Page 9 of The Fallen
Panic overwhelms me. My heart races so quickly that I feel lightheaded.
“No,” I whisper. “No.” Never again. I belong to myself. Orson kept me trapped for a year. I won’t let this demon own me, too.
Pain shoots through my wrist. Another wave of dizziness.
I fight to keep my eyes open, but it’s too hard. No, no, no.
“Calm down. Stay with me,” the demon demands, panic evident in their tone. They look so weak with their glowing eyes half closed. It dawns on me then that this creature saved me.
As I listen to their panicked plea, something about their voice soothes me, despite their worry.
Darkness takes me under once more.
This time I welcome it.
I wake slowlythe next morning, or at least I’m assuming it’s the next morning by the way the sun peeks through the window. I shield my eyes. There’s something soft under my head, and I’m lying on my back on the floor. There isn’t any pain in my body. I flex my fingers and turn my wrist, testing it.
I’m fully healed.
Slowly, I pry my eyes open, and my stomach falls when I realize I’m still in my cell. Only the door is open. Who opened it? Part of me fears that this is a trap, but I have to try. I need to escape. I need to get as far away from this house, this prison, this town, and this dangerous creature next to me.
The demon, almost fully shadowed now, with the exception of their face, is sleeping. They don’t wake when I stand. Or when my foot accidentally flows through their shadowy leg.
Counting my blessings, I pick up the large sweatshirt that was my makeshift pillow and place it over my head. I take one last glance at the angelic demon who saved me, then I leave the prison that’s been my home for the past twelve months and fight the strange feeling that I’m making a horrible, horrible mistake.
CHAPTER 1
CASS
(Six months later.)
Abell chimes at the front door of Rook’s Apothecary, causing me to glance up. Zero strides into the shop like he owns the place, his majestic amethyst dragon wings tucked in snugly around his back. He’s wearing his usual; tight black jeans and a black button-up rolled up, exposing his muscled forearms. I grin at the tall shifter as he makes his way up to the front counter.
“Hey there, pretty dragon. You looking for Rook?” I bat my lashes playfully—he knows my flirting is harmless.
“Pretty? I always knew I liked you, demon.” Zero smirks and winks. “You’re always so hyper and happy. It’s rare for your kind, but you wear it well.”
My black tail swishes at his compliment, and my smile grows wider. It’s only been two months since I moved to this town, but I’m happy to finally be making friends.
“Where is that bestie of mine?”
“Rook’s in town, interviewing someone for the elemental position.”
“A witch actually applied? That’s surprising.” Zero spins around and leans his tall frame against the counter, his lean, powerful thighs stretching out before him. Damn. Too bad I'm not into dragons. Hell, I'm not into anyone nowadays. Not since I met my own big bear of a witch six months ago.
“Yeah. It’s a little sus, though. The application only had a first name on it, and it was very basic. I can’t remember anymore, something like a John or, what’s another common human name?” I peer up at the ceiling as if it has any answers.
“Daniel?”
I grin eagerly, snapping my fingers. “Yeah. I’ve met quite a few Daniels since moving to Heart’s Hollow.”
Zero nods, looking alert. “No last name. Got it. Is there anything else I should look into? Should I be worried about my best friend?”
Zero might be one of the most attractive creatures I’ve ever seen, but he’s even smarter than he looks. As a trained assassin and an expert rogue vampire hunter for the Elite Guard, Zero is wired to be suspicious. But when he was a teen, his best friend was kidnapped right in front of him. The story ended tragically, and since then, Zero has protected all his loved ones with a ferocity I can respect.
Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if the dragon considered those he loves to be an actual part of his hoard.
“No, he’s fine. He has his phone on him and will text me if he needs any help.”
