Page 58 of Fallen
Present Day
"Bringhimcloser."Itapped my foot as I sat at my throne.
Malachi dropped the man to the shiny, black floor of my throne room.
Though technically only a soul resided in my plane, the essence of a person's being still manifested the body it had once known.
Which makes my job that much sweeter when it comes to playtime.
"Hello, Jason," I purred as I inspected my nails.
"N-no. No-no-no-no-no," he blubbered. "Please. This c-can't be real."
"I assure you it's quite real, and—"
A line of saliva dripped from a corner of his mouth as his bottom lip trembled. "But I did what you asked."
"Do not interrupt." Malachi, forever the gentleman, kicked the backs of Jason's knees, forcing the man's large form to plop face first to the stone. "Or I'll cut off your legs."
Jason let out a whine like a shrieking little dog.
I held a hand toward Malachi, motioning him to stop. "What happened between you and Anna?"
His head jerked upward to meet my stare. "W-what do you mean? You warned us to leave her alone and we did."
"Yet it doesn't appear that you heeded my warning nor left her alone." I ground my teeth together, tiring of the game.
"Oh, you know what he was doing." Malachi grunted. "Dipping his wick."
"Shut the fuck up." I couldn't stand the thought ofanyonedipping their anything into Anna.
The mirth on Malachi's face disappeared as confusion took its place.
I pointed to Jason. "Why were you and Ryanlivingwith her?" A wave of anger washed over me, but I pushed it down. "Don't lie to me, either. I can see into your heart."
Jason's mouth fell open. "We weren't interested in her like th-that. You scared us so badly we figured if we became friends with her, we could protect her and stay safe."
"Oh, friends out of the goodness of your heart and the protection of your hides, hmm?" I stood and descended the steps at a leisurely pace, giving myself time to formulate a plan.
Malachi stepped a few feet away from Jason as I got closer. A line of worry appeared between my Chosen's eyebrows.
I don't care what he thinks. I must have the truth.
"Ryan s-said he didn't want to go to Hell, and neither did I, so we made a pact to help Anna whenever we could."
"My, my. It looks as if you still managed to find yourself in my kingdom."
Spreading my arms, I stretched my wings wide. The movement stirred the warm air, wafting the fumes of sulfur toward my newest arrival.
Jason coughed. Sweat poured down his round face.
Two inches lay between his chest and mine.
"Have you or Ryan ever touched my Anna in intimate ways?" My voice remained low and calm, though on the inside, a dark, wild anger simmered.
"Never." His dull irises remind me of a dumb cow. "She's not even our type. Ryan and me, we like…well…" He cleared his throat.
I raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"
