Chapter Four
VANESSA
THE WORLD MATERIALIZES, and I brush off the arm supporting me before planting my hands on my knees. I’m dizzy, and I squeeze my eyes shut as I struggle to wrap my mind around what’s just happened.
Aziel steps away from me, giving me plenty of space. I appreciate it.
“Are you all right?” he asks.
I don’t immediately respond. Is he referring to my dizziness or my encounter with Chev? Either way, my honest answer is no. I’m about as far from all right as one can get.
“Put Chev on the block list,” Aziel says. He’s not speaking to me.
My legs are shaking, and I push off my thighs and force myself to stand up straight. I’m in a hallway surrounded by light-blue walls, the color immediately recognizable. All rehabilitation facilities have similar décor.
“Am I in Wrath?” I ask.
Aziel nods, and I shift my attention to the guard he just spoke to. It’s a demon, that much is evident by his black eyes and long limbs. Demons have distinct features, and this guard ticks all the boxes.
“If he tries coming through the portal, escort him out immediately,” Aziel continues to say.
The man nods, his hair bouncing around his head. “Yes, sir.”
He spins and leaves, probably to inform the other guards. I stare at his back as I work up the courage to face Aziel. I haven’t been touched by a man in years, and even though I know Aziel was only trying to help, I want to scrub the skin he came in contact with.
I just barely resist the urge to scratch at it as I finally turn toward Aziel.
Demons typically exude power, a sickening scent that overpowers senses and urges weaker beings to submit, but Aziel holds his in. It’s surprising. Demons place a lot of importance and self-worth on the power they emit.
Aziel subtly wipes his hand on his pant leg, and I can’t help but notice it’s the same hand he touched me with. I don’t take offense. If anything, I find it comforting. He’s disgusted to have come in contact with me, and that’s all I ever want from men.
I swallow past the lump in my throat, and Aziel pushes his hair out of his face with a quiet sigh. I’m pretty sure he’s staring at me, but it’s hard to tell when his eyes are entirely black. I’ve never seen a demon in the flesh, and it’s quite unnerving.
My mind is still fuzzy from the teleporting, but it’s getting better with each passing second.
“We’re happy to have you here,” Aziel says. “Your things were brought over this afternoon, and your office should have everything you need.”
I open my mouth, about to say something, before snapping my jaw shut with a quiet click. I don’t know what to say. I don’t even know if I still want this job. All I want to do right now is curl up in a small ball in a spot where Chev can’t find me.
He has access to the entire rehabilitation network, including the facilities and the files. He’s probably reading about me right now, learning my history with the ogres and my years since I was rescued. The thought makes me sick. I don’t want him to know anything about me, especially the horrid details of my abuse.
Aziel gestures for me to follow him.
“Silas was going to give you a tour, but we’re already here, so I might as well do it,” he says.
Silas? It takes me a second to connect the dots. I’m not familiar with Aziel’s harem, but I’m pretty sure Silas is one of his mates. He’s a demon, a fate, but I don’t know anything else about him.
“I’ll alert Echo of the issue once we’re finished,” Aziel continues. “She’ll help keep Chev away from you.”
Hearing that is nothing short of sweet relief.
Aziel begins walking down the hallway, and despite my hesitation, I find myself quickly following him. The corridor he teleported us to is small and empty, but we almost immediately turn into a busier one.
Several females mill about.
There are not nearly as many as I’m accustomed to seeing in the facility where I was rehabilitated. That place was jam-packed—still is—but this facility is bare bones.
“Chev is a good man,” Aziel says. “But he made a mistake today, and I assure you he’ll be punished for it.”
He smoothly avoids two females who come scampering down the hall toward us. They eye him, their gazes heavy, but Aziel doesn’t spare them a second glance. I like the way he ignores women. It’s rare to see, and it’s comforting. I don’t believe demons have fated mates the way shifters and nymphs do, but he acts as loyal as one.
I should ask him to bring me home—back to the female community I’ve been living in for the past several months. I wanted this job so badly, but I’m not sure it’s worth it if it means being vulnerable to Chev. I can hide in Wrath most of the time, but there will be days when I need to visit the headquarters. He’ll be there, and I doubt he’ll leave me alone.
