The Celestial Kiss Read Online Free PDF

much as I could and carried on, picking up my pace and focusing intently on the ground. 
    “You look lost.”  One of the men said.  His tone fell just short of friendly.
    I glanced at him and immediately regretted it, for the feigned friendliness was nothing more than a taunt, his ‘smile’ more of a leer.  “No,” I said, trying to offer up a small smile, to act unconcerned.
    “Where you going?”  The second man chimed in, his voice cutting like steel through the quiet dark dawn.
    Deciding silence would speak volumes, I tried to walk around the side of them, knowing that behind me was nothing but the locked door.   I heard his movement and felt his presence as the man tried to sandwich me between him and the other.  That was his mistake.  I pushed him to the side just hard enough so that the man stumbled backwards a few paces.  That was my mistake.  “Stay away from me.”  I warned, fixing him with a cold look which I hoped disguised my fear. 
    I’d heard rumors of what happened in places like this, with people like them.  My brothers had exchanged stories about the meals they’d made and the entertainment they’d found in dark allies like this one, in cities where there was so much crime that a few deviant acts in a back alley were barely a drop in the bucket. 
    The other man reacted quickly, and as I turned to contend with him, the second shoved me against the wall.  He didn’t seem to be too much older than I.  “No one ever taught you how to treat a man?”
    “No one ever taught you how to treat a lady.”  I fired back, my voice level despite my anger.  Remain calm, Lilith.  Don’t let them see what you really are.
    “Oh, I know a thing or two,” The man purred, fixing me with a languid once-over.
    My heart threatened to beat out of my chest, and a peal of nausea tore through me, but my experience with Xian had taught me to disguise it.  I could fight and I would if I had to, but I didn’t know if it would do much good.
    “Yeah, I picked up a few things here and there,” Agreed the younger one, moving closer.  They effectively eked out whatever dismal light slipped between the buildings, so that they stood between me and any way out. 
    “I have nothing of value.”  I said. 
    “Well,” they looked between each other.  “I’m sure we could think of something.” He moved a strand of my hair from my face, and I batted his hand away.
    “I think you should let me go on my way.”  My voice was barely a whisper, not at all intimidating as I’d hoped.
    “Oh no.  You wanted to get physical…let’s get physical.”  The one who had me pinned to the wall moved in closer, to my face, my neck, his eyes sweeping over the scars there—countless pinpricks, remnants of older marks, and some bruised, crescent shaped ones from the more recent months.  He trailed a long finger down my neck, and I shuddered as it dusted my collarbone.  His eyes lit on the pendant resting against my chest. 
    Grinning, he moved closer, pushing his face toward my neck.  Instinct took hold of me; I slammed my head into his face, and when he backed up with his nose cupped between his hands and blood spreading over his fingertips, swung as hard as I could with my fist.  I barely had a moment to register satisfaction before the second man was in my face, his large hands grinding me against the brick wall.
    “You’ll pay for that, you stupid—”
    But he never finished his threat, because he was thrown to the ground in the next instant.  I looked up into the eyes of another, third man, and was about to utter a thank you when he pinned me by my neck against the wall.  Without even removing his eyes from mine, he commanded the other two, “Get out of here!”  His voice was a deep and guttural growl.  I was unable to pry my eyes from my assailant, but the scuffle and sound of running footsteps told me that they were gone in a matter of seconds.  The new threat released his chokehold and