The Innocent

by Michelle K. Pickett

  “Give it to Chay.”

  “What?”

  “The dagger for my brother. Give it to him.”

  “I don’t have it with me.” He held out his arms to show me.

  I shook my head. “Then I’m not going anywhere with you. Get the dagger for Benjamin first. Then I’ll go. That was our deal.”

  “You go now. Either on your own or by force, I don’t care which. Get up!”

  “Fine.”

  I started to rise. Grabbing the kitchen knife I took from the motel, I speared Azazel’s foot. The knife sunk into the scrap wood he was standing on with a dull thud. A black, oily liquid oozed around the blade sticking through his shoe. He laughed.

  “You’ve just wasted your dagger, sweetheart.” He sneered. “Now how will you fight back the demons?”

  Azazel reached down to yank the knife from his foot, cursing violently when he realized it was an ordinary kitchen knife and not the kickass, demon-slaying dagger. I took a deep breath and grabbed the dagger that was still sticking out of my side. Squeezing my eyes closed, I yanked it out. I couldn’t help the small groan that escaped my lips as the dagger ripped through my flesh a second time.

  “It’s time for us to part ways once and for all, Azazel.” I turned the dagger over and over in my hand.

  “It won’t work on me. It’s my dagger, after all.” He wrapped his hand around the knife in his foot and tensed before jerking it upward. The blade was embedded deep in his muscle. His first pull didn’t dislodge it. I knew if I was going to act, it had to be then.

  “It worked on Abaddon,” I said quietly. Azazel froze, a flicker of fear crossing his face. He masked it quickly. “And it’ll work on you, too. I just have to…” I lunged up and sank the dagger into his chest. “Aim at your coal-black heart.”

  Azazel looked down at his chest. His eyes widened. “Well played,” he said just before his body exploded in a burst of black ash.

  I stood up, brushed the ash off my clothes, and pushed a lock of sweat-soaked hair out of my face. Holding my bleeding side with one hand, I tossed the dagger on the ground with the other.

  “It’s over,” I said, turning and walking into Chay’s arms.

  “Are you sure?” he murmured against my ear.

  “About what?”

  “That it’s over. Are you sure you want to risk leaving that dagger here?”

  “Well, maybe I’ll take it as a souvenir.” I picked it up and slid it into the sheath on my ankle.

  “That’s better.” Chay smiled, and kissed my temple. “Let’s get you to a hospital.”

  Threading our fingers together, we walked through the black ash and into our somewhat normal lives, normal for demi-angels, anyway.

  “Are you ready for this?” Chay looked across the car’s seat at me.

  “Ah, yeah, I think so. Are you?”

  “Yeah.” He smiled. “Let’s go.” He climbed out of the car, flipping the collar of his coat up to ward off the brutal Michigan winter winds, and opened my door for me. I grabbed my things and got out next to him.

  “My first day as a college student.” Chay blew out a breath.

  “How does it feel?”

  “Scary.” He laughed.

  “You’ve fought demons from the underworld and college scares you?” I turned him so he faced me.

  “Well, yeah, a little.”

  I laughed.

  “Actually, it isn’t college that scares me,” he said, his face turning serious. “It’s what comes after that does.”

  “Working? Because the thought of that scares me a little, too. The idea of working at the same job for the rest of my life is… Well, what if I pick wrong and I hate the job? Then I’m stuck in a job I hate…”

  I was still babbling when I saw Chay smile and shake his head slightly. “No, not the job,” he said quietly. “Something better. Something I know I’ll like.”

  “What? You’ve lost me. If you’re scared of it, how do you know it’ll make you happy?”

  Geez, he’s as gorgeous as the day is long, but he’s just as confusing. I don’t think I’ll ever figure him out. It’d be so much easier if he came with instructions.

  “Look, I was planning to do this tonight when we were at dinner celebrating finishing our first day of classes, but everyone is going to be there and, as much as I love them all, I really want to do this privately. This isn’t the best time, I know, but I can’t wait any longer. If you answer the way I think you will, it’ll make my first day as a college student the best day of my life. Of course, if you don’t answer how I think you will, it will totally ruin it for me.” He laughed, and I could hear his nervousness in it.

