Dark Kings (Feathers and Fate #1) - Sadie Moss Page 0,12

both sides are interested in claiming as many souls as they can.

We try to guide humans into being good, because if they are, their soul goes to our side after they die and we are strengthened. Every time a human does a good deed, we get stronger.

But then it goes the other way too, and every time someone does something based in malice, selfishness, and so on, Hell grows stronger. And if a person is tempted into being truly awful, more awful than they are good, then Hell gets them after they die.

The supernatural creatures who live on Earth are a byproduct of the war between our two sides. The magic that spilled out from our battle with Hell touched normal creatures and humans and made them into something more. Now vampires, werewolves, witches, and so on live in this world in shadow, unwelcome in either Heaven or Hell.

A final scream of yes! comes from the bedroom, and a shiver works its way down my spine. She sounds like she just had the most euphoric experience of her life.

Oddly, I’m panting. I clench my thighs together, trying to ignore and relieve some of the pressure inside of me. I feel oddly… like I want this woman to go away. I know that it’s illogical, and that she hasn’t done anything to me at all. In fact, I like all of her movies. But still… I don’t want her here. I don’t want her around.

As if he’s subconsciously granting my wish, Beckett emerges from the bedroom about ten minutes later. I scramble out of the pantry, pressing myself against a wall near the fridge and hoping he doesn’t accidentally brush against me. His firm, muscled body gleams with sweat in the moonlight from the floor-to-ceiling windows, and I find my mouth dropping open a little at the sight.

“Feel free to use the shower before you go,” he calls back over his shoulder. He opens the fridge and grabs one of those fancy plant-based energy drink things that he drinks. I honestly don’t recognize half the contents of the man’s kitchen—it’s like he’s on ten different food fads at once.

The actress emerges. She’s prettier than the millionaire’s daughter who was here three days ago, I decide. There’s something soft and vulnerable about her as she looks at Beckett, whose back is turned, and my heart goes out to her.

Don’t you know? I want to ask her. Don’t you know he can never care about you? It’s not in his nature.

That’s not how the sins work.

That’s not how this man works.

“You sure you don’t want me to stay the night?” she asks, pouting a bit.

“Yes, I’m sure,” Beckett replies. He drains the bottle of energy drink without even looking at her, then tosses the bottle into the trash with one hand and picks his phone up off the kitchen counter with the other. It’s locked with a fingerprint and facial recognition.

He unlocks it, looks at the latest news feed, then rests it back on the counter as the actress says, “Oh, all right then. I’ll just… go.”

He leaves the phone on the counter and walks toward the woman, his steps languid and unhurried. Quickly, while the screen is still unlocked, I dart forward and brush my finger over the screen. He’s facing away from me, and this is the first time I’ve gotten the chance to take a peek at the contents of his phone. I can’t waste the opportunity.

There are a bunch of apps I don’t recognize—a lot of them having to do with stocks or bonds or trading. No games, which is unsurprising.

Come on. There’s gotta be something useful here…

I glance up as I hear noises and find that Beckett’s kissing the actress again. He kisses like it’s his job. A job he’s good at, sure, but not something he’s got… passion for. Does this man not care about anything?

The woman doesn’t seem to sense anything amiss. Whatever he’s doing to her is making her moan again, her voice getting breathier.

My stomach clenches, and I swallow hard. This would usually be the part where I’d slip into the pantry and stuff my face full of chocolate, but—I can’t. I have to keep digging through his phone while he’s distracted.

While they do whatever they’re doing, I turn back to the cell phone. There has to be some mention of the other six sins in here, right? From what I’ve heard, they were all created at the same time. So while they’re not