I wake up to heat. An immense, burning, overwhelming heat.
It wraps around me completely, penetrates me down to my bones, melts the ice that always covers my skin.
I open my eyes slowly. My body feels heavy, sore. My thighs ache, my throat is tight, my chest burns with every breath.
And I feel him.
Azrael. Pressed against me. His massive, burning chest against my back, his large hand resting on my stomach, his fingers splayed almost entirely covering my narrow waist. His deep breathing stirs my silvery hair, scattering it across the black pillow. His heavy thigh lies over mine, trapping me completely.

I remain still, eyes fixed on the red and gold canopy above me. I don’t know anymore. I don’t know who I am. I don’t know what I feel. Everything is… blurry. Confused. Burning.

A silent tear rolls down my temple. I close my eyes.
I shouldn’t… feel this.
I shouldn’t… have liked his warmth, even for a moment.
I shouldn’t… have liked the way he whispered my name, the way his red eyes looked at me as if I were the only thing that mattered in the world.
I shouldn’t… but I did.

My chest tightens painfully. I bite my lip to hold back a sob. I hurt. Not just because of him, not just because of what he did to me. I hurt… because I feel my heart changing. I feel something being born inside me. Something dark, burning, monstrously beautiful. Something I refuse to admit.

I shift slightly. His hand on my stomach tightens immediately, pressing me back against him. I feel his nose bury into my neck, inhaling deeply. His hot breath makes me shiver. His deep voice, still rough with sleep, resonates against my skin:

“Where do you think you’re going, my angel…?”

I close my eyes, two more tears slipping down my cheeks. His hand slides up, caressing my chest, brushing over my still-sensitive nipples. A broken moan escapes me despite myself.
Why… why does my body react this way…?

“You’re mine…” he murmurs, his deep voice vibrating with raw tenderness. “Mine forever…”

I choke back a sob, my shoulders shaking with tremors.
I can’t.
I mustn’t.
But… then why… why does my heart beat so fast…? Why do I want to turn around, to press my lips to his burning skin, to nestle against his powerful chest, to hear his voice whisper those forbidden words again…?

I clench my fists, hot tears rolling down my face.
I am an angel.
I am light. Purity. Faith.

I blink, and my gaze falls on my hand. On my white skin. On my feathers…
My breath catches.
No…
No… no… no…

I slowly raise my arm, my trembling fingers closing around a feather lying on the black pillow. One of my feathers. A feather that was white… but whose tip is now stained with black. A deep, glossy black, like obsidian.
My whole body trembles. My stomach twists with fear, my chest tightens so hard I feel nauseous.
No… I… I can’t…
My wings… my wings are turning black.

A sob escapes me. My hand clenches around the stained feather. Azrael moves behind me, and I feel his lips press against my neck, leaving a burning kiss.

“Don’t cry…” he murmurs, his deep voice so gentle it hurts even more. “It’s normal… You’re mine now… Your body knows it… Your wings do too…”

I shake my head weakly, burning tears falling onto my bare chest. He turns me over with a firm hand, laying me on my back, his powerful body looming over mine. His black hair falls over his broad shoulders, framing his beautiful face. His red eyes shine with a light I’ve never seen before. A light… of love. A dark, burning, absolute love.

“Look at me, Caël…”

I lock my gaze with his, and I feel my heart shatter. And worse… I feel it reborn. He strokes my cheek with his rough fingers, his black tattoos glowing faintly under the red glow of the flames.

“You’re mine… and I will do everything… absolutely everything… to make you fall in love with me. Even if I have to corrupt you down to your last feather.”

I close my eyes, a broken sob escaping my throat. Because deep down… I already feel it.
I am falling.
Falling for him.
And I no longer know… if I want to rise again.