I am awakened by a deep rumble.
At first, I think I’m dreaming. I’m still curled up against Azrael, his large hand resting on my hip, his powerful fingers perfectly fitting the curve of my body. His deep breathing vibrates against my nape, warm, soothing, burning. I close my eyes, trying to fall back asleep in the comforting heat of his embrace. But the rumble grows louder. Closer.

I startle violently when the door suddenly bursts open with a crash of stone. Azrael shoots upright behind me, his arm instantly wrapping around me, pulling me against his powerful chest. His entire body is tense like a predator ready to kill.

I tremble faintly against him, my wings fluttering behind me. I open my eyes and I see him.

A massive demon stands in the doorway. He is even bigger than Azrael, if that’s possible, his bare chest covered in dark scars and red tattoos glowing under the flame’s light. His hair is long and black, tied in a low ponytail. His eyes are yellow, reptilian, his massive horns curling around the sides of his head. His aura is suffocating, crushing, burning. He fixes his gaze on me, his slitted eyes narrowing with a cruel smile stretching across his thick lips.

“So it’s true…” His voice is deep, gravelly, almost painful to hear. “The great Azrael hides a little angel in his bed…”

I freeze, my heart beating so hard it hurts. I suddenly feel naked, exposed, humiliated. I try to curl up under the blanket, but Azrael growls softly behind me, his demonic tail lashing the air with a sharp, threatening crack.

“Get out, Baal…”

The demon, Baal, lets out a deep, rough laugh that echoes against the stone walls. He steps into the room, and I feel the air thicken with his dark power. His reptilian gaze slides slowly over my body, half-hidden under the black blanket. I tremble harder, my cheeks burning with shame. His yellow eyes linger on my folded wings, on my silvery hair spread across the pillow, on my throat covered in red and purple marks left by Azrael.

“He is… delicious…” He licks his thick lips, a growl of desire rumbling in his chest. “Give him to me, Azrael. Just for a moment. I just want… a taste…”

I feel Azrael move behind me. His entire body vibrates with a dark, uncontrollable rage. His arm tightens around my waist, pinning me to him, his burning heat enveloping me completely. I feel his cock harden against my ass, pulsing with anger and possessiveness. His voice comes out deep, torn, trembling with icy fury:

“Leave. Now. Before I rip out your tongue and make you eat it.”

Baal smiles slowly, revealing gleaming black fangs. He tilts his head to the side, his reptilian eyes glowing with sadistic light.

“You’ve changed, Azrael…” His voice turns syrupy, hissing. “Once, you would have boasted of such a trophy… now you growl like a dog protecting your celestial whore…”

Azrael growls, a guttural, monstrous sound that makes the entire room tremble. His demonic wings burst from his back, immense, black, covered in pulsing red veins. His arm leaves my waist and grabs Baal by the throat with inhuman speed. The massive demon is slammed against the black stone wall, his feet dangling above the ground. He lets out a choking rasp, his hands clawing at Azrael’s grip in vain.

I tremble, frozen under the blanket, my wings fluttering faintly behind me. I have never seen Azrael like this. His red eyes blaze with infernal light, his fangs fully extended, black veins bulging along his arms and neck. He is magnificent. Terrifying. Powerful. My heart beats so hard it hurts. And despite the fear… despite the shame… a burning shiver races between my thighs.

“Listen to me carefully, Baal…” His voice is deep, hoarse, trembling with barely contained fury. “If you ever look at him again… if you ever speak his name again… I will flay you alive and make you eat your own cock before feeding you to the hounds in the lower pits.”

Baal lets out a weak growl, his reptilian eyes rolling back in his head. Azrael releases him abruptly, and the demon collapses to the floor, gasping, one hand clutching his bruised throat. He rises slowly, his yellow eyes glaring at me before turning back to Azrael. He spits on the floor, a thick, black liquid splattering onto the burning stone.

“One day, he will be mine, Azrael…” His voice hisses, full of monstrous promise. “And on that day… you will beg me to give him back.”

Azrael growls again, a rumble that makes the entire room shake, and Baal backs away slowly before disappearing in a cloud of shadow and sulfur.

Silence falls abruptly. I tremble all over. Azrael remains still for a moment, his wings spread, his deep, ragged breathing making his broad chest rise and fall. Then he turns to me.

His gaze pierces me. Red. Burning. Vibrating with a love so violent it steals my breath. He climbs onto the bed, grabbing me with a firm hand, pulling me against him. His forehead presses against mine, his deep voice broken, trembling with emotion:

“You are mine, Caël… mine alone. And never… never will I let anyone lay a hand on you.”

I close my eyes, silent tears sliding down my cheeks. Because deep down… despite the fear… despite the shame…
I feel safe.
For the first time in my life… I feel… protected.

And maybe… that’s the most terrifying thing of all.