Page 44 of Touched By Darkness

“Do you like it here in Hell?”

“Why are you here?” I ask instead of answering her question. Dariana isn’t someone who is nice to strangers because she wants to be nice. When we first met, she sneered at me.

This side of her unnerves me.

“Do I need a motive to talk to you?”

Yes, you do.My shoulders rise and fall. “You tell me.”

We’re still staring at each other, both curious and a little wary.

I like the way the breeze lifts her hair from her shoulders and how her long lashes brush her cheeks every time she blinks.

I especially like her smile when she breaks eye contact to scan the tree line.

“I like it here in Hell.”

Her wide and curious night-sky eyes return to me, and I duck my head, then shrug. “I can be myself for the first time… I felt lost in Eden.”

“Why did you feel lost?”

I don’t care if she has ulterior motives for talking to me. I just want to hear her voice.

To sit beside her like this and catch notes of her flowery perfume on the breeze.

“It’s complicated.”

“You live with Dmitriy now?”

“Yes.” I watch her closely for a reaction, but she remains guarded.

“He’s bad news.”

“You don’t like him?” See, I can play the role of a clueless newcomer.

Her head shakes, and she turns her body to face me. “You should stay away from him.”

“Why?”

“He has a rivalry with Daemon.”

Don’t I know it?

“And he’ll do anything to get at him. He’ll even go as far as using others.”

“How do you know I’m not in on his plans?”

Her eyes flick between mine, causing my cheeks to heat. “Call it a hunch.”

“A hunch?” I’m amused now.

The Dariana I knew would not allow herself to be guided by a hunch. She’s definitely up to something.

“Yes, a hunch.”

“Maybe I’m the villain.”

I expect her to smile or laugh, but she does neither. She simply stares at me with those big eyes that reflect the silver moonlight. “Are you?”

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