Page 446 of Evil Hearts

This woman, or demon, is stunning and I can’t help but feel I need to know more about her. To get close to her. “They are that. It’s hard to do what’s right when at every turn there’s a deviltrying to capture us or an angel trying to end us. Now we have a demon kicking our asses and taking our kill. Wouldn’t you be a bit… on edge, too?”

Slowly she turns her head and we stare at each other for a long moment before Evan whistles, a broken sound getting our attention, even as he fights for air. He signs, “Can’t breathe.”

Before I can translate, she sets him back down. Signing, she says, “I didn’t mean to harm you. Please forgive me.” Then in a move so fast, if you blink, you would miss it. She vanishes into the shadows.

Andras coughs, then stands to his full height. “Well, that didn’t go as planned.” “You think, but did you feel it… her?” I ask, looking between them both. Evan nods and Andras says, “She’s… special.”

Damn right she is.

Chapter Four

Skia

Shadow jumping tomy quarters in the Dark Realm, I pace. What have I done? To lay a hand on fallen feels… wrong. Like attacking my Lord. I’m lost in my thoughts when there is a bang on my door. I practically jump out of my skinny jeans. “Go away!” I snap.

My locked door swings open, and I freeze in place. There’s only one demon who can open any door. Crap, I’m in deep shit. Turning, I drop to my knees, head bowed. “Forgive me, my Lord.”

Glancing his way, Lord Proto stands there with a look I can only describe as pride. “Well, by your attitude I’m guessing the fallens stole your kill again? Up, let’s take a walk, Skia.” He holds his hand out to me.

Taking it, I stand and face my Lord. “You’re taking me to the dungeon. I accept my punishment for disrespecting you, my Lord. You do not need to escort me. I will go…”

His long bronze finger covers my mouth. “Can the High Lord Proto not make his own judgment?” I nod. “Good, now let’s walk shall we and you can tell me what has you so frazzled. This is not like you. I am… worried.”

Worried? About me? He is the high lord of over ten thousand demons. Why is he worried about me? He stops. “Skia, you are… important to me. Yes, I worry about you more than most of my demons.”

“Did you just read my thoughts?” bursts from my mouth. Oh, now I am headed for the dungeon.

To my shock, Lord Proto laughs. “Oh child. I do not need to read your thoughts. It is written all over your face and body language agrees. I know you better than you know yourself, remember?”

“I’m sorry my Lord, it’s the fallens. I can’t explain it. They bewitched me or something.”

We walk again. “Let’s just walk a bit. You compose yourself. I would hate to have another demon hear you talk back to me. Because then I would have to send you to the dungeon.”

We walk to the back entrance of the palace and out into the gardens. All the demon guardians live within the palace, so we can defend it if the need arises. We walk to a bench under the enormous willow and we sit. I used to sit here for hours when Lord Proto first made me a demon. It was my safe place.

A few moments pass, then Lord Proto asks, “Now, are you ready to explain why my best guardian has lashed out at me twice? This is not like you, Skia.”

Taking a deep breath, I explain to him what went on with my latest encounter with the fallen.

Lord Proto listens without interrupting until I’m completely finished. He scratches his chin before asking, “They confirmed they jumped and called themselves cousins?” I nod. “Describe them to me… please.”

Please? Oh wow. “The arrogant one had golden wheat colored hair that just brushes his collar. It was messy looking because of the length and his curls. Like he didn’t brush it. Eyes so greenthey shimmered like emeralds in the sun. He seemed to be their leader.”

Lord Proto hums. “And the other two?” he asks.

“The one I almost strangled.” Taking a deep breath, I compass myself again. “He’s the smallest of the three, an easy six feet tall. He didn’t speak, only signed. His hair was a dirty shade of blonde, well trimmed. His eyes were a brilliant blue like the sky.”

He hums again. “The last one?”

“The one who first attacked me last month. He had reddish blonde colored hair in a ponytail. I’d say well past shoulder length if down. His eyes… the palest blue, almost white.”

I no sooner finished when my Lord slaps his leg. “The asshat sounds like Andras. He was always a hothead. The pale-eyed one is absolutely Raguel. Those eyes are unique. The smallest one sounds like Evangelos, but he could speak when I last saw him. It makes sense. The four cousins were inseparable. There was no female with them?”

“No, my Lord. None I aw either time.”

“Hum, Evangelos wouldn’t be here without his twin. Unless…” He turns and faces me. “Address them by name next time. I must know who they are before we step in to help

them. It could be an angelic trap. If possible, get them to reveal their wings. Even one of them. That will prove they have fallen.”

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