Her Demonic Angel (Her Angel Romance Series Book 5) Read online

  Erin blinked away her tears. Perhaps he was more like his old self than she had given him credit for, but it didn’t change how she felt about him.

  “You do not want it.” Veiron snatched the coconut back. “You do not need to pretend that you do.”

  Before she could grab it and say that she did want it really, it disappeared from his hands.

  That was cheating.

  He turned away from her and walked into the turquoise water, stopping when it lapped at his shins.

  Was he in a mood with her now?

  He huffed.

  Erin growled in frustration. What did he have to be moody about? She raised her stick with the intent of throwing it at his back, and then lowered it again when it dawned on her.

  Everything he knew was a lie too.

  He had trusted Heaven and they had done terrible things to him. He had lost his past, just as she had.

  Now, he was alone in the world and, if what Apollyon had warned her about was anything to go by, was in danger of being used against his will to harm her. She couldn’t imagine how he felt but she could sympathise. She wasn’t sure how to feel, and he probably wasn’t either. He had seen himself with her, in love with her, a woman he had been sent to capture and probably kill. He remembered snippets of his past life but at great cost. The headaches he experienced whenever he caught hold of one of his true memories had rendered him unconscious several times in the past three days but he hadn’t stopped trying to remember.

  She wasn’t the only one suffering because of Heaven and Hell. They were still playing with Veiron, hurting him and controlling his life.

  Erin dropped her stick on the white sand, padded down the shore to him and into the shallows. The water reached her bare knees but she didn’t care. She stood beside him, staring into the distance with her focus fixed on him, so he wasn’t alone.

  He sighed again.

  Erin playfully shoved his arm.

  Veiron frowned down at her.

  She shoved him again.

  His crimson eyebrows knitted tightly above his dark eyes as they narrowed on her. “Stop that.”

  Erin shook her head and pushed him harder. He must have been off balance because he lost his footing and fell in the shallow water, splashing it all up her short black dress and in her face. Saltwater burned her eyes.

  She rubbed and then opened them and peered down at Veiron, afraid to see the expression on his face.

  He scowled up at her, the water washing over his legs and stomach. “What was that for?”

  “Sorry… it was just meant to be a nudge to make you smile. I didn’t mean to push you over.” She held her hand out to him. He glared at it. Erin tried to contain her smile.

  “You desire to make me smile, yet by soaking me and making me look like a fool, it is you who have found your smile.”

  She supposed it was. Erin opened her mouth to speak and he grabbed her right ankle, yanked it up, and sent her crashing into the water. She came up spluttering, arms slapping around as small waves rolled over her.

  Veiron laughed.

  “Bastard,” Erin muttered and sat up in the water. The waves shifted the sand and she grimaced as it found its way into her knickers. She was going to be picking sand out of naughty places for the next week, but at least Veiron was smiling again.

  “Can I swim?” he said and she shrugged.

  “You can snorkel, so you can swim… but I’m not sure how strong a swimmer you are. It was a house reef so it was pretty safe.”

  “I am going to find out.” He stood and then dived into the deeper water.

  When he didn’t immediately come up for air, sharp needles pricked down Erin’s spine. She waded out into the water, scouring it for a sign of him.

  “Veiron!” She couldn’t see him anywhere. Could angels hold their breath longer than mortals? Was he drowning? She hadn’t swum on this side of the island before because Apollyon had warned her that the current was stronger here and had dragged him towards the edge of the reef and open sea. Her heart beat wildly against her chest and her stomach twisted. Was Veiron caught in that current? “God, Veiron… I’m coming.”

  She dove into the water and opened her eyes in time to see something dark right in front of her. She collided with it and it moved, and her panic spiked. Her mouth opened to let out a scream and water rushed into her lungs.

  Every instinct she had said to breathe to get the water out but it only let in more. She choked on it and struggled to reach the surface, pulse racing and mind spinning and growing darker. She wasn’t sure which way was up and which was down. She flailed her arms and kicked her legs, and hit something again.

  Cool air assaulted her back and Erin retched, the water burning up her throat and setting her lungs aflame.

  “Erin!” Strong hands lifted her higher, away from the small waves, and gently turned her face up. The sun kissed her wet skin and she continued to cough, heart thundering as adrenaline sped through her, leaving her trembling and weak. “Erin?”

  She cracked her eyes open and sucked in a long wheezing breath. Veiron towered over her, scarlet hair slicked back and dark eyes wide.

  “Erin,” he whispered and gathered her closer to him. “I will get you to shore... keep breathing slowly. Not too much at a time.”

  She nodded. She could do that. In fact, it was all she could do as he carried her and carefully laid her down on the warm sand. His right arm supported her back as he knelt beside her.

  “You… scared… me.” She managed to get the words out and his expression softened.

  “I did not mean to get in your way when you were coming to swim too.” He picked damp strands of her black hair from her face and she shook her head.

  Her throat blazed, as rough as sandpaper, and she cursed it. He didn’t understand but it was a relief to know that she had collided with him, not something with fins and large sharp teeth.

  “You…” she wheezed.

  He shook his head and stroked her cheek. “You shouldn’t speak. Wait.”

