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-&-

Chapter 27

       "So, there's nothing there?" I asked all nonchalant-like as my fingers traced the intricate design of his tattoo.

       Adriel sighed for what seemed like the hundredth time and adjusted his other arm around my waist. "No, for the tenth time, nothing is there. She just works for the company and was going over the statistical analysis of the week with me."

       I bit the inside of my cheek and tapped against the firm muscles in his upper arm. "You two seemed pretty touchy for analyzing statistics." I grumbled against his chest. I could almost feel him roll his eyes.

       "Larkin, you know me. I don't make it a habit of being 'touchy' with anyone—except you." And then the sound of his hand slapping my ass echoed throughout his room.

       "Ow!" I screeched and tried to rip away from the fuck-face, but he just wrapped those stupid arms tighter around me and rolled us over. "You're a fucking pain in my ass! Literally!" I snapped as he pinned my body between his and the bed. The jerk only laughed.

       "As much as I love this whole jealous side of you," He chuckled and bent down to bite the tip of my nose, "you don't need to be. I've already made it very clear to Charlotte I'm not interested."

       "Oh! So, she has tried to sleep with you. Funny you mention that now."

       Dri dropped his face into my neck and groaned. The sound was so deep and annoyed it shook through my entire body. "You're impossible." He grumbled against my skin but didn't pull away. "She asked me out when we first moved here, and I said no. Then there was you, and she tried to ask me out again, and I said—very clearly—that I wasn't interested, at all. Happy?"

       Not really, but it wasn't very fair to keep bothering him with my jealous little fit. "I didn't like see her touch you." I pouted like a child, but instead of another annoyed groaned he leaned up and smiled down at me. Though it was more of that smirky smile than anything else.

       "I can tell."

       I slapped him lightly on the arm, which was a little awkward to do since he still had me caged against him and the bed.

       His chuckle washed over me, before that smirk slowly fell away. "It's just you, Lark. I swear. There's no one else in the world that I want. I love you, stupid." He pressed his lips to mine, like he was sealing his words inside my mouth so they couldn't escape. The stupid comment and all.

       My heart thundered like a jackhammer. I stared at him wide-eyed as he pulled away, that smirk shining all smugly on his idiot handsome face. "Why do you look so surprised?" Dri laughed and did that silly forehead nudging thing to mine. "I've been making it pretty obvious for a while now."

       "Yeah, well, I'm pretty awesome so I just figured it was a natural response."

       Another eye roll and nose bite later, he finally unwrapped those iron bars away from me and rolled onto his side. I turned to face him and let my hand rest against his bare chest. I hadn't forgotten about my conversation with Luke, even though my crazy, jealous teenage hormones put it on hold for a while.

       It was early in the morning, the sun wasn't even up yet, but I didn't think I would be getting any sleep at all. The little bit of sleep Adriel got that night, I spent staring at the ceiling, replaying the entire talk over and over again

       "What's wrong—"

       "Let's leave." I interrupted his question and splayed my fingers out against his skin.

       He raised his eyebrow and glanced over at the alarm clock on his nightstand. "You want to get up? Alright, but it's only five in the morning."

       "No, you ass." I rolled my eyes. "I want to leave Deshua. Today."

       Adriel pulled slightly away, a confused frown pulling on his lips, and ran his hand through his short dark hair. "We can, but—"

       "You don't want to anymore." Fear gripped my chest and I had to force my eyes away. We couldn't stay here, not anymore. It wasn't safe, from anyone.

       Pretty blonde lady probably changed his mind.

       Fucking drop it, Larkin.

       "No! No, that's not it. I still think leaving is a good idea, I just don't have another job lined up yet, and we don't have anywhere to go." Dri quickly wrapped one of those arms back around my waist and pulled me into the warmth of his chest.

       "Anywhere is better than here. I don't even care if we go back to California. I just need us out of this place." I snuggled into him and pressed my face against his heated skin.

       The only thing holding me back from officially leaving before, was him. He had been so excited for the job and the move I couldn't ask him to leave that behind. But now that I knew his job was just some sick joke from demon greedy guy and his spawns of Satan, I didn't give one flying fuck.

