Covering her eyes with her hand, she shook her head. “You’re so awful. Thank you, Caleb, for being a gentleman and minding your manners.”
“No, problem. Lil housebroke me for you. But if it makes you feel better, Nick, I was much worse than you when she met me.”
Laughing, Nick took his seat. And as he dug through his bag, a strange image went through his head.
It was of Caleb and Lilliana. The image was so raw and vivid, and potent, that it froze him to the spot.
Agonizing grief and physical pain laced through him.
Malphas had been wounded in battle. He’d taken a spear straight through his side, and been forced into retreat by the Sephirii forces that had fought against the first Malachai’s army.
After a long pursuit, Malphas had finally lost his enemies and had found a place with fresh water. Because of the agony of his injuries and the effort it was taking to remain conscious, he didn’t have the strength left to waste his powers on concealing his true demonic form. So he lay beside the stream on his stomach with his black wings spread wide and his red skin scuffed and smeared with his black blood.
His breathing labored, he’d been trying to stave off the bleeding when he heard the sharp gasp to his left. Furious, he’d angled his sword at the interloper, intending to murder whoever had dared disturb him.
But the moment his gaze locked onto those two celestial blue eyes that had been filled with fright, he’d hesitated. Those large eyes had dominated the face of an angel—and not the kind he fought against.
Her nose was a bit large for her pixie-like face, but it hadn’t detracted from her beauty at all. That small flaw had somehow made her even more beautiful. She’d worn her white-blond hair pulled back into a long, thick braid, yet defiant strands had come free to curl and tease her skin.
Even though she was obviously terrified of him, she’d bitten her lip and approached him very slowly.
Cautiously.
“Are you injured?”
Stunned that she wasn’t screaming or running away, Malphas scowled at her.
“Can you understand me?”
He bared his fangs as she came closer, then hissed, hoping to send her fleeing.
Instead, she froze instantly. “I mean you no harm, demon. I’m a healer. I can help you, if you let me.”
Those words baffled him. She was human … why would she help him? They were enemies in this war. She had to know that. His kind had slaughtered hers by the hundreds, everywhere they found them.
Without fail. Without prejudice.
Without hesitation.
Still she stood there with her arms held out at her sides. No guile. No deception that he could sense. She seemed as sincere as any creature he’d ever known. Not that he’d known all that many who were sincere, or any, for that matter. The majority of his acquaintances were backbiting snakes who would betray faster than a heart could beat.
“Please … let me help. If anyone else finds you here, they’ll call the others to slay you.”
“Why aren’t you calling them?”
“You’ve personally done me no harm. I don’t believe in holding someone accountable for the deeds of others. Only what he, himself, has done.” She moved forward again until she reached the tip of his outstretched sword that was still coated in the red blood of his vanquished enemies.
Only then did she hesitate as she saw it.
Malphas lowered the tip to the ground, and let the sword fall from his hand. He tucked his black wings down by his sides, then hissed as that action caused more pain to slice through his abdomen.
With the most tender expression anyone had ever given him, she knelt by his side and laid a gentle hand on his cheek. It was the first time in his life anyone had given him such a touch. For a full minute, he couldn’t breathe as unknown feelings went through him. More than that, her skin smelled of rosewater and honey. A delectable scent that awoke a fierce hunger in his soul.
Yet it wasn’t for her blood or bones.
He wasn’t sure what he wanted from her.
“You’re burning with fever.”
He couldn’t believe that she didn’t recoil from his unnatural bloodred skin. Or long orange hair. Rather, she cupped his cheek and stared into his yellow demon eyes without flinching as she wiped away the black demon’s blood on his cheek and lips.
“Can you stand?”
He nodded.
To his even greater shock, she helped him to his feet. And when her gentle hand brushed against his black wings to help support him, he was lost to her kindness. “There’s a cave where I played as a girl, just over that hill.” She jerked her chin to show him the direction. “No one ever goes there. They believe it’s haunted. You should be safe to rest within its shelter, and I can tend your wound and bring you food.”
“I still don’t understand why you would help me.”
“Because you need it.”
He shook his head. “Aren’t you afraid of me?”