Her Wicked Angel (Her Angel Romance Series Book 6) (32 page)

His unease returned when he looked beyond her. She could sense it in him and see it in his eyes, and she knew it stemmed from being around the others and Apollyon. He was trying to make friends, probably for her sake, so they could remain here and she would be safe from the Devil. He wanted to protect her but it was taking its toll on him. He felt he didn’t fit in here.

She felt it too.

She felt as if strangers surrounded her and that she only truly knew Asmodeus. He was her haven, the one she felt safe around, protected and secure, and happy. She didn’t want to let him go off alone and dwell on his dark thoughts, only making himself feel even more like he was out of place and evil, no good for her.

She didn’t want him to leave her alone with these people.

But the look in his eyes spoke to her heart and told her that he really needed some time alone and she would never do anything to upset him, so she stroked the hand that lingered against her face and forced herself to nod.

A faint glimmer of relief flickered in his eyes and he tilted her head up, lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her softly. It reassured her more than words ever could, telling her that he appreciated this gift she had given him and that he wouldn’t go far or leave the island. He would remain close because he wanted to protect her.

His fingers slipped from her cheek, he broke the kiss and turned his back on her.

Liora wrapped her arms around herself as cold stole into her veins and she watched him walk away.

Romulus bounded past her, following his master. Remus nudged her hand and she stroked him between his ears and looked down into his crimson eyes.

“Keep him safe,” she whispered and gently tugged his left ear, propping it up.

Remus licked her hand and rushed after his master and brother.

Liora sighed and padded back to her seat near the fire, weary now and unable to shake the heavy feeling in her heart. No one closed in on her and she felt grateful for it, glad that they were giving her the space she needed too.

She glanced at Erin and caught the sympathy in her eyes. Maybe she and Asmodeus weren’t as out of place in this group as they both had thought. Erin wore an expression that left Liora feeling that she knew what she was feeling and had been through it all with Veiron. A Hell’s angel. One of the Devil’s men, just like Asmodeus.

How long had it taken everyone to accept Veiron’s presence in the group?

She could understand why Amelia, Marcus, and Apollyon looked at Asmodeus with darkness in their eyes. He hadn’t proven himself to these people yet, not as he had proven himself to her. He hadn’t earned their trust, and she had the feeling that part of him didn’t want to either and he was only trying to make friends with them for her sake.

He didn’t need them.

She could understand that too. He was used to being alone and doing as he pleased, just as she was. No close family ties. No one to answer to but himself. No friends. No hurt feelings when those friends turned on you and betrayed you. No broken heart when someone you loved died or was taken from you.

She got that.

Liora looked over her shoulder, watching him walking the shore with his hellhounds, alone again.

She felt sorry for him and she didn’t like it because it made her feel sorry for herself too.

She had pushed away everyone except Serenity with her wild and dangerous behaviour, and how little she cared about anyone, including herself.

Liora looked across the fire at Serenity, watching her talking to Amelia, Marcus, and Apollyon, the centre of their attention again now. Serenity was all bright laughter and smiles, telling them about the trials she had gone through to become immortal together with a woman called Annelie, all so they could live forever with their angels.

“Annelie is immortal too now?” Amelia asked and Serenity nodded.

“She made it through by the skin of her teeth.” Apollyon picked up a stick and poked the fire.

“And how is Lukas?” Marcus said and Liora eavesdropped. She didn’t know much about Amelia or Marcus, or this Annelie and Lukas.

“He still works for Heaven.” Apollyon tossed the stick onto the fire and watched it burn. “They call on him from time to time.”

Marcus’s expression darkened. “You think he reports on us?”

Apollyon shook his head, his look turning grave. “No, but I believe they may be able to monitor him somehow, and therefore us too.”

Serenity said something in French and the darkness lifted from his face and he stroked her fair hair and settled his arm around her shoulders, drawing her close to him.

Serenity fell into conversation with Amelia again, sometimes answering questions Marcus posed too.

