Chosen Soul

by S Lawrence

  Glancing at Lillian, I smile slightly. Well maybe I have one. I feel emotion swell inside me at her despair. Finally, I begin to understand something I have long suspected.

  Our emotions break free here on Earth. Our forced detachment slowly ebbs away.

  It is both thrilling and terrifying.

  Blinking slowly, I’m shocked to feel something rolling down my cheek. I raise my hand slowly and wipe my finger over my cheek, amazed to see the moisture on it when I glance down.

  A tear. My first tear.

  More begin to follow it, and I’m frustrated that I can’t seem to stop them. I don’t understand why the Archangels or any of those that have fallen would want these emotions.

  It’s awful. I don’t like it.

  Lillian looks over at me, my movement catching her eye. She squeezes Torryn hard then steps away, letting him go. Shaking my head, I step back, but she just keeps coming. Torryn grins through his pain.

  Asshole.

  There is nowhere to run as she folds her arms around me, and to my utter embarrassment, I cry harder.

  What the actual fuck.

  I can’t take another second of this.

  “DO NOT LEAVE.” Power rolls over me, and a new emotion springs forward. Anger.

  I pin Lucifer with my gaze, letting him see it blazing there, but it sputters almost completely out when I get a clear look at his face.

  It is shimmering and just below the beautiful young man is the face of human’s nightmare. In this instance, he is the Devil, Beelzebub, Satan. He is Lucifer.

  I know I couldn’t leave if I wanted to, which I do, but his power is holding me to this plane.

  Flames flash in his eyes in his anger at my cowardice.

  I’m a coward. The realization hits me like a bolt of lightning.

  I’ve hidden in Heaven this whole time, even letting Grace put herself into a situation that caused her death, all because I was scared. I can do nothing but nod at him.

  I deserve his anger.

  Chapter 25

  CHARLIE

  I don’t know what is happening between them but I can feel Luc’s rage and finally see what we have been told to fear.

  I don’t. Fear it, that is. Today I relish it, since it is the only thing keeping Caliel here. Without the angel’s power helping keep Dagen alive, we will lose him.

  I can’t stop crying. He loves me. He loves me, and I’m going to lose him. Did I tell him that I started falling as he protected me in that hallway? I don’t think so. I thought it as he held me last night. But I was unable to say the words.

  “I love you, Dagen. Please stay with me.” His song flares louder for an instant and I know he heard me, but then it is even quieter. “Please, if you’re listening… Help me.”

  I beg. I know they say He is gone, not caring what happens one way or another, but I beg Him for help.

  As I’m begging, I climb, much to the horror of those around me, on top of the magic bubble keeping him safe. Much to my horror, I slide right through. Shit, I’m going to hurt him.

  “Dagen, baby, I’m sorry for everything. I just...” I can’t finish. I can’t say I need to hold him one more time.

  “I love you, Charlie.” His voice is so low and it scares me with the sound of it. Even it sounds burnt. The smell of his charred flesh makes me gag.

  “Love you so much, baby. I need you.” My emotions overwhelm me as I drop my head to his chest.

  My wings curl around us. They seem to have a mind of their own as I lose mine.

  Without warning, I’m blinded by flames and a scream is torn from my throat. It seems to be never ending, my scream, but it is cut off when his arms move around me.

  “Baby?” When did I settle on a pet name?

  “It’s so beautiful, Charlie.” His voice is rough, although now it is emotion that has deepened it.

  “What is?” I can’t see a damn thing because of the blinding light.

  “Love.” Umm, okay. “Your love.” I hear tears in his voice and feel mine start to flow again, if they ever really stopped.

  “My love?” I don’t understand at all.

  “That’s what changes the flames, moll. Your love turns them into something straight from Heaven.” His arms tighten and the smell of chocolate fills my nose. “You are amazing, and I don’t deserve this.”

  “You deserve more than me, Dagen,” I argue.