I don’t do it, though. That would be letting Chev win. I won’t let one male ruin what I’ve worked so hard to achieve.
I’ll push Chev out of my mind and continue as if I never met him. He’ll eventually have to accept it, and I’m sure with his title and importance, he’ll be able to quickly find another woman to whom he can give his affection.
Yes. That’s precisely what I’ll do.
Aziel doesn’t try to make any further conversation. He’s curt but polite as he gives me a tour of the facility, and I appreciate it. He’ll occasionally pause to introduce me to a staff member, but the introductions are quick.
Everybody is kind, and my anxiety lessens with each minute I spend here.
“This will be your office,” Aziel says, coming to a halt in the middle of a hallway. He pushes open the thick, wooden door on our left, and I lean around him to peer inside. The space is fully furnished, and I can’t help but wince as I take it in.
Aziel gestures to the giant bouquets covering almost every inch of the room. “Charlie insisted on the flowers. She read that nymphs enjoy nature.”
It’s a lot, and I plaster a weak smile on my lips. Nymphs love nature, but we tend to prefer it in its natural state. Cutting flowers is a borderline sacrilegious action, but there’s no way Charlotte could’ve known that.
“Will you thank her for me?” I ask.
If I weren’t so out of sorts, this many cut flowers would likely bring me to tears. I do a good job holding back my discomfort, though. At least, I think I do. Aziel sucks his cheeks into his mouth as he evaluates my reaction, and after a moment, he slides his gaze to the vases.
“I’ll tell her no more flowers,” he says.
I open my mouth to argue, not wanting him to think I’m ungrateful, but his back is to me before I get the opportunity.
“I’ll show you to your home and leave you to get settled,” he says. “It’s a bit of a walk.”
His pace is fast, and I struggle to keep up. Is Aziel always this curt? I don’t dislike it, but it’s not the most welcoming. I’m beginning to wish I would’ve gotten my tour from Silas, after all.
I trail my fingers along the walls, letting the emotions they hold fill me. My nymph abilities are weak, but I can still feel the history that lives in the things I touch. It only works when the stories are strong and hold powerful emotions, which these walls most definitely do.
Flashes of sorrow and anger are the first to fill my body, but they’re almost immediately replaced by curiosity and excitement. These are the most recent emotions, which is encouraging. Good things are happening here.
Thoughts of Chev try to force themselves into my mind, but I refuse to indulge. I can’t let myself, at least not now.
“Are you sure Chev won’t be allowed access?” I ask.
I mentally curse myself the second the words slip from my lips. I’ve heard the rumors about Chev and Aziel. They’re close, the two almost always spotted together. I’ve also heard Aziel is one of the few non-shifters who has access to Chev’s lands, the demon allowed to enter and exit as he pleases.
Aziel slows before coming to a halt and turning toward me. His face is blank, making it nearly impossible to read his emotions.
“Chev will be banned from using the portal within this facility and any in the immediate area,” Aziel says, his blank expression shifting into one that looks almost like pity. “Chev is a good friend, but I won’t compromise your comfort for his. He wouldn’t do it for me.”
I nod.
I don’t want to be a burden, but I can’t work here if it means Chev has unrestricted access to me. The mate bond is sacred to shifters, and I’m sure he’s been waiting a long time to find me, but I’m not interested in any sort of romantic relationship.
I don’t see that changing, either.
I want to spend the remainder of my life alone, free to make decisions and be my own person. Never again will I allow myself to be at the mercy of a man, and that’s precisely what a mate bond is.
Alpha males are dominant, and Chev is no different. There’s a slight possibility I’d consider him if he were a mild-tempered animal, like a deer, but he couldn’t be further from that. His bear will want to control and own me, and that’s something I’ll never be in a place to give.
My head aches the more I think about it.
Aziel leads me to the back entrance of the facility, and I wince as he pushes open the doors. Sweltering heat hits me, the temperature in Wrath warmer than it has any business being. I’ve never been a fan of the heat, but I’m excited to visit the lava fields.
The climate inside Wrath is unique, and Aziel’s land houses some of the largest lava fields in existence. Nymphs are tied to nature, and I’m interested to see if I feel an affinity toward lava the same way I do with woodlands.
