Forget the sadness. She would deal with that later. Right now, she would simply enjoy. For the first time in four years, Annabelle threw back her head and laughed.
CHAPTER FOUR
ZACHAREL RELEASED THE GIRL the moment he was able, depositing her in the center of an empty room and stepping away from her tempting warmth, the sweetness of her scent and the gentle caress of her hair against his skin. Hed liked touching her. He shouldnt have liked it on any level, but no matter how many lectures hed given himself, the like had only intensified.
During the flight, the changes in her expressive face had entranced him. Hed watched her go from rapture to sorrow, then back to rapture again. He, who had long-ago battled back his emotions until he no longer experienced them, had actually found himself envious of her willingness to reveal all she thought and felt.
She had looked so uninhibited, utterly caught up in the moment. And when shed laughed oh, sweet heavens. Her voice had washed over him, enveloping him, embracing him.
She had intrigued him, perplexed him, transfixed him, and hed marveled about what had brought about those quicksilver changes, but hed had too much pride to ask.
She was the consort of a demon, his enemy. Not by choice, no, but a consort nonetheless. She was also a human and therefore beneath him; her emotions could not matter to him.
He should not have brought her here, he realized. He should not have accepted the pleasure of having her in his arms.
He should not be looking at her now, wondering if the delight shed found in the midnight sky would extend to his home. He should not want her delight.
Why did you laugh? he asked. So much for his pride. He had to know the reason.
Im free, Im free, Im finally free, she replied, with a twirl.
The tumbling length of her hair flew around her, slapping him in the face. He barely curbed the urge to grab on to the strands and rub them between his fingers, just to remind himself of how soft they could be.
Her head tilted to the side as she looked at him. What?
What do you mean, what?
Youre frowning at me.
I frown at everyone.
Good to know. So this is your cloud, huh? Her brows scrunched in confusion. She studied the walls that looked no more substantial than mist. The floor was as thick as morning fog, clinging to her ankles, and seemingly just as flimsy.
This is my home, yes.
I gotta say, its exactly as I predicted.
Was that derision in her tone? What do you mean? he asked, trying not to reveal how insulted he was. Another reaction, now? When they werent touching? Truly?
Mist, mist and more mist. Im only surprised the foundation is solid.
The entire enclosure is solid.
She extended her arm to the side. Awe consumed her features when her fingers disappeared inside the mist. Solid but not. Fascinating.
You are fascinating.
No. No! She wasnt.
Hed had females here before. Fellow warriors, and even joy-bringers he considered friends, as well as the once human, now immortal named Sienna, who just happened to be the new queen of the Titan godsimmortals who considered themselves rulers of the entire world. She liked to stop by unannounced, and he liked to kick her out.
Then there was Lysanders wife, Bianka, a Harpy no one dared deny. She held their leaders heart in her hands, and her happiness was his, but still Zacharel could never get rid of her fast enough. And yet, seeing Annabelle here affected Zacharel strangely. She was here, surrounded by his walls, ensconced in his world, safe because he had made it so. He, and no other.
The thought should not have filled him with satisfaction, but it did.
Time to leave her, he decided. For real. Distance would do him some good. Put him back on his game and numb him out, the way he preferred.
I want you to be at ease, Annabelle, he said. Demons would not dare try to enter.
Her relief was tangible. Good.
I have business I must attend to, but I will not be far. Only a few rooms over. He hadnt meant to snap, hadnt known he was capable of doing so, but snap he had. However, you will remain inside this one.
Just like that, her countenance changed. Her eyes narrowed, and her lips pursed. Are you saying Im your prisoner? Did I trade one cell for another?
Forced to tell the truth for thousands of years, he had found ways to misdirect. How can you consider yourself a prisoner when your every wish will be granted while you are here?
Thats not an answer.
Suspicious, prickly human. She was annoyingly perceptive. And yet it addressed some of your concerns, Im sure.
She stomped her foot, every inch the willful childbut that didnt annoy him as it should have. I wont be held captive. Not ever again.
Her words, on the other hand A glint of anger formed inside the fissure, burning in the center of his chest. Too many people had questioned his authority lately, and hed reached the end of his tolerance. You would rather die, Annabelle?
Yes!
She blinked at her own vehemence, and so did he.
Yes, she said softly.
The claim was false, even though he could not taste a lie. Surely. You do realize I could crush you in seconds, yes?
Believe me, at this point, death would be a mercy. So crush me if you cant tolerate being told off, because I will never be a cooperative prisoner. I will fight you forever if necessary.
Death would be a mercy. One other person had uttered those words to him, and death had indeed been a mercy then. For Hadrenial, but not for Zacharel. He would suffer eternally for what had transpired that terrible night.
You must stop comparing Annabelle to your brother.
Right now, he had two choices. Convince the female she was not a prisoner, which would take time he did not have, or let her go. Neither appealed to him. Perhaps there was a third option, though. One hed never before attempted. Courtesy.
It was worth a shot, he supposed. I humbly request that you remain here. Whatever you desire, you have only to ask for it, and it will be yours. The moment he spoke he recalled her liking for Thane. The small flame of anger intensified, and he would have sworn he heard a drip, drip. Except for a male. You may not summon a male.
Zacharel had saved her. Zacharel would see to her care.
The light in the room hit her at a different angle, and he saw the bruises marring the soft skin under her eyes, the deep hollows of her cheeks. So breakable, this human. I dont understand. Do you have servants who will bring me what I want?
No servants. I will show you how it works. What is something you desire? Besides a male, he hurried to add.
A shower. Offered with no hesitation. Without anyone watching me.
A private shower, he said, then motioned behind her.
Expression set in disbelief, she spun. Mist began to thicken and take shape, until a shower stall stood tall and proud. It was encased by smoked glass, and had multiple knobs and a drain in the floor.
