If Eva thought travelling through the portal was a bizarre experience, teleporting was much, much worse.

She hadn't time to prepare. Although she doubted anything would have equipped her for being dragged unwillingly into a black coldness of nothing. A void, desolate and yet she was sure something other than her and Azrael hid in the darkness.

She swallowed, hard, before licking her lips. A strange metallic taste lingered in her mouth, her lips numb as she touched them with her tongue.

Stumbling, her hand was squeezed tightly, warmth radiated, initially in her hands, spreading upwards through the rest of her. It was comforting but only momentarily as a sudden onslaught of dizziness caught her by surprise. She raised her free hand to her mouth; sure she would empty her guts where she stood.

Bloody hell! "I think I'm going to..." her head was spiralling as if being thrown around a dance floor, gravity unable to grasp at her feet.

"What?" asked Azrael, slightly concerned.

"Be sick. By the angels, you should have warned me."

"Take deep breaths Angel, teleporting is very different to travelling through a portal, unsettling to a fragile human body." And he turned his gaze, gesturing towards a man nearby.

"My table." He instructed the host, stood behind a formal podium.

The man refrained from eye contact. "Yes, yes Sir. I will deal with that immediately Sir." Flustered, he put his pen down, rushing off as if somebody had lit a fire under him.

Eva inhaled deeply, her body slowly calming. Count to ten, and breathe.

One, two... three. Deep breath. Three, four... five. Another deep breath, she counted.

"Why didn't we portal here and when did you have time to change your clothes... again?" Her eyes ran the length of his body, now fully dressed in a dark grey suit. Damn, he looks sexy in a suit...argh!

"Portals require a point of entry and exit, teleporting does not and a change of clothes takes but a mere second."

"Oh," she replied, not fully comprehending his answer.

The spinning subsided and her feet felt her own, allowing her to curl her toes into the soft carpet beneath them. "Look!" She pointed down to her visible bare feet. "No shoes!" In retrospect, her feet were relieved for not being crammed back into their prison.

Azrael glanced down the length of Eva's body, a wolfish grin on his lips. "Shoes and clothes are always optional when you are with me Angel."

Gulping, a hornet's nest whirled around her tummy. She had no understanding of his interest in her. "Do you never quit?"

He chuckled. "No."

Feeling her stomach settle somewhat, she looked around to see the host Azrael had instructed usher a couple from one table to another. That table was prepped and prepared as the host returned and gestured for them both to follow him.

Seated, she noted the seat was still warm. "Does everyone do what you ask?"

Azrael merely cocked an eyebrow.

"Drinks Sir, Miss?" The host asked, his voice croaked, but his accent familiar.

Eyeing him carefully, his anxiety filled the void between them bouncing around. A light sheen of sweat flourished across his forehead. "Water please," she replied, smiling to hopefully ease the growing tension.

Azrael didn't glance up, his eyes fixed firmly on Eva's. "A bottle of Domaine Leroy Musigny Grand, quick sharp."

He scurried away.

His intense stare made her heart and stomach do crazy things, swirling and fluttering with glee. Why does he look at me like that? Ignoring the foolishness of her insides her nostrils flared. "You didn't have to scare the man; can't you just be... nice?"

Azrael shot her an accusatory look, but his words were spoken softly. "Over my many years in this realm. I've found fear is the best motivator."

Eva dropped his gaze as she shifted in her seat. "Doesn't it look strange that you just appear and then I suppose disappear... whenever you appear? Shit, did that make sense?

He grinned, cocking a playful eyebrow. "Humans don't see as we do, they do not witness me teleporting, their brains aren't wired for it."

Eva's mouth formed a perfect O. She guessed that made some sort of weird sense. "Where are we?" Looking around she heard muffled voices. A French accent perhaps? Are we in France?

"Canada, New Brunswick to be more precise, this establishment is a favourite of mine."

Eva raised an eyebrow, looking at the waiters who were talking and pointing not so subtly at them. "I don't think they can say the same of you. Aren't you ever worried they might do something to your food?"

The lines of his forehead creased. "Enlighten me Angel, you're obviously smarter than I."

