Milayna's Angel

By Michelle K. Pickett

Now that the battle with Hell's angel, Azazel, has ended, you'd think eighteen-year-old Milayna's life would take a turn for the better. After all, what could be worse than having the angel of Hell trying to steal your soul? Plenty. Abaddon, the demon of destruction, is angry that Azazel failed to convert Milayna before her demi-angel powers matured. Now she's untouchable... or so she thinks. It seems even in Hell, there are loopholes.
Not only is her life in danger, but her love life is crumbling, too. Just when Milayna and fellow demi-angel Chay get comfortable on their little cloud of bliss, Xavier comes to town. He's one angel that's as hot as the very embers of Hell, and he has his sights set on Milayna.
Now she has the demon of destruction out to kill her, Xavier out to steal her heart, and she still has to take final exams before she can graduate high school.
Sometimes life sucks, even if you are half angel.

• Language: English
• Publisher: CTP Publishing
• Release date: Jul 7, 2015
• ISBN: 9781634220552

Michelle K. Pickett

I'm the young and new adult, cross-genre author of the award winning "Unspeakable." I love to read and write, and eat way too many peanut butter M&Ms while I do both. I'm originally from Flint, Michigan, which means I say "Pop" not soda, and "you guys" instead of the typical ya'll used in my new home state of Texas. Although I love the balmy winters of Texas, I'll always think of the Great Lakes state as home. I love to hear from readers, bloggers, and other authors, so drop me a note and say "Hi."

Book preview

Xavier

I bolted upright in bed. Sweat covered my face and slithered like a snake down my spine. I hadn’t had the nightmare since I’d last seen Azazel three months ago. When he’d tried to kill me. He wanted me to switch sides and work for him in Hell so he could absorb my demi-angel powers, or he wanted me dead. I didn’t switch sides. I wouldn’t work for him… for evil. But he wasn’t able to kill me either. On my eighteenth birthday, the exact time of my first breath, I became stronger than him. He was too late. Defeated. And with no power over me, he crawled back to Hell where he belonged. When he left, so did the nightmares.

They were back.

***

Reaching over my mom’s shoulder, I grabbed another piece of toast. See ya. I planted a jelly-smeared kiss on her cheek.

Ugh, Milayna, I’m not a napkin. She smiled and wiped the sticky mess from her cheek with a towel.

It was Monday morning. I hadn’t seen him all weekend. He’d been out of town with his parents visiting family. I couldn’t wait until chemistry, and it wasn’t because it was lab day or my chemistry teacher was a riveting lecturer. No, he’d be there. Just thinking about seeing him made my stomach fill with butterflies.

I’m probably the only student actually looking forward to school this morning.

I nearly ran through the halls to class, blue and gold lockers whizzing by. I darted between students saying hi as I passed. My heart fluttered faster and faster the closer I came to my chemistry class and then… there he was. He sat at the table, his head bowed as he doodled on his notebook. A lock of hair had fallen over his forehead. It’d been four months since we started dating, and he still made my heart, and other places, do funny things.

He looked up, like he sensed I was there. Hey, Chay said, giving me a crooked grin. He stood to pull my chair out for me.

I sat next to him, inhaling his familiar scent. He leaned in for a kiss. It was warm and tender, and my toes curled when his tongue dipped between my lips. Bliss.

I missed you, I whispered when his lips traveled from my lips to the hollow behind my ear, making me shiver.

I missed you, too, he murmured. His breath made wisps of my hair move, tickling my neck.

Don’t leave me again.

He pulled back and looked at me. I’ve already informed my parents that I’m not going next time unless you go, too.

"You informed them?" I asked with a laugh.

Well, I asked nicely. The side of his mouth hitched up.

Mm-hmm, that’s what I thought.

Something caught my eye, and I looked toward the door. He walked into the classroom with confidence, maybe even a slight air of arrogance. The lights reflected off his jet-black hair, so glossy it looked wet. He swept the room with piercing blue eyes. Every girl there, and a few guys, wanted his gaze to land on them. I could practically hear them swooning. A shiny new toy for them to fight over.

There’s a seat open behind Milayna; you can sit there, I heard my chemistry teacher tell the new hottie… I mean, student. Milayna, raise your hand so Xavier knows who you are.

I raised my hand. Chay gripped my other hand a little too tight when Xavier walked by. I squeezed his back and rolled my eyes. It was only first hour and Xavier was already causing ripples in the high school pond. The girls were envisioning dating him and the guys were already jealous of him.