She gasped with equal parts pleasure and disbelief. Food, she said next, immeasurable relish in her tone.
Drip, drip. Except no longer was anger at the center of the flame. He wasnt sure what was.
A pout curved her mouth downward. Nothing happened.
You must be specific, he instructed.
Her tongue emerged, swiping over her lips. I want lobster mac-and-cheese, biscuits and gravy, asparagus risotto, beef enchiladas, chicken-fried steak, brownies with frosting, brownies without frosting, blackberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream, turkey and dressing, and and and
Beside him appeared a large, round table, wings intricately carved into its legs. Next came an elegant white tablecloth that perfectly conformed to its size. The requested dishes appeared next, one at a time, until the surface was covered with steaming bowls and perfectly arranged plates.
Shaky limbs brought her forward. She gripped the tables edge, closed her eyes and breathed deeply, rapture consuming her lovely features. I dont know where to start, she admitted.
Start at one side and work your way to the other.
She licked her lips. Are you hungry? Do you want anything? If so, Ill need to summon more.
More? No, thank you. I will eat on the morrow. He never ate before battle, and he wasnt quite done with his assignment. But he would have enjoyed watching her, he thought. Witnessing her delight, her passion andwhat are you doing? No one will disturb you.
She gave no reply, was reaching for the ice cream.
He turned on his heel and stepped through the mist. When he turned back, that mist blocked her from his viewbut as insubstantial as it seemed, it would hold her inside.
He held out his hand and commanded the seams of the door to seal. Only he would be able to unseal them. Only he would be able to enteror leave. Whats more, Annabelle would hear nothing that happened outside her room.
That done, he stalked down the hall, the floor extending before him with every step. Past his bedroom, his private sanctuary, and into the holding bay, where the five most trusted warriors of his army awaited him. Trusted being a relative term, of course.
Thane, Bjorn and Xerxes stood off to the side, together as always and somehow separate from the others. Unlike most other angels, Xerxes lacked physical perfection. He had long white hair he kept pulled back in a jeweled torque. His skin was without color, as though death had settled beneath the surface, with tiny scars forming patterns of three. Three lines, gap, three lines, gap, three lines. Red eyes watched the world with an intelligenceand angermatched by few.
Just then, those demonlike eyes were glaring at the minion even now bound by tendrils of cloud that clung to her gnarled wrists and ankles like ivy, holding her in place with no hope of escape.
Beside her stood the equally bound fallen angel Zacharel had brought here months ago. The male refused to behave, causing trouble for the new queen of the Titans, and so Zacharel, who had been told to curry her favor, had to restrain him.
Zacharels attention moved to the other angels. In the far corner, Koldo cleaned his hooked sword, seemingly oblivious to the rest of the world. He had sun-drenched skin and black eyes as deep and fathomless as a pit of despair. He also possessed a thick black beard and long black hair that hung down his back in multiple braids.
As a child, demons had ripped out his wings. And because of his young age, his regenerative powers had not yet taken hold, so those wings had never grown back and never would. Instead his shoulders, back and legs were tattooed with crimson feathers depicting the wings he must miss with every ounce of his being. Not that he ever complained. Koldo was a man of few words, and those he did utter were deep, hoarse and soul chilling.
Jamila paced in front of the demon. With her dark skin and the long black ringlets cascading down her back and eyes of the sweetest honey, she was one of the original joy-bringers, promoted to warrior only after she had ventured into hell, alone, to rescue one of her pet humans.
Weeks had passed before shed emerged, and though shed saved the humans spirit, she had not saved herself. Something down there had changed her. No longer did she laugh easily or flitter through life without a care. No one looked over her shoulder more than Jamila, as if expecting evil to be waiting in every corner.
Until tonights battle, though, Zacharel hadnt understood why she had been given to his care. Now he knew. Clearly, she had a problem following orders not to mention the fact that she no longer prized human life.
She would have to be punished. She would probably cry.
I should have chosen Axel as my fifth. The male was irreverent, always laughing, obsessed with wreaking havoc, but he would not shed a single tear when Zacharel pronounced his sentence.
Xerxes noticed him first and straightened. The others followed suit.
The human girl, Thane said. I would like to return for her.
Still thinking of her, was he? No need. Shes here with me, he replied with an unexpected edge to his tone. You may tell me what you learned about her once we finish with the demon.
A satisfied gleam entered Thanes eyes, and that, more than anything else that day, angered Zacharel. Did he hope to win her? Ive yet to learn anything. There hasnt been time.
Another order unheeded. You will make time when you leave.
Something in his tone must have gotten through to Thane. Rather than issuing one of his customary retorts, he nodded. I will.
What human girl are we discussing? Jamila asked.
Zacharel waved the question away. The only human that should matter to you is the one you killed during the battle.
Yeah. So? So what if I killed one? she shot back, and he heard the unspoken, So have you. So have they.
His eyes narrowed on her, lances of resolve. How many times in the past three months have I told you that you are not to make a demon kill if it causes you to harm a human? He could have pulled her aside, could have chastised her in private, but she had committed her sin in front of others and she would now deal with the consequences in front of others.
Red suffused her cheeks. She gazed at her peers before refocusing on Zacharel. There are approximately thirty days in a month, and you have mentioned it at least once a day. So my guess is ninety.
The number was not an exaggeration. And yet you made the kill anyway.
She raised her chin in haughty defiance, eyes nearly black in the shadows cast by her lashes. Eyes completely dry. I did. He taunted me through the human.
Too many females had raised their chins at him today. Actually, one was too many. Annabelle had been allowed because she was human and knew no better, and had no other way of expressing her displeasure with him. And hed been oddly charmed by her. That was not the case in this instance.