Chapter 22 Trust Me, I’ve Been Lying #2
“Sorry,” he murmured. Clearing his throat, he sat up straighter.
“Chuck, I need to tell you something else. I…” he sighed miserably.
“I haven’t been completely honest with you.
But you deserve the full truth, and after you know, I understand if you don’t want to ever see me again.
I promise I’ll leave, and I won’t make a scene.
” He lifted his thumb, brushing it over her lower lip, and smiled softly.
“Chuck, believe this, I wanted you to kiss me. Very much.” Chuckling now as her eyes widened and a protest formed on her lips.
“No, don’t deny it. You can’t. You can’t deny there’s something here between us.
But I’m not going to let you fall like this. I won’t be the cause.”
“I don’t understand,” she cried softly, shaking her head side to side, no longer hiding her desire for him.
“I know, Chuck. I’ll try to explain. Just…
hear me out. Okay?” As she silently agreed, he took a deep breath and continued.
“I was shocked, I was crying, because I never had before. I didn’t know I could.
To cry means you need feelings, and I… well, I didn’t think I had those.
We’ll come back to why in a minute.” He chuckled at her cute frowning pout. “So impatient you. Hang in there.”
Standing so he could put some distance between them, Malachi began to pace. “Alright, so back to your dad. He was an angel. Full blooded, hundred percent winged host, full of grace angel. Which makes you…” Turning, he stared at her intensely, hoping she would understand.
“Half angel?” she blurted, her words shaking and full of awe. “I’m part angel?” This time her voice cracked on the word, squeaking a high-pitched note.
“Yeah, Chuck. You’re half angel. You don’t have wings, but you do have a halo.
” Laughing as her fingers flew to her head, he shook his own side to side.
“No, the books are wrong about that. It’s not a circle hovering above you, it’s your aura.
A glow that surrounds your whole body. It reflects your moods and thoughts in patterns and colors.
When you’re sad, it’s gray. Yellow when you get scared, orange when you’re embarrassed or irritated.
And when you do what you do best, saving lives, it turns gold.
Like the last rays of the setting sun. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
” He blinked a few times and turned to pace again.
“Why didn’t he tell me?” she mused out loud. “We were so close, we talked about everything. Why wouldn’t he tell me?” Her eyes were troubled now, a furrow between her eyebrows.
Kneeling, Malachi took her hands in his.
“He couldn’t, Chuck. I bet your mother didn’t know either.
It’s not the kind of thing he would have wanted spread around.
I don’t know why he wasn’t up there.” He pointed above them.
“Why was he on Earth? But he didn’t tell you…
so he could keep you safe, Chuck. If no one knew, no one would come after you. ”
Nodding slowly, she frowned. “But someone found out, and that’s why he’s dead. You think they’re after me now, don’t you? That’s why all the cloak and dagger. The sneaking around.” Gripping his hands tighter, she leaned forward, all business now. “Okay, so what did you find?”
Smiling, he lifted one hand and brushed it over her cheek.
“There you are. Warrior girl.” He rose to his feet and grabbed the bag before retaking a seat next to her.
Pulling out the files, he laid them in her lap.
“Some of the records from your dad’s case.
When I opened the box, I could smell the grace and the ‘other’.
” He wrinkled his nose in memory of the bad odor.
“I couldn’t do a thorough search there; no one would understand why ‘Evan’ was there or why your K-9 would be looking at reports.
So, I uh… I kinda borrowed them. Don’t worry!
I’ll put them back!” he promised quickly.
“Mal.” She laughed, waggling a finger at him playfully. “Bad dog.” Then she shook her head. “I’m not mad. In a weird way, that’s the nicest thing anyone could have done for me.” Huffing out another laugh, she leaned closer. “Thank you, Malachi. Wait… is that really your name?”
Chuckling, he bobbed his head sheepishly.
“Yeah, it really is Malachi. And I honestly was cursed by a demon into the dog’s body.
I also truly couldn’t change myself back until I got some help.
But the rest of it, Chuck, I need to tell you the truth.
And you’ll probably hate me, so let me just say…
that being with you and Reena has been the best part of my life.
My very long and decidedly awful life. I’m grateful I got to spend even this small amount of time with you.
I hope you’ll look back on me fondly one day, and if you ever decide to forgive me, just call my name, and I’ll come to you.
” He stared at the ground, shuddering as he remembered Hyacinth’s promise. “Well, if I’m still alive.”
Her fingers wrapped around his jaw, lifting his face to hers. “What do you mean if you’re alive? Malachi, is someone threatening you?”
Sighing, he pried her fingers from his face and squeezed them.
“Yes, I’ve been threatened with death or worse if I don’t corrupt you and collect your angel grace for my dark lord.
Kelly…” he groaned and shook his head. “I’m a demon.
Like, eternally damned, brimstone, evil, Satan, Hellspawn.
And I was forced into the dog body as a punishment for displeasing my commander.
” Gazing into her eyes, he was concerned that her expression was carefully neutral, no clues as to how she took the news.
Deciding there was nothing for it but to forge ahead, he continued.
“But then you showed up, glowing with your angelic grace, and I was terrified. I just knew you were about to smite me.” He chuckled at the memory.
“I was quaking in my fur. But when you smiled at me, I felt warm all over. Like I’d been granted a reprieve.
I thought it was just a chance that we met.
But today I learned from one of the demons that took the little girl that it’s a long-range plot to capture you. ”
Groaning in frustration, he rubbed his forehead tiredly.
“They want your grace. My commander will stop at nothing to get it. He ‘punished’ me so I would get close to you. He left me alone for all these months, but then he appeared again. Commanded me to use my demonic influence to seduce you so he could steal your grace. I discovered that I’m to be sacrificed as well.
Your power and mine together would give him enough juice to start a major coup of Hell.
But I can’t do it, Chuck. I’ve come to… care about you.
I didn’t know I could. I didn’t know it was possible.
But I have feelings for the first time in centuries, and I’m so fucking gone over you, I have no idea what to do here.
But I can’t keep this from you. And I won’t let them hurt you.
So yeah, he’ll kill me one way or the other, but I’d rather die defending you with my last breath than let them take you. I won’t. He can’t have you, Kelly.”
Chest heaving with the force of his declaration, he lifted his eyes to her, terrified of what he would see. He expected scorn, hurt, fright, and disgust. Once again, he should have known better than to underestimate her.
“Malachi, he can’t have you. Demon or not, you’re my partner.” She leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on his cheek.