  His hands slide up and cup my head, pulling my face up. Still the light is blinding, but I don’t need to see to know what is coming. I hold my breath until his lips touch mine.

  They are smooth and cold, and my heart swells as his icy heat rolls over me.

  Dagen.

  I open to him as his tongue slides over the seam of my lips. I want to devour him. I start to deepen the kiss, unable to wait for him, when the bubble that held us suspended vanishes and we crash to the bed.

  “Fuck. You could have warned us,” Dagen growls as we both taste a hint of blood from our teeth crashing into the soft flesh of our mouths.

  I open my eyes as I feel my wings tuck away. Their job is done, I guess.

  He licks over his lower lip, which is covered in both our blood, and I’m fascinated to see his eyes flash red as I push up and over to his side. I would stand, but he holds me to him.

  Lillian smiles slyly at Torryn, and I glance back at Dagen. His tongue is running over his lip again and his eyes change once more. If I’m not mistaken, I see the tiny tip of his tooth poking out over that lip.

  What in the world?

  “Can you fix the windows and get the fuck out,” he growls and his voice is different.

  Frowning, I glance around the room. Caliel disappears before my eyes, his hand scrubbing over his damp cheeks as he does.

  Lillian grabs Torryn and drags him out the door, pausing to wink at me just outside the frame.

  “Just give us a few minutes,” I say to Luc, who is shaking his head even as he does what Dagen demands. “Please don’t leave. I want to talk to all of you.”

  I need to thank them.

  “I’ll get some food. He’ll be hungry after everything,” Luc murmurs as he disappears.

  Dagen waves his hand and the door slams closed. I hear laughter from the living room and feel my cheeks heat. Another wave and I’m completely naked at his side.

  I start to protest, but the feral look on his face stops me. Holy shit, that is hot. My core clenches and I feel wetness leak from it.

  “I don’t know what’s happening but the taste of you...” His tongue flicks out, and I know for certain I’ve never noticed those teeth.

  I reach up and with one finger, push his lip up slightly.

  “Baby?” He stops the licking and focuses those flashing eyes on me. “Have you always had fangs?”

  He leaps from the bed and I see his own clothes are also gone, not that the fires had left much of them anyway. I stare at his perfect bubble butt as he strides into the bathroom.

  “What the fuck?” I wait as he grumbles more under his breath, but I can only make out demon and battle.

  “Are you okay?” I call out, almost afraid of the answer. A growl is his answer then I hear footsteps.

  Rolling over, I lay on my side, watching as he stops in the door, and my eyes widen. Gone is the Dagen I know and in his place is a demon, eyes fully red, more pointy teeth. He seems bigger, and I let my eyes travel over him.

  They get stuck on the massive erection jutting out from his body. Definitely bigger.

  Damn.

  “I want to taste you.” The words are slightly garbled but I get the picture. “Don’t want to hurt you though.” The beast shakes his head, a confused look on his beautiful face.

  He still looks like Dagen, and if I look hard, I can see Dagen there, just below the surface, fighting for control.

  That fight shatters something inside me, and I open my arms. “I love all of you, Dagen. You won’t hurt me.”

  His eyes come up to my face, the lids closing in relief and resign
ation.

  When they finally open again, they are blazing. He has lost the fight or given into his other nature, but either way, I’m ready to love him.

  “Come get me, demon,” I whisper, and my eyes widen at his reaction.

  Oh yes.

  Chapter 26

  DAGEN

  Her words snap the tiny thread of control I had been clinging to, and the demon roars in my head.

  Victory. Claim. Mine.

  She’s holding her arms open, like I’m going into them first.

  No.

  I have other plans. The demon has other plans. His involve drinking her blood. I fight to ease those needs, to replace them with others.

  I’m at the foot of the bed before she can blink, reaching and wrapping my fingers around her ankles.

  The sight of my black claws on her pale skin has a rumbling growl of satisfaction vibrating in my chest. Her body shivers.

