Page 5 of The Halo & the Heathen
“Let me go.”
“No.” His grip tightens on me and he lifts me closer to him, nostrils flaring.
“Saints don’t leave the Devil’s dance floor without risking their own damnation.” He carries me away from the halo. “And I am yours.”
I slip my hand down my side, through the fabric until my fingers touch the hilt of my knife. But the moment I grasp it, the iron turns to rust in my hand.
“Let me go.” I say it again, as sternly as I can manage.
Until the sun rises, saints are supposed to be able to force devils to release them with those three words.
But this demon isn’t a sinner.
“Why should I?” He traces a claw down the side of my cheek. “You’re not a sinner. You don’t wear a cage.”
His whole hand grips my face, as if to make sure.
“You’re not a saint. Saints are good girls. Good girls don’t leave the dance floor.”
“I’m lost.”
He laughs. It’s a low, dark sound.
“You’re a liar. And a pest.” His smile widens and his teeth seem to get sharper. “You’ve seen what I do to pests.”
I look at the walls. There are dozens of other streaks of that ashy gray goo, but they’re dealt with and he’s looking at…
“Should I see what a spike through you will do?”
I swallow and shake my head. “Please don’t.”
“And what would you have done if you’d been able to pull that knife?”
I swallow and shrink back into his hand.
“Don’t worry. No one blames the mouse for biting the cat when it’s backed into a corner.”
“If you let me go,” I say, lying again. “I’ll leave.”
“That’s not how it works.” He shakes his head and his horns scrape on the cavern ceiling. “I’m supposed to drag you out and throw you in with the other damned souls, but you are flesh and bone. Maybe I should take you to the Devil himself instead.”
No!
“Please don’t.”
“Why shouldn’t I?”
“I’ll do anything you want.” I have to be the one who changes the situation. I can’t let him do it.
“Anything?” he asks. The soft laughter that comes with it makes me want to run. But I can’t.
“Yes.”
His claw slices through the soft fabric of the dress’ false corset and I hold my breath as he bares me to him. He licks his lips as his gaze coasts over every inch of me he’s uncovered.
“Such a small and breakable thing… Let’s see if you’re a liar in this as well.”
Even though the air around us is hellishly hot, I shiver when his tongue delves between my legs.