Hi. He looked at me before sliding into the seat behind me.

I smiled over my shoulder. The way Chay squeezed my hand, I was afraid to do more or I’d suffer a broken finger or two.

Milayna?

Yes, Mr. Ferguson?

Please, please don’t ask me to do what I think you’re going to. Chay will bust a nut if you do.

You won’t mind showing Xavier around a little today, will you?

And you had to ask.

No, sir. Chay’s grip on my hand increased. Ouch, I whispered, jerking my hand free. What’s the matter with you?

Chay’s eyes flicked toward Xavier behind me and back to mine.

What was I supposed to do? Say no?

He shrugged a shoulder in answer. I hated that.

It’s one day. Geez, are you jealous?

Chay glared at me, and I smiled.

He is jealous.

Knock it off. I laughed when he bent over and kissed me behind the ear. He knew that was my favorite spot, my weakness. The place that made me go weak in the knees and curled my toes.

I’m not jealous, he whispered, another thing that drove me wild, feeling his breath against my skin as his silky voice dipped low in a way he only used when talking to me. I feel bad for the guy is all. Having to be around you all day.

And you’re delusional. You love me.

I didn’t say I don’t love you. But it’ll be horrid being around you all day—

Yeah, yeah. You feel bad for the guy. I heard you the first time, I interrupted before he could stick his foot any further into his mouth.

When you’re with someone else, he finished with a smirk.

Okay, so his remark wasn’t the catastrophe I thought it would be. I smiled and kissed him on the cheek. The teacher looked at us and cleared his throat. I blushed. Chay ducked his head, looking at me through his dark lashes.

Geez, he’s gorgeous. If he only knew Xavier has nothing on him.

When class ended, I pushed my things into my book bag and left it lying on the table. I didn’t even try to pick it up anymore. Chay carried it to and from my classes for me. He wouldn’t let me touch it. I’d given up arguing with him. I decided I’d become an independent woman’s rights activist after high school. During school, I was going to let him do all the heavy lifting and door opening I could.

I turned around and faced Xavier. My breath hitched in my throat. His eyes were such a piercing shade of crystal blue. I’d never seen eyes so… sparkly before.

Focus, Milayna.

What’s your next class? We’ll walk you, I said.

Oh, ah. He flipped open a folded piece of paper and scanned it. AP calculus, Xavier answered. He even had a great voice. No wonder all the girls were drooling.

With Ms. Morzetti?

He looked at his schedule again before answering. Yeah.

Chay groaned. I elbowed him in the ribs.

That’s our next class, too. Let’s go. Her class is on the other side of the building.

Chay and I went directly to our assigned seats when we entered the classroom while Xavier stopped at the teacher’s desk to check in and receive his seat assignment.

Who’s he? Muriel asked, eyeing Xavier.

New guy. Xavier.

I want one.

I laughed out loud. You and every other single girl in the school.

Probably some not-so-single girls, too. What’s he like?

He seems nice, I guess. I haven’t been around him long enough to know. I shrugged a shoulder.

Does Chay know him?

I almost started laughing at her question since Chay was already in the Anti-Xavier Fan Club. In fact, he was the president and founding member. No, why?

You three walked in together.

Oh, Mr. Ferguson asked me to show Xavier around today. That’s all.

Some girls get all the luck, Muriel muttered and pulled her homework out of her binder, passing it forward.

As it turned out, I would have been lucky… if I’d been interested in Xavier. He shared five out of seven classes with me. Thankfully English, which I shared with Chay, wasn’t one of them. I wasn’t up for the jealous boyfriend thing. He was acting possessive enough knowing Xavier and I had so many classes together. Not that it mattered. My heart belonged to Chay, no matter how sinfully gorgeous and sexy Xavier was. And he was all of those things and a bag of chips.

***

My stomach twisted painfully and my head started to pound like someone dropped an anvil on it, like in cartoons. A vision. That was how they started. My duty as a demi-angel was to protect humans—a demi-angel was the child of an angel and a human. When I was able to step in and change a situation, to right a wrong, I had to. I had no control over the urge, and I couldn’t fight it. The visions were something else I had no control over. They came whenever and wherever I was. Sometimes, I’d go days without having one. Other times, I’d have three or four in a day. I never knew what my day would hold. It made scheduling a bitch.

That day, I was on number two. The sights and sounds of the students in the hallway faded and were replaced by images of things that hadn’t happened yet.

