Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 5 Read Free Page B

Semiazas' arms was almost gone, and his eager arrogance had been replaced by resentful fear. Renat placed the point of his sword beneath the demon's chin. "You will release the angel's binding chain now," he said softly, "or I will deal with it myself by leaving you a corpse."
    Glazed, muddy eyes blinked once, twice. A second later the hellfire chain holding the angel dissipated completely, vanishing like a mirage. Renat immediately stalked over to where the angel had struggled back onto his knees and took up position in front of him, one hand still firmly holding onto his sword. The other hovered for a moment over the angel's head before retreating to his side. He couldn't touch him yet, not in front of this group. Not without revealing more than he cared for them to know. Renat stood and looked around at the gawkers, and his gaze was met with awed silence. Princes of Hell did not often do battle like this, in front of a crowd. It was only a matter of time before word got back to Satan, and Renat felt sure than he would need every second alone that he could get with the angel crouched before him.
    The angel leaned forward until his forehead rested against Renat's body. The touch was electrifying, and spurred him to act. Renat reached out and wove a length of binding chain out of his power. It was much thinner than what Semiazas had used, but it would make the angel his captive all the same. He wrapped it quickly around the base of the angel's wings, then jerked him to his feet. Without another word Renat flew aloft and raced back to his castle, dragging the angel behind him on the length of chain.
    He entered his home through a high window, not the door. There were petitioners outside of his grand entrance, lower demons who were ready to swear fealty to Renat in exchange for his patronage, but he had no time to deal with them now. Hot, dry air swept through the room as Renat gently lowered his burden to the ground before landing himself. His eyes hungrily tracked the angel's weakened movements, devouring every tremor and gasp as the celestial creature slowly levered itself to its feet. Its wounds were already healing, the burns disappearing as the angel's grace permeated them. The one thing that remained unchanged was the binding chain that glowed like a brand around its wings, and Renat felt a surge of possessiveness unlike anything he had experienced for millennia. When the angel finally met his eyes, though, the first emotion Renat felt was not one of tenderness, but rather pure fear. Something this perfect had no place in Hell.
    "What in His name has possessed you?" Renat hissed furiously, turning to pace so that he wouldn't have to stare into those crystal blue eyes. "To wait at the Western Gate like a lamb waiting for slaughter…this is pure idiocy! You belong in the Kingdom of Heaven, not the filth of Hell. What is your great sin, that makes you want to sacrifice yourself to the pleasure of Satan's minions?"
    "Renat." His name flowed with sweet amusement off of the angel's tongue, and it stopped Renat in his tracks. "There is no sacrifice. I knew you would come to me."
    "You knew nothing of the kind," Renat said harshly, keeping his eyes averted.
    "I know everything about you," the angel said gently, trustingly. "I know your heart. I see its goodness. I knew you would not leave me to suffer anyone else's claim."
    "There is no goodness in me," Renat insisted, backing away as the angel moved forward. "Stay away from me."
    "That would defeat the entire purpose of my being here," the angel replied, his footsteps as soft as velvet against the shining black floor. "I came here for you, Renat. Why would I stay away now?" He followed Renat's retreat to the wall, standing so close to him that Renat could feel the cool, comforting light still emanating from the angel's soul. He closed his eyes, desperately trying to maintain his composure. He hadn't been afraid like this for thousands of years, and he wanted to strike out at