       "Please, Dri. I just want us out today."

       "Alright Angel, if that's what you want." He sighed but squeezed his arm tighter around me and pressed his lips against the top of my head. "We can pack up the SUV and head out. I can probably tow your car behind us, unless you want to drive it. I'll explain the situation with Raf's school and work Monday, and you should probably call yours too."

       I nodded as he started trailing off about everything we needed to get done. It was honestly kind of hot watching him organize and plan everything out in his head. He was just about finished listing off everything essential that we needed to pack and what we could leave behind when I realized he was asking me a question.

       "What?"

       Those oh-so-kissable lips of his pulled up at the corner in that smirk that made me feel all fluttery inside, or maybe that was how his hand had started tracing slowly across my skin. "I asked if you really want to go back to California, or try somewhere new?"

       I didn't care where we went as long as he never stopped touching me like that. "Had somewhere else in mind?" I mumbled as my eyes dropped to the hard planes of his chest.

       He smiled and leaned down to nip at my cheek, like the freaking weirdo he was. "I always wanted to see New York."

       "Hm," I murmured and watched my hand as I let it rub slowly along his skin and then up and over his shoulder. "Then let's head there." Dri's smile turned naughty and I didn't pull away as his lips brushed against my own.

       "Let's." He agreed with a little lick to my bottom lip. He had a thing with biting and licking me. I liked it.

       "We have a lot of packing to do." I teased as his kisses started traveling down my chin and across my jaw.

       "Mm, it can wait."

       I laughed as he easily flipped us back over until I was under him once again. "And you called me the horny one." I flicked his ear since my arms were wrapped around his neck and it was the only part of him that I could reach.

       Adriel's smile was wide and devious. "I never said I wasn't." His hands reached up gently, unhooked mine from around his neck and then pinned them down to the bed.

       I raised an eyebrow at him. "You know I don't like that."

       He tilted his head curiously to the side and blinked those blues innocently. That is where that little shit learned it from! Not me! Her stupid, jerk brother!

       "You sure about that?"

       "Yes." I grumbled and wiggled unhappily in his firm grip.

       "You know," He started teasingly though I could see the serious light in his dark eyes. "You didn't say it back."

       "I didn't say what back?" I muttered and gave up struggling against him with a 'huff'.

       "That you love me."

       I stilled completely under him, though my breathing made my chest rise and fall heavily. "You know I do."

       I could tell he was fighting off a smile. "Do I?"

       "Yes." I grumbled but couldn't find it in me to meet his eyes. I did love him, more than anything, and knowing that he loved me too made everything feel all fluttery and tingly inside. But I was afraid of admitting it out loud.

       Every time something good happened in my life, the universe loved to fuck it up and take it away from me. I couldn't lose him. He was the only thing that mattered.

       "I don't believe you." But his voice was teasing as his face bent closer to mine, and brushed his lips just barely against my own. "Be vulnerable for once in your life, Lark. It's just you and me. It's okay to let go."

       I accepted the kiss he pressed lingeringly against my lips and didn't fight against him as his strong legs slowly pushed mine apart. He did everything for me, he was moving for me. The least I could do was admit out loud the one thing he asked to hear. Even if it would just add fuel to the fire.

       "I love you, Adriel." It came out as a soft whisper, but it was enough to make him smile against me like he just won the lottery. Jerk.

       "There, now that wasn't so hard." He teased and bit down on my bottom lip.

       "Yeah, yeah, whatever." I grumbled but didn't move even when he let go of my wrists and propped his hands on either side of my head.

       "We still have an hour before the sun comes up." His head dipped down so his mouth could trace softly down my neck as he spoke.

       I didn't bother hiding the laugh that bubbled past my lips. "Sex?"

       "Yes, please."

-&-

       "But if you ever need help making that choice, there were never cougars in the forest the day we met."

       I didn't need help making that choice. I knew waking demon dude up was a bad idea.

       So, someone, please tell me why I was doing this?

       Why the hell was I actually about to listen to Luke, of all people?

