Chapter 26

Chapter

Twenty-Six

S erenity

I should have stood my ground and begged him to listen to me, but Angelo had a way of sweeping me up in his fervor. His touch ignited a fire within me that was more than just desire. It was pure energy surging through my veins. My depleted powers sparked back to life wherever his skin met mine, filling me with a dangerous mix of strength and need. My heart raced as I let him take control, lost in the chaos of it all, knowing I should fight this but craving both his touch and the restoration of my power.

The smooth strands of his jet-black hair cascaded down onto my cheek, tickling it ever so slightly. His lips trailed along my throat and the hollow of my neck, sending shivers down my spine. I moved my leg against his, aching for more contact. He brushed his sharp fangs against my skin, causing me to gasp with pleasure. Fire burned bright within me, ignited by his touch.

I slipped my hands under his shirt hungrily, desperate to feel the warmth of his bare skin against mine. The low growl that escaped from his throat only fueled my desire further, and I could feel his body tensing as our bodies pressed together. The feel of his hard, throbbing cock against my thigh sent waves of arousal through me, mixing with the heat already coursing through my veins.

As his lips brushed against the sensitive skin of my neck, his low voice rumbled through my body like a warm caress. “What were you researching, little one?” he murmured.

My mind struggled to keep up as his hand slowly slipped down to trace a path over the curves and planes of my body. I slipped my hands into his pants and squeezed his firm buttocks. My research felt very unimportant now, overshadowed by the searing pleasure that radiated from his touch.

His fingers reached their destination, igniting every nerve ending in my body. I could barely form words as I gasped out, “Powers...angel powers.” All thoughts and desires had melted away except for the exquisite sensation of his hand stroking my secret curls so expertly.

With a gentle yet insistent touch, he lifted my shirt up and placed feather-light kisses down my chest. As his warm lips traced their way across my skin, a trail of fire followed behind. Anticipation built within me as he pressed his mouth against the fabric of my bra, sucking harder with each passing moment. My heart raced as I pulled him closer to me, feeling the heat and desire between us.

His voice broke through the haze of pleasure, reigniting my mind. ‘What kind of powers?’ His words were like sparks, kindling a flame within me. Was he interrogating me? If so, he was doing it with such prowess and elegance that it felt more like a seduction than an interrogation. He directed me toward his desires without even uttering them aloud, leaving me wanting more with each passing moment.

“I… I wanted to see if I could protect you and the others...from demons.” It wasn’t exactly a lie. I couldn’t tell him about trying to expel demons, though. He’d lose his mind if he knew I was thinking about confronting Balthazar.

“That’s not quite true, is it?” Angelo’s voice went dangerously soft. “We’re connected, remember. I can read your mind.” His grip tightened. “You can’t expel a demon, Nephilim. You’re not that powerful—Balthazar would only toy with you. Break you.”

He swirled his tongue down to my belly button, sucking it, driving me crazy. I thrashed on the bed as he made his way lower. He pulled down my pants and underwear, then tossed them onto the bed.

Cool air brushed over my hot skin and I stared down at his dark head. He glanced up at me as he kissed my mound. “Mi vita, listen to me. Your power, your fierce fire—they’re what made me fall for you. But Balthazar is not just another demon. He harvests souls like others collect trinkets, and the thought of him getting anywhere near you...” His voice turned rough. “Promise me you’ll be careful. I can’t lose you.”

My throat tightened at the raw emotion in his voice. This was the Angelo few people ever saw—the one who could be tender, who loved with the same intensity he ruled. His fear for me was real, and it made my own deception cut deeper. But how could I turn my back on Steve and Joy when they needed me most? When every moment I delayed could mean losing them forever?

His hot tongue flicked against my sensitive clit, and I couldn’t help but cry out in pleasure.

“I promise, I promise,” I panted, even as my heart ached with the lie.

“You can’t save them on your own,” he murmured against my skin.

I stiffened. I kept forgetting he could read my mind.

“I know what you like, Nephilim. Not just saving the people you love, but how you want me to pleasure you.”

His words sent heat racing through my veins. Even now, with Steve and Joy in danger, Angelo could make me forget everything but the feel of him, the need for him. It wasn’t fair how well he knew me—both my desperate need to protect and my desperate need for him.

With a firm grip, he spread my trembling thighs even wider, exposing me completely to his eager mouth. My breathing became erratic as he worshipped me, his skilled tongue exploring every inch of my core. Each stroke and lick sent shivers of pleasure through my body, building up a pressure that threatened to consume me. I screamed his name as I reached the peak of ecstasy, my entire body quivering and writhing under his touch. The intense sensations left me panting and gasping for breath as I slowly came down from my euphoric high.

With a quick tug, he unbuckled his pants and shoved them down below his hips. I could feel the heat radiating from his body as his rigid cock pressed against my thigh. His breath was hot in my ear as he whispered, “Turn over. Get on your hands and knees.”

My heart raced with anticipation. “What?” I forced the word past frozen lips.

“I’ll bring you pleasure like you’ve never known,” he continued, his hand sliding down my back to rest on my hip.

The world narrowed to just his touch, his voice, the fire he ignited in my blood. This was Angelo’s real power over me—not the protection, not any rules, but how easily he could make me forget everything else. One touch and I was lost, my body betraying every resolution I’d made to stay focused on saving my friends.

Trembling, I slowly got on my hands and knees, feeling exposed and vulnerable. He grabbed my hips firmly in his hands before suddenly shoving inside me without warning. A gasp of pleasure escaped my lips as he buried himself deep. With each powerful thrust, I could feel him hitting all the right spots, bringing me to heights of ecstasy that I had never experienced before. The sound of our bodies slapping together echoed through the room, mixing with our ragged breaths until we were both lost in the heat of passion.