She ignored his mockery. "Oh, I don't know, drop it on the floor before they serve it to you... or spit in it?" Eva smirked biting back a laugh as she watched his eyes narrow, his features grew serious, he had evidently never thought of that.

"They wouldn't dare but I will ask so they can reassure you our food has been untouched. I can taste human lies."

Eva gulped, the hair on the back of her neck itched. Holy shit, could he?

Azrael smirked, feeling himself relax, he was having fun toying with his Angel. The way her face lit up, curiosity dancing in her eyes. The quickening of her pulse as she watched him warily.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

He couldn't of course... taste lies, but humans were unable to hide the subtle signals, their weak human bodies often gave them away.

Their food arrived and Eva took a sip of her water. She wasn't actually hungry, what she craved was to free her curiosity, learn more about him, where he came from... the demon world. Chewing her bottom lip, she had questions.

"How old are you... I mean you the demon, not the vessel you currently occupy?"

His eyes narrowed, but hers were open, curious. "Why do you wish to know?"

She remembered his words. "You said you wanted us... me and you." Her finger pointed between them. "To get to know one another... better, did you not?"

He recalled his words, as a strange ominous feeling swept through him. He wanted to know more about her, but not for her to know him. "Yes, you are correct, but what I meant was I want to get to know you better."

"What, so I'm not allowed to ask you any questions?" She watched his chin tip upwards a little, his eyes glinting with amusement.

"That is correct Angel."

Eva picked up her fork and pushed her food around her plate. Why should I share anything with him, if he's not willing to share anything with me? "Well, that's unfair, why should I tell you about me when you refuse to tell me about yourself?"

He stared long and hard, unsure. "Okay Angel. I will ask you as many questions of my choosing, and you in return, can ask me three."

Eva tutted, but would not give up. Mrs B didn't call her tenacious for no reason. "Five!"

"Three," he countered.

She resisted the urge to curse. "Four!"

"Three," he repeated.

Eva squeezed her fork, Godsdammit! Why is he so stubborn? "Fine, three." She pouted, shrugging her shoulders, a little disappointed.

A ghost of a smile curled his top lip. "Ask your first question Angel."

She rolled her eyes. "I already did. How old are you?"

"I came into being, when I was created?"

Eva's mouth dropped open. "What sort of answer is that?"

"Is that your second question Angel?"

Eva scowled, huffing. "No, but you're not playing by the rules."

He smirked before chuckling. "Fine. We do not track time; therefore I cannot put a date on what you ask."

Godsdammit! She threw him daggers, sure he was doing this on purpose. What are you hiding?"Okay, your turn."

He ignored her glare, it only further amused him. "Tell me your account of what happened in the pledging circle?"

They stared at one another, her eyes widened, pulse picked up as goosebumps flooded her arms. We are Trinity.

A niggling curling sensation gripped his stomach, he hadn't felt this in eons. Sensing her panic, he wanted to take the question back, not wanting to cause her any distress. The feeling baffled him, scared him slightly. Internally cursing he pushed the unwanted strangeness away, locking it behind the walls he has spent many lifetimes erecting.

Flashes of reds, yellow and orange flames burned her mind. Terror had held her hostage in the circle. Swallowing, she shrugged her shoulders, and answered. "As I'm sure you witnessed. It set on fire, and before you ask, don't bother wasting a question on why, because I don't know." And that was the truth, she didn't.

Azrael sensed no untruth apart from the momentary quickening of her heartbeat, her pulse... fear – but it was gone in a flash. "Other than the fire, was there anything else... anything untoward, you wish to share?" A presence, he wanted to ask, but that would sound crazy... wouldn't it?

But he couldn't deny Angelina's presence, her warmth, her spirit. A deep unsettling feeling swept through him, chipping at the ice cage surrounding his heart.

Eva tensed, gripping her fork tightly as her other hand clenched into a fist on her lap. Shit, what should I say? Her father's words echoed in her head. She shook her head, afraid if she said the words, he would taste her lies.

His stomach lurched; her panic pushed him back somewhat. Her racing heartbeat, flooded his ears as his eyes observed the pulse beneath her smooth delicate skin flutter faster than the wings on a hummingbird. "Use your words Angel."