Sela. Tears. Falling.

Sela. I could see her face clearly in my mind. She was crying as she ran up the stairs, her heavy books in her hands making her unsteady. She was going to slip and fall on the wet tile. I could see blood seeping onto the step beneath her. The images ran in front of my eyes like a slide show. I could see everything before it happened—I had to step in and stop her before she got hurt.

Water. Falling. Blood.

Sela, I called.

She kept going. The vision didn’t change.

Sela. Wait up.

She stopped and looked at me. Her face red and eyes swollen from crying. What?

Don’t take those stairs. They were just mopped. See? I pointed at the yellow ‘Wet Floor’ sign.

Crap. Fresh tears fell from her eyes, and she swiped them with the back of her hand. I held out a tissue and she took it, giving me a small smile. Thanks.

You want to talk about it?

Just guy stuff. John dumped me in history class. A little ironic, huh? Dumps me in history… we’re history.

John’s a jerk. I never knew what you saw in him in the first place.

I’m sorry. I could feel the pain radiating from her—another of my freaky demi-angel powers.

He could’ve at least waited until after school so I didn’t cry like a fool in front of everyone, she said through clenched teeth, tears still running down her face.

He’s an idiot.

Guys can be insensitive, but I don’t think anyone thinks you’re a fool. We’ve all been there.

Thanks, Milayna. I have to go. I have to run to the stairs on the other side of the hall. I’m gonna be late for class. See ya. She jogged away with a wave.

The pain in my stomach and head eased. The vision was over. I’d kept Sela from falling on the stairs. That would have been just what she needed… getting dumped in class and leaving crying, feeling like a fool, only to fall up the stairs and break her nose.

A typical Monday in high school.

***

That night after school, I saw them. I hadn’t seen Azazel’s demons since my eighteenth birthday. On November first, all Saint’s Day, thirty-seven seconds after one in the morning, they disappeared. February twenty-eighth, they were back. But I wasn’t scared. I was stronger. Untouchable. I knew it. Azazel knew it, too. So he sent someone else.

Someone to kill me.

2

The Return

There was a hierarchy in the demon world. Azazel was one of the demons at the top of that hierarchy. Hell’s angel—pure, unadulterated evil. His sole purpose was to turn angels and demi-angels from good to evil, make them switch sides. If he couldn’t get them to switch, his next objective was to kill them. As a demi-angel, he was my ultimate nemesis.

When I turned eighteen, I fully matured as a demi-angel. And since my father was a high-ranking official in the Iri council before he decided to become mortal, I was a high-ranking demi-angel. That made me stronger. I was untouchable by Azazel. He could try to manipulate me into changing sides, but he couldn’t force me and he couldn’t kill me.

But there were more like him. I was sure of it. No one knew how many high-ranking demons there were in Hell other than Azazel. I was sure there were more. And that scared the hell outta me—or into me, I wasn’t sure which.

The second level consisted of demons. They were ugly, strong, and almost as evil as Azazel. They lived in the depths of Hell. They were not something you wanted to meet alone in a dark alley. Well, anywhere, really.

As if the demons in Hell weren’t enough to deal with, there were demons on earth. Demi-demons made up the third level. They were like demi-angels, but instead of having an angel for a parent, they had a demon, children of fallen angels. Their human parents were usually atheists, or they dabbled in the occult. Either way, their children were as strong as demi-angels and probably the most dangerous form of demons for us to deal with. There was nothing to differentiate them from other humans. Demi-angels didn’t know who the enemy was until the demi-demon decided to reveal themselves, which was a dangerous position to be in.

The fourth level was Evils. They started out as demi-angels, but switched sides, becoming one of Azazel’s followers. Every demi-angel he turned, he absorbed some of their power, leaving the Evils with less strength. They were troublemakers, but they rarely had enough power to do any damage unless they teamed up with a demi-demon, which they did a lot.

Hobgoblins were the lowest of all the demons. They were the harbingers of news from the underworld. Hell. A place I’d been fighting to stay out of since before my eighteenth birthday. Hobgoblins were almost cute with their short, roly-poly bodies and childish behavior, but if you got on their bad side, their little faces turned demonic and all cuteness vanished. It was this type of demon I was looking at in my backyard.

What are you doing here? I glared at the hobgoblins running around my yard on their stumpy little legs, their round bellies jiggling. Their girly, high-pitched squeals pierced my ears.