  “Chay, you know you can ask me anything.”

  He put his hand on the small of my back—that still drove me wild—and guided me to a bench in the small courtyard outside the main building, brushing off the snow before I sat down. Sitting his books on the bench, he crouched in front of me. He took his gloves off and held my hands in one of his.

  “Milayna, what are you doing after graduation?”

  “Huh?”

  When I said he could ask me anything, I meant anything that made sense.

  “If you’re free, I was hoping you would marry me?” He twisted a gold band around his finger, revealing a diamond engagement ring.

  I looked at the ring, and then at him. I knew it was my turn to say something, but I couldn’t get my brain to form a coherent thought, so I blurted out the only word I was thinking. “Yes!”

  He leaned forward and gently touched his lips to mine. They were warm, soft, and fit mine perfectly, like they were made for me. I sighed when his tongue dipped between my lips. He kissed me long and deep. I didn’t pull away until I felt him slide the cool band onto my finger.

  “It’s beautiful,” I said, looking down at the ring.

  “You’re beautiful.”

  “It’s so big that it’s obscene!” I held my hand in front of me, moving my finger so the diamond sparkled in the sunlight. “Wait…”

  “Your dad gave it to me,” Chay whispered, sitting next to me. “I thought you would like it.”

  I glanced at him, and then at my hand. “I love it.” I ran my finger over the ring and pictured Grams. “When I was a girl, I used to admire Grams’ ring. It was—is—so beautiful, and I told her I was going to have one just like it when I got married.”

  “She left it for you when she died. I thought you’d like to wear it.” He shrugged slightly. “You know, keep a part of her close.”

  I dropped my hand to my lap and turned to Chay. “Thank you.” I bit my bottom lip to keep it from quivering.

  “Only the best for you.”

  I cupped his face. “But I already have the best. I have you.”

  “Forever and always.” He turned and kissed my hand.

  I smiled. “I love you, Chay. Always have.”

  “I love you, too. Always will.”

  “So what do you have planned tonight to celebrate? We need to celebrate our engagement and your first day as a college student,” I said with a smile.

  “Oh, I have the perfect thing. We’re having dinner with our parents and then you and I are taking Ben bumper bowling. It’ll give you a chance to redeem yourself from the embarrassment of last time we went.”

  “You’re kidding, right?”

  He smiled and shook his head. “Nope.”

  I just got engaged and his idea of celebrating is to take me to migraine central? Oh, wow, our life is going to be a roller coaster. But I have a feeling I’m gonna enjoy the ride…

  The End.

  Angel—Natasha Bedingfield

  Breakeven—The Script

  Broken—Secondhand Serenade

  Can’t let you go—Adam Lambert

  Come Away With Me—Nora Jones

  Get to Me—Train

  Glow—Ella Henderson

  Hanging By a Moment—Lifehouse

  Happily Ever After—He Is We

  Hard To Believe�
��David Cook

  Here with me—Dido

  I want you to need me—Celine Dion

  Lost—Michael Bublé

  Memories—Within Temptation

  Monkey—George Michael

  One Last Breath—Creed

  She Is Love—Parachute

  Sorry—Buckcherry

  Style—Taylor Swift

  Sugar—Maroon Five

  The Mess I Made—Parachute

  True—Ryan Cabrera

  Turn Back the Time—Chase Coy

  What am I to you—Nora Jones

  Who I am Hates Who I’ve Been—Reliant K

  If asked, Michelle will tell you she is a wife, mother, author, reader, and M&M connoisseur, especially peanut butter, which she eats way too many of while she writes.

  Born and raised in Flint, Michigan, she now lives in a sleepy suburb of Houston, Texas with the man of her dreams and their four amazing children, where she is currently working on her next novel… and trying to say goodbye to Chay and Milayna.

  Michelle writes across genres in the young adult and new adult age groups and loves to hear from readers, bloggers and other authors!