  I can see the evidence of her desire there at the junction of her legs. My mouth waters as I kneel on the mattress and push her legs even further apart. Her breath catches as I let my claws slide up her legs, leaving faint red lines.

  My demon likes that her skin now carries its mark. She shivers harder; she likes it too. It only drives the demon harder. I let those claws dig into her inner thighs, leaving deep marks there as I lower my face to my prize.

  A puff of my frosty breath blows over her core and her muscles tighten, her legs fighting to close, but I force them even wider. Rolling my eyes up, I watch her as I open my mouth and begin to devour her.

  Licking with my tongue flattened wide, I cover every millimeter of her pussy over and over then I change tactics, turning my tongue into a spear as I shove it deep within her. I curl it against that rough spot that makes her eyes roll back, and her core clenches around it.

  I fuck her with my mouth, and soon she is twisting on the bed, only held in place by those claws in her thighs. She’s chanting my name, her own fingers curled into the sheets.

  The orgasm tears through her, and juices flood my tongue. Her scream echoes in the room, and before I can stop myself, I turn my head to the side to sink my teeth into the soft flesh. Blood mixes with the other taste of her. Her body tightens and her hands grasp at my head.

  She should be pulling me away but instead she pushes me closer, letting me drink her down. Hot fluid coats my throat and hits my head like one hundred year old whiskey.

  She is ninety proof.

  I’m an alcoholic addicted to her. I gulp again before licking over the punctures. Forcing my mouth from her, I’m afraid I will take it all.

  The flow of blood slows to a trickle as her body relaxes. I need more, not blood but more of her.

  Not giving her time to come completely down, I climb the rest of the way over her, positioning myself at her entrance. Her heels come up and dig into my ass, pushing me inside. She needs more, too.

  I fight her, holding myself still.

  I pause for as long as I can then I slam home. Withdraw. Slam into her again. She rolls her hips each time I’m fully seated. I feel my own climax starting at the bottom of my feet. I want to last longer, but the blood is surging through my veins. The demon wants to mark her, make her his.

  On and on I thrust, harder, deeper, until I hear my own voice. I growl her name as she rises up, latching her own teeth into the muscle on my chest, drawing blood herself.

  Just as I begin to fill her with my seed, her head falls back and another orgasm rockets through her and her mouth opens on a silent scream. Then her eyes widen in amazement.

  “Dagen?” Her voice is filled with wonder.

  The demon recedes satisfied.

  “Dagen?” She draws my attention, and I finally notice a single finger on her hand pointing behind me.

  Glancing back, I feel my mouth fall open.

  Seeing them on Torryn did absolutely nothing to prepare me for them. Enormous black wings arch out from my back.

  “They are beautiful.” She reaches over my shoulder and touches an ebony feather.

  I’m still inside her and don’t want to leave her body but I do. I manifest a blanket, covering her with it as I stand. Her eyes travel over my body, ignoring the wings.

  That makes me feel like I’m fucking flying already.

  Manifesting pants, I open the door and start down the hall stopping only when she calls out.

  “Clothes please. I’m coming too.” Closing my eyes, I focus and hear a quiet “awe, man” from the bedroom.

  I thought she’d like that. She is beside me in less than a minute, the blue velvet tailored trousers and black satin vest looking amazing on her.

  She stops at my side and rises up as I lean down, kissing me hard before I deepen it, losing myself in the heat of her mouth. A throat clearing forces us apart, and I straighten, turning my head to glare at Torryn, but the damn wing is blocking my view.

  Shifting to the side while pulling her against me, I glare at him. Lillian is beaming, and her joy softens my displeasure at being interrupted.

  “I knew it,” she sighs and Torryn rolls his eyes. “I knew you were made for each other.”

  I glance down at Charlie at my side, and she is smiling but I can see the confusion.

  “Torryn got his wings after they joined together.” Her mouth forms a circle as she nods once slowly.

  “But we, umm, joined last night,” she whispers.

  “Actually…” Torryn clears his throat after drawing out the word. “I drank her blood.”

