25 : Partners in Crime

**Evelyn :**

When I woke up, I thought I had dreamed everything that had happened before, because I don't remember how I lost consciousness, but the revelation came over me that it was real. I didn't even have to open my eyes to know that the cause of all the problems was still in the room with me. His presence was even too clear and noticeable.

I slowly opened my eyes and tried to suppress the headache. Every time I had a vision, the migraine got worse and worse. I was already tired. Like every time.

Looking to my right, I Raphael sitting on a chair, near the bed, watching my movements with his chin in his hand. *Creepy much?*

"How long did I sleep?" I was ashamed to look into his eyes. Usually, the result turned out to be quite unpleasant for my feelings, although I knew there was a completely opposite reaction.

"Two hours. I was already starting to worry about you. What did you see this time?"

The question made me blush like, "Why do you ask?"

I felt him smile, '' You behaved like a hungry wolf after its prey. You were in a completely different world for a moment. Your emotions made you overwork your body and you had to be put to sleep by force,'' he explained as if it was nothing. My eyes darted in his direction.

*Oh hell.*

"You're lying," I furrowed my brows.

I would never have behaved like that.

''Darling, I may be other things but I'm not a liar. Especially towards you,'' eyes blazing, the man stood up, slowly walking towards me. I knew immediately that I was trapped.

"Yes? As far as I know, you like to play with me," I tried to put a wall between us but it was impossible. His look already made me submit to him. One step, two, and his touch will make me give up altogether.

"Play with you?" A small sly smile creeps onto Raphael's face, "Is that what you call it now?"

"Yeah," I lift my chin, "Threatening me won't get you what you want. That's no way to win a woman over and- opmhhh!!" my words are cut off as his arms grab me and he pulls me right into his chest.

His hand grips my chin, bringing my eyes up to him.

"So you admit that I still have a chance to have you? Are you ready for us?" again a small smile as if he had won the lottery.

My skin is burning where his hand is, I have no words to say as I struggle to breathe.

He is too close. We need distance.

"So what will it be? The kitten swallowed her tongue? The bond is too strong?" baring his teeth in a teasing way to scare me a bit, I am momentarily shocked to see fangs where normal teeth should be in his mouth. I'm surprised I didn't even flinch because a second later Phoenix smirks at me, as if my lack of reaction amuses him.

*What the heck?*

Do birds even have fangs, or is it just for show to intimidate someone under them?

"I'm not afraid of you," I answered with the pure truth. Maybe I was afraid of feelings and how he affects me but I wasn't afraid of him. I knew he wouldn't hurt me physically, except of course when I was punished. Now I was really sure of it. I was his queen after all and I knew that no matter how much of a psychopath he was, I still meant something to him.

"Mmm," he hummed softly, his gaze drifting over me as he leaned much closer, his lips caressing my cheek. Like a soft feather that has fallen from the bird's nest and leaves a tingling sensation behind. The sparks were in full force.

"True," he whispered. With heavy breaths, I closed my eyes and waited for his next move. Pulling me as close as he could, he ran one hand into my hair, grabbing it and tilting my head back.

As much as I didn't want to, the other's touch was so nice. How many years have I wanted someone to touch me, someone I could hug myself? How many years did I feel alone, rejected? That all went out the window now because the sexiest man ever could be is touching me now. What else do I need if my dreams have come true?

"You're so beautiful," he growled and my eyes popped open when I saw his orbs flaming. There is fire all over his skin and I see wings on his back. It is the most beautiful and terrifying sight I have ever seen. As my vision flickers, I watch in amazement that the fire doesn't touch me. It is hot but not so hot as to burn my skin.

It was like we are united.

I raise my hand to touch it in admiration. Phoenix immediately stops me halfway and my hand is caught in his claws. Placing them around his neck, he grabs me by the waist and lifts me up. My legs instantly wrapped around his waist like a koala cub wraps around its mother.

Still looking at me, he walks me to the nearest wall, pinning me against it and putting my hands above my head. My heartbeats runned at full speed.

"What were the odds," Raphael begins, leaning into me, his nose touching my neck, "that I'll find you eventually."

Despite our closeness and the words he said, I smiled as I smelled his pleasant cologne.

"I found you, you didn't find me. You didn't break into someone else's property," I whisper, watching him chuckle as he leans back to look at my face.

"True," one corner of his mouth turns up in that teasing smile.

"But whatever your reason was for breaking in, you still haven't revealed it to me. Because you know that once you set foot in my territory, you can't get away from it. You know you're mine," he growled once to make me see that he has power over me and I close my eyes in submission.

"If you let me work with you so I can help, I really won't run away. You can do whatever you want with me," with those words, I looked at him and Phoenix's eyes showed great fire and passion.

"Whatever I want?" smirking, he shakes his head, "You know this determines your destiny and I don't know if you're ready for it yet. You're playing with fire, baby," trying one last time to convince me that I'm making a huge mistake and maybe I'll just back away from it all, I press closer to him to put my lips to his ear.

"If you wanted it that way, I wouldn't be here. You would have set me free but you see... You have achieved your goal, I am yours," putting courage and seduction in my voice, Phoenix groans instead of answering as if I had wounded him.

"You little brat," letting out a beastly sound, he grabs the back of my head with one hand and slams his lips into mine, nearly knocking my breath away. Instantly sticking his tongue in to look for treasures in my mouth, I knew there was no going back.

I belonged to him and he belonged to me.

*Checkmate.*

****

*The next day*

**02:34 PM**

Clenching my hands into fists, I focused on the opponent who was in front of me. We both went in circles to wait to see who would start first but I knew he was playing with me. It was already expected.

When we talked and came to a compromise that I would be his partner in situations when it was necessary, I needed to learn not only to touch someone to kill but to learn self-defense, for my own sake. I immediately agreed from the beginning but now I'm starting to regret it.

He woke me up early in the morning, already at seven. Allowed me to eat only an apple and drink milk to keep my bones strong. If I want to help him, I have to be strong and healthy. I already understand everything but for the first time? That's a bit too much.

It's been five hours and Raphael still won't let me rest. I could already feel the sweat on my back. A clap of his hands snaps me back to reality as a strong leg knocks me off my feet, right onto the training mat, cushioning my fall. The handsome angel of death appears in my line of vision overhead, a serious grimace on his face.

"Evelyn, you mustn't get distracted. In the meantime, I could have strangled you, torn your arms from your shoulders, and burned your body. I would never, I mean it, NEVER give my enemy an upper hand. If I had, you wouldn't be alive. Get me?" criticizing my actions and the clumsiness of the oblivious, I see the man completely burning with impatience.

I let out a whimper like a puppy for being scolded for a broken shoe, "I'm sorry..."

His face immediately softens as the man sighs heavily.

"Jesus, come here," he gave me his hand. I immediately took it to help me get to my feet. Pulling me close, I let his strong body protect me for a moment, even from himself.

"You know very well that I don't want to treat you like a slave who has to learn everything in one day but you know what you signed up for when you said you wanted to work with me. My job is not white clouds at all, there are a lot of black holes in them and I want to make sure you're ready for this. So I know that you know how to protect yourself when I'm not around. I want to be more proud of you, my love, "kissing my hair, I feel tears forming in the corners of my eyes.

" Why do you have to be so damn cute when I'm tired and mad at you? " punching him weakly, Raphael just laughs as he squeezes me tighter.

"Okay. Enough of torturing you. Come on, I'll make you a proper meal. You deserve it," after saying that, I could immediately hear my poor stomach, which, like a traitor, made sounds as if it hadn't had a meal in a year.

Well... How can I disagree?