Kaitlyn stepped back.

Satan was sitting on the edge of his bed with his head bowed, his powerful hands folded in his lap. Kaitlyn stared. At his back was a pair of wings—white feathered and stunning. She'd only seen them once before, when he'd stood before her powerful and towering and terrifying. But this now—this was something different.

Instead of thrusting out his back, they hung limp, draping along the bed and onto the floor. Feathers were scattered everywhere, by his feet, in his bedsheets. And he didn't blaze, only gleamed. He wasn't terrifying at all. He looked almost ... sorrowful. Kaitlyn felt a lurch in her chest that made her take a step towards him.

She stopped herself. Dropping her eyes to the floor, Kaitlyn clenched her fists as she muttered under her breath, "'For even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. For even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light"...'

He raised his head. Kaitlyn stopped her muttering. His eyes met hers—baby blue, innocent and wide.

'I'm so sorry,' he said. He dropped his eyes again as he folded and unfolded his hands in his lap.

Kaitlyn hardened her jaw. 'So you should be.'

He didn't respond.

Kaitlyn was rooted to the spot. As usual, she found herself stuck, utterly powerless, utterly helpless. Would she ever find the strength to defy him?

He didn't move. She didn't move. Then he raised his eyes again and she saw they were shining with tears. Her feet started walking before she could stop herself. She stood before him.

'I'm sorry,' he repeated. 'Know that it's only because I want you so badly. I need you so badly. And time and time again you run from me. But please know, Kaitlyn, that once you're here with me for real, as my partner, as my companion, you'll have nothing to fear from me.'

Gently, he grabbed her hips, his eyes still swimming as he looked up at her. When Kaitlyn didn't resist, he pulled her close, pressing his face between her breasts. He groaned as he began tugging up her dress. 'And that's all I want. Stay with me. Let me hold you tonight.'

Kaitlyn pushed his hands away. He went for her dress again and Kaitlyn pushed his hands away a second time. He frowned. Slowly, he stood. Kaitlyn's heart pounded. The firelight flickered against his skin, chiselling out all the smooth, hard muscles in his arms and torso. His broad shoulders seemed bigger than ever with his wings at his back. His feathers draped around him like a cloak. All she wanted was to press her lips to his sternum, to hold him tight and have him hold her back.

But wasn't she already doing that? Wasn't she already holding someone? Wasn't she? It was hard to remember. It was hard to think.

Taking her face, he stroked her cheeks with his thumbs, then leaned in and kissed her. It was so soft, so sweet. So different to last time.

Last time.

Something bad had happened. He'd done something terrible to her. But it was so hard to remember what.

Closing her eyes, Kaitlyn kissed back. He tightened his grip on her face as he swept his tongue between her lips. God, he tasted good. He felt so good. But it wasn't the nicest kiss she'd ever had. She'd had an even softer one once, only brief but so much better, so much more powerful and genuine and loving than Satan's false ones.

False ones.

False. He was false.

But Jacob wasn't.

Snapping her eyes open, Kaitlyn jerked her head back.

'What's wrong?' he said.

Shaking her head, Kaitlyn stepped away.

Satan's forehead creased. 'Where are you going? Don't you forgive me? Don't you want to be with me?' His voice was soft, almost begging. The little crease between his eyebrows was driving Kaitlyn nuts. It made her ache so hard in the chest it almost felt like a physical pain.

Taking a shuddering breath, Kaitlyn shook her head again. 'No. No.' But even as she said it she felt herself yearning to hold him again. Her lips tingled—the same lips he'd mauled. 'No.' She closed her eyes, shutting out his beauty, his blue eyes, shutting out the temptation. 'No!' Think about what's important. Think about Jacob. He's beside you, holding you. He'll be there with his gentle emerald eyes when you wake up. Hold onto that. Hold onto what's real, what's important. Jacob. Jacob. 'Jacob.'

'Who's Jacob?'

Kaitlyn snapped her eyes open. Did she just say that out loud?

'Who is Jacob?' he repeated, his voice deep and dangerous.

He didn't seem so sorry now, his jaw hard, his blue eyes sharp as he waited for her answer. Kaitlyn kept her lips pressed tightly shut. She would not say. She would not say!

'My angel,' she croaked. She winced.

Satan's eyes widened, then narrowed as he gave a cruel smile. A cold feeling trickled down Kaitlyn's spine. What had she done?

His smile broadened into a grin as he cocked his head. 'Jacob. Jacob. Not my Jacob?'

Kaitlyn didn't answer.

He laughed. 'God chose him as your angel?'

Again, she didn't speak, wrapping her arms around herself as the cold feeling reached into her chest.

He was smiling with all his teeth now. Raising up his arms, he spun around as his laughter boomed around the cavernous room. His wings no longer drooped, sitting high and magnificent at his back. He stopped laughing as he faced her. 'Jacob. How I've missed my old servant. Why don't you give him a message for me?'

Kaitlyn swallowed. 'W-what?'

'Tell him my door is always open.' His eyes bored into hers. 'Make sure to tell him that, Kaitlyn.'

He laughed again as he turned and walked away, the ends of his wings dragging along the floor. He punched his fist into the air. 'Jacob!'

Then he vanished. The room vanished. And all she was left with was the sound of his laughter echoing in her ears.