These two particular goblins seemed to be assigned to me. My very own demon buddies. The same pair always visited. One was friendly. He looked and acted like a toddler. With a tuft of black hair standing on end on top of its oval head and chubby checks framing its puffy lips, it was almost cute… until I remembered it was a spawn from the very bowels of Hell.

The second was moody and temperamental. I, not so affectionately, called him Scarface. He had a deep scar running from his left ear to the side of his mouth. As young and friendly as goblin number one acted, Scarface was his polar opposite. He acted like a cantankerous old fart.

We’re here to play! Friendly said. It was his standard answer whenever they made an appearance.

I’m not in the mood to play. Why are you here? I crossed my arms over my chest.

We’re here to play, Friendly said again, swinging on my childhood swing set. His stumpy legs pumping back and forth to make the swing move, he cackled in delight as he swayed back and forth.

We’re here to warn you, Scarface grumbled.

About what?

He is coming.

Rolling my eyes, I sighed. Azazel has no power over me, and I’m getting tired of hearing about him. So vamoose.

Not Azazel, not Azazel, Friendly chanted. Another is coming, he is coming… for you. He whispered the last words, and then let out a fit of giggles.

With their warning given, there were two little pops and the hobgoblins disappeared, leaving nothing behind but two puffs of smoke and the faint odor of sulfur.

What did they want? Chay asked behind me.

I jumped, a small gasp escaping my lips. Don’t do that, I said, rubbing my hands up and down my arms to ward off the cold Michigan breeze.

Chay pulled me against him, kissing the top of my head and wrapping his arms around me. I snuggled against his warmth, breathing him in.

What were they doing here? His lips moved against my hair, sending shivers down my body that had nothing to do with the cold night.

I looked up at him and smiled. They came to warn me.

About?

"They told me ‘he is coming,’ whoever that is." I shrugged.

Hmm, sounds ominous, he said with a twitch of his lips.

Just empty threats. I stood on my toes and kissed Chay lightly.

When I started to pull away, he tightened his grip around my waist. Don’t go, he murmured, nuzzling behind my ear. I’m cold.

I laughed and kissed him quickly. If my dad catches you out here, you’ll be toast.

Chay angled his mouth over mine. He kissed me long and slow, his tongue dipping between my lips. I sighed at the feel. It was a pure bliss kiss. The kind that made my toes curl. That was what Chay’s kisses were—pure bliss. When he raised his head, we were both breathing hard. My head swam and goose bumps dotted my skin.

I guess I should go.

Yeah. I nodded, still out of breath.

He grinned crookedly and kissed me one last time before he jumped the back fence and jogged home. I watched him until he disappeared into the dark night, my fingers lightly touching my lips, still swollen from his kiss.

***

I was talking with Chay before chemistry class started when I felt a bump under my seat. I ignored it. A few seconds later, there was another kick. I turned in my seat and looked behind me. A flash of white glinted between his full lips when he smiled at me. His dimple, just one, creased deep in his cheek.

Hi, Xavier said.

Hey.

Did you finish the calculus homework?

Yes. Why? I asked.

Would you mind looking at my answer for number seventeen and seeing if I’m even in the vicinity of being correct? He gave me a pleading look. Chay’s hand squeezed mine painfully as he watched Xavier.

Um, sure. I grabbed my homework from my binder and slid it across the table to him. He compared his calculations to mine and sighed.

Great. I’m not as lost as I thought I was. My other school hadn’t covered this material yet.

Glad I could help. I reached for my paper and slipped it in my binder. Chay cleared his throat. I turned around in my seat and frowned at him. Knock it off, I whispered.

He’s flirting with you.

I rolled my eyes. In what world does asking someone for help on calculus homework constitute flirting?

In a guy’s.

Don’t you trust me, Chay?

Yeah. It’s him I don’t trust. He flicked his eyes in Xavier’s direction.

I leaned over and kissed him, biting his lower lip before sucking it into my mouth. Chay threaded his fingers through my hair and held my head to him. When I pulled back, I looked him in the eyes. You don’t have anything to worry about. I love you.

Halfway through the class, I felt a nudge on the bottom of my seat. I eyed Xavier over my shoulder, raising a brow in question. He handed a folded piece of paper to me.

He’s passing me notes now?

I took the paper and read it when the instructor had his back to the class: Thanks for the help. I owe you one. Lunch?

