Starlight floods the courtyard. I awake in Samael's arms, splayed across his chest and blanketed by his wings. He watches me and smiles as my eyes meet his. Hand buried in my hair, he plays with the slight curl of the tendrils. Panic enters me as I surface from sleep's haze, and the red blush of embarrassment paints my cheeks. I look away from him, ashamed.
"Shannon?" he asks, voice quiet. "What's wrong?"
"I can't believe I did this," I say, tears in my eyes. I blot at them with the back of my hand. "I- I – we?"
His face darkens. "So?" he says, lips thin.
I shake my head. "It wasn't meant to be this way. This was never supposed to happen! We did it in the damn dirt!" Memories of our union scar my mind. I laugh helplessly. "If I wasn't damned before, I certainly am now."
"Shannon, Shannon, calm down. You're fine. We're fine-"
"No, Sam! Just let me process this!" I yell, pulling away from him and tripping over his wing.
