Page 28

TWENTY-EIGHT

Micha

My cover had been blown. Best I could tell, the blond demon Ashley entertained the other night was responsible for that. Until I was certain Kiam left the building, I thought it best to keep Ashley out of sight. While I generally trusted the man, when it came to situations such as this, things could get complicated.

I’d taken every precaution I could think of, but magic was as magic did. It was a tricky practice and unpredictable on the best of days. Even if I had been a sorcerer, exceptionally trained and highly practiced, there were no guarantees.

Best I could tell, when I angrily ripped Ashley from his arms, the magic slipped for a moment, lowering the veil.

Kiam called earlier, while we were at the dress shop. He told me under no certain terms would he hide my secret if Josiah confronted him. A flicker of guilt passed through me. Kiam wasn’t all that thrilled to have been helping Josiah and I with the things he had, and here I was demanding his secrecy and unintentionally involving him in my own fucked up situation.

The thing was, I knew they’d both do the same. As a matter of fact, Josiah had rebelled himself, in his own way, doing whatever he wanted and defying higher authority. His actions had threatened both of us and all we’d built together.

Ashley gaped at me and shook her head. “What are you doing?” Tears coursed down her cheeks. “Why the hell does no one believe me when I try to tell them things? Is that all I am to you, a prostitute?”

Tossing the man’s organ over my shoulder, it landed on the floor with a rubbery sound, as if I’d tossed a toy ball. I grabbed Ashley’s hands, and she winced as blood smeared. “You're not a prostitute; not once did I think that. What do you mean nobody believes you? Why do you care what that parasite thinks?”

“It's just always been that way. Nobody believed I didn’t set fire to my neighbor’s house when I was a kid; just cuz someone saw me there an hour before and I collected lighters. No one believed me I didn’t steal from my last job. All I’d done was go to get my lip balm and papers I’d forgotten; I had no idea someone left pills on the counter. And now this guy thought just because I work at a strip club; I’m a sex worker. I’m so sick of it. It's like this ongoing theme in my life.”

My head was buzzing and my stomach filled with bile. She was being one hundred percent truthful; the pain was obvious in her blue-tinged aura. Her face had paled, and her hands shook lightly in my own.

Had she tried to tell me, and I hadn’t listened? Had she ever attempted to force Josiah to hear her? She was soft in many ways, but yet fierce in others. Was this something she’d been too timid about? I suspected it was. It wasn’t as if we weren’t extremely protective of Ipomoea, or like we bent the rules in these types of situations.

I’d fucked up, big time. When I found her downstairs, the silken pouch in her clasp, I’d known about her past and immediately assumed the worst. As I thought on the subject further, when she said she hadn’t stolen anything—she was right. I’d simply assumed she was saying that because she hadn’t left the room with the product in hand.

I’d punished her for something she’d never done and been intent on disciplining her even more. While I couldn’t say I hadn’t enjoyed the process, I knew I’d not been kind. I’d even forced her to suck my cock in front of guests.

That’s not something I ever would have done, had I known the truth.

The only thing I could do was be honest with her now; though it was much too late.

I dragged her close, and looked her in the eye, my heart pounding. Once I crossed this line, there was no going back. She had no choice but to accept me no matter how she felt after I came clean. I owned her body, soul, blood, and spirit and there was no going back. It was signed in blood, and I’d claimed her.

She’d fuss, I knew that. However, I was not ready for her ultimate response.

“Angel,” I said, and waited for her to lift her eyes. “I’ll be sorry for eternity I didn’t believe you. You did try to tell me, I can see that now.”

She blinked. “What? What are you talking about? You knew I wasn’t a sex worker. I’m yours; and you sleep with me because... because you care about me, right?”

Ashley peered up at me, both hopeful and scared. I loved her with every ounce of my darkness and my light. But to keep her for the rest of my immortal life, I would hurt her again and again, if it’d keep her by my side.

I didn’t tell her any of that. Rather, I smoothed my hands up her arms and wrapped my fingers around the back of her neck before claiming her in a bruising kiss that left her gasping for air.

“Pet, it's me,” I said, keeping my voice even. “I didn’t believe you about the pills, though you tried multiple times. I refused to listen. Forgive me, please.”

She wavered in my arms, her knees buckling beneath her. Her face had gone white as a sheet, and she swatted her way out of my grasp the second she found her bearings. “Micha? No.” She banged into a small side table. “No,” she repeated, glancing around frantically.

My shoes clicked on the marble as I moved toward her. “Ashley, calm down. Relax, please.” A vase had toppled onto the floor when she crashed into the table, sending thick shards of glass careening. “You’re going to hurt yourself.”

I snagged her by the shoulders and let my disguise dissolve and drift off into the ether. There was no point in retaining it any longer. Now that I’d released it, even my signature on Matthew’s documents would change to reveal my true identity. There was no hiding any longer and it was only a matter of time before Josiah discovered what I’d done. I wasn’t terribly concerned over Matthew; the angels tended to keep to themselves.

Josiah and the Collective were a different story.

Ashley glanced up at me, her features twisting into a mask of fury, her shock long forgotten. “Fuck you, Micha. How could you?” Her hands slammed against my chest. “You bought me,” she screamed, “you fucking bought me.”

“Of course I did, did you think I’d ever let anyone else touch you?” How could she be so surprised? It wasn’t like I’d been following her around and making sure she was always okay for my own entertainment. It was all about her and it always was.

