Page 91 of Guardian Angel

I still couldn’t believe the demon had attacked me in the middle of a crowded, public place. They’d never approached me when there were more than one or two people around. I’d honestly thought I was safe in the airport.

How was I even alive?

I’d been sure he was going to kill me. So what was I doing here? And where was here really?

I pushed to my feet, wincing as it made the throbbing in my head worse, and leaned against the wall. It wasn’t much warmer than the floor, and I shivered. Somewhere along the way, I’d lost my shoes, socks, sweatshirt, and work polo. No wonder I was so cold. I was wearing nothing but my jeans and the thin camisole I’d had on under the polo shirt.

“Ah, you’re awake.” The voice that came from the deep shadows was calm and smooth. “Good. I was beginning to worry your little angel would get here before I got the chance to speak with you.”

Fear coursed through me at his words. I was alone with a demon who’d made it no secret that he wanted me dead.

There was a cold laugh as Dantalion stepped into the harsh light. “I can smell your fear, sweetheart. Don’t worry, I’m not going to kill you. And I’m sure your angel will be here soon.”

I shivered, not sure if it was from the cold or horror. I didn’t want Nate anywhere near Dantalion, but I couldn’t help holding on to the thought of him coming for me like it was a lifeline.

“Where…?” My teeth chattered when I tried to speak.

“Where are we?” Dantalion finished with an amused smirk. “Just outside Athens, Georgia.”

“I thought Georgia would be warmer,” I muttered.

Dantalion walked toward me as if he had all the time in the world. I guess he did. I didn’t trust myself to stand without the support of the wall. There was no way I could make it more than a few steps before he reached me.

That didn’t mean I was going to stand here without even trying to make it difficult for him. I pushed off the wall and took a single step to the side before collapsing back again, completely spent.

“What did you do to me?” I asked, closing my eyes and waiting for the dizzy spell to pass.

There was no answer. When I opened my eyes again, Dantalion was standing right in front of me. I shrank back as he reached out and ran his fingertips over my neck.

I’d never seen him up close. I recognized him easily enough from the time he came to my apartment and fought Nate, but this was a whole new perspective.

With his light brown skin and bleached-blond hair, he sort of reminded me of a California-surfer stereotype. Except his dark eyes ruined the effect. They were pure black, like little voids of darkness that could suck you down if you weren’t careful.

If it weren’t for the cruel look in his eyes or the cold, practiced smile on his lips, I would have thought he was handsome and stylish. He wore black slacks and a white button-down with the sleeves rolled up to the forearms to show off a shiny watch.

“There’s no need for you to worry about what we did. There will be no permanent damage to you or your baby.”

I sucked in a sharp breath.

Baby?

I lifted my hand to my flat stomach, not sure whether to believe him. He was a demon, a duke of Hell. He wasn’t exactly a trustworthy source of information.

His smile widened. “You didn’t know, did you?” His fingers wrapped around my wrist and pulled my hand away from my abdomen while his other hand slipped down from my neck toward my stomach.

“Don’t,” I whispered, trying to pull my hand from his grasp.

He squeezed tighter, and I gasped at the shock of pain that ran from my wrist up my arm.

“You don’t give the orders here, sweetheart.” He caressed my stomach through the thin material of my shirt.

Revulsion rose up inside me. I didn’t want his hands anywhere near my baby. But I held myself still as his fingers moved. There was nothing else I could do, and I wouldn’t risk pissing him off. Not when it wasn’t just me he could hurt.

“So tiny,” Dantalion murmured. “So weak. I can barely feel the angelic power at all.”

I clenched my jaw, hating him more by the second.

His eyes flicked back to my face, studying me while his hand stayed on my abdomen. “You let him knock you up with a Nephilim.” Dantaliontsked. “Naughty little angel couldn’t keep his hands to himself.”

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