  I just stare at him as seconds tick by. He’s rubbing his hair, and I suddenly want to punch him in the face.

  “You don’t think that might have been important information?” I yell at him as I begin stalking down the hall. The women just stare as he begins my way, planning to meet me in the middle.

  “Oh, I knew it was. I just wanted you to be surprised.” He grins again.

  I’m going to fucking kill him. He sees something that changes his mind and he turns, running and laughing as he does.

  “I thought I was going to hurt her, you idiot.” I’ve almost caught him as we race past the couch, but just as I reach out, he pours on some extra speed. I realize his intention a second too late.

  His wings unfurl and he lets them catch the breeze coming in the open balcony doors. He’s in the air in an instant, flapping them hard to gain altitude quickly.

  My anger fades as I follow suit. Memories of before flood my mind as the wind blows through my wings. Sensations from so long ago wreak havoc on my emotions. Muscle memory takes over as I work to catch up with my brother.

  His laughter reaches my ears just as he dives, free falling by me. Tucking the wings tight against my body, I shoot after him, my own laughter booming through the evening sky.

  We fly out of the city, heading into the desert, letting the warm currents carry us until Torryn glides down, landing on a tall hoodoo. I circle twice before joining him. We stand in silence under the dark sky dotted with the brilliant lights of a million shining stars.

  The moon is nothing more than a sliver but it shines bright. Yips of coyotes fill the silence as Torryn moves to the edge and sits, letting his feet dangle. I watch him for a minute before joining him. It’s times like this that I remember how innocent he was in Heaven. His profile is an image of joy. Angelic.

  “You don’t realize how much you missed it.” He doesn’t look at me while he speaks.

  “Luc was right to keep it from us.” My own voice is rough with emotion. He nods then turns his head toward me.

  “I’m not telling him that though.” I shake my head at his stubbornness.

  Chewing at my lip, I contemplate how to tell him and decide to just come out with it. “While I was under,” he looks away but I continue, “I could feel everything, all of you.”

  His body shifts a little in his discomfort.

  “He was so angry.” That makes him look my way. “At himself, Torryn, because he couldn’t save me. I could feel how he loves us, how he feels res
ponsible for us, how he worries about us.” I frown before continuing. “It is a heavy burden.”

  He doesn’t speak for a long time. “I know.” I can tell he doesn’t really hate admitting it. He takes a moment before he continues, “I love you like a brother. You and Evander more than the others. I get that he feels that way about all of us. And now he is also collecting the girls.”

  It’s true. I felt Luc’s feelings toward Charlie. It is a complex mixture of who she is and what she represents. Peace for the world and for us. I don’t tell Torryn the pain I felt buried deep within our leader.

  Instead, we both let the silence return as we stare out into the night.

  “I guess we should head back,” he murmurs after a while.

  I climb to my feet and hold out my hand. He takes it and I pull him up into a quick chest bump man hug. His arm comes around me, his fisted hand pounding me lightly on the back a couple times before we both step back.

  “Thanks for everything,” I say as we spread our wings. He knows I mean from the beginning.

  “I always got you, just like you always got me.” He grins and leaps like a high diver off the edge.

  I watch as he plummets almost to the ground before those ebony wings spring open and his body jerks up as the descent is suddenly stopped. I shake my head but take a couple steps back and run at the edge, leaping out to make my own dive.

  Adrenaline pours through my veins and a yell fills the air. We race back to our women, and as we finally draw near the balcony, we can see them lying on chairs, their eyes on the skyline. Lillian raises a hand and waves. Charlie smiles.

  Laughter reaches my ears as Torryn somehow manages to land right over Lillian. Not to be outdone I focus and lower slowly, hovering over Charlie. Her eyes widen as the wind from my flapping wings blows her hair around her face.

  Holding out my hands, I catch myself as I tuck the wings away in a single motion, letting the rest of my body come down on hers.

  I wonder how I lived without her heat so long as her mouth connects with mine.