Shit! Opening her mouth, the words stuck. Say something, anything - but the truth. She coughed to clear her throat before forcing them out. "No, nothing I wish to share." Her stomach clenched, as she watched for any reaction in his glacial blue eyes.

"That's your first lie Angel." He paused, her cheeks flushed a crimson red. "I can make you share."

Dread pushed against her like an invisible gale, her stomach locked up tight. Could he? Would He?

Azrael had no desire threaten her, it unsettled him to think of anybody including himself forcing her to do anything, an icy chill crept up his spine. Lifting his drink, he took a sip, but his eyes never left hers. "We shall visit that question again, another time."

Like a fly freeing itself from a spider's web. She released the breath she held onto so tightly and picked up her own drink, taking a small sip.

"Your second question Angel."

Eva sat thinking, twirling her fork in her fingers, her thoughts all over the place as many questions came thick and fast.

A giddy rush of excitement, curiosity building like a cat fixed on its prey. "What powers or special abilities do you have, you being a demon, a demon prince no less?"

A pause. The lines on his forehead softened; lowering his voice he leaned forward. "Curious little thing, aren't we?"

Eva stared at him long and hard, mulling over before she nodded.

Tilting his head, his mouth twitched on the tip of a grin. "Watch. With one click of my fingers, everyone you see will turn to dust, allowing me to consume their souls in the process." He raised his hand in preparation. "Would you like to see Angel?"

Eva's heart stuttered; words left her. She stared at him in horror. No, he wouldn't? She grabbed his hand, pulling it flat to the table.

His laughter was suddenly free as it echoed across the small restaurant, fetching stares from the other patrons. Her face was a picture.

He's teasing me... phew! She released his hand as her shoulder relaxed, but his laughter made her temperature rise and hesitantly she let herself grin. "You're teasing me?"

Azrael stopped laughing. "No, Angel, I am not. But I take no pleasure killing indiscriminately."

"So, you could do that, just click your fingers?" Her stomach coiled in horror.

"Yes, but you have no reason to fear." He paused before continuing. "Unless it comes to my attention that they did indeed 'mess' with my food as you implied earlier." His eyes twinkled with amusement.

Eva sighed. Note to self - do not tease the crazy demon prince!

He took another sip of his drink. "Tell me of your mother?"

She glanced away sucking in her bottom lip. Why is he so interested in the incident and now my mother? The angel at the Conclave had also enquired about her mother. How are they tied together?

Avoiding the weight of his eyes, she wasn't sure what to tell him. What could she say about her mother?

The heavy slow pounding of her heart echoed in her ears. Knowing nothing more than what her father had shared, and that didn't amount too much. Nearly every conversation with him had ended the same.

He witnessed the change in her. Sadness and something else washed through him. It made him feel uncomfortable, vulnerable. He curbed the urge to reach out, touch her, offer comfort.

He battled with the strangeness within his vessel's body. Familiar yet unfamiliar. Narrowing his eyes he clenched his jaw, curling his hand into a tight fist. Inhaling his eyes remained fixed on hers. The colour that had blanketed her face moments ago paled.

Eva raised her head, tilting her chin upwards in defiance, although she was unsure why. "My father told me she had the purest heart and soul he had ever known. He loved her. But I know nothing more, other than she named me before she died." Eva placed her fork down. "Oh and she left me this." She touched the pendant around her neck.

Azrael sensed no deceit in her words as he watched her small fingers twist the small pendant. "Ask your final question Angel."

Mind blank, she didn't want to play this game any longer, not tonight. "I'm tired. Can I bank it?" Eva wasn't lying, she felt drained and would rather now be in her own bed, ridding herself of this crazy day.

"Bank it?"

Eva nodded, "Yes, save it – for another time, later."

"Ah, yes, I understand." Lifting his glass, he took another sip of his drink. "I can see you are tired. I believe it's time we got you in your bed."

Eva's eyes caught his as a rush of fluttering flooded her tummy. Unsure why his words affected her so much.

"Take my hand Angel." His voice was gentle, encouraging.

He held out his hand. She hesitated for a moment before placing her hand in his. Her stomach twisting, toes curling, thankful she'd hardly eaten as the darkness wrapped around her.