       But there I was, five hours later, staring at the 'Deshua State University' sign the same way I had on my very first day.

       I wish I could have ignored that nagging in my head ever since Luke 'hinted' at where the demon dude really was, but I couldn't. He almost gave me a literal invite to go check it out for myself, and greedy guy was trapped, right? Or asleep, or whatever the fuck. There were two things that always got me in trouble growing up, wherever that was: my mouth, and my curiosity. I knew one or the other would eventually get me killed.

       It was now October, we have been in this hell hole of a town for nearly two months, and summer had died quickly away. It was cold. I had on Converse, dark jeans, a long sleeve t-shirt and a jacket that was two sizes too big for me—because I stole it from Adriel's closet, but that's not important.

       What was important was the six-inch knife/dagger thing I bought off Amazon hiding in the jacket's inside pocket, and the industrial flashlight hiding in the other. I had a pretty bad feeling I was going to need both.

       Eh, I was still going to send it.

       After Adriel and I finally got up that morning, we explained the situation to Raf—who actually didn't care at all that we were moving again—and spent the next few hours packing. We were nearly done loading up the SUV with everything we needed, when I couldn't ignore that nagging in my head any longer.

       I told Adriel I had to grab something from campus before we left, hopped into my little yellow Bug and drove straight there. I always kept the knife on me ever since I bought it, and the flashlight was part of that emergency kit Dri made me keep in my car. It was perfect for a quick little exploration of the woods, and then 'bye-bye' Deshua. See you never.

       My motivation died when I reached the entrance of the woods. I hadn't heard that insane compelling sound again, not since my very first day. I completely forgot about it with everything else that had been going on, but now as I stood like an ant beneath the size of those trees, I felt fear creep down my spine.

       Was demon dude really in there?

       Come on, Lark. You probably won't even find him. Just look, and then leave. Adriel only gave me till noon to get back to the manor so he could hook the Bug up to trail behind it, and the time was quickly passing. Then we would be out of there.

       "Hey, Larkin!" I turned at the familiar sound of River's cheerful voice. He was jogging up to me from the main walkway of campus, his hand waving enthusiastically in the air. "Where have you been? You skipped classes all week!"

       I wanted to flinch at the worry in his voice. I hadn't bothered going back to campus ever since that talk with Jess, something Adriel had no idea about. I had been so worried about protecting us and dealing with all the crazy, I didn't give one flying flip about school. I even started ignoring his and Siena's texts and phone calls after that little debacle in the Cathedral's library. I didn't want to face their questions and exclamations. I was having a hard-enough time facing it myself.

       "Hey, River. Y-Yeah, I haven't been feeling too good lately."

       He pulled to a stop in front of me, a wide smile on his face despite the concerned look in those hazel eyes. He had that too-small-for-anyone backpack slung over his shoulders, even though it was Sunday. "Hey, that's okay, as long as you're doing better now." I suddenly felt guilty about not answering any of his messages, and not telling him I was leaving. They would find out sooner or later, but that didn't necessarily make me friend of the year.

       "Yeah, I am, thanks." I gave him a reassuring smile, even though I wasn't feeling very assured of anything right then.

       "Well, what are you up to? Why are you staring at the trees like a crazy person?" He laughed, but I didn't miss how those hazel eyes flickered uneasily to the forest pressed against my back.

       "I was just about to go on a hike, what are you up to?" I was never really good with 'casual conversation', and I never had to be with him before, but that worried expression wasn't leaving his gaze and it was starting to unnerve me. I couldn't do this with him breathing down my back. Home boy had to go.

       "A hike? In there?" River didn't bother hiding how stupid of a decision he thought that was, but I only shrugged.

       "Yeah, why not? Seems like fun."

       "Um, because there's cougars, and they like to take pretty good nibbles of humans."

       I shrugged again but felt myself reach uneasily to make sure the knife was still there. "I have pepper spray. I'm not really bothered." I didn't have any spray, to be exact, but Luke had made it seem like the whole 'man eating cat thing' was just a ploy. Not that I was openly trusting him or anything, but still.

