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Fire shoots up, keeping me away from Riella.
“Riella, no!” I holler, my voice ringing through the air. “Don’t go!”
Her expanding wings knock into me, and I fall to my knees. Pushing up, I watch in shock as Riella bows her head, kneeling at the demon’s feet. His sole attention now burns over Riella.
“My soon-to-be-queen, you’re just as I imagined,” Dagan says, his deep voice sending dread down my back. “Ravishing.”
“Thank you, Prince Dagan.” Riella tips her head, peeking up at his towering form.
“But one thing must be done first before I take you away.” A sword materializes in Dagan’s palm and his demonic form flashes before my eyes.
I can’t move. I can’t do anything but watch.
Swinging his sword, the demon prince smashes it into Riella’s broken wings, severing what’s left of her connection to the divine. I wince, expecting them to fall off her back, but fire catches over the feathers, eating them away until perfectly healed wings as black as glittering onyx remain.
“No,” I whisper.
All lingering signs of Heaven disappear from the beautiful fallen angel.
Hell claims her.
Dagan has won.
14
Hell-Bound
Riella
Myheartsoars.
Angelic light swirls around me, restoring grace to my broken wings, turning me whole again. I stare in awe at the archangel before me, his breathtaking form shining brighter than the sun. Tears trickle from my eyes, and I try to bow at his feet and thank him for coming to Earth to save me, for answering my prayers, but he stops me, tugging me into his arms.
I reach up and stroke my fingers over his handsome face.
Strands of auburn hair hang over his ears, and I push the soft tresses away to study the sharp line of his jaw. Something wild washes through me, and I can’t stop myself from closing the space completely, pressing my body to his. I could bathe in his rugged beauty forever. I’ve never seen someone so enchanting. I’ve been around angels my entire existence, but the only archangel I’ve ever known was Adriel. And though he was handsome, I’ve never felt this sort of attraction. I don’t know if it was because my grace was taken from me or what, but I envision myself wrapped in Dagan’s embrace.
“My queen, I’ve been waiting for you. I was promised the finest warrior, and you’re absolutely perfect. I can’t wait to take you home. All you have to do is agree, my warrior.” His charming accent laces his voice as I repeat what he says over and over. His eyes spark with flames. The obsidian color glows orange, capturing me. I’ve never seen anything like it on an angel.
I should be afraid, but I just can’t stop staring at his ethereal face. His mouth stretches with a dazzling smile. I wonder what it would be like to feel his lips brush mine.
He slides his hand from my shoulder to the back of my neck, tilting his head back and forth as he stares at me. “Tell me you agree. Swear your loyalty and take your rightful place by my side, Riella.”
Again, I don’t respond. I try to pull away from him, but he grips me tighter.
“Will a kiss help change your mind, warrior? I’m certain you’re nervous about your purity, but don’t worry. Corrupting angels is my specialty. It’ll be easy. You have a darkness inside you that I can’t resist. It lingers in your very being, begging for me to draw it out. So, kiss me. Let me show you how powerful I truly am.” Dagan leans in closer, the fire in his eyes glowing brighter as heat burns across my skin. But it doesn’t hurt. It zings through me pulsating to my core. I want nothing more than to show him that I’m still pure and ready to return to my post in Heaven as a warrior.
“If that’s what it takes to return to good grace.” Pressing my lips together in anticipation, I wait for him to proceed. My heart thrashes against my ribcage, threatening to spill free. Nerves bunch my muscles, and I can’t stop the strange feeling begging me to step away. To not give in to this angel. But why?
Tangling his fingers into my hair, Dagan tugs me closer, molding his lips to mine at the same time he slides his other hand around my waist and rests it on the small of my back.
Realization rushes through me with his fervent kiss. Fire explodes around us, and I throw myself back in fear, watching as the archangel transforms into a beast of Hell. His enchantment on me vanishes, and my mind clears. He was never an angel. Or if he was, it’s been a long, long time.
Anger rolls through me, and I fist my hands, trying to pull my angelic blade from its hidden spot on my back. I come up empty-handed. It’s gone, along with the pure whiteness of my wings. He didn’t make me whole again. He changed me into my own worst enemy.
“Riella! Fight! You have to fight!” Damien’s voice booms through the air, breaking through the crackling of fire surrounding us.
The potent, sulfur smell of Hell assaults my nose, and I face Dagan in his hellish glory. Long black tentacles whip from his body, trying to trap me with their red suction cups. I manage to dodge out of the way, but I don’t get far. I’m trapped in this Hell cage, and it shoots agony through me every time I try to escape. I can’t cross the flaming barrier. I can’t do anything except face this Prince of Hell and hope that I’m strong enough to defeat him.
