Angel in Chains (27 page)
He blinked. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”
Yes, she did. Jade turned away from him. “Where are we?” She just threw out the question to buy herself more time. If Az had brought her there, then she knew it was a safe place. She trusted him.
He shouldn’t trust her.
“It’s one of Sam’s safe houses in New Orleans.”
Ah, Sammael again. The Fallen who liked to be prepared.
“While I was . . . following him a while back, I found this place.”
Glancing over her shoulder, Jade lifted a brow. “Following him?” She asked carefully.
“I intended to kill him.”
“Not very angel-like of you,” she whispered.
His head cocked and his gaze sharpened on her. “But then, I’m not an angel, am I?”
Was she supposed to be afraid of him? “I should never have brought you into this mess.” By helping her, he’d lost the one thing he wanted most.
That big trip back upstairs.
“I chose to help you.” The wooden floor creaked beneath his feet.
“And I knew the minute I saw you,” she stared down at her hands, realizing that she’d clenched them into fists, “that I would use you.”
The words fell into the room and were followed by thick silence.
Her heart raced too fast, and she forced herself to lift her chin and face him. “That’s why I’m sorry, Azrael. You came to my aid, and I—
selfishly
—knew just how powerful you were. I tried to play on your emotions. I wanted you to be willing to fight for me. To do anything for me . . . because I realized you were the muscle I needed to destroy Brandt.” She swallowed. He wasn’t talking, and she was just digging one very big hole for herself. “I didn’t care what you wanted or what kind of life you might have. I just wanted to use you to kill the nightmare stalking me.”
selfishly
—knew just how powerful you were. I tried to play on your emotions. I wanted you to be willing to fight for me. To do anything for me . . . because I realized you were the muscle I needed to destroy Brandt.” She swallowed. He wasn’t talking, and she was just digging one very big hole for herself. “I didn’t care what you wanted or what kind of life you might have. I just wanted to use you to kill the nightmare stalking me.”
He deserved this truth. They had the bullets now. She could take them and face Brandt on her own. Az could walk away.
Maybe even get his heaven back.
“You played on my emotions?” He repeated, voice quiet. “How?”
Now this was her shame. “By seducing you.”
She waited for his rage. Instead, he just laughed.
“Uh, Az?” Did he laugh when he was really pissed?
Slowly, his laughter faded. “I was using you.”
That hurt, but the truth often did.
He stalked toward her. “A human. One being hunted. Pursued.” His head cocked to the right as he studied her. “Helping you was going to be my first step toward redemption.”
“Instead I just led you deeper into hell.” What had he called her? His
temptation.
temptation.
She wanted to be more, but knew now that would never be. “You need to walk away from me,” she told him. “You’ve already crossed too many lines.” Fighting other angels, cheating death. “If you want that redemption, then leave me.”
“Is that what you want?”
“I want you to have the chance to get the things you need. I want you to be able to go back home.” Jade licked her lips. “I won’t let you trade your dreams for my life.” That didn’t seem like a fair exchange to her.
His gaze dropped to her mouth. “There is no trade. Heaven is gone. I won’t be going back.”
Her heart ached. “If you had the chance—”
“I’m not leaving you.” His mouth took hers. Rough, hard, but without the rage of moments before. Just wild heat and hunger and a passion that burned her from the inside out.
Her hands came up and pressed against his chest. She leaned into his kiss, helpless to back away this time. Desire quickened within her.
One more time.
Just once more, before the end game. Once more.
His lips lifted from hers. “I was . . . afraid.” The confession was gruff, and the last thing she expected.
Jade could only stare up at him.
“Bastion took you when I should have been protecting you. If you’d died . . .” His gaze seemed to darken. “I’m not sure what I would have done.”
The cold whisper of fear chased over her skin again. She kept being told that Az was dangerous. That she shouldn’t be with him.
She’d had one monster for a lover. Seen just how wicked he could be. Evil hid so easily behind a handsome face.
When she looked at Az, she saw another handsome face.
Was it one that hid evil?
No.
The certainty was soul deep. “You don’t have to worry. I’m not planning on dying anytime soon.”
