Page 56 of Cursed
Before I could offer a retort, dark, ropy tendrils of shadow swirled around us, a black tornado cutting off the world until only Cain and I remained inside. It was the same power which had flowed from Malachi.
“Get it off me.” I twisted and beat against Cain’s chest. “Please.” It felt cold, oily, and wrong, like dipping a finger into grease, and I drew my shoulders inward as I tried to avoid its touch.
“It’s not going to hurt you, I promise.” Cain’s gravelly voice rasped next to my ear. “Stay calm.”
A thin tendril slipped away from the rotating mass to slide up my arm.
Grimacing, I tried to shake it off, but it continued its trek upward, crawling along my neck until it caressed my cheek, the touch icy. I shivered. “Please, Cain.” I hated how breathy my words sounded, but I was five seconds from losing my mind.This is too much for one person to take in one night.
“You can’t be awake for this next step. I’m sorry.”
I clawed at the strange filament clinging to my face, but my finger passed over it like air.
“Wait.” I twisted to face Cain and clutched the back of his neck.Whatever this is, I don’t want it touching me.It felt wrong, tainted. “Are you”—I cleared my throat—“the same as Malachi?” I needed to know, even with his strange, frightening power touching my skin proving he wasn’t like me, I needed to hear the truth from his mouth, needed to hear I’d been rescued by a monster, needed to hear what I’d gotten myself into.
“I did warn you.” Though his words were foreboding, his serious eyes twinkled. “Now, sleep, Precious. We’ll talk about it soon.”
Something heavy and comforting settled into my mind. My limbs weakened.
“Please don’t...” My words seemed sluggish, and I couldn’t finish my sentence. Alarm zipped through my body.Must...stay...awake.
But I couldn’t focus. Hazy and jumbled, thoughts careened in my head like the silver spheres of a pinball machine. “Who...what...are...” I yawned, unable to keep my eyelids open any longer.
Everything went black.
Chapter 19
Cain
Never had I felt sofragile and helpless. Malachi, intent on jeopardizing my assignment, not only posed a threat to my wings, but had crossed a line when he’d threatened Phoebe.
Yes, I would deliver her to Lucian, but I had no plans for torture. His threat of owning her sent my heartbeat into a dangerous staccato.I know what he intends.Hadn’t I seen it happen before with his kind? Hadn’t I been one of the tools they’d used to capture souls and shunt them to Hell? Hadn’t I signed up for this kind of evil?
I materialized in my foyer and clutched Phoebe’s sleeping form to my chest, pulling her so close her soft, sleeping breaths tickled my face. Her eyelids fluttered as she dreamed.
How I wish this whole situation was a dream, sweet girl.