       "Well, I'm on my way to meet Siena for lunch, why don't you join us? I'm sure she would be happy to see you, and it's a better option than getting ate." He let out another nervous laugh but kept his gaze pinned to mine, almost as if looking at the trees would conjure the very cats he was so afraid of.

       "Thanks, but I really want to go for a hike. I won't be long though, I'll even text you when I'm done so you know I'm good." Even though that text will come from inside Adriel's SUV as we drove very far away.

       "Alright... Just be careful, yeah?"

       "For sure, thanks River." I gave him a warm, reassuring smile, if only to ease that concern shining in his hazel eyes. I never really seen that look from him before, and it made me uneasy. I mean, if River thought something was a bad idea, that said something.

       Then why was it the push I needed?

       I summoned up as much courage as I could, checked that my phone was in my jeans pocket, and turned on my heel. I didn't even care if River stood watching me hike through the thicket of trees blocking the entrance of the forest. I was thankful for my long warm clothes as I pushed through the thorn bushes and grasping tree limbs.

       I don't know why I was expecting a regularly used, dirt, hiking path that would take me straight to demon dude, but I was surely disappointed when my eyes fell on more and more dark trees.

       I sighed and took out the flashlight from my jacket. I could only pray that Luke had been telling the truth when he said no Immortal would hurt me, and that my knife would do enough damage to those witchy freaks that did. So much for staying out of the shadows.

       The flashlight was enough to illuminate a good junk of the surrounding area, which was good since the deeper I trudged into the woods, the less natural light there was. I was half expecting that sound to appear again, like a dark, seductive caress in my ears lulling me to go find its source. But there was nothing, only the occasional bird chirping in the distance. It was fucking creepy.

       The ground beneath my feet started to angle as I reached the base of that large mountain-like structure that the college backed up against. I paused and tried to calm down my winded breathing. Damn, I was less in shape than I thought. Wasn't sex supposed to count as exercising?!

       There had been no sign of demon dude, or anything that was big enough to hide his body in, the entire way there. I even checked a few of the trees that looked suspiciously door-ish. Luke was either lying through his teeth, or I had to go up the fucking mountain—and I so did not want to do that.

       You know, in retrospect, the whole hiking-there experience was a clear warning sign from nature that I should not have gone any further. My dumb ass pushed ahead anyway, and I circled the base of the mountain/bolder thing for any sign of a pathway up. It wasn't too big, and I was able to reach the other side without much of a hassle, if you didn't count a shit ton of thorns and bugs as a hassle.

       Each step I took as I reached the other side angled steeply up until I was stepping onto a raised grassy hill, leading straight to the top of the mountain. There was even a little dirt path. Bingo! I hiked quickly up the hill, on the lookout for any sign of demon dude, when I came face to face with a cave.

       "You've got to be fucking kidding me." I groaned and resisted the urge to just plop my ass down on the grass and take a nap.

       Was I really about to risk my neck in a creepy ass cave for something that might not even be there? Why did I even care if greedy guy was in there! For fucks sake!

       I let out a tired sigh, gripped tighter on my flashlight and double checked for my knife. "Let's fucking do this then."

       The cave seemed to suck out all-natural light the minute I stepped foot inside. An eerie chill ran down my spine, one that circled in my stomach and dropped to my toes. This wasn't a good place. I stood at the entrance of a rocky damp tunnel, my flashlight the only source of life in the entire place. My breathing sounded like a freight train against the dead silence of the cavern.

       I sucked in a shaky breath and took another step forward. Maybe this wasn't where demon dude was. Maybe it was a cougar's den, or a bear! The last thing I wanted to do was stumble on one of those, but the light of my flashlight met no resisting enclosure as I walked slowly down the tunnel.

       It grew colder with each step, and an unsettling feeling started in my chest. One of lost, longingly, death. It was like a part of me knew this place and held memories so dark and cold they still hurt five hundred years later.

       My breath came out as fog in the dim light.

       Just a little further...

