Free The Devil's Angel (Devil Series Book 2) by Rachel McClellan Page A

her, then she must really need someone. Don’t let her suffer alone.”
    He’d never thought of it like that before.
One more stupid mistake.
    “Besides, don’t you want to know who she is, and how she came to be in your life?”
    “More than anything. Thanks for the advice.” He walked to the front door, and Scott followed.
    “I consider you a friend, Lucien. If you ever need anything …”
    “I know. I’ll call you later.”
    ***
    Lucien parked in front of Eve’s house and listened closely. He’d become so familiar with her breathing that he could tell by the way she exhaled, the air slightly forced, that she was still awake.
    He exited his car and stepped onto her porch. Very quietly, he turned the doorknob and ascended the stairs to her darkened bedroom. Eve was lying on her side, staring opposite the open window. He watched her for a moment, hidden within the shadows, then stepped out of the darkness and knelt at her side. When he came into her view, she looked at him as if dreaming.
    “I’m back,” he whispered, wishing he had something more clever to say.
    She searched his face. “Lucien?”
    “I’m here.”
    She reached for him and pulled him close, burying her face to his chest. He sat awkwardly not knowing where to place his arms. Suddenly, his body tingled, and a sensation like warm liquid poured into him, warming his extremities. He pushed himself away and stood.
    Her eyes flashed to the open door way and alarm spread across her face.
    “Who are you?” he asked.
    She sat up easily and pain free. “You’ve met me before, years ago, but I was a different person then.”
    “The witch in New York. But that is impossible.”
    “You remember?”
    “I remember a cruel and power-obsessed woman.”
    Eve glanced away, ashamed.
    “That couldn’t have been you,” Lucien said. “You may look similar, but there are too many differences.”
    “It was me.”
    “But you’re too young!”
    “I’m immortal.”
    He shook his head, more confused than ever. “How?”
    She paused, and her eyes grew dark as if remembering a painful past. “To put it simply, a vampire injected altered vampire venom into me, creating whatever it is that I am.”
    Lucien tensed. “What vampire?”
    “It doesn’t matter. He’s dead now.”
    “Why would he do this to you?”
    “He wanted me to live forever by his side, but he didn’t want me to be a full vampire because he was afraid I would be more powerful than him. We did many terrible things together. I did terrible things.” She lowered her head. “Can you ever forgive me for what I’ve done?”
    “You don’t need my forgiveness.”
    “Yes, I do. I almost killed you.”
    He shook his head. “No, you didn’t.”
    She closed her eyes and sighed. When she opened them back up, she said, “Remember the black witch you fought in the woods?”
    Lucien did remember. She was the most powerful being he’d ever encountered. He thought for sure she would be the one to end his life.
    “That was me, too.”
    And then before he could reply, Eve told him everything: the abuse she’d endured at her parent’s hands in a twisted attempt to force her to use magic, the vampire’s deception, and the cursed necklace that nearly destroyed her had it not been for Lucien.
    Her mood lightened when she also told him of the Deific and the magic of beauty she’d first felt from a crimson rose. She also mentioned the special children and the work she did at the Academy. Lastly, she spoke of him.
    “But why? Why did you need to find
me
?”
    “Because of our connection.”
    He shook his head adamantly.
    She quickly continued, “I’ve never felt such beauty with anyone else.”
    “Beauty?”
    She reached out and caressed his cheek. “Don’t you feel it?”
    He flinched and stepped back.
    “What’s wrong?”
    “I’m not used to being touched.”
    She moved past him to the window and stared out, her body only a shadow in the darkness. Her breathing was slow and steady,