  Website:www.Michelle-Pickett.com

  Email:Michelle@Michelle-Pickett.com

  Blog:www.Michelle-Pickett.com/blog

  Facebook: www.Facebook.com/michellepickettauthor

  Twitter:@michelle_kp

  Instagram: Michelle_luvstowrite

  As always, my first thank you is for my family. I’m so blessed to have a family that is unconditionally supportive of my writing. To my husband, thank you! The Innocent came to be because of your brainstorming. You don’t know how much that meant to me.

  To the wonderful people at Clean Teen Publishing, you seriously rock. You give every project, and author, so much attention, and it shows in each finished book. I have nothing but love for everyone at Clean Teen. From the Milayna covers to the interior formatting, and the editing (Cynthia, you rock!), I’ve loved working with each of you. Melanie, girl, you are a tweeting machine!

  To my street team, The Firecrackers, and all the book bloggers, you are totally awesome! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your support. Your blog posts, tweets and Facebook posts are huge. Authors rely heavily on reviews and word of mouth. Your contributions are priceless to the writing community… and to me personally as well.

  And finally, readers, I’m never sure how to write my thank you to you. I want to do so much more than a blurb at the end of a book. Each of you has given me a gift by reading my work. And I’m so overwhelmed by your support. You have no idea, and there aren’t words capable to tell you how very much you have touched my life. Thank you.

  Keep reading,

  Michelle

  Note: nothing in this book, or the Milayna Series as a whole, is religiously or biblically accurate. This book is meant solely for entertainment. If you have religious questions, please see your clergy or visit www.CrossviewChurch.net.

  If you enjoyed Milayna, check out Michelle Pickett's young adult romance— Unspeakable. Enjoy the first chapter here.

  Breathe. No one will break me. I’m strong. Breathe. Just breathe.

  It wasn’t always that way. Him. Us. I knew people wondered. But it used to be different. It was sweet, loving, and everything a girl wanted from a boy. But he learned my secret and in that second, he wasn’t my wonderful, perfect boyfriend anymore.

  He was my jailer.

  I watched Jaden celebrate on the field with the rest of the football team. Another victory—the Cougars were on their way to another undefeated season. Jaden stuffed his blue-and-gold helmet under his arm and jogged across the football field. He swiped a bundle of red roses off the team’s bench as he passed. He’d had roses there for me the first time I ever went to watch him play.

  I waited at the fifty-yard line after the game just as Jaden had asked. Sweat dripped off the ends of his dirty-blond hair and his cheeks were still flushed from running the last play, but he stood in front of me and butterflies swarmed in my belly. Bright, beautiful butterflies. Fluttering their multi-colored wings, tickling me on the inside.

  “These are for you.” He held out ten magnificent, long-stemmed red roses tied in a shimmering, white ribbon. “Um, I made sure there were no thorns.” A small smile tipped the corners of his lips, giving me a tiny glimpse of his dimples.

  I sucked in a breath. “They’re so pretty, Jaden, thank you.” I took the roses from him. Goose bumps ran up my spine like someone had tickled me with a feather, and my fingers trembled when I grazed them over the velvety petals. “But shouldn’t I be the one buying you something? You just won the game.” I peeked at him through my lashes.

  Jaden shook his head slightly and wiped away the sweat on his forehead with his arm. “No. I had to buy something for my good-luck charm. Something beautiful for the most gorgeous girl here.”

  I felt my cheeks warm and couldn’t help my nervous giggle when he slid a lock of hair behind my ear. Crossing one foot over the other, I brought the flowers to my nose. “Why ten?” I asked, my nose buried in the blooms. Ten seemed an unusual number, not that I minded.

  “I read on the internet that red roses were for love, and ten meant you’re perfect.”

  “Oh,” I breathed just before his lips descended on mine.

  After that night, at the end of every game, he’d meet me at the fifty-yard line and give me ten long-stemmed red roses.

  “Hey.” His voice brought my thoughts back to the present, and he leaned in for a kiss. “Some game, huh?” He pressed the flowers into my hand. A thorn bit into the soft flesh of my palm, and I winced.