       The thought hit me out of nowhere, and I stumbled against a large rock I hadn't seen. I knew it was only a little further, knew that demon dude wasn't far away. I couldn't sense him or anything, I just knew. Like I knew the sky was blue and grass was green. It was there, imprinted in my head.

       The second I stepped out of the tunnel and into an open space, light flared in my eyes. I gasped and ripped backwards. The light went out instantly.

       "What the actual fuck?"

       I stepped forward again but was ready to brace myself when the lights flared. Torches, there were real-life, hundreds of years old, torches hanging around the expanse of a wide circular space. Every time I stepped into the carved-out cavern, the torches would light on their own, and every time I stepped back into the tunnel they went out. I probably would have freaked out way more than I was if I hadn't seen Luke's blood literally burn the day before.

       I always told myself I didn't believe in what I couldn't see, but I sure as hell saw that.

       There were two other things I noticed once the awe from the magic demon torches died away, two things that chilled me to the very bone. The first, and admittedly the most terrifying, was a giant stone slab centered in the middle of the room. I couldn't see well from my trembling position at the entrance of the tunnel, but there was definitely a body resting on top. Chains held the persons legs and arms pinned to the surface, as strong stone pillars raised the slab off the ground.

       The second thing was the pile of bones resting on the floor just beneath where the chained persons head was. I could clearly make out a small human skull, browning from age and decay. I gulped, and felt ice enter my lungs.

       Fuck me. It was real.

       He was real.

       I had no doubt the person chained to the slab was demon greedy dude, but it had been almost easy to find him. I was expecting three magical trials to pass like in Harry Potter or some other magical book. But there I was, standing a few yards away from the being that created those red eyed freaks, and who has half the town after my head.

       I couldn't really see any details on him, but there was this—air that radiating off the body. I could feel it pulse from the slab, charge the room with electricity, and wrap tightly around my lungs. It made me light-headed and want to run screaming for the hills just as much as it beckoned me closer. Urging me to embrace it, like it would solve every problem I ever hard, answer every question, and promised power.

       I had to shake myself from that pull, though when I looked around again I had somehow managed to walk half-way to the slab.

       What was I doing here again? What was the point? Prove to myself what I had feared all along that this was real?

       Well, good job, Lark. It's real, not get the fuck out of there. I didn't.

       I stepped closer to the slab, careful not to get anywhere near the bones resting against the floor and used my flashlight as a shield.

       I stopped and stared in disbelief at the unmoving lifeless body chained to stone barely a foot away. He was huge, and not necessarily in the good way—though I wasn't going to check. A part of me tried to convince myself it was just a human that met and unfortunate end and I should call the cops, but there was no mistaking the fact that he was twice the size of any man, and the black wings tucked safely underneath him.

       The dim light from the torches hanging on the wall and my flashlight shined just brightly enough to make out the worn, old, tattered, black pants covering the lower half of his body. His tan and toned torso was bare and that so-dark hair it was nearly black matched the long eyelashes resting against his soft cheeks.

       He looked so quiet, so peaceful that if it weren't for the pitch-black feather wings coiling around his strong shoulders, I would have sworn he was human. Now I knew why everyone tried to convince me he was an angel, and not the demon I was dead set on him being. The fallen was unearthly, deadly beautiful.

       But despite all those images Shorzin showed us on his PowerPoint, and the drawing River found that day in the Cathedral, there was absolutely no mistaking the beautiful face sleeping just mere inches from mine.

       The one that belonged to the only person who ever mattered to me.

       Adriel.

-&-

Oof. LOL, I love plot twists. 

So since this is obviously super shocking and a major plot twist, I'm going to be cracking down hardcore on spoilers while I can. 

I'm begging you, begging you, not to spoil this in the comment section if you guys reread the story. It will literally ruin the entire book for other readers, and will break my heart. 

I want everyone to be on this roller coaster of craziness themselves. So, please, no spoilers. And be careful when you #rr parts of the story. Even if you don't mean to, it gives things away to others. 

I will be deleting all comments I view as spoilers when I see them, so be aware. 

Anyways! Have a great day! And make sure your make-up is waterproof cause this rides about to go down! Not in that way, ya' dirty minded peeps.