I hissed out a breath. "Then I think this date is officially over."
He nodded in complete and total agreement.
"You need to go home now." It wasn't a magical demonic suggestion that he couldn't resist. It was simply a suggestion.
One he took.
He was gone.
Whether Chris had been drunk or not, I had a sick feeling that what he had just seen wouldn't be forgotten quite as easily as I hoped it would be.
Once he had disappeared into the distance, running along the street in the direction of his home, I took in a very shaky breath and realized I was trembling violently.
I might have sounded all cool with him, but inside a storm was raging. I was furious and beyond upset. The anger at what he'd attempted to do to me swirled around my stomach making me nauseous. I felt the overwhelming need to cry or destroy something.
Possibly both.
Relax, Nikki, I told myself. You have to relax.
If I didn't calm myself down, I knew something horrible was going to happen.
Energy sparked off the ends of my black talons. My heart pounded so hard in my chest I could feel it and hear it in my ears, a loud, thunderous sound. I couldn't seem to relax. The rage I was feeling was spiraling inside of me. I felt out of control.
Then a hand curled over my bare shoulder. I flexed my leathery wings and whipped my head to the side, ready to hurt whoever stood there.
It was Michael.
His eyes widened as he took a moment to look at me. Then he blinked.
"Come on," he said. "It's not safe here."
He grabbed my wrist and pulled me along with him around the corner to a vacant side of the school. I didn't resist but my shaking was getting even worse.
"I can't control this," I gasped.
"Sure you can." He stopped walking and turned to face me. "Just breathe."
I nodded and a lock of bright, flame-red hair fell onto my face. Michael stroked it back. I was surprised he'd want to touch me when I was like this.
"Demon form can be triggered from feeling high emotions like anger or fear." He frowned deeply. "I saw Chris leave here. He didn't… he didn't try to hurt you, did he?"
I sucked in a shaky breath. "He cornered me in the back of a limo and wouldn't take no for an answer, if you know what I mean."
"He what?" What felt like an actual wave of fury radiated off Michael and it made goose bumps crawl over my skin. "He tried to… to…? I'm going to kill him. I will tear the head from his body!"
I shook my head. "No, I'm okay. After he's seen me like this I'm sure he won't come anywhere near me ever again. I scared the crap out of him."
His expression was tense and angry, but he gently wiped a tear from my cheek with his thumb. "You're really okay?"
My breath was still coming in quick gasps. "Except. . except for this demon thing. I couldn't control it. And now I can't change back. Of course I was able to scare Chris off. I scared him by how ugly I am."
He shook his head. "Princess, there's nothing ugly about you." He cupped my face in his hands. "But you have to try to relax."
I had to relax. I had to.
Pain radiated through my stomach. "I'm dying. Harnessing my Darkling powers is killing me."
"You're not dying." He hugged me to him a lot like how Chris had in the limo, but it was different now. Michael wasn't Chris. I hadn't known Michael for very long at all, but I knew he wouldn't hurt me. Holding on to him helped me to slowly calm down. It made me feel safe. It helped chase away the anger and fear.
"Shh, it's okay." He kissed my cheek and stroked my hair back from my face.
I closed my eyes and held on to him, and slowly I felt the Darkling inside of me recede. My wings began to disappear. My teeth desharpened. My nails returned to their short, pink-polished state. The pain grew worse but as I returned to normal and clung to Michael I realized it wasn't as bad as the last time I changed back to human form.
"Better?" he asked after a few minutes went by.
I nodded. He began to pull away from me but I held on tight.
He looked down into my eyes. "See? You're not dead."
"Not yet." I took a deep breath. The pain was completely gone now and it gave me a chance to think straight. I looked up at him. "Where were you all day?
I thought you said you'd come to see me again."
"I know. I'm sorry, I couldn't come before now."
"Why not?"
His expression shadowed. "I just couldn't. I… I thought you would have drunk the potion by now." "But you came anyway?"
"I wanted to make sure you were all right. You had mentioned the dance so I knew you'd be here at the school." He must have seen the hurt look that I couldn't hide and he swallowed hard. "I wanted to come earlier. I did. I'm really sorry I wasn't here for you."
"But you're here now. Thank you for helping me calm down."
"You're very welcome." He smiled a little and then turned more serious. "You should have drunk the potion by now, though. The king. . he's getting worse." He exhaled. "Elizabeth thinks he has only hours left, not days."
My heart twisted. "I need to see him again."
He shook his head. "That's not a good idea."
"Why not?"
"Taking you back to the Shadowlands would only make it harder. For you, for your father. He's in no shape to see anyone-he's constantly in demon form now. And there's no time left. You. . you have to drink the potion or you won't have any choice when the king dies.
You'll automati' cally become queen. I know you don't want that." "And I don't want to die."
"Die?" he asked. "What are you talking about?"