Liora felt as if she was standing on the outside and looking in, not part of the group at all. She had never felt more different to Serenity as she watched her cousin conversing easily with the group, part of it, at the centre of it with Apollyon.

She was just a shadow of Serenity.

Asmodeus was just a shadow of Apollyon.

Liora looked over her shoulder again, following his progress along the moonlit shore. She ached to go to him.

Veiron crouched beside her and handed her two plates of food, and dropped his voice to a whisper that felt as though it was for her ears only.

“Give him those five minutes and then go to him.”

Liora looked into his dark eyes, surprised to hear support in his voice when he had been the one to attack Asmodeus on sight and only listen to reason once she had disabled him.

“I can’t say I love the guy. I’ve got my reasons for the way I feel, but I’m man enough to admit that he’s different now, and that… well, now I can see a little of myself in him.” Veiron smiled at her and shrugged. “I was like that once… didn’t play well with others… didn’t belong here. Ask the missus. He wants you to go to him… he needs you to choose him over us.”

Liora nodded, her heart feeling lighter when she realised that she and Asmodeus weren’t the first to go through a rough start to a relationship and that it was more than possible to make it through and end up together. Erin and Veiron were proof of that. She glanced over at Erin and caught her smiling at Veiron, a touch of pride and love in her eyes.

“Erin saw the good in me once.” Veiron held his hand out to Erin and she took hold of it, and settled her other hand on her belly. “And look at me now… about to become a daddy.”

Veiron kneeled beside Erin and placed his hand over hers, holding her bump with her.

“And you’ll be the best father in the three realms too.” Erin kissed his cheek.

Liora smiled at them, remembering how her parents had been so filled with love and devotion too, and hoped that things turned out better for Erin and Veiron.

A prickle ran down her spine and her smile faded.

Someone was watching her.

She looked around the fire at everyone and found them looking at each other, and then over her shoulder. Asmodeus had his back to her still.

The feeling came again. She shivered as the intensity of the sensation increased and it felt darker this time and sinister, setting her on edge. The same feeling she’d had in Paris several times.

Was it the Devil watching her?

Or someone else?

L
iora left the fire and went in search of Asmodeus, wanting to be around him and needing to speak to him about the strange sensation of being watched that she’d had over the past few weeks.

She found him at the far end of the beach, staring at the dark water and the moonlight playing on it. Remus and Romulus were at the treeline, sniffing and investigating.

“Asmodeus?” she whispered as she rounded him and he didn’t respond.

His glowing golden gaze remained locked on the water, no doubt fixed on a point deep below the waves.

She touched his arm and he tensed, his eyes snapping to her and the bright swirling fire in them fading.

“Your boss again?”

He nodded, closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. “He is getting persistent.”

“Can you hear him like Erin can?” She hoped he said no, because the thought of the Devil pushing his voice into Asmodeus’s mind and saying all manner of dark things put her on edge. She wrapped her arms around herself to keep the sudden chill off her skin.

“No. It is difficult to explain. I feel compelled to do something and I know it is not my own desire. In this case, I feel I must take you to Hell, to him.” He sighed and opened his eyes to glare at the water. “I do not want to take you back to Hell. It is hard to refuse his orders but I will keep fighting him.”

“Twice now I’ve… I…” Liora lost her nerve and focused, clinging to her courage again and telling herself that she could talk to Asmodeus about this. She didn’t have to worry what he would think of her or that he might believe she was crazy. She could trust him with this and he would help her find an answer to the question that plagued her. “Someone is watching me.”

Asmodeus immediately looked around them and pulled her into the protective circle of his arms, pinning her against his bare chest. She pressed her cheek to it and listened to his heart beating hard against her ear. He was so warm and the feel of his arms around her comforted her more than she had anticipated, chasing away her fears and leaving her relaxed and calm. He turned with her, scanning their surroundings.

“Do you know who?” He kept hold of her, one large hand against her shoulder and the other in the small of her back.

