Page 29 of The Angel's Kiss
“Like I need Chlamydia,” he said.
The urge to punch his gorgeous face quickly vanished when the nausea rose. I closed my eyes and backed up as I fought the sensation. I hadn’t had to experience the sickness in over a decade. My urge to kill or harm innocent people was now under my control. But this Guardian made me want to teach him a lesson in respect.
“I thought that Guild would drill intelligence into that thick skull of yours.” I held my hands up. “Fine. If you die withoutever Calling me, maybe that’s a good thing. I might be free of this curse and you.”
“You can be free now if you just leave me the fuck alone,” Rai taunted.
Yes, he was very different from other Guardians I’d met. Sexier for sure. I stepped up to him and looked down. Defiantly, he looked up at me, daring me to make a move with his stare. I touched his chin with my finger and he slapped my hand away.
“If not for me, Rai, you would have died eight years ago. You should show some gratitude,” I said. As I stared down into his face, I wanted to kiss his lips, they were begging for my mouth.
He grabbed my hair and yanked my head down and to the side, surprising me with how aggressive he was. He leaned forward to the point where our faces were inches apart. It didn’t hurt, but it was shocking. I didn’t get manhandled, not ever. I growled, my fangs flashing.
“Stay away from me, demon,” Rai said, then released my hair.
I straightened and ran my fingers through my locks. Had I been able to attack him, I would have. But I was physically unable to get my revenge for his little antic just then. I looked at him and I wasn’t sure what I felt. Anger, I knew... but something else. Why was my cock hard? Like, really fucking hard.
“Very well. I see you want to learn your lessons the hardest way possible.” I nodded. “I’ll let you, then.” I teleported, landing on the rooftop of the building a short distance away where I could still watch Rai. He leaned against the wall, breathing hard as if our little encounter had taken a lot out of him.
I was about to leave when I saw him grab his groin and adjust himself. “Well, well, well... did I leave an impression on you, Rai?” I smiled as I massaged my own aching erection. “We can always kiss and make up.” I winked and then teleported. If he needed me, he knew how to Call me. I was done looking out forhim if he didn’t appreciate it. I went home, but turned in the direction of the unwanted presence. “Reveal yourself!”
“Hello, Azazel,” I heard the voice say. I knew who it was. Leyak. He appeared from the shadows, dressed in white. His auburn hair flowed down his back, green eyes held me in his gaze.
“What do you want?” I said, then removed my jacket.
He laughed as he walked around me. “I saw what happened with you and the new Guardian.”
I tossed my jacket on the back of my sofa. “So?”
“It must hurt to be rejected by a mere human.”
“Get to the point, Leyak.”
“Spurned by your own kind and by your Guardian. You don’t belong anywhere. You’re an outcast,” Leyak said.
I rolled my eyes. “You have until I finish this sentence to get out of my house before I show you how I treat uninvited assho—” He was gone before I could end my comment. Good. He was lucky that he was a Knight of the Court. To kill one would bring the entire fury of the Court onto me and I didn’t need nor did I want that level of heat. I’d never fought any other of my fellow Knights, at least, not to the death. I was the strongest among us, so most didn’t bother to challenge me. Things were different now and some were getting audacious.
I’d have to stay on guard. Leyak coming into my home was a challenge. Next time we met, I doubted it would end in peace.
Chapter twelve
Azazel
The Need to Protect
Over the following weeks,I continued to watch over Rai from the shadows. Although I said I’d leave him to suffer, I couldn’t just ignore him, even after he told me that he didn’t need me. Since leaving the Guild, he’d only come in contact with the lowest level of demons. Those pitiful weapons of his were a joke. I had seen donkeys less stubborn than Rai. I’d make him see that he should accept our fate as I had already done. I mean, for fuck’s sake, he’d had practically his whole life to prepare for this moment. What were they teaching or not teaching Rai in that damn Guild?
Rai hunted again that night. He looked sleek and sexy as he rode down the freeway on his Ducati. I bet that motor felt good revving between his legs, at least, that was how it felt to me when I traveled by motorcycle. I teleported along his route, masking my aura so he couldn’t sense me. I wondered if he even knew higher-level demons could do that. It was a secret we triedto keep hidden from his celestial kind. An hour later, he was stalking the seedy part of the city looking for demons to destroy.
He was young, you could tell. Seasoned Guardians didn’t hunt for demons, that was the Guards' job. And when a Guard came upon a demon situation that was above their pay grade, the Guardian of their territory was notified. In my opinion, they were lofty beings. If a Guardian did happen upon a demon, they would eliminate them, but demons did try to avoid them and Guards. Rai, you could smell his youthful exuberance a mile away. His need to feel useful. He was being reckless, in my opinion. Which was why he should be taking my guidance instead of ignoring me.
After following him for two hours, he found his prey, three demons who’d been up to no good as demons tended to be. The pregnant woman they were attacking scrambled to her feet and ran away the moment her demonic attackers were distracted by Rai’s sudden appearance. Well, I liked when you didn’t have to tell humans to run for their own safety.
Closely, I watched the fight, monitoring Rai’s fighting ability. He was agile and quick, and there was a savage beauty to his skill. He fought with a ruthlessness that I admired. He took a few blows, but wasn’t slowed down by them in the least. When he was finished with the demons, he ran away. I watched him get smaller the farther he ran down the street back to his motorcycle. I then smirked as one of the demons he’d been fighting rose after playing possum. I knew he was still alive, which was why I had lingered. Rai’s weapons were no match for that mid-level demon. I knew all demon levels by their aura, how brightly it glowed, and this demon was only a few souls away from a promotion.
I teleported in front of him and he jumped.
“A Knight!” he gasped, his black eyes wide with fear as he should be.