The certainty was soul deep. “You don’t have to worry. I’m not planning on dying anytime soon.”
He wasn’t leaving her. She wouldn’t leave him. Maybe . . . maybe they could make this work. Hope was small, fragile, but stubborn inside her, growing even when she knew better.
It had been years since she hoped.
But
maybe . . .
maybe . . .
Her fingers slid down his chest. Found the snap of his jeans. He’d given to her. This time, she’d be the one to give to him.
Pleasure.
The snap gave way beneath her fingers. She carefully slid down his zipper. Her eyes were on Az’s as she knelt before him.
“Jade?”
She shook her head and wanted to offer him a smile, but the moment was too tense.
He wore no underwear and his cock sprang toward her, thick and full. Her fingers curved over him as her knees hit the floor. She stroked him, pumping him gently from base to tip and Az flexed against her, the sensual move almost helpless.
She didn’t want him helpless. Never that. Never him.
Her head bent forward, and she licked the tip of his cock. The flesh was firm, salty because he was so ready for her, and the head of his erection bobbed eagerly toward her mouth.
Her breath blew lightly over his flesh.
“Jade.”
No question this time. A heated demand.
No question this time. A heated demand.
Her mouth opened over him and she took his flesh inside. She licked him and let his cock slide over her tongue. Her cheeks hollowed as she drew him in deeper, and he thrust into her mouth.
When Jade swallowed, he growled his pleasure.
Her hand curled around the base of his erection so that she could keep the control as she tasted his flesh. Back and forth, his cock slid over her tongue. She sucked him. Licked him. Learned the feel of his cock and grew wet as she savored him.
Her nipples were hard now, aching. Her hips moved restlessly because the need was tightening within her.
His fingers were in her hair, sinking deep and holding her as she held him. But she couldn’t seem to get enough of him. His flavor was hot and wild and it was driving her crazy.
She wanted more. She wanted him to come and—
Az pulled away.
Breath panting, she stared up at him. His eyes were blazing with need. His cheeks stained with a surge of hot color.
“In . . . you.” That was all he said. In the next second, he had her pinned on the floor. A rug protected her back as he yanked off her jeans and tore away her panties. Then his cock was there, pushing up between her legs. She was slick and ready and in one hard thrust, he’d embedded his length balls-deep within her.
It wasn’t enough.
Her heels pressed against his back as she arched up against him. Each downward thrust sent his body sliding against her clit and the sensation had her moaning.
He pushed up, separating their bodies just enough so that he could palm her breast. His fingers plucked the nipple, then his mouth found her.
His tongue licked her even as his hips pounded down against her sex.
More, more, more.
The whisper wasn’t just in her mind. She was pleading, demanding.
He rolled, repositioning their bodies, and Jade found herself staring down at him. Her hands flattened on his chest as she rose up, then brought her hips back down almost frantically. She just couldn’t get enough. The pleasure was close, just out of reach, and she stared into his eyes and his cock filled her, every single inch of her and—
She came on a blast of pleasure that shook her whole body. Az kept thrusting into her, and the deep push of his cock into her just made the pleasure intensify. She wanted to cry out but couldn’t catch her breath. Her nails sank into his chest as she rode out the wrenching climax.
His eyes flashed to pure black when his release hit him. His body tightened, turning to steel beneath her touch, and he shoved even deeper into her. When he climaxed, she felt the hot surge in her core, and the pleasure whipped right through her.
Her heartbeat raced too fast. Jade gasped as she stared down at him. There’d never be another lover for her like Az. Never be someone that could make her scream, make her come so hard . . .
Because she’d never love another the way she loved him.
The truth terrified her, but she’d suspected it for some time now.
She’d given her heart to her Fallen. Her head lowered toward his, and she pressed a light kiss to his mouth. Not wild and desperate any longer. Softer, heavy with emotion.
He was so strong beneath her. So powerful.
Her head slowly lifted.
And Jade realized that the darkness hadn’t faded from his gaze.
“I would have hunted him down.” Az’s words were gravel rough.
She held