A tidal wave of pleasure cascaded over me, roaring like a mighty river. His touch was electric as he slipped his hand around and stroked my clit, sending spirals of tingling sensations through my body. My senses were overwhelmed as another orgasm ripped through me, leaving me blind to everything except the intense waves of pleasure coursing through me. It was as if every nerve ending in my body had exploded, dancing and pulsating with ecstasy.

Angelo, dark eyes blazing, bent over me. His fangs grazed my shoulder before piercing my skin with a sudden bite. My body tingled with waves of arousal that surged through me, intensifying the already feverish sensations. Power radiated out from me, pulsing through my veins as a bright light filled the room. Our bodies trembled in unison, causing books to topple and fly across the room as I let out another scream of pleasure and release.

My legs trembled and threatened to give out, but his strong arms wrapped around my waist, holding me close to his muscular body. He thrust into me with a final, powerful stroke, releasing his hot seed inside me.

The pierce of his fangs that came next made me gasp—not in pain, but pure pleasure. This was what I’d been craving, what only Angelo could give me. Each time he took my blood it awakened something wild in me, fed my powers until they hummed beneath my skin like lightning. His bite was a drug, dangerous and addictive, making me feel more alive, more powerful than I’d ever felt without him. It felt like he was branding me, marking me as his and no one else’s.

This was more than mere feeding—it was a declaration. Every pull of his mouth screamed that I belonged to the vampire king, and God help anyone who tried to take me from him. I arched into him, wanting more, craving everything he could give me.

With gentle care, Angelo lowered me onto the soft bed, still buried in me. My breath came raggedly as I gazed over my shoulder at him. His lips met mine in a searing kiss, both of us panting with desire. I could taste my own blood, and somehow that made it even more thrilling.

“I never want to leave you,” I whispered against his lips.

His deep gaze held mine as he replied, “Nor I you. And I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe. You belong to me.”

My heart swelled with love for this fiercely devoted vampire who had claimed me as his own. In that moment, I knew that I belonged to him completely, and would do anything to protect him, even it meant I had to break my word.

Slowly, deliberately, Angelo pulled out of me and ran his tongue along my shoulder. A shiver of pleasure shot through me, followed by a wave of strange sensations that flowed from the point where our bodies had connected. I looked up at him in confusion.

“What are you doing?” I asked breathlessly.

“Healing your wound,” he replied softly, pulling me into his arms. I snuggled into his chest as he stroked my hair with gentle fingers. “Just rest now.”

I closed my eyes and let myself relax against him, feeling the warmth of his body seep into mine. The faint scent of sandalwood hung in the air, adding to the soothing atmosphere. The steady sound of his heartbeat lulled me into a peaceful state, and before long, I drifted off into a deep sleep…

Moonlight oozed through the shattered stained glass like liquid mercury, casting twisted shadows across the sanctuary. Glass shards glittered like teeth on the putrid floor, crunching under my feet. The pews lay scattered like broken bones, their wood splintered as if something inhuman had torn through them in a murderous rage. The altar wasn’t just damaged—it was desecrated, its ancient bricks stained with something dark that made my stomach turn. The massive crucifix hung upside down, swaying slightly even though there was no wind.

Cobwebs thick as burial shrouds draped from the ceiling. Footsteps echoed on stone – slow, deliberate, savoring my fear.

Please be Angelo. Please be Angelo. Please, God, let it be Angelo.

But I knew it wasn’t. Something ancient and evil pressed against my mind, and my soul recognized its jailer. Balthazar.

I commanded my legs to run and my throat to scream, but my body betrayed me. I stood frozen, a puppet waiting for its master, while my heart slammed against my ribs like it was trying to escape without me.

Balthazar spread his arms in a disgusting mockery of Christ’s embrace. “Serenity, my love. How I’ve missed you.” His voice held the soft menace of a snake’s belly sliding across stone.

The blood didn’t just drain from my face – it felt like it crystallized in my veins.

“Such delicious fear,” he purred, moving closer. “You are smart to be afraid, my dear. Running from me was...most unwise. Though I must admit, I was intrigued when you reached out to me.”

Terror exploded through my chest as his eyes ignited—not just red, but the wet crimson of fresh arterial spray. A whimper caught in my throat.

Contacted him? I never ? —

Then the memory came rushing back: the library…practicing with images…Balthazar’s face materializing in my mind.

Shitshitshitshit

“Ah, now she understands.” His smile revealed teeth too sharp, too numerous. “I felt you there, in that vampire’s pathetic sanctuary. A mere baby, playing with powers you barely comprehend.” His hand clamped around my arm like a steel trap. My muscles, my very will, belonged to him now.

“Let me show you, little Nephilim, what happens to those who think they can escape me.”

My lungs burned with each ragged breath as I waited for death’s mercy.

He caught my chin, claws pricking skin. “Death? Oh no, precious little one. I want you to live. Live, and remember.” His face drew closer, sulfur on his breath. “I’m going to hunt you. And when I find you—not if, when—your vampire king will watch helplessly as I claim what’s mine.”

He broke into a sinister smile. “And then it will be your turn to watch as I rip out his heart.”

His nails lengthened into obsidian razors.

The first slash came faster than a blink.

I bolted awake, my scream echoing off the walls. Angelo was gone. Where was he? The agony was molten metal under my skin. With trembling fingers, I touched my arm.

Three cuts wept fresh blood onto the sheets.

They spelled a word:

Soon.