Page 39 of Her Personal Demons (The Seven Sinners of Hell's Kingdom 1)

I stare at Raven’s beautiful blue-green eyes, unable to form any coherent words. The sun lights her hair, streaking it with a deep midnight color. She’s even more breathtaking than before, now that I concentrate on her humanity instead of her soul.

She snaps her fingers in front of my face. “Hello? Did you hear me? I know your creepy ass has a thing for watching me be punished, but—”

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Bending my knees, I launch into the air, my whole body buzzing from her closeness. I can’t bear the way she looks at me as if I’m the bad guy, but I also can’t bear to leave her. The need to protect her consumes me.

I land on the roof of the building and stroll along the edge, shoving my mixture of emotions to the back of my mind the best I can. I need to focus. I need a clear head. The task that Raven faces could help guide the brethren and I down the path to stop the devils from destroying the world we’ve cared after for so long.

Raven stops outside the backdoor of one of the businesses and raps her knuckles on the metal security screen. Stepping back, she crosses her arms over her chest, her face lining with worry. She rubs her lips together and peers in each direction of the alley. I follow her line of sight to the street and catch sight of the gaudy red car Kase and Dante are in idling nearby. Confusion washes over me. Why in heavens would they choose to send her alone only to sit back and watch?

“Hello? Mr. Tavern, I know you can see me on the security cam. Please open up. I’m here on behalf of Dante.” Raven’s voice steals my attention away from the devils.

She adjusts her dress, hiking it up a bit more. Turning her back on the door, she gathers her hair into a ponytail, revealing the smooth skin of her shoulders in the backless dress. My gaze travels down the length of her spine and to the sliver of lace peeking out from her waistline. I fist my hands and tip my head up to stare at the bright sun. I’ve never been so affected by a piece of clothing in my existence. Something is wrong with me.

Jumping from the rooftop, I land on the sidewalk not far from the red car, needing to concentrate on something else apart from Raven. If I focus on her any longer, I’ll confront her again. I’ll risk starting a fight with the devils because Dante and Kase exit the vehicle and stroll to the alleyway.

“I’m only a messenger, Mr. Tavern. Please don’t make this hard,” Raven says, her voice echoing through the air.

A door slams against the wall. “You want to feel something real hard? Come here. I have a message you can deliver to that bastard.” The husky voice of the hell-bound man stiffens my muscles.

I keep my distance from the forsaken, hovering behind them as they huddle close and watch a man tower over Raven. He yanks a pocketknife from his jacket and aims it at her. Raven raises her hands in surrender and shuffles backward.

Her gaze flicks toward the street. “Stay back, Mr. Tavern. If you touch me—”

Raven doesn’t have the chance to finish her threat as the man rushes her. Screeching, she hits her back on the opposite wall, getting cornered. My heart leaps toward the Heavens, and it takes everything in me not to intervene with the devils in front of me. Kase and Dante remain in their spots, doing nothing as a man towers over Raven and aims a knife at her throat.

“What are you going to do about it, bitch?” The man catches his blade on the bodice of her dress and rips the fabric.

Whimpering, Raven presses her back harder into the wall, not moving despite her undergarments showing. Tears brim her big blue eyes. Her chest heaves and her lips quiver. I turn and glower at Kase and Dante, waiting for them to react.

They do nothing, standing there with wicked smiles on their faces, enjoying Raven’s humiliation and fear. Feeding on it like the most delectable thing they’ve ever tasted.

“Please, don’t hurt me,” Raven whispers, her voice shaking. “I’m just trying to do my job. You’re the one who made a deal with the devil, as did I, and they’re ready to collect on your debt.”

The man growls through his clenched teeth and waves the knife at her. “You came asking the wrong man, sweetheart. If those bastards want me, they’re going to have to come get me themselves.”

“You don’t want that.” Raven blinks through her tears, turning her gaze toward the sky.

The man slices his knife at the front of her dress again. “I think I do.”

My body hums with her silent prayer as her mind suddenly opens to me. I gasp at her thundering emotions booming through my essence. Her soul begs for help. Her body begs for protection. Her mind? Heavens, no. She silently begs for me. Hearing my name cross her mind opens a hole inside me that only Raven can fill. Her prayer cuts me deeply, stirring emotions I never knew were possible for me to feel.

I can’t stop my feet from shuffling forward until I’m merely a yard away from the devils. Kase chuckles at Raven’s distress and bumps his shoulder into Dante’s. My blood cools at the twisted vocalization of his dark desires. It takes everything in me not to unsheathe my sword and shove it into his back.

“Show her what kind of man you are, Tobias. Cut that dress off her. Show her the kind of wrath you carry,” Kase murmurs.

Dante hums under his breath. “Show her how much you envy us because she’s ours.”

Raven screams out as the dark soul grabs her hair and pins her to the wall. With a swipe of his knife, he cuts her bra down the middle, nicking her flesh in the process. She tries to kick him, but he stands too close to her, staring at her exposed breasts.

“Help!” Raven shouts, only to have the man slap his hand over her lips.

“If she can’t handle one bad soul, it serves her right to die like this,” Kase says, leering at Raven.

Dante rubs his hands together in anticipation. “I can’t wait to rip that pretty soul in half and fuck her face like the cum dumpster I want her to be.”

I break. I know better than to intervene in demonic affairs, but I can’t watch Raven suffer like this. I can’t bear to think of the rest of her eternity as the devils shred her soul to torture as they please. I just can’t.

Drawing my flaming sword, I swipe it across Dante and Kase’s backs, surprising them. Neither of them can unleash their hellish beasts before I launch into the air and fly towards Raven and the man. He rips at her dress, trying to cut it off completely while she sobs and begs for him to stop. Her emotions hurt me so deeply that I can barely see through the glassiness of my eyes.

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