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But…he had not touched her Not once

"Have you been in contact with another angel?" he asked, though no two angels produced the same shade of essentia But a demon could not have done it There was no way the epitonificent color

"No"

Truth There had to be an explanation Perhaps…perhaps the gloas all her own, natural Just because he had never heard of such a thing did notto do tohi

"We will find out together" He reached out, intending to undo one of the cuffs, and she flinched

"Don’t!" she said

Realization dawned She had been abused, and she expected the same treatment from him

To promise never to harm her in any as, perhaps, to lie to her, and he could not lie to her Hus and bodies easily hurt Accidents happened No telling what she would find fault with in their dealings together

Just how long do you plan to be with her?

"Right now, I plan only to free you and escort you froht?"

Hope flickered in those crystal eyes "But you said--"

"I changed my mind"

"Really?"

"Really"

"Thank you," she rushed out "Thank you, thank you, thank you, a thousand tiret this, I proo somewhere and be by myself I won’t cause any trouble I promise! And seriously, thank you!"

He undid the first cuff, walked to her other side and repeated the entire process

Tears filled her eyes as she pulled her hands tight to her chest and rubbed at her wrists Not from pain, he didn’t think, but from joy "Where will you escort me?"

"To my cloud, where you will be safe from the demons"

A shake of her head, as if she wasn’t sure she’d heard him correctly "Your…cloud? As in, a cloud in the sky?"

"Yes You e clothes, eat Whatever you wish" And then…still he had no idea

"But--and stop round, where I won’t plunge through o splat"

He loosened one ankle cuff "Were I to take you anywhere on land, you would be hunted by your own people…not to mention other demons You’ll be safe in my cloud, I promise you" He loosened the other cuff

The s over the bed and stood Though she swayed, she et o our separate ways You’ll have done a good deed, and I will remain hidden forever"

Refusal to obey hi to twist him into knots? "I cannot liberate you without supervision, for I would be blae you caused"

"I won’t--"

"Mean to, I know But you will"

"Just giveto do "You have two choices, Annabelle Stay here, or go toelse will be considered"

Her chin lifted, painting her the very picture of stubbornness "Can I stay with the other angel, then? The blond"