Aziel guides me away from the facility and down a worn path leading into the woods. I thought my housing was on the facility property.
“This land is safe,” Aziel says, seemingly sensing my nerves. “The facility is gated, and the lands are monitored.”
I suck my lips into my mouth, not responding. It’s comforting to know the house is within the gated area, and I want to see it and understand precisely how far it is from the facility before making any judgments.
After only three minutes of walking, I’m sweating. I wipe my forehead, mentally cursing the punishing sun. Aziel huffs and wipes at his own face, which is interesting. I thought he’d be all for the warmth.
We continue forward, and I admire the large trees lining the small path. It’s truly beautiful here, and I shut my eyes as I let the energy of the woods fill me. I love it.
After five minutes, I finally spot a building. It’s a large, two-story brick house, complete with a wooden porch and giant windows. I stare with a slackened jaw as we approach it. Is this where I’m meant to stay? I assumed I’d get placed in a small building, maybe even a studio. This is an entire house.
I quicken my pace, eager to see more.
“Guards are assigned within hearing distance,” Aziel says. “They won’t hear anything said at a conversational tone, but any yelling will alert them.”
That’s a comfort.
Aziel gestures to a small shed to the left of the house. “There’s a golf cart you can use to travel to and from the facility. Please don’t run over any guards. They’re not targets, and they will get angry.”
Of course they aren’t. Is somebody using the golf carts that way? What even is a golf cart? I’ve gathered that it’s some sort of vehicle, and I struggle to hold back a giddy smile. I’ve never driven before, but it’s always been something I’m interested in.
I hope it goes fast.
We walk up the porch steps.
“A shadow has been assigned to keep the house clean and the kitchen stocked,” Aziel says. “She’s quiet, and she’ll be in and out while you’re at work.”
Aziel hums and looks toward the sky. I stare at the front door, still amazed this is where I’m to be staying. It makes the option of quitting and hiding away significantly less appealing. I want to live here.
I clear my throat. “Thank you for all of this.”
Aziel nods before checking the time. The way his eyes widen is borderline comical.
“Fuck,” he huffs. “I’m late to meet with Gray.” I’m pretty sure Gray is his incubus mate. “I need to go, but I’ll stop by in a few days to see how you’re adjusting.”
Aziel vanishes a second later, his body disappearing into thin air.
I stare at the spot where he was just standing before turning back to the house. The large front door entices me, and I drag my fingers through my hair as I stare at it. This day hasn’t gone as planned, and I squeeze my eyes shut as thoughts of Chev threaten to work their way to the forefront of my mind.
I can’t think about him or our bond.
I fight to keep my mind clear as I push open the front door and step inside the house.
The décor is minimal, and I eye the potted plant in the entryway before closing the door behind me. The interior is open, and I can see the kitchen and living room from where I stand. There is no formal dining space, but that’s fine by me.
It’s not like I plan to host any dinner parties.
The furniture is cozy. There’s a gray couch large enough to sprawl on, and I’m pleased to see a full, floor-to-ceiling bookshelf and a TV. To the left is a stairwell, and I cross my arms over my chest as I move to the second level of the house.
On the left is a bathroom, the sink visible from where I stand, and I peek in before approaching the closed door on the right. It’s made of thick wood, and I hesitate before pushing it open.
It leads to a bedroom, and I stare in awe at the king-sized bed in the center of the room. I’ve never slept in a bed larger than a twin, and I smile as I run my hand over the light-green silk sheets. My bags are on the floor, both open and empty. My things must have been put away for me.
I could get used to this.
There’s a private bathroom inside, and I eye the bathtub and large vanity. This place is fantastic. I’ve always loved bathroom products, and I can’t wait to begin my collection.
Through the bathroom is a walk-in closet, my things already unpacked and hung up inside.
I do another lap of the house before collapsing on the downstairs couch.
My thoughts threaten to return to Chev, and I turn on the TV to distract myself. I’m only thinking about him because of the bond, but I know that with time and distance, I’ll be able to push him entirely out of my mind.
If there’s anything I’m good at, it’s avoiding my problems and pretending they don’t exist. My dilemma with Chev will be no different.