Wadding the paper up before Chay could read it, I lobbed it backward toward Xavier. I furrowed my brows and shook my head once. Surely, he could see Chay and I were together. Why would he ask me to have lunch with him? Was he flirting like Chay insisted or was it just an innocent invitation? Either way, my answer was the same. No. Chay and I had lunch with the other demi-angels every afternoon anyway.

***

So I heard you had visitors last night? Muriel asked when I saw her in calculus.

I dropped my books on the table and slid onto the seat next to her. Yeah.

I wonder why they’re back? It’s not like Azazel can do anything to you.

No. But he can target the group.

Hmm, true. Even so, I think we’re fine. They just want to cause trouble. Any visions?

Just the usual stuff.

Then I wouldn’t worry too much about the little red goblins. Muriel opened her binder and pulled out her homework.

I’m not so sure. Whenever we start to feel comfortable is when Azazel has the best chance of turning one of the group against us.

I guess not. I looked at Chay sitting a few rows in front of me. His blue-green eyes bored into mine.

You’re not so sure we don’t have anything to worry about when it comes to Azazel, are you? I asked him after class.

No.

I waited for him to elaborate. He didn’t. I hated when he gave me a half answer. And? I waved my hand in the air for him to continue.

We know he can get to anyone in the group. Jake, Steven, and the bitchy duo are proof of that. They jumped ship for Azazel’s side easily enough. Oh, and let’s not forget our old friend Jeff. He really duped the team. Played along like he was fighting with us right up until the very end… when he betrayed you to Azazel and nearly got you killed.

Yeah, I remember. Half our team went from fighting with us to fighting against us.

Chay slung my book bag over the back of my chair in my history class. He can get to any of us, Milayna. We don’t know who we can trust. Remember that and be careful. He tugged gently on one of my red curls before he leaned down and placed his lips behind my ear. You’re so beautiful. He gave me a quick kiss before leaving for his class.

I’m sorry if I freaked you out in chem class, Xavier said behind me.

His voice was so close. It startled me, and I jumped. I turned around to face him. Why would you think I was freaked out?

Asking about lunch. I didn’t mean… I can obviously see that you and Chay are… It’s just that I haven’t made many friends yet, and I just wanted someone to sit with. He shrugged.

Oh, I should really keep my mouth shut.

Chay and I sit with a group of friends at lunch. Look for us.

I’m so stupid. Chay is going to flip a cork.

Thanks. Xavier reached out and pulled my chair out for me… just like Chay did. I hesitated slightly before sitting down. See you at lunch.

You’re having lunch with him? Jen asked with both amazement and accusation in her voice when Xavier walked away.

No. We all are. I said he could sit with the group.

Why?

I shrugged and opened my history book. Because it’s only his second day and he doesn’t want to sit alone.

Chay’s gonna flip his shit. Whatever you do, don’t sit next to Xavier.

I wasn’t planning on it. I figured you and Muriel would help me out.

Hmm, yeah, I guess I could sit next to him for you. It’ll be a huge imposition, of course, but what are friends for? Jen smiled.

I laughed out loud, earning a scowl from my history teacher who’d already started his lecture.

***

I probably should have warned Chay that Xavier was having lunch with us when I saw him in class the next hour. I thought about it, but I couldn’t find the right words. ‘Hey, you know the guy you think is flirting with me? Well, I invited him to have lunch with us’ just didn’t seem to fit.

The closer the clock inched to lunch period, the sweatier my hands became. My insides were like jelly, jiggling around.

I’m being silly. Chay will understand.

Why the hell is he here? Chay whispered in my ear when Xavier sat down at our table thirty minutes later.

He didn’t have anyone to sit with. I looked down at my lap so Xavier didn’t know we were talking about him.

And that’s our problem because?

Because we’re nice people who want to make him feel welcome.

Chay grunted in response. He didn’t talk to me the rest of the lunch period.

Even though he was irritated with me, he carried my books to each class like always, giving me a small kiss on the cheek before leaving for his class. He didn’t speak, and the peck on the cheek was a lot different from the full contact, warm, wet kisses he usually gave me. He was officially getting on my bitch nerve.

Cut out the jealousy crap, Chay! I’m not some simpleminded twit who thinks it’s cute when you’re acting jealous and overbearing. You said you trusted me. If that’s true, it shouldn’t bother you if I sit next to Xavier in every one of my classes and have lunch with him every day, I yelled on the drive home that afternoon.

You sit with him in class?

Ugh, that’s what you heard? Out of all that, that’s what you heard? You can be a real idiot.

He turned into a gas station parking lot so fast that his tires squealed. I had to hold on to