Now probably wasn’t a good time to let her know I’d disposed of her philandering ex-boyfriend a while back.

“I gave myself to you,” she growled at me. “I let you drink my blood.” Her hands raised to her forehead before she dragged one roughly through her hair and turned at the waist, looking away.

She hiccupped, her tears pouring down her face. “Do you have any idea how badly I missed you? I thought I was cheating on you with Isaac.” She laughed bitterly. “How much of a fool am I?”

“You’re not.” I pulled her close and cupped her face. “I told you I wanted you the first moment I saw you. I love you and I always have.”

She bent slightly, the top of her head rubbing against my chin. “Yeah right, asshole,” she ground out. “Fuck you.”

Ashley pulled back, her shoulder flexing under my grasp. She grunted as something dug into my chest, sharp and hot. I glanced down. She’d stabbed me, right in the blackened heart that beat only for her.

I let go of her and grasped the handle as she fumbled backward, a hand over her mouth and her eyes impossibly big. She tripped over her own feet and tumbled to the ground.

She fucking stabbed me. My little angel had successfully done what legions of men and demons had foolishly attempted but failed to accomplish over hundreds of years. Blood was pouring down my chest, rapidly reaching my waist band and staining my pants and all I could do was stare in disbelief.

Now, she was terrified, slipping and sliding, having difficulty getting upright in her four-inch heels.

“Ashley,” I warned her, strolling over to her. Where did she think she was going? “Angel, stop.”

She tore off her shoes and ran.

If I’d been in any position to, I would’ve pursued her. As it was, I was bleeding too much and weakening by the second. I yanked the knife out and wiped it on my pants before tucking it inside my jacket pocket. If I didn’t feed quickly enough, I’d be in a world of hurt.

Conveniently enough for me, a fresh body laid at my feet. He was getting stale, but he did the trick, restoring my body to half its normal operating levels. I let the man go, his head hitting the floor with a hollow sounding thud when a pair of shoes entered my field of view.

Kiam held his hand out for me to grip and I rose to a standing position, wary of whatever would happen next. “You know you're the biggest fucking asshole, right?”

“What did I tell you about calling me that?” I snapped at him.

Kiam raised his gaze like I was the most difficult person he’d ever come across. “Moody fuck. You might want to pay attention. Ashley ran straight to Samuel.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Or he conveniently placed himself in her path at her time of need, who knows.”

“Blond pig,” I muttered and strode down the hall.

He grabbed my shoulder. “You look and smell like a butcher shop.”

“I don’t care.”

“Maybe you don’t but you do realize the nature of the crowd here, correct? It's not all friendly.” Kiam had a good point. Over half the crowd was human—which meant the people were easily shocked and horrified and generally had an issue with blood and torn flesh being splattered about. Inconvenient but a frequent occupational hazard.

“I don't care who I upset, Ashley is out there, and she’s upset. She needs me.”

“She’s not, man. He disappeared with her. Interestingly, she placed her hands in his like she’s transitioned before.”

Rubbing my face with my hands, I tried to calm my pounding heart. “Well, I’m going to have to get changed and go after her. You coming?”

There was only one place she could be. I’d brought her there in her sleep before, unable to stay away and craving her blood. From what Kiam was telling me; it seemed she’d made some visits on her own or she had company. On one hand, this was good. It meant she wouldn’t be as scared or confused, perhaps even had some sense of direction.

On the other hand, it meant she’d been exploring another dimension with a man other than myself.

It should’ve been me; Samuel should not have taken that liberty and at this point he damn well knew she was mine. He’d have to have smelled me all over her. There was no excusing his actions and the next heart I ate would come straight from his cracked open chest.

After hemming and hawing, Kiam muttered, “Maybe. If so, I’ll meet you at the bar.”

I turned around and found an alternate exit to avoid sullying or disturbing the public with the sight of biological waste. Even if I’d not had a run-in with the disrespectful stranger, Isaac would’ve continued to be greatly overlooked among the mingling guests. Now, I’d likely drawn attention.

As Micha, I didn’t have the luxury of anonymity and would be expected to entertain, converse, and be the epitome of civility.

“Sir?” Mason trotted around the car, slightly aghast.

“I’m fine,” I said, waving my hand over his face. His countenance reconfigured to his normal appearance. The magic I’d used on him had been a simple glamour the lower level demon would not be able to sustain on his own for any significant amount of time. Hence, my assistance with the matter.

Not waiting for door service, I hopped out of the vehicle the second it pulled up to the curb.

“Sir,” someone called to me as I breezed past everyone. Probably security. “Sir?” My key opened the elevator, and I stepped inside.

I’d set up everything as Isaac Astilbe and not Micha Carnea, and was essentially trespassing. It was only a matter of time before Josiah got wind of the disaster of my own making and I had my doubts as to whether he’d accept Ashley’s innocence.

Then it struck me. I pulled out my phone, tapping a quick message before the door opened to deposit me in the penthouse foyer.

The groove in the floor left by the marble table’s leg was permanent. I remembered taking Ashley against the table, caging her against it as I rammed my cock inside her pussy. A sense of satisfaction filled me knowing the marks on the floor could no more be erased than the indisputable fact she’d soon be back here where she belonged.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, but I didn’t touch it.

I had a woman to bring home, no matter where in the universe she’d run to for safety.