The Demon's Song by Kendra Leigh Castle

didn’t make any sense to Sofia. Between the two of them,
     she was far from the confusing one.
    “You cursed me out in two languages,” he said.
    “So?”
    His lips curved. “I liked it. You might want to think about that before you do it
     again.”
    Sofia stared up at him incredulously, her emotions so potent and muddled that she
     could feel herself quivering like a live wire. “What are you?” she finally asked. “I saw the wings, but you’re no angel.”
    “Wrong. I’m the best kind of angel. A fallen one,” Phenex said. “I’m also your new
     bodyguard, so you might as well get used to me. I’m not going anywhere.”
    It took a moment for the words to sink in. When all the pieces clicked into place,
     Sofia let loose with a string of curses that were a mix of English, Spanish, and completely
     unintelligible.
    And the man—or whatever he was—had the audacity to laugh.

Chapter Seven

    It was a good thing she was cute when she was angry, because Phenex was beginning
     to think he might see a lot of that from Sofia. At least until she came to terms with
     the fact that he wasn’t going anywhere.
    He watched her bang a few things around in the kitchen while she got herself some
     coffee, noting that she hadn’t asked if he wanted anything. Nor would she, from the
     couple of infuriated glares she’d shot him since he’d laid it all out for her. He’d
     given her the basics: asshole vampires, witness protection, and, of course, how lucky
     she was to have a former Hell-dweller at her disposal. Sofia hadn’t said a word, but
     her face left no questions about what she thought of all this. He didn’t really blame
     her—she’d had her universe upended. But he didn’t feel sorry for her, either. This
     was the sort of thing that caring too much about others got you. Better she learn
     that now.
    Actually, the point where he’d mentioned that was about when she’d gotten up and walked
     away. Humans—always so oversensitive.
    As Phenex watched her, with all her misdirected anger, all her useless caring , the irritating wound deep within that had plagued him so much lately opened anew,
     flooding him with unwanted memories. Ages ago, when his wings had been the color of
     snow, he’d tried to inspire humanity to beautiful, wondrous things. He’d cared. Until
     he’d watched passion born of that inspiration destroy one too many lives. He’d hated
     them for wasting what he’d given them. Just as he hated them for experiencing emotion
     with a depth that he had never been able to muster for anything but song itself.
    His Fall had not cured the emptiness inside him.
    “Here.”
    Phenex jerked his head up. He’d been so lost in his own thoughts that he’d forgotten
     where he was for a moment. The way Sofia was looking at him suggested she’d seen more
     on his face than he would have liked. The mask he’d perfected slipped more and more
     often lately. Justin was right. He was wallowing. He needed to get a grip.
    He needed to figure out what was so special about this woman who made him coffee even
     when she was completely pissed off at him.
    “Maybe I don’t like coffee,” he said, just to see whether Sofia would throw it at
     him. It was better than pity, or whatever this was. Instead, Sofia just shrugged,
     her fury channeled into cool detachment for the moment. It fascinated him—her beauty
     covered steel.
    “More for me if you don’t. You just looked like you could use something, since you’re
     sitting here looking like you lost your last friend.”
    “I don’t have friends,” Phenex said, unpleasantly confused about his reaction to her
     small act of kindness. She was gorgeous. Her fire entertained him. The heat between
     them promised to be even more entertaining. But this…he didn’t know what to do with
     this. Was it compassion? Simple manners? Nonplussed, he took the coffee and sniffed
     it.
    “No sugar?”
    Without a word, she dangled two packets of sugar in front