Fallen Angels by Natalie Kiest Page A

wasted no time in trying to comfort me with soothing hands on my back, shoulders, and neck.
    He was talking, but I could barely comprehend his words. I was busy getting lost in his touch while trying to tell my drunken self this was all wrong. I knew it was wrong, but my clouded mind was telling me I needed Devlin. When his lips found mine, nearly all of my apprehension melted away.
    It was like he knew what was going on in my mind and made his moves according to my thoughts. Before I knew it, I was on the table, and he was frantically stripping my clothes off. My mind screamed at me to stop this. Then the lustful look in his eyes shoved me back into the white room of my torture, and I froze in terror.
    Suddenly an unfamiliar memory fluttered in my head. Ravyn feeding me that night in Seattle, her careful touch and control. “Ravyn?” I breathed. My terror and drunken state abruptly melted away. “Stop!” I screamed before he could get his pants off. “How could you? You took credit for saving me, when it was Ravyn that night. And you drugged me so you could have your way?” My tears fell while I dressed as fast as possible.
    “Kara that’s not what happened. You wanted this. I can make you happy, not Ravyn!”
    “Stay the fuck away from me! I want you out of my house, and you better pray that Ravyn doesn’t find out about this!” I yelled. 
    I rushed to the comfort of a hot shower to scrub Devlin from my body while crying silently over my friend’s betrayal and my stupidity. I would never trust anyone again. If Devlin’s actions weren’t enough to kill my trust, then the memory currently playing itself over and over in my mind would definitely do it.
    Ravyn came to me that night in Seattle, she willingly fed me, and she saved my baby. She held me, she told me that she had always loved me, and then she took it all away. Only to have the memory reopened by Devlin? No, by me and Devlin. She knew what he wanted all along.
    How could I be so stupid? I didn’t even like Devlin! I had Ravyn, and I was happy. Why would Ravyn hide such an important truth from me? If I had known I would have trusted her with Chloe. I felt bad for treating her so terribly. I also hated her for twisting my mind like she did. How the hell did she hide a memory? How many times had she used this new ability? It was a gut-wrenching thought to which I wasn’t sure I wanted an answer.
    I stewed over the incident all week while she was away. I didn’t know if she was aware that the memory was now mine, and I hadn’t heard from her since she left. I needed to talk to her about it and finally worked up the courage to call Friday evening.
    I wanted to have a calm conversation about it, but as soon as I heard her lovely greeting my anger and mistrust turned to blame. Ravyn sounded absolutely destroyed before her phone went silent.

Chapter Nine
    Ravyn
    Just Die Already
     
     
    I was finally happy, though being back in Seattle for over a week was wearing on that happiness. I wanted to be home with Kara; instead, I was here watching the week-long games held at my business. I had retired from the world of fighting a few months after opening. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the fight, but I couldn’t risk not being with Kara.
    The week of wild festivities was going very well. It was Jeanie’s idea to celebrate our one-year anniversary with a long lineup of events and fights to pay homage to the ancient coliseums. It was finally Friday. I had two more nights before I could go home and make love to Kara, which I was very much looking forward too.
    I was perched on the balcony waiting for the sun to go down and the long night to begin when my phone vibrated in my pocket. Kara’s picture smiled brightly on the face of my phone. “Hey beautiful,” I answered.
    “It was you that night. You saved me and Chloe, not Devlin.” Kara’s anger and sadness poured through the phone.
    I could hear her crying softly. I knew exactly what this meant. The memory