Page 14 of Don't Pray

Did I? My memory was the worst, and I would’ve thought I had given them something so important, especially for a deal. The more I contemplated it, the more I realized I never gave them my name.

“It’s Ava,” I said.

Legion’s dark eyes glittered with desire as he gazed at me. He had a soft look about him as he stared at me. I had to squeeze my thighs together when he bit his lip while he checked me out.

“Ava,” he said, testing my name on his tongue. Hearing it coming from him did bad, bad things to me. My heart raced, and my body felt sensitive to the touch.

I knew I had a crush on these men. It didn’t matter that I’d only known them for less than 24 hours. These demons had treated me better than anyone else had. It was weird to me that I crushed on them.

I’d thought for the longest time that I’d either kill myself to escape that awful world or that I’d somehow die an old woman and single, not worrying about being married to a horrible husband who would rape me every night.

The ride was comfortable and quiet as Mephistopheles drove us to a clothing store. Once we got there, Legion helped me out with his hand held out for me to take. When I closed the door behind me, he never let go of my hand, which made my heart race and adrenaline rush through my veins.

I’m not good enough for them.

I was a depressed nobody who gave it up so easily to these demons to make a deal. Why would they want anything to do with me?

Asmodeus came to my other side and grabbed my hand, lacing our fingers together. Butterflies filled my stomach, and I tipped my head down, unable to look them in the eye.

Mephistopheles took the lead as he walked ahead of us. I kept my gaze lowered and watched the viking demon’s legs as he strode inside the building. The doors slid open, and I raised my eyes to peer around us. They widened, and my lips parted as I took in the boutique with various styles for women.

“Is there anything that catches your eye, little one?” Asmodeus murmured into my ear.

Letting go of his and Legion’s hands, I took a few careful steps ahead of the men as I gazed around. Some clothes looked like they belonged to some regency-era movie I’d seen one time. Other clothes looked like regular everyday clothes back in my world, which consisted of T-shirts and jeans. As I wandered ahead of the guys, something finally caught my eye.

The corners of my lips tipped up, and I went straight to the black dress with an upside-down cross on the front of it. I fingered the soft material and gazed at it. Raising my eyes, I peered around the section and smiled.

I never liked wearing bright colors. Dark colors and black were my favorites, and I finally found a section I enjoyed. In my world, the old Christian men demanded that women wore bland colors. We were on the brink of wearing dresses to be easily accessible for them to rape us.

A hand settled on my lower back. “You’ll look gorgeous in this.”

I nearly jumped out of my skin from the suddenness of the touch and voice. I peered over my shoulder at Legion, who watched me with a twinkle of amusement.

“O-oh,” I mumbled, unsure what to say to his compliment.

Legion turned me around to face him. He cocked his head and caught my chin in his fingers. I didn’t know how long he stared at me before I had to look away.

“You haven’t been taken care of, have you?” he asked with zero judgment.

I caught my bottom lip between my teeth and shook my head. Glancing at him, I decided to give him a little info about what I had gone through.

“My life was a living hell because I was nothing but a womb to be used.”

Something deadly sparked in his dark eyes. His nostrils flared and his jaw muscles popped as he gazed at me.

“You find me unappealing now, don’t you?” I whispered and looked away.

Legion’s fingers on my chin tightened, and he turned my face to make me look at him again. His eyebrows lowered, and he still clenched his jaw.

“What about your family?”

I drew my eyebrows together. “What about them?”

“Did they take care of you? Did they show you affection and gift you things? Did your father not protect you?”

A humorless laugh bubbled out of me, and I shook my head. Legion released my chin, but his hand went behind my head while the other settled on my lower back, sending desire and warmth through me. Legion’s eyes narrowed at my laugh.

“Even my dad saw me as something to be used by other men.”

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