  He held his hand in front of her throat and stared hard at it. What was he doing? Her eyes widened. Warmth seeped over her neck, going deep into her flesh, and the pain eased. She looked down at his hand. Pale beams of light shone from his palm. Erin’s gaze snapped up to his.

  “You can heal now?” she said and her eyebrows rose at how normal she sounded and how painless speaking had been.

  Veiron froze, his hand hovering above her chest, the light warming her skin and soothing her aching lungs.

  “I could not before?”

  Erin shook her head.

  He drew his hand away and settled it in his lap. His smile was false and she could see straight through it to the pain it masked. “It seems they have made a few improvements.”

  Erin settled her hand over his. “They’re only powers. It doesn’t change who you are. My powers didn’t change who I was… and Amelia’s powers didn’t change who she was.”

  “So you are still Erin… and she is still Amelia,” he whispered and stared at their joined hands. “But am I still Veiron?”

  Erin took her hand away and avoided his gaze. She didn’t have the answer to that question and he knew it.

  “Am I still Veiron to you?”

  Erin closed her eyes. Her heart wanted her to say that he was still Veiron, the man that she loved, but her head said that he wasn’t. She wanted to believe that he hadn’t changed but the proof was right in front of her. He was different now.

  But he was still the same too.

  “I wish to be Veiron to you,” he murmured and touched her cheek.

  Erin jerked away and instantly regretted it. She opened her eyes in time to see him standing and grabbed his hand, keeping him in place.

  “I’m sorry,” she said and looked up at him, catching the hurt in his dark eyes. “This is still so… confusing. I know it must be confusing for you too.”

  He turned his face away from her, towards the sea. “Marcus says there may be a way t
o free my memories.”

  “And that’s something you want?”

  He looked down at her and drops of water rolled down from his hair, cutting over his cheek before dripping onto his bare chest. “More than anything, Erin. I want to be whole again… me again. I need to remember everything that Heaven erased from my mind.”

  How much had Marcus told him about the game? Erin hoped that he hadn’t told Veiron the one sure way of regaining his memories of her and his past life. It had been Marcus who had told her how much Veiron hated that he was destined to remember everything when he fell into the Devil’s service. Surely Marcus wouldn’t place such an idea into Veiron’s head? She wanted him back but she wouldn’t put him through that and she didn’t want him to choose to go through it either. He despised working for her father.

  “What is it?” he said and frowned. “You know something. What is it that you know?”

  “Nothing.” She hated lying to him but she had to because the only alternative was telling him the truth and she couldn’t let him fall again.

  Not for her sake.

  “Do not lie to me.” He caught her wrist and pulled her up to him. Her front collided with his but he held her arm high above her head so she couldn’t place any distance between them. The feel of his hard body pressing into hers with each breath stirred desire that heated her blood. Her lips parted and his gaze fell to them, burning into them with intent. She wanted that kiss that his dark eyes promised but feared it at the same time.

  She couldn’t do this.

  Her hands heated and heart thumped, darkness obliterating the passion in her veins. Veiron’s frown hardened and his gaze shifted to her hand. It began to burn. He released it and she distanced herself, partly to stop herself from giving in to her desire to kiss him but mostly because she feared her power would hurt him.

  She didn’t want to hurt him.

  “Please, Erin. If you know of a way for me to regain my memories, then tell me how. I need to have them back… I need to remember.” He reached for her but she backed away, placing more sand between them.

  She ached for him.

  He wanted to remember her and there had to be a way to make that happen without him falling.

  Could she go to Heaven and make them give Veiron his memories back?

  She almost laughed at herself. Heaven wouldn’t do such a thing. It would use an entire legion of angels to weaken and capture her. It would kill her.

  What about her father?

  Erin’s hands burned hotter and the fire spread to her chest. She clasped her hands over the spot above her heart and stared at Veiron.

  The heat in her grew fiercer, blazing in her blood, and flames broke from her skin, flickering over her hands.

  Her father could do something. She could go to him and offer him something, and he might give Veiron back to her.

  He might grant both of their wishes.

  A dark voice curled through her mind, seductive and sensual, tempting her. Daughter.

  Erin tensed. What the hell? Either she was going crazy at last or her father had just spoken to her. If she could hear him, did that mean he could hear her? Could she talk to him about striking another deal? Did she want to do such a thing after what had happened last time?

  God, what was she doing?

  An unholy roar echoed around her mind. That sounded like her father all right.

  Have you still not learned your lesson about that foul creature after everything you have been through? The Devil snarled in her head and she felt like telling him that she wasn’t about to trust either him or the other one. I believe you were making a deal. Something in exchange for this disgusting creature’s memories.

  She nodded, still struggling to comprehend what was happening. Do you know what Heaven has done to him?

  “Erin?” Veiron said and she didn’t retreat this time. She let him close the gap between them, needing to feel him nearby.

  Her father’s voice echoed in her head. Something caused him to remember you. Heaven sealed those memories to stop their pawn from disobeying. It doesn’t seem to have worked. I must say, I find this turn of events most amusing. An angel longing for something born of Hell.

