Page 123 of Cursed
“Cain?” I didn’t spare a glance for the two angels behind me. I leaned over his body and stared at his face, the grayness fading with the influx of fresh blood, his skin no longer pale and wan but dark and golden.
“Phoebe?” Cain murmured, his silver irises glinting like diamonds as his eyelids rose. “You’re okay?” He reached for me as if I were his lifeline.
I laughed and fell onto his chest, burying my face into his neck, unable to speak through my emotion.
Gingerly, he pushed himself to a sitting position and tilted my chin upward. His attention scoured my face, as if assuring himself I truly sat here in his lap with tears streaming down my face. “Did you heal me?” He cupped my cheeks and tilted his head, his gaze never leaving mine.
“No,” I choked out, threading my fingers through his silky soft hair, relishing the feel of his living, breathing body.
“Then who—”
“Your father,” Dad replied gruffly.
“You can’t be serious.”
I nodded.
“He didn’t do it out of benevolence, then.” Seeming to come to a decision, Cain slipped his arms around my shoulders and waist then tightened his hold. “I’m through with the Fallen.”
In one quick movement, Cain spread his wings and lifted us off the ground a few feet, the air from his flapping wing spreading fine granules of sand across the ground.
“A moment, Cain.” Lucian swallowed then held up his fingernails for inspection, not meeting anyone’s gaze. “I know. I’m rather shocked myself.” He pursed his lips then blew on his fingers. “Your girlfriend helped, too, though I don’t think dear Daddy is too happy about it.”
“You only did it because you want to use me again.” Cain’s voice, low and deadly, seemed to cut the air.
“Believe it or not, Cain, Idohave affection for you.” He let his eyes rise to meet Cain’s. “Perhaps I wasn’t a good father like others”—he gave my dad a pointed stare—“but at least I never turned my back in your times of need.”
Thunder crossed my father’s face. “You son of a—”
“Affection?” Cain blurted, his breathing quick and warm against my hair as he flapped in the air. “You burned me alive as punishment for failing my first mission.” He carefully lowered us to the ground. “You call thataffection?”
“I did the best I could.” Lucian’s face hardened. “It’s not as if I had an example. You have no idea what it’s like to just exist, to come from nothing and be expected to play a role you might not have wanted if you’d ever been given a choice. I adapted, and I learned.”
“Bullshit,” Cain yelled as he took a menacing step toward his father. “You enjoy hurting others. It’s the only thing you’re good at. Besides lying.”
I grabbed Cain’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “He’s not worth it,” I whispered.
He pulled me to his side, not slowing his pace.
“Careful, careful,son.” Lucian’s twisted smile showed his white teeth. “I could smite you where you stand and not even blink.”
“Then do it.” A smirk lifted Cain’s lips, and he stopped in front of Lucian, letting his gaze flicker to me for a split second, as if sayingSee? I’m not scared of him any longer.
Lucian squared his shoulders and narrowed his demonic black eyes on Cain. “I don’t have to hurt you physically to cause pain.” He glanced at me, a calculating glint flitting over his face.
“Lay one goddamn finger on her and I will—”
“Do not touch my daughter, you—” Michael spoke at the same time.
“My, my. So passionate about this little one.” He held out his hands in surrender and gave a mocking bow. “Go. Live your life, boy. Consider this my gift to you for these supposed inadequacies as a first-time father. Frolic in the light and pretend everything’s going to be fine.”
Lucian raised an eyebrow. A silver hairpin appeared in his palm, and he flipped it over and under each finger in a hypnotic feat of dexterity.
Cain’s mouth fell open a bit, as if he couldn’t quite believe his father’s words.
“But just remember, Cain.” Lucian’s little trick with the hairpin stopped, and he tucked it under his onyx-colored chest plate. “No matter how much good you do in this world, my blood runs through your veins. No matter how many good deeds you perform trying to rid yourself of darkness, it’ll always be there, lurking deep inside, biding its time until you need me again.”
Cain bared his teeth. “I’llneverneed you.” One of his wings wrapped around my body like a shield.
