BOOK 2 of the Running With Devils Series
It's been three weeks since Coralynn Bennet was dragged down to Hell and it was nothing like how she imagined it. It was a kingdom of skyscrapers but no sky. Demons ran amok, but limited their bloodthirsty te...
Song: Die Alone- FINNEAS (don't be afraid... yet) (the lyrics are too pretty to pass up 🥹)
AN: Yes. I know the end of this chapter is very impractical in a life or death situation. And no. I don't care. It's hot. Thanks for coming to my TED talk. Bon appetite, my little witches.
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The Shadow
I wasn't afraid of death or what came after. I wasn't afraid of the painful way our hosts chose to kill me— if the other guests didn't tear me limb from limb first.
I wasn't afraid because I had always been a doomed soul destined for death and misfortune at every turn. From the time my mother was murdered to now, I was beaten and humiliated into the ground. This would be no different really.
Only this time I wouldn't get up.
No. What scared me was seeing that look in her eyes again. The one of utter devastation. I was going to have to face that look. I was going to have to gaze into the face of grief. I would see only the beginning of the heartache and then I'd be gone.
I made sure I held onto her tightly through the darkness. Her hand in mine was the only reassurance I could grasp.
If there was more time, I'd take her in my arms and simply never let go. I'd remind myself of what it meant to be hers.
I'd love her as she was intended to be loved. I'd adore her with every fiber of my being.
Obsession couldn't even cover half of what I felt for Coralynn. What I felt was stronger— deeper. It hit me with an intensity I never experienced before.
I...
I loved her.
The epiphany hit me like a freight train, nearly knocking the wind from me. It made me feel just a bit reckless. I wanted to scream it through these fucking tunnels. Bloodthirsty horde be damned.
I wanted to snatch her up and kiss her like my life depended on just how deeply I could.
My heart was nearly out of my chest from the magnitude of this realization.
"Are you okay," she asked quietly from beside me.
I swallowed the lump in my throat quickly and let out a quiet laugh.
"Yea," I said hoarsely. "I'm good. Why?"
"Your pulse is fast. And your palms are sweaty," she said timidly.
Shit.
Nice going, Mal. Real smooth.
"Oh," I said, an awkward laugh following. "Don't worry about it. I'm perfectly fine."
Immediately, I cringed. Hard.
Slick moves, dumbass.
I wiped my face with my free hand, face twisting in disgust when more sweat found its way onto my palm.