She shook her head. “I’ve never seen them. It started a few weeks back and since I met you, I’ve felt it twice more… both times you were being compelled by the Devil. Do you think it’s the Devil watching me?”

Asmodeus ran his fingers through her hair, combing it back from her face, the motion soothing her further, until she melted into him and felt completely at ease. She was safe here in his arms. She had always taken care of herself, had never relied on anyone, not since her parents had died, but she found it easy to rely on him like this, letting him take care of her.

“Perhaps. It is possible he has been monitoring you. He cannot reach the pool I often use to see this world, but he has other methods at his disposal. Do not fear, Liora. He cannot set foot in this realm. You are safe here.”

“With you.” She burrowed into his embrace, pressing the full length of her body into his. His trousers were still damp, cold against her bare legs.

He brushed his hand down her face, drew her chin up and looked down at her, the fire in his golden eyes warming her and chasing the chill from her bones. She didn’t care what everyone else on this island thought about him. They didn’t know him as she did. They had never seen this side of Asmodeus, the one he only showed to her. He cared deeply about her and would fight the Devil alone to keep her safe from him. He would move Heaven, Hell and Earth for her sake.

Beneath his dark exterior and his vicious reputation beat the heart of a good man, one capable of beautiful feelings.

One who was looking at her with the deepest form of love in his eyes.

Liora pressed her hands against his chest, tiptoed and parted her lips.

Asmodeus took her invitation, dipping his head and bringing his mouth to hers.

He kissed her softly and slowly, turning the warmth he had awoken in her veins into fire that burned her and felt as if it would never die. She would always burn for Asmodeus like this, always warm whenever he was near and on fire whenever he touched her.

He angled his head and deepened the kiss, his sensual lips playing against hers, teasing her with their softness when she began to want more, craving the ferocity he had shown her in his castle. Part of her savoured this kiss though, enjoying the bliss that came from being with him like this, sharing a quiet intimate moment that relayed his feelings and drew hers to the surface, and reassured them both.

As the world melted away, the events of the past day began to catch up with her, running through her mind at warp speed. She longed to go back to the castle, even when she knew it wasn’t safe for them there now. Her time there had been wonderful, bringing her closer to Asmodeus. She feared that if they stayed on this island, he would grow distant again, driven away from her by Apollyon and Serenity, and driven away from this place by the others.

Liora hooked her hands around his neck, holding on to him and swearing she would never let go. When he had threatened to leave her on the island, it had felt as though she would never see him again, as though they were saying goodbye.

She pressed her fingers into the back of his neck and he drew back. She fought him, desperately kissing him, trying to make him stay.

Asmodeus sighed, took hold of her wrists, and eased her hands away from his neck. He looked down at her, his face in shadow but his eyes glowing faintly, golden and intense, locked on her.

He released her left wrist and smoothed his palm across her cheek and into her hair, clearing it from her face. He hooked it behind her ear, settled his fingers beneath her chin and gently raised it so she was facing him.

“I did not want to leave you,” he whispered, his deep voice husky and thick with the emotions that danced in his eyes, speaking silent words of reassurance and affection to her. “I never want to leave you.”

Liora closed her eyes, swallowed, and then opened them again and held his gaze. She looked deep into his eyes, able to decipher his feelings now that she knew him better and had seen beyond the walls he had carefully constructed around his emotions, hiding them from everyone so they never saw who he really was or how he truly felt.

She could see the truth of him, the real Asmodeus that she had wanted to set eyes on and know, and it was because he was letting her in and letting her see him, and it touched her.

It had taken a lot for him to be like this with her, allowing his lighter emotions, the warmer ones, to come to the surface and blossom there, growing stronger each day they were together.

He had said that the evil in him outweighed the good and she wasn’t going to fool herself by pretending that wasn’t the case. There was evil in him, darkness that would always be there, but there was good in him too and it grew a little every hour they spent with each other, coming to the fore to offer some balance in his emotions, gently tipping the scales so evil no longer dominated his personality.