  Erin ignored that comment. She wasn’t born of Hell. She was only born to the ruler of that realm. As far as she was concerned, she belonged in this realm, in the mortal world, and nothing would ever change that.

  Can you break the seal? Her heart fluttered at the thought that he might have that power.

  He snorted. Of course.

  Then I want to make a deal.

  Laughter rang in her mind. I thought you wished me dead?

  Nothing will change that… but I might be willing to compromise if we can come to some agreement that benefits us both. I want to make a deal.

  Very well. I will hear you out. Two of my finest are on their way to collect you.

  Two of his finest? Hell’s angels.

  She hadn’t meant that she wanted to go to Hell to see the Devil and do a deal in person. She wanted to do it all via the weird connection they shared. She didn’t want to leave the island.

  What was she doing? The Devil wasn’t going to help her. He was going to get what he wanted and betray her again, just as he had before. Was it too late to change her mind?

  Father?

  No response. Typical. He had what he wanted and now he was going back to ignoring her. She had to think of a way out of this, because she knew in her heart that it wouldn’t end well. There were Hell’s angels en route to take her down to him and she didn’t think they would listen to her if she said she had changed her mind and didn’t want to see her father after all.

  How would Veiron react when they came?

  Veiron’s hands brushing hers brought her back to the world and she stared up at him, mind racing as she tried to come to terms with the gravity of what she had just done. She hated the man who called himself her father and wanted to kill him, but only he had the power to restore Veiron’s memories and give him what he wanted. If she had that power, she would grant his wish in a heartbeat, but she didn’t. All she could do was make a deal with the Devil and pray that he didn’t betray her this time.

  Her chest ached, a deep throbbing that reached right down into her bones. She stared up at Veiron, afraid that this would be the last time that she saw him. The Devil would set a high price when she stood before him and pleaded him to give Veiron back that which Heaven had taken from him. She didn’t want this to be their last moment together, and she would bargain as hard as she could, but she knew in the end that she would do whatever the Devil asked of her. Veiron had been through so much because of her. She had failed to save him but she could do this for him.

  She could make him whole again.

  “What is wrong?” Veiron whispered and moved one of his hands up to her face, holding her cheek in it. His hands were so warm, even hotter than her skin, and she closed her eyes and leaned into his touch, memorising how it felt and how it made her feel. There was love in his caress, love that she had ached to feel again since the day she had lost him, and now she was leaving him.

  She wasn’t sure how to answer his question. He would try to stop her if he knew what was going to happen and she couldn’t allow that. She was doing this for his sake, for everyone’s sake. She wouldn’t just ask for Veiron’s memories back. She would make everything right.

  “I’ll be fine soon,” she said and smiled, hoping to hide the burning ache in her chest behind it.

  The ground trembled and then stilled.

  Veiron frowned.

  The clock ticking in Erin’s head sped up. This could be her last moment with Veiron. He wasn’t the same man she had fallen in love with but that hadn’t altered her feelings for him. She still loved him with all of her heart and nothing would ever change that, not his lack of memories or him regaining them.

  She cursed fate. Why give her clarity now when she was about to leave?

  The ground shook again.

 
It was too late now to back out.

  She had to go to her father and make him do as she asked, and then she would betray him just as he had betrayed her. She would kill him.

  Erin stepped into Veiron, tiptoed and captured his cheeks in her palms. She meshed their lips together, keeping the kiss soft and light, hoping that he would feel the love in it.

  Veiron slid his hands over her waist and she thought he would push her away but he pulled her closer and slanted his head, returning the kiss. It was tender and sweet, and everything she couldn’t take.

  Erin broke away from him and ran along the sand, struggling for breath as the weight of what she had done sank down on her shoulders.

  She stopped by the rocks that sheltered one side of the curved bay and turned back to face him. Veiron stood in the spot she had left him, confusion written in every feature, his hands still held out in front of him, level with where her hips had been.

  Erin drew in a deep breath. The sand trembled and smaller rocks fell down the boulders behind her, clacking as they bounced down to the beach.

  “Erin?” Veiron said and pain lashed at her heart.

  What the hell was she doing? Was she making a terrible mistake? The Devil was partly responsible for Veiron’s death and it was insane of her to think that she could strike a deal with him that would end well, with everyone getting what they wanted. Look how well her first deal had ended.

  She could only think of one reason the Devil wanted her to meet him in person to discuss the terms of the deal too, and she didn’t want to end up parted from Veiron and everyone. The Devil knew what Veiron meant to her and he would demand a high price for his memories. He would exploit her love for him.

  What if he asked her to remain in Hell?

  She couldn’t let that happen, no matter what. It would hurt Veiron if he could remember her and she was no longer with him, and as an angel of Heaven, he couldn’t spend his life with her in Hell. It wasn’t what he wanted, and it wasn’t what she wanted either. It would kill her.

  She wouldn’t let it happen.

  The ground trembled again, stronger this time, so violently she almost lost her balance.

  “I have to go now,” she said and Veiron frowned and lowered his hands. Her throat tightened, chest constricting as she struggled with what she wanted to say. “Tell Amelia that I love her and that I’m glad she found Marcus, and to stay safe.”