Page 64 of Cursed
I slid my stare from hers to graze the vines sheltering the cozy little corner.Unfortunately for you, Precious, that’s where you’re wrong.
“And what is it you do for Lucian?”
Turning toward the fire, giving her my back, I let my shoulders slump. “I do whatever he commands.”
“Even if what He commands is terrible?” Her tone hardened.
“Yes,” I hissed, crossing my arms over my chest. Even though I desperately wanted to lie, I didn’t. What I didn’t say by letting her knowshewas my next assignment was a big enough untruth. There wasn’t any need to add to it. I’d give her as much truth as I could. She deserved that much.
Warmth curled around my waist, and I felt her face press against the back of my suit.
The contact, unexpected but most welcome, forced my eyes shut, and for a moment, I pretended she and I were the only two people in the world.
“Cain?” Her hands moved upward and pulled my spine flush against her chest. “Can’t you choose the light?”
“Why?” I clenched my fists and twisted in her grasp, reaching out to jerk her chin upward, forcing her stare to meet mine. “I’ve learned to enjoy carrying out his orders.”I need to scare her, to prove how dangerous I am. There’s no way she truly understands my nature.
Phoebe’s lips thinned, but she didn’t fight my hold. “What a sad existence, then.” Her eyes scoured my face, and a tear formed at the inner corner eyelid.
“Don’t youdarepity me.” I wrapped the nape of her neck with my other hand and dragged her nearer. My voice lowered to a whisper. “Lucian picked me up when I was lost and broken. He recreated a new man with purpose and became the family who believed me when my own father didn’t.” I squeezed, not enough to hurt her, but to flex my dominance, to prove I held all the power—both physical and invisible.
“What kind of family encourages violence? To sow evil and darkness? What kind of family urges you to trade love for hate?” Sparking with anger, her eyes filled with an inner fire.
I couldn’t shake the thought that even though I had her under my control, she secretly held the upper hand. “Love? That particular emotion makes one weak. Besides, I wouldn’t know love if it stared me in the face.” I forced a laugh. “Love is for stupid fools and hypocritical angels to spout its drivel nonstop.”
Gently, she reached up and stroked my cheek, her soft fingers sending a rush of heat through my blood and jumbled confusion to my thoughts.Why isn’t she afraid of me, of what I can do?
Startled and ashamed at the tenderness of her contact after my rough handling, I released her and dropped onto the chaise, a coil of fear springing through my stomach.
She should be terrified of what I admitted.
“I don’t fully understand your history or what scars you’ve suffered, but I know pain and anger and hopelessness...that feeling of longing pulling at the heart, leaving an empty hole inside.” She stretched her arms toward me, beckoning me to her embrace, and I couldn’t resist the gesture of comfort and belonging.
I fell into her arms and buried my face in her neck, breathing in the fresh, floral scent always emanating from her.
“Phoebe.” That one word, spoken against her skin, became a word of hope and longing. Here I clung, Cain Dameron, one of the first modern men of the world, filled with the power of a newly captured soul, helpless under the touch of this amazing woman. “I don’t remember how it feels to have a full, happy heart.”
This statement slid out before I had time to think, but it felt right.
Lucian and a few of the Chosen had helped me along the way, but most of the army had hated the fact he’d saved me, an ever-present reminder of the lesser race of humanity, the reason for their fall from grace. A worthless human.
In the Chosen’s eyes, I became the memento of their stalemate and inability to dominate the Heavens. God had chosen man over angels because the scales had shifted, and humans were supposed to bring balance.
Yet Lucian had rebelled and created Hell as a mockery to Heaven. Those who’d sided with him wreaked havoc across Earth’s dimension, always seeking to bring the scales to our side, even if they knew it would be temporary. The fight had always been a tight edge to walk, but Lucian and the Chosen lived for the thrill of straddling its razor-thin edge.
I pulled back to study her face, loving the curves of her cheekbones and the sharp cupid’s bow of her top lip. “I’ve been alone for as long as I can remember, thanks to this.” I traced the silver tattoo around my eye.
Phoebe angled her head, leaned in, and pressed her lips to the mark, trailing tiny kisses along the skin.
I shivered and swallowed a rising lump in my throat.
“You’re not alone tonight, Cain.” She threaded her hands in my hair, stroking my scalp and running her fingernails down the nape of my neck.
I wrapped my arms around her and held her to me, closing my eyes, unable to form any response. Instead, with a gentle touch, I curled my fingers around the back of her skull and pulled her face to mine, staring into her eyes for a moment, silently asking for what, I didn’t know.
She gave me a smile full of light and warmth, of love and kindness, and I stopped breathing.
When I’m with her, I don’t feel as angry and bitter.What would happen if I chose to save Phoebe instead of turning her over to Lucian?
