyes and a pale complexion, but surprisingly, the burn looked much better. Faster than expected, the angry red edges of the wound had faded, leaving behind only a few faint, dry scabs, the skin underneath smoother. With a sigh, I applied the slightly-medicinal smelling burn cream and re-wrapped the bandage tightly. Then I dressed, pushing away the lingering images of my dreams to concentrate on my tasks and the day ahead.

The images of my unsettling dreams, sharp and vivid, clawed at my conscience, leaving me too weak to face my sisters’ disapproving glares and the unspoken condemnation hanging heavy in the air. I slipped away, avoiding the meal hall and the harsh judgment within. With each brisk step toward the shelter, the cold air stung my cheeks, a welcome distraction from the shame and shock swirling in my mind.

The smell of coffee brewing filled the air as I greeted the other volunteers and began the familiar, comforting task of setting up breakfast for the homeless. Once that was done, I’d continue working on the brief to request a variance for the new shelter.

With the delicious smells of freshly brewed coffee and toasting bread swirling around me, I carefully arranged breakfast traysfilled with steaming oatmeal and dried fruit. Suddenly, a voice made me jump.

“Evelyn, right?” Turning, I found the man who’d leaped in front of the car, saving the child and who’d helped me when Frank Brown had attacked me.

His warm expression didn’t quite mask the authority in his eyes, a commanding presence that filled the room. “I don’t think we’ve officially met.” He extended a hand. “I’m Aziz.”

My face warmed, and I hesitated before accepting his offered hand. When I did, a shiver danced across my skin, a strange warmth blooming low in my belly.

“It’s nice to officially meet you,” I said politely, “and thank you again. I really appreciate what you did the other day.”

“Honestly, it was nothing. The important part is that you weren’t injured.” Aziz’s deep, smooth baritone, like warm honey, caused an unsettling warmth to spread through my body.

My nipples stiffened beneath my blouse, and as I felt wetness between my thighs, I squeezed them together in shame.What is wrong with me?A cold sweat broke out on my skin.

Something was off. This wasn’t normal, this wasn’t right. His charisma was overwhelming, his allure unnatural, and a terrifying certainty echoed in the back of my mind. A whispery instinctual voice gurgled up from deep in my subconscious.Demon.

A tight smile stretched across my face, a mask to hide the turmoil within as I nodded politely to Aziz. His words were just a drone, a meaningless hum against the cacophony of my racing thoughts. Something was wrong.

Even as I distanced myself from Aziz, a burning, desperate need for him pulsed within my most intimate areas, a symphony of longing and guilt, but I steeled my resolve to avoid him as much as possible.

Saving my soul was more important than anything else.

I returned to serving breakfast, with the words echoing in my mind that something was indeed very, very wrong.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

IAN

I watchedEvelyn from the corner with my arms crossed as I leaned against the dim shelter wall. Her grace was undeniable as she moved between the serving trays and volunteers. My gaze followed her until Aziz came into view.

He oozed charm, standing too close, his laughter echoing across the room at Evelyn’s awkward responses. A growl rumbled in my throat before I could stop it. Irrational anger simmered in my chest, hands clenched into fists. The feeling surprised me.

Levi leaned in beside me, amused. “Did you just growl?”

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