Page 17 of To Hell and Back
To her surprise, the reminder of her trip to the Hell Realm helped her relax a little. Since she’d been to Hell and back, Seneca had already faced the worst outcome that could possibly happen. After the nightmare she’d experienced during her last life, she was sure she could handle a simple conversation with the dark angel. And if he didn’t believe her or chose not to help her, the fallout that happened would be on him.
“Umm…hello? Arson?”
“Over here.”
As she glanced toward the sound of his voice, she realized he wasn’t the only one in the room. There was another dark presence that gave her an overwhelming urge to run in the opposite direction. No, that wasn’t quite accurate. She actually felt conflicted. As much as she wanted to escape, she also wanted to stay. It was like she was being pulled by a magical tether that was tempting her deeper into the darkness, making it impossible for her to flee.
She might be a witch with her magic fully awakened, but she was still essentially human. Since her senses were nowhere as acute as other supernaturals, it was no surprise her eyes were taking a lot longer to adjust to the dim candlelight. She could use a charm to enhance her vision, but all of the spells she had learned during her previous life were a jumbled mess inside her head.
She really needed a refresher course before she started throwing magic around.
Squinting a little, all she could see were two dark silhouettes sitting in front of the stone fireplace. She tried to figure out which one was Arson, which was easy enough when he sent her a jaunty wave of greeting. As her gaze tracked over to the stranger next to him, her eyes widened.
Not in fear, but in fascination.
The male’s eyes were dark, yet they glowed with an enchanting eclipse effect that she found strangely beautiful. Even from across the room, she felt the pull of his captivating gaze. She felt it drifting over her like a phantom caress, and she fought the urge to shiver under his intense scrutiny.
He was dangerous.
Even from a distance, there was no doubt about that. It would probably be best to stay away from him, but his very presence was magnetic, drawing her in with an irresistible allure like a moth to a flame.
Unfortunately for her, she’d only made it a few steps closer before she tripped on the edge of a throw rug she hadn’t noticed. Talk about making a memorable first impression. Resignation and embarrassment swept through her when she started to fall, and she shut her eyes as she prepared for the inevitable hard impact with the floor.
Less than a heartbeat later, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist, and she was lifted off her feet and secured against a hard chest. Her eyes popped open in surprise, and her breath caught in her throat as she found herself staring up at the male with the glowing eclipse eyes.
Everything else in the room faded away as she lost herself in his dark gaze. Up close, his eclipse eyes were even more beautiful. Like deep, endless voids, with a ring of silver light around the dark irises that made them glow bright. The contrast between the black and silver was striking, giving him an otherworldly allure that was only enhanced by the undeniable power radiating from him.
He was a massive male, with broad shoulders and a strikingly handsome face that looked like it had been blessed by generous gods. His perfect features were sculpted with precision, each angle and curve contributing to a visage that was nothing short of breathtaking. He had a strong, defined jawline, adding a touch of ruggedness to his otherwise refined appeal.
His masculine beauty was accentuated by his inky black hair and bronzed skin that looked like it had been brushed with shimmering gold dust. In truth, he looked like a dark prince from a fairy tale. However, the raw power radiating from him made him seem more like the villain than the hero.
Without thinking, she reached up and lightly brushed back the wavy strands of dark hair that had fallen in front of his face so they wouldn’t obstruct her view. Her wayward fingers trailed down his smooth cheek, then along his jawline.
Touching him so freely clearly wasn’t smart.
She knew she was taking liberties but simply couldn’t bring herself to give a damn. An action like that could get her in serious trouble, yet her curiosity was a driving force that overpowered her sense of self-preservation.
When his arms tightened around her waist, she wasn’t sure if it was in rebuke or an instinctive reaction to her touch. She started to apologize but choked on the words when he leaned down and inhaled deeply against her neck like she was a fine wine he was savoring. The brush of his nose against her skin made her heart skip a beat before going into overdrive, but she didn’t try to pull away.
She had a feeling it wouldn’t do any good if she tried anyway.
Besides, she was pretty damn comfortable where she was.
There was a connection between them that was undeniable. It was both thrilling and terrifying, but it was also difficult to trust. Especially after everything she had experienced during her last life.
“I scent death on you.”
The words were a low whisper of sound, but they were the equivalent of an ice-cold bucket of water to her senses. She wiggled in his arms a little in a silent demand for him to release her. Instead of completely letting go, he let her body slide down his until her feet were once again touching the ground. She was pretty tall for a human female and was often complimented on her long legs, but he towered over her with his much larger frame.
“I swear I showered before I came here.”
His low chuckle made her shiver, and goosebumps covered her flesh. When he lowered his head again, she instinctively tried to lean away from him. His hands braced on her back, holding her in place. When his lips brushed against the side of her neck near where her star-shaped birthmark was located, her heart began to race so fast it felt like she was going to have a heart attack.
Damn, he really was potent.
“No, lovely one. I mean you have been touched by death. As my mate, that is an affront to my senses. You are mine, which means nothing should ever harm you.”
His mate?
