Page 84 of Touched By Sin
It’s ajar.
As I move closer, a light flicks on and floods the ground through the small gap in the door. I swallow thickly, then look at Daemon behind me. He’s frowning, his shoulders tense. “The door, Daemon. Can you not see it?”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
Aurelia…
My breath catches, and I look back at the door as my heart thunders inside my chest. “It calls my name.”
“The fuck?!”
Another step closer. Daemon yanks me back by my arm. “Where the fuck are you going?”
His grip hurts, but it grounds me enough to peer up at him. Daemon looks adorably confused, and it would be cute if not for the whispers coming from inside the door, urging me closer.
As I take a step back, his hand shoots out and he grabs the back of my neck, then pulls me into him. I stare in horror as his sharp jaw starts to melt away like candle wax. His cheeks slowly slide down to reveal flesh and bones, the corners of his mouth turning downward. “Where are you going, beautiful?”
“Daemon?”
Cruel, masculine laughter bounces off the trees, echoing all around me. I look back, but Daemon is gone. Before me is Amenadiel, who takes a menacing step closer. I dart my gaze around for an escape, but there’s nowhere to run. He’s bigger, faster, and more powerful.
Smiling cruelly, he grabs me by the throat and leans down. “You look scared, Angel.”
“Let go of me!” I shove him off, then stumble back and fall onto my butt.
The wet grass soaks through my skirt that’s pooled around my waist, but modesty is the last thing on my mind as I scramble away, my heels sliding on the grass.
“Did you think Daemon was the worst wolf in these woods? He’s a cub, Angel. Trust me, you’ll soon learn the true meaning of hell when I get my hands on you.”
I roll onto my stomach, push myself up to my feet, and run toward the door. His taunting laughter dances across the sheen of cold sweat on my skin while my heart gallops wildly. Before I reach the door, he grabs my hair and pulls me back against his hard chest. “Where are you off to in such a hurry? I’m not finished playing yet.”
“Please,” I whimper, trying to push down on my panic. Amenadiel hums and buries his nose in my neck. He breathes me in, causing my skin to swell with goosebumps as I struggle in his arms. It’s useless. He’s much stronger than me.
“Sssh,” he soothes, his lips curving into a smile against my neck as he strokes his hand down my hair. “I won’t hurt you… much. What do you think it’ll take for Daemon to snap? Will it be enough to fuck this sweet cunt?” Ignoring my soft pleas for him to stop, he palms me through my dress. If anything, my fear turns him on more. “Or if I cut off your wings and nail them above my fireplace?”
I push free and run, but he yanks me back by my blonde hair and shoves me to the ground.
Slap.
Blood fills my mouth and my ears ring. Amenadiel crouches down, grabbing a handful of my hair and flipping me onto my back. “How long will it take before yourherocomes to the rescue?”
“Fuck you!” I roll over on my side, spitting out a mouthful of metallic blood. Thick, putrid hatred courses through my veins when I feel his touch on my cheek.
“You’re not ready for me yet,” he taunts as he tucks my hair behind my ear. “I like pain and a lot of it. Little innocent angels like you don’t come out alive, and we can’t kill you too soon. Not until the kingdom is mine and I have your wings and my brother’s head mounted to the wall above my fireplace.”
I make sure he sees the hatred in my eyes—the sheer force of it. It’s yet another feeling to add to the scroll of emotions forced on me since I set foot in this world.
“Ah!” he says, cupping my chin. “Can you feel it darkening your soul yet, Angel? Snuffing out the last of the light until only darkness remains.” Still crouching, he grabs my hair and forces me onto my knees in front of him. “It’s a shame to ruin such perfection.” His lips descend on my neck, and he whispers, “Scream for me, beautiful.” Then he strikes, sinking his teeth into my neck.
I wake up screaming,startling Ronan next to me, who lights up the lantern on his bedside table. Shadows dance across his face as his eyes widen when he spots the blood pouring from between my fingers on my throat. “Shit!” He tears his T-shirt off, ordering me to use it to apply pressure to the wound. Then he jumps out of bed and disappears through the door, leaving me alone with the hazy remnants of my nightmare. Hot tears stream down my cheeks as I try to calm my breathing, but I can still feel Amenadiel’s touch on my skin and his sharp teeth tearing into my neck.
The door flies open, and Daemon and Alaric tumble through with Ronan hot on their heels. When they spot me on the bed, they pause. Trails of crimson run down my arm, and my matted, sweaty hair sticks to my cheek.
“What happened?” Daemon demands, striding forward. The bed dips beneath his weight as he lowers my hand to inspect the damage.
“She woke up screaming,” Ronan replies as he starts to pace. “Someone attacked her in her dream. Fed on her.”
“How the fuck is that even possible?” Alaric growls, rubbing his face. “This clusterfuck makes no fucking sense.”
