Page 201 of Sorrow & Strangers

Was that what this was? Some sort of trap set by Uncle Lu to get me to come quietly? I am aware of how dangerous he is, but I see the side of him that no one else does. The side that hates this role he is forced to play in the coming war. I see the man who misses the brothers that hate him, even more than the ones who love him. I’ve seen how my dad mourns the loss of him, even as he is duty-bound to fight against him, and now, I, too, can’t be in the same room as an angel without them going into an angelic avenging rage. Even my own mother would be compelled to kill me. Knowing all of this, it makes sense that Uncle Lu wants me in Hell. It is angel-free, and I would be safe there. I have no doubt there are other reasons as well, despite his claims of altruism.

“It was memorable,” I murmur. Fuck, her skin is even softer, and she smells even better than I remember. “You still haven’t told me your name.”

She tips her head to the side and looks up at me, her eyes roiling with those heady flames. She reaches up and grabs one of my horns, pulling my head down to bite my ear.

“Mira,” she whispers.

Her voice ignites something within me, the sound of her name pinging around my mind. Mira. She tightens her hold on my horn, slowly licking up the side of my neck. My eyes roll into the back of my head, and I moan, causing the person in front of us to turn and look.

So she’s definitely not mad at me for last night.

“He’s extremely single!” Alice shouts from across the restaurant. No doubt the three of them are watching us like weirdos. When I left Eden, I thought I’d be free of meddling siblings. Little did I realize.

Mira pulls back to peek around my shoulder at Summer, Alice, and the stranger watching us. I glare at Alice, but she just flashes two thumbs-up in my direction. Mira slowly releases my horn to give Alice a small wave.

“Now, ask her to marry you!” Alice shouts again, cupping her hands around her mouth to make sure the message is received.

Mira chuckles softly. “Fan club?”

“Worse,” I sigh. “My sisters.”

How quickly the two had fallen into that category of family. So quickly, they have become overbearing siblings I am protective of and would do anything for.

Her fiery brows furrow as she studies Summer and Alice. “A Fallen who has a vampire . . . and some sort of unique fae as sisters?”

My body freezes, every muscle locking to bone, my nerves firing in warning. “What did you call me?”

Mira turns in my arms, tugging me out of line when she sees my expression, my sisters forgotten.

“A Fallen,” she says softly, her eyes flickering with flames.

Pyrrhos’s closest ally is Hell.

“How could you tell I’m not a Lilithim?” Only those who are well familiar with the inhabitants of Hell can tell the difference between the true Fallen and my cousins. Those who were created by Uncle Lu and even his children with Aunt Lili. But Fallen are strictly those who fell from Eden, and I am the first one in a thousand years. We are extremely rare.

“A couple of ways,” Mira says, sliding her hand over my shoulder and trailing her fingers down my arm, leaving a trail of fire in the wake of her touch. She brushes the scorch mark where my halo used to be. “You’re way hotter than any other demon I’ve ever met. And you’re a way better fuck.”

Pyrrhos is closely allied with Hell.

Closely allied with Hell.

With Hell.

“Was I . . . just a comparison for you?” I hiss, my hand dropping from her waist.

Mira’s eyes flicker, scanning my hard face. “Come with me,” she says, taking my hand.

I nod, not trusting my voice, and Mira leads me back out to the beach, away from the permanent damage we left, to a more secluded area. She pulls off her sundress, revealing a green bikini that showcases her lush curves. She walks into the water and turns, beckoning me to follow. I stare at her, doubts gnawing at me. My uncle is not a stupid man, and I would not put it past him to set this trap. Has she been sent to force me into Hell? Or am I just something new for her to fuck?

Don’t care. Pursue.

The demon is nearly drooling, watching the water lap at her toned thighs. I’d be lying if it weren’t just echoing my own desires in my head. I sigh and reach back, pulling my shirt off over my head before wading in after her. Stopping a few feet away, I stare at her, warily keeping my distance.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” she demands, propping her hands on her hips, the water around her heating.

“You said I fucked better than Lilithim. Is that why you went with me last night? Because I’m Fallen?”

Is it once again about what I am, not who I am? First angel, now Fallen?