Cherie Lynn Sweet Disgrace (pdf)

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earlier anger was still in his eyes. The black irises were so large there was hardly a ring of white around
them.
Why did you do that? she asked, not allowing herself to look away. Trying to figure out his motives
herself proved too much for her clouded thoughts. I d have been one less for your kind to contend with.
He blinked at her. Do you think that s what I want?
Isn t it?
Well, there are those of us who would like to strike you all dead on sight, run rampant in the earth
and maim and kill and destroy until it s a wasteland. You just met one such as that. But I, sweet angel,
rather like the competition.
But I m no competition, am I?
He seemed to debate with himself for a moment. You won the Roman emperor that time. Nailed me
on the basic required language I d been writing for centuries.
She managed to laugh. I remember now. You took it with exceptionally good grace.
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Sweet Disgrace
It might have been her imagination, but she thought his expression darkened, a haunted shadow
crossing his perfect features. For the first time in her existence, it occurred to her to wonder what
consequences he faced for failing. She didn t meet any repercussions except sorrowful embraces and
encouraging words that gave no comfort. What did Damael s masters do to him when he didn t deliver?
She hadn t seen him for a long time after that miraculous victory. A long, long time.
Which begged another question that sent a chill through her. Would he really risk whatever hell might
be in store for him by releasing Adam if she gave in?
How do you feel? he asked, and she realized she d been staring up at him longer than she should
have. Behind him, the sky was black and glittering with stars, but it had to be nearing dawn. She could
escape into that great open expanse right now, be done with all of this. Leave Adam to the doom he d only
brought upon himself.
But she wasn t doing it. And it was becoming more apparent to her that she wasn t going to.
She shifted on the ground and winced at the sharp pains that crackled along her limbs. There really
was no reason to lie to him. Not well. I still hurt.
Shall I make it better?
You can?
If you ll allow me.
Wariness crept through her, and she furrowed her brow at him. That depends on what I must allow.
He withdrew his hand from her hair and rested his elbow on his bent knee. Under ordinary
circumstances, his smile might have been described as seductive, but at the moment she found it to be
merely cruel. A kiss.
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Chapter Three
A sound of frustration escaped her, and she turned her face away from him, toward the ground. You
lie. I should have known all of this was leading back to your perverse
It s the quickest way to draw the energy into myself. Unless you d rather
Hush. No.
Don t be like that. I can help you.
You only want to help yourself.
How is that? I ve offered you everything you want. Adam s soul. Your healing. I m a regular good
Samaritan here, am I not?
She gave a bark of laughter and instantly cringed. He couldn t deny that her vulnerability was tugging
at every predatory sense he possessed. She was on the ground, crumpled, helpless. Like a little bird with a
broken wing, and he was the cat creeping up on her, step by agonizingly slow step.
Her fingers dug into the ground as another spasm seemed to overtake her, and he made a production
of sighing wearily. This is needless, I m telling you. I can take it all away.
How long will I be this way?
Have you never come under attack before?
If I have, it s been so long I can t remember.
Well, then. You could lie here for days if I don t help you.
And why should I believe that?
Because it s the truth?
Ha. Unlikely. You only want me to kiss you.
That s a given. But I m being sincere as well.
She glanced at him with a sort of desperation in her blue eyes that left him struggling to conceal
compassion he had no business feeling. It made him hope his outlandish scheme to heal her would work,
but it always had with humans. Maybe she would be no different. I want to believe you. So much. Even
as a whisper, her words were strained, agonized. What does that say about me? Please, if there is any
vestige of selflessness within you, leave me be. Don t make me into a fool.
The longer she d spoken, the more strength her voice had gained, until finally those eyes were blazing
at him with righteous anger. He realized his earlier assertion had been off base. Even while wounded, she [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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