  “Yeah, you were great.” I knew that was what he really wanted to hear.

  He gave me one of his swoon-worthy smiles before jogging toward the school. “I have to shower. Wait for me in the car,” he called over his shoulder before grabbing a scrawny kid by the arm. “Do you have money?” he asked him. He shook the kid’s arm to punctuate his question.

  “Ye…yeah,” the kid answered.

  “Good, buy her a Coke.” Jaden shoved the boy toward me, almost knocking him over.

  Rushing forward, I outstretched my arms to catch the boy before he fell face-first in the mud. I frowned at Jaden’s retreating back. “Are you okay?” I asked the boy.

  “Yeah. Here.” He shoved two wadded-up bills at me.

  “No, no, you don’t have to buy me anything to drink. Don’t listen to him.” I shook my head, pushing the money away.

  “Ha! Yes, I do. I don’t want him handing me my ass.” The boy’s eyes were wide as he shoved the money at me. It fluttered to the ground when he turned and jogged away. He acted like I had the bubonic plague. It was close. I dated Jaden.

  I looked at the ground where the money had fallen. With a sigh, I knelt to pick it up just as a black boot landed on top of the two bills. I jerked my hand away and looked up into blue eyes so bright they seemed to glow in the darkness. The owner of the eyes squatted next to me.

  “Yours?” the guy asked.

  “No… I mean, not really…” I looked for the kid who gave it to me, but he’d already disappeared into the crowd. I sighed. “Yeah, I guess.”

  His lips twitched into an amused grin. A lock of dark hair fell over his forehead. “Well, I’m glad we cleared that up.” He picked the money out of the mud, wiping it across the leg of his black jeans before he stood and handed the bills to me. “There you go.”

  “Thanks. I’m Willow.”

  “Brody. See you around, Willow.”

  “Who’s that?” a voice boomed behind me, and I stumbled forward.

  “Jeez, Karen, don’t sneak up on people like that.”

  “I wasn’t sneaking. You were preoccupied staring at the Scooby snack.” She smiled and quirked a pierced eyebrow, colored black to match the black stripes in her long, blonde hair.

  “No, I wasn’t.” I could feel the blush creeping over my cheeks and was glad we were standing in the shadows so she couldn’t see it.
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  “Whatever. Personally, I don’t give two shits if you look, but you’d better not let Jaden see you scoping out some random guy.”

  “You’re seeing things. I wasn’t looking at anyone.” I stuffed the money into my pocket.

  Maybe I can find the kid at school and give it back to him.

  “I’m supposed to make sure you’re waiting at Jaden’s car.” Karen linked her arm around mine and pulled me toward the parking lot.

  “What, you’re his personal spy and wrangler now?” I rolled my eyes. “I was on my way to his car. It’s not like he’s gonna hurry or anything. He takes longer than a girl to shower and change.”

  Karen laughed. “True, but he wants you safely in the car while you wait for him to pretty himself up for you.”

  The gravel parking lot crunched under our feet as we made our way to Jaden’s car. Karen kept her arm linked with mine like we were besties. We so weren’t. I could smell the reefer in her hair and cheap liquor on her breath.

  When we reached Jaden’s cherry red Mustang, I slid into it and, with a sigh, sank into the soft, black leather seats. I waited thirty minutes before Jaden sauntered out of the school and slipped into the car. He leaned over, wrapped his hand around the back of my neck, and pulled me to him for a hard kiss, his tongue invading my mouth. Lifting his head, he smirked. “Hi. Sorry it took me so long,” he murmured, his hand snaking under my shirt.

  Whatever. I’m used to waiting.

  “That’s okay.” I held my e-reader between us. “I read while I waited.”

  “You always have your nose in a book. Live a little.” Soft lips grazed across the skin of my neck.

  “It’s kind of hard to live life on the wild side while I sit in your car and wait for you to blow-dry your hair, Jaden.”

  Pushing away, he glared at me. “Check the attitude.” He started the car and pulled out of the parking lot, taking a left, the opposite direction of my subdivision.

  “Where are you going?”

  “There’s a party at Jamieson’s.”