of his reach.
He wrinkled his brow as a sense of unease wound through him. Foreboding filled the air.
“Talk to me, Philomela. What’s happening?”
“He wants an angel.” The words rushed from her, tight and strained.
Understanding hit and he sat up in alarm. Two angels had recently been in Lucifer’s grasp, both lured by Meela. Both had escaped him.
Evan was next.
“He wants to replace what he lost.”
She nodded, her body shaking and her expression pained.
“And you are what, the bait sent to trap me?” No, he couldn’t believe it. What they had shared was no subterfuge. He’d seen what was in Meela’s heart, had felt it.
Her eyes closed and her bottom lip trembled, damning her.
“I don’t want him to hurt you.” The words rang with truth and sincerity, and carried an honesty he’d never before heard from a demon. She loved him. Even now, knowing he’d been misled, he didn’t doubt her love for him, nor his for her.
He scooted over and pulled her into his arms once more. Nestling her into his chest, he pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
“Then he won’t,” he reassured her. Ten thousand years had taught him more than a few tricks for avoiding Satan. Together, they would be safe.
“But—”
“Shh. I’m watching for him. He won’t get anywhere near us. I promise.”
“You’re foolish to trust me.” Those words conveyed realms of hurt and self-loathing.
“Perhaps.” She could be very right about that. It was never wise to put one’s faith in a demon.
But he couldn’t help feel that something inside her had changed. He’d watched her for so long, since the Most High had breathed Creation into being and angels could once more see their Fallen brethren. The glee she once took in feeding from mankind was gone. Her vibrant personality had faded into a withered shell.
She was broken.
She wanted to come home.
Evan placed a featherlight kiss to her forehead. “But I believe in you.”
She gave a tiny shudder, so faint that he felt it in his soul rather than his arms. The poor little lost cherub. How long had it been since someone had believed in her, since she’d felt worthy of trust?
She pulled back just enough to look up into his eyes. “You truly want me? Even though I’m…” She bit her lip and studied his collarbone.
“Even though you’re what?”
“Ugly.”
“I still see the beautiful cherub I once knew. You aren’t ugly. You are the most beautiful creature in all the Realms.”
She shook her head violently. “No, you see an illusion. You don’t see me. You see the skin I wear. Underneath it, I’m ugly. Contaminated. You shouldn’t even be around me.”
“You have that backward. I don’t see the demon skin. I see within you, to your heart. I see your kindness. You never wanted to hurt the feelings of any angel. You’re generous. You always were the first to give, to sacrifice for another’s happiness. When other cherubs teased my quiet nature, you would tell me quiet males were interesting mysteries. That is the cherub I loved and that is who I see before me.”
Her chin tipped back up at that. Hope and fear mingled in her eyes, and he wanted nothing more than to banish the fear. He dipped his head and brushed her soft lips with his. “Come with me, Meela. Let me take you home.”
He kissed her again, and her body relaxed ever so slightly, relenting but not submitting. He held her to him, tracing her soft contours, cherishing each curve.
She watched him, her eyes full of sadness. Longing and fear mingled in her expression and he could sense the tug-of-war raging inside her. His poor, battered angel. She’d learn to trust again. He’d make sure of it.
“Say it, Meela. Say yes and I’ll take you away from here, away from him. He’ll never hurt you gain.” He laced the words with every iota of sincerity and truth within him, let them ring like the purest of chimes.
Her eyes filled with tears and the wall she’d tried so hard to keep
He wrinkled his brow as a sense of unease wound through him. Foreboding filled the air.
“Talk to me, Philomela. What’s happening?”
“He wants an angel.” The words rushed from her, tight and strained.
Understanding hit and he sat up in alarm. Two angels had recently been in Lucifer’s grasp, both lured by Meela. Both had escaped him.
Evan was next.
“He wants to replace what he lost.”
She nodded, her body shaking and her expression pained.
“And you are what, the bait sent to trap me?” No, he couldn’t believe it. What they had shared was no subterfuge. He’d seen what was in Meela’s heart, had felt it.
Her eyes closed and her bottom lip trembled, damning her.
“I don’t want him to hurt you.” The words rang with truth and sincerity, and carried an honesty he’d never before heard from a demon. She loved him. Even now, knowing he’d been misled, he didn’t doubt her love for him, nor his for her.
He scooted over and pulled her into his arms once more. Nestling her into his chest, he pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
“Then he won’t,” he reassured her. Ten thousand years had taught him more than a few tricks for avoiding Satan. Together, they would be safe.
“But—”
“Shh. I’m watching for him. He won’t get anywhere near us. I promise.”
“You’re foolish to trust me.” Those words conveyed realms of hurt and self-loathing.
“Perhaps.” She could be very right about that. It was never wise to put one’s faith in a demon.
But he couldn’t help feel that something inside her had changed. He’d watched her for so long, since the Most High had breathed Creation into being and angels could once more see their Fallen brethren. The glee she once took in feeding from mankind was gone. Her vibrant personality had faded into a withered shell.
She was broken.
She wanted to come home.
Evan placed a featherlight kiss to her forehead. “But I believe in you.”
She gave a tiny shudder, so faint that he felt it in his soul rather than his arms. The poor little lost cherub. How long had it been since someone had believed in her, since she’d felt worthy of trust?
She pulled back just enough to look up into his eyes. “You truly want me? Even though I’m…” She bit her lip and studied his collarbone.
“Even though you’re what?”
“Ugly.”
“I still see the beautiful cherub I once knew. You aren’t ugly. You are the most beautiful creature in all the Realms.”
She shook her head violently. “No, you see an illusion. You don’t see me. You see the skin I wear. Underneath it, I’m ugly. Contaminated. You shouldn’t even be around me.”
“You have that backward. I don’t see the demon skin. I see within you, to your heart. I see your kindness. You never wanted to hurt the feelings of any angel. You’re generous. You always were the first to give, to sacrifice for another’s happiness. When other cherubs teased my quiet nature, you would tell me quiet males were interesting mysteries. That is the cherub I loved and that is who I see before me.”
Her chin tipped back up at that. Hope and fear mingled in her eyes, and he wanted nothing more than to banish the fear. He dipped his head and brushed her soft lips with his. “Come with me, Meela. Let me take you home.”
He kissed her again, and her body relaxed ever so slightly, relenting but not submitting. He held her to him, tracing her soft contours, cherishing each curve.
She watched him, her eyes full of sadness. Longing and fear mingled in her expression and he could sense the tug-of-war raging inside her. His poor, battered angel. She’d learn to trust again. He’d make sure of it.
“Say it, Meela. Say yes and I’ll take you away from here, away from him. He’ll never hurt you gain.” He laced the words with every iota of sincerity and truth within him, let them ring like the purest of chimes.
Her eyes filled with tears and the wall she’d tried so hard to keep
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