she was at all times. I didn't like the idea of locking her up like an animal, but for the sake of the people we promised safety to, we couldn't just let her loose. Maybe for her own sake too, based on the looks some of the community was giving her.
I tore open a sterile wipe, glancing up and pausing.
She had her cheek pressed to the stone wall, head tipped back and lips parted, eyes shut as she took in great breaths. Her foot twitched, yanked in my hand as I grabbed her ankle, and then settled quickly. She didn't seem to mind the wipe, just pressed her hand to the stone and shivered.
"Do you have a name?" I whispered.
"Deyva."
Day-vah. Deyva…it sounded like a sigh, sweet and romantic. A name better suited to an angel than the creature in front of me.
She twisted, ankle turning in my loose grip, ignoring the shift of her skirt that left one leg entirely bared. But she wasn't paying any attention to me, her eyes were on the roof, cheeks coloring pink and chest heaving.
"What—" I knew that look on her. I'd created that look on her in my dreams. "What are you doing? Are you...feeding off of our people?"
Every instinct told me to spur into action, to get Stavros, anyone. We didn’t know what she was capable of, or how dangerous she really was. Did she drain people like a vampire? The Lord knew how sluggish—no, how utterly slothful I’d been in the mornings after visits from her.
What I hadn’t admitted to anyone yet, was how rested and peaceful I felt during those mornings. It didn’t last the whole day, but my sleep had been an endless minefield of flashbacks and cold sweats before her. This strange, beautiful woman gave me a glimpse of what I’d been fruitlessly chasing for years—peace.
Despite all that, I had to focus. To stop her. It could’ve all been to lull us into a false sense of security, no matter how much I craved feeling that peacefulness again.
“Stop what you’re doing,” I insisted, tightening my grip around her ankle. Who the fuck knew if I could actually prevent her from doing anything, but she’d complied with us so far. “Stop it now!”
She blinked and there was a drowsy, dreamy expression on her face as it turned to me. "They won't feel it," she breathed. "I know I…I was too greedy in the dreams. I didn't mean to be. But I promise, I won't harm them. This is just the sweetest thing I've tasted in centuries."
I frowned, staring down at the mangled foot in my hands, the blue carving scratches on the soles of her feet and the scars around her ankles.
"What is?"
"Their faith," she sighed. "I think it feels like sunlight. It's so strong."
"In God?"
She shook with silent laughter, head lolling limply on her shoulders. "In him. Zach. All of you. They have absolute faith in the three of you. It's breathtaking, Kais."
“Your reverence is touching.” My other hand continued to wipe at the ash and cuts on her foot. “But how do I know you’re not harming them?”
The succubus—Deyva, her name is Deyva—tilted her head, her strange eyes brighter now and that little smile all too playful. “Have I ever hurt you, Kais? Or any of you for that matter?”
“That depends on your definition of hurt.” I discarded the used antiseptic wipe and ripped open another, my grip shifting to her other foot. “Too much of a good thing can be bad for anyone.”
Her eyes rolled back, a groan emitting from her throat. Fucking hell, she needs to stop making noises like that.
“I figured Zach would be the morality police, but you?” She blinked at me, the light from the stained glass created a kaleidoscope effect on her horns as her head tilted to the other side. “You are certainly not without sin.”
I returned my gaze to her feet, noticing how her bleeding slowed and the most shallow cuts already had began to close. And still I heard Zach’s commanding voice from down below, meaning nothing was amiss in the chapel. At least, no one was dropping dead anyway.
“Look, the thing is, we don’t know you.” Her feet were looking better already. Now if only I could keep my fucking eyes from wandering up her leg. “So it’s going to take some time before we can trust you.”
“And yet here you are, washing my feet.” Deyva pressed her back to the balcony wall, her chest lifting with