Page 20 of Fallen Angels

“I’m hardly your guest,” I mutter.

It’s just the two of us in the room. Variant dismissed his servants, saying he wanted no interruptions.

“I must admit, I’m surprised by your reaction to me, Angel,” he says as he watches me with curious eyes. He holds his goblet close to his mouth but doesn’t take a sip. Instead, he swirls the libation round and round, never taking his eyes from me.

“My name isn’t Angel.”

“Eilish,” he corrects himself. I just nod as he continues. “Most prisoners would be grateful for the opportunity to dine with their King,” he says and then glances down at the opulenceof my gown—a gown he provided for me. “And they would show gratitude for such glorious gifts bestowed on them.” He takes a sip of his wine and places the chalice back on the mahogany table top. “At the very least, they would have the good sense to fear me.”

“I do fear you,” I say quickly as I turn to face him.

“Why?” he asks and narrows his eyes as he leans closer to me. “Tell me why you fear me.”

Based on the excitement in his eyes, I can tell that he loves the fact that people fear him. And I’m not different. “Because… you’re unpredictable,” I start and my heartbeat begins increasing as he leans closer to me. I hate him, it’s true. But, I also can’t help my body’s reaction to him—the Succubus’ reaction to him. She wants him. Just as much as he appears to want me.

“Certainly there’s more than that?” he asks and frowns, as though disappointed with my response.

“Of course,” I answer with a clipped nod. “I know what you’ve done to others of my kind.”

“Do you?”

“You killed all male angels,” I answer with a nod.

“I did.”

“And you said you had a room full of their wings,” I continue as he nods again. “I imagine that room doesn’t just house the wings of male angels.”

“It doesn’t,” he responds.

I look up at him then. “Can I ask you what you’ve done with all the female angels?”

“No,” he answers. “And you would do well to remember the fact that you are my prisoner and I am your king.”

I swallow hard as I nod and wonder if I’m pushing my luck. Variant is unpredictable, yes, and it’s due to that fact that I need to tread carefully. Push him too far and there’s no tellingwhat he’ll do. He strikes me as impulsive and an unpredictable, impulsive lunatic is the most dangerous sort.

“I appreciate your interest, all the same,” he says with a chuckle. “I must admit, I do prefer it when you actually speak during our time together.”

“Yet, you don’t want me to ask questions,” I bark and then swallow hard.

He chuckles. “Touché, Angel, touché.”

The last time he requested my company, I remained silent—mainly because I was terrified of him and not really sure how to act—what to do or what to say. I can’t say why this meeting is different. Maybe I’m tired of having questions with no answers. Or maybe I’m just fed up with this game Variant plays with me. I’m more than sure he plans to kill me—I’m just unsure as to when… or how.

“I never said I didn’t want you to ask questions,” he argues. “I just would remind you to tread carefully.”

“Reminder accepted,” I say with a quick sigh.

He looks at the food spread out before us. “Eat, Eilish,” he says. “I don’t want to ask you again.”

I take a deep breath and drop my attention from the wall ahead of me to the spread before me. My stomach immediately growls and a flush overcomes my cheeks.

“It’s obvious you’re hungry. I don’t know why you pretend you’re not,” he says with another chuckle as he downs his glass of wine and refills it. “Certainly you don’t think I’ve poisoned the food?”

I glance down at the sumptuous feast. “That thought hadn’t actually occurred to me,” I admit.

“If I wanted you dead, poisoning you would not be my choice.”

I nod and then help myself to the food before me. My stomach continues to growl but Variant has the decency not to say anything.

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