Halo Of Horns (Discontinued)

THIRTY

"You're right." Irina shook her head, "I don't understand. At all. I didn't understand when you told me I was your mate. I didn't understand when you kissed me in that cave. I didn't understand when you burst into my room and spanked me!" She wanted to cringe at the pure embarrassment of her own words but she couldn't over the hurt and anger that swelled like a balloon in her chest.

"You forget you were making camp in my bedroom without my permission!" Azazel quipped back, his eyes roaring with fire but cutting her heart like pure ice.

"I assumed you were dead!" Irina shouted, her voice echoing off the tower walls, "So don't blame me for things beyond my control or understanding!"

Azazel tilted his head and pursed his lips, taking a moment to compose himself. She watched as his chest rose and fell with heavy breaths, "Sit down."

Irina opened her mouth to argue but thought better of it. Despite her anger and despite the feeling of betrayal that settled in her chest, she loved him. She loved him with a passion she couldn't begin to understand. Lust and arousal stirred everything inside her. She wanted his attention on her and only her for the rest of time, no matter how dirty it made her feel. She felt dirty for wanting a man who aided in this elaborate lie she lived within.

So she sat down on the edge of his bed, her feet hanging inches above the floor. He paced back and forth in front of her, his head in his hands.

"Listen, and don't speak." He commanded, making her body stiffen and her stomach turn with excitement. She couldn't help but bite her lip and swallow down the questions that teased her tongue, "I have no imaginable way of explaining any of this to you right now." He said, turning to face her, "This world that you know is magical and fantastical. You have seen it your whole life and it's normal to you, but it shouldn't be. You're a human, from The Surface. You aren't supposed to be down here with us but you are."

Azazel knelt in front of her, their eyes level. He grabbed her face in his hands, turmoil swirling behind his eyes, "You are vulnerable to every creature beyond these walls. They hunt you relentlessly and we have done everything to keep you a secret. To keep you safe."

"But I'm not a secret. Everyone knows about me." Irina whispered, his words not yet sinking in. This was her world. This was all she knew.

"There are more in this world, and on The Surface. People and humans just like you." Azazel tried to maintain his composure but a tinge of grief edged his words.

Irina's brows furrowed and her head tilted into his palm, "You did a terrible job of lying to me." She stated matter of factly.

Azazel couldn't help the yelp of laughter that fell from his throat, "What?"

"Well, you enchanted books in the library, but tell me about faeries and humans and The Surface. Of course, there is more. I know there is more, I'm just not allowed to see it."

Azazel hung his head, but a smile tore across his face in disbelief, "You're right. Your father is an absolute idiot."

Irina pouted, "Don't say that." She reprimanded, "It's as you said, he was trying to keep me safe even if I didn't... well don't really know why." Gently she pulled his hands from her face and rested them in her lap, "What makes you a Fallen?"

Azazel's face twisted in pain, his mind playing scenarios of every possible reaction she would have to the truth. It was going considerably well now that she had settled down, but how was he supposed to explain the concept of eternal damnation to the woman who bound her soul to him?