Page 32 of Tainted Wings

“Never leave me, Little Bird,” he rasps, his eyes swimming with such intense emotion it has my head spinning. “I have you in my arms now, and I never plan on letting you go.”

“Never,” I agree, burying my face into his neck. We need to find a way to tell my dad I don’t want to take my place alongside him in Hell. I don’t know where my life will lead me when I do, but I know I want it to be with these two by my side.

THE GUYS AND I SITand talk for a while as they get to know each other. We end up ordering pizza and watching a movie.

The house is quiet, only the sounds of the movie before screaming comes from outside. My eyes find Zed’s, and I see the dread in his eyes.

“I’ll be right back,” he says, picking me up off his lap and placing me on the couch next to him.

Leo and I share a look before we're up and following him.

“You stupid whore!” a voice roars, the sound of something meeting flesh rings in the air. “I expect to have a hot fucking meal on the table, and a cold beer in my hand when I get home from work. But what do I find? You getting home at the same time as me. Where were you, Megan? Were you out opening your legs for another man? It’s all you’re fucking good for anyway.”

“No,” she cries, her hand to her cheek. “I picked up an extra shift at the diner.”

The man starts yelling at her some more as I look over to Zed with panic, quickly turning to shock. He’s standing there, looking ready to murder the man, but he does nothing.

“Zed, do something,” I urge him, wondering why he’s letting this man put his hands on his mother.

“I can’t,” he growls through gritted teeth. “He will just hurt her worse when I’m not around. I can’t watch her all the time.” He sounds so broken, like he's ready to cry. “She won't leave him because then we won't have money to pay the bills. I try my hardest to earn what he puts into this house, but it's not enough. It's never fucking enough!”

His mother cries out again, and I look over to seeing the fucking vile piece of crap punch her in the face, sending her to the ground. He starts to beat on her, and a feral sound comes from Zed. He’s finally about to step in, unable to see his mother hurt like this, despite what he just said.Is this his breaking point?

Because it sure as hell is mine.

Pure, raw fury fills my veins as I watch this sick fuck hurt the mother of my mate. I can feel my powers swirling inside me as my chest starts to heave.

“Awe shit,” Leo groans. “You might wanna take a few steps back.”

“Why?” Zed asks.

But I answer his questions as my wings spring free, and I can feel my horns grow. Flames ignite my hands as they crawl their way up my arms until I’m completely on fire.

“Enough!” I roar, my voice booming like a crack of thunder.

The asshole stops what he's doing as I hear curses ring out behind me. Zed’s mother lies on the ground, curled up into a ball, sobbing.

Zed’s stepfather looks at me, terror filling his eyes. He starts to back up, but trips over his own foot, making him fall on his ass.

I stalk towards him, the grass below my feet singes with each footstep I take. He scrambles back, mouth opening and closing like a gaping fish.

“You think it's fun to prey on the weak?” I ask, tilting my head to the side. I’ve never lost control of my demon side this badly before. But I’ve also never felt the need to unleash my full power on anyone. I’ll be damned if I sit by and allow someone to be treated this way. There’re special places in Hell for people like this, and I’ll be sure to talk to my dad about seeing if there’s an opening for this fucker.

“I’m sorry,” he blubbers.

I snort a laugh. “No, you're not. Sorry people don’t do it again, and again, and again. You know what you are? A bully, a coward, and a waste of space.”

The need to set him on fire is battling with the logical side of my brain right now. I can kill him. I can send him right to Hell. And I know there’s no way my father would bring him back, so he would be there for the rest of time. But it’s not who I am, it's not my place to decide his fate for him. But Icanscare him away. Icanhurt him if I want to.

Looming over him, I feel a sense of power watching this grown man shake like a scared little kid. I could see the thrill of what my father does. Power is an intoxicating feeling.

“You will leave this house and never return. You will not contact this woman again. But you will find another job, and send everything you make to her account. Do you understand? If you fail to do so, Iwillfind you and send you right to my father’s doorstep.”

“W-who's your father?” he stammers

An eerie smile takes over, and I’m glad the guys can’t see it. “The Devil.”

The guy's eyes widen, and he starts to nod frantically. “Yes, yes, I understand. I’ll do anything you say, just please, please don’t send me there.”

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