The Devil's special Angel

e had

aceful. It w

behind by violence. After the blood dried. After the bo

es unfocused. It had been hours since the gunfire. Hours since the blood. Hours

't feel

like a

ke she shou

s at the gates. Facial recognition systems. Guards with milita

t believe

anym

d a smile. Not when someone had been cl

starting to look mer

clipped commands, voice low but lethal. She hadn't seen him since the medics

spect

sure whic

re clean, but she could still sm

e guards

't known

fore. Held the door open. Ask

was in

as still

n't fe

ment, Lia didn't move. She didn't want to talk.

oor opene

stepped

es rolled to his elbows, a thin red line beneath his collarbone

his hands-steam cu

aid, voice qui

dn't a

d sat with his back to the wall across from he

me that way," he said after

him slowly. "W

not unto

a moment. "You reall

asy to forget what kind of world you're

spered. "I know

n silence

she asked, "Wa

t. He just stared at the fl

ike ghosts. Li

y were lifelines-something real in a world that kept unraveling. She ran her

stood there before she felt

n't run,

slowly. "Sh

s unreadable. "Ev

ot eve

said. "Yo

em. A thread. A pull. Not roma

enough that she felt his heat. His steadiness

won't get darker," he said. "Or that I

s eyes. "So why

still something human left in me," he

allowe

hing to vulnerabilit

t bro

she felt

, she drea

l road. Blood dripping from her wrist. Screams behin

twisted around her, sweat soak

ldn't b

down the hall like a sleepwalker. Her feet

ed at Dam

ita

kno

almost i

anything. Just

't speak

onto the edge of his

he chair across the

uest

ress

sil

en her breathing calmed, s

dn't

idn't nee

hey spoke like no

easier

new security system. But never about the photo. Or

en passed her in the hall

didn't p