Page 26 of The Angel's Kiss
“What did he say?”
“Nothing. I woke up.”
Darius nodded. “I see. Well, I’m sure you two will work it out.”
I blinked. “That’s it? That’s all you have to say?”
He chuckled. “I’ve given you my best advice... you have to choose your own path toward your destiny, Rai.”
“I should have expected that.” I laughed, then hugged him again.
We parted and I did cry a little as I watched him walk away. I cleared my throat and took my birthday gift in the room with me.
***
“Ahh fuck! Fuck!” I yelled as soon as the needle pierced my cock. I felt hot liquid flowing and knew it was my blood.
“The others weren’t lying when they said you have colorful language,” Raina said.
“Jesus fucking Christ!” I gasped as the burning throbbed in my pleasure zone.
“Oh! Oh my! Let’s get this over with, you’ve got my ears burning,” Raina said.
I braced myself as she slid the ring through the holes and then twisted the ball tip on. She then cleaned my penis off and as she did that, the pain started to fade as I healed, thanks to my new ring. Nice to see how it worked. Could have used that trinket during my many years of training. Instead, we had to drink that horrible concoction and heal over time.
I looked down to see the results. There it was. A sterling silver ring shone through my shaft. The tips of the ball bared my sword, the same that was my birthmark. I wondered how Azazel felt every time he looked down at his arm and saw my mark onhim. Did he feel like cattle that had been branded by its owner? I hoped so.
“I pray this doesn’t start a trend,” Raina said.
“Only people who know about it are me, you, and Darius,” I said as I climbed off the table. I tucked myself inside my pants and adjusted my clothes.
“Just so you know... you still need to be careful as that ring can only do so much. The more life-threatening the injury, the longer it will take to heal. In the heat of battle, you’ll have to rely on your Champion to heal you.”
I didn’t want to hear that, but wasn’t going to get into it with her either.
“Thanks, Raina, for everything,” I said instead.
Raina went on. “Those weapons I made you. They will never be as strong as your Champion and what you’ll create together,” she said.
I only nodded, because she had told me that before. I waved goodbye, then left. There was one more place I wanted to visit before leaving the Guild. I entered the Hall of the Guild where the photos of the Guardians and their Champions were on the walls. The first time I visited that place, I was eighteen years old. That was when I found out about Azazel. Since that day, I’d frequented this place to gaze upon his portrait at least once a week. Memorizing every line and curve of his face. His expression I always found intriguing. Like he wanted to seduce me with his wickedness. Just a debonair bastard, that was what Azazel was.
I stood in front of it now, only this time, my own portrait was beside his. It had been painted a month ago, like all of the other portraits. Of course, I couldn’t do anything boring. I posed in the photo, dressed in a cold-ass black suit with a silver tie. I stood, legs slightly parted with my hands behind my back. My head was lowered just enough for me to look up like the badass I trainedto be. My expression was all business. I was proud of it. I looked down at my watch to check the time. I was supposed to meet Marcel soon and I still had to finish packing.
I went back to my bedroom and packed what little I wanted to take with me. I didn’t have much to begin with. Mainly, my favorite toy when I was a kid and some clothes. I couldn’t have photos of my family, because that might put them in danger. No demon or human could know about them. When I turned to leave, my best friend, Marcel, was in the doorway.
“You don’t knock?” I teased.
He shrugged. “It was open.” Marcel was twenty-five and already had his orders as a Guard. He’d been one for the past two years. He was six-two, handsome, with long blond hair, blue eyes, a strong jawline, and muscles that had been honed and toned. He also spoke more English now. If he liked men, I might have tried to seduce him, but he was strictly for the ladies. Me, I discovered that I loved the way a man’s asshole felt, how their body molded against mine. That was my desire. Too bad for Marcel, I thought.
“Are you here to send me off?” I asked, slinging my bookbag over my shoulder.
“Nope. I’ve been assigned to your city and to help aid you.”
“What? Really?” I asked, smiling.
He smiled and nodded. “Yep.”
I hugged him, because it was awesome to have my only friend at my side. “So, you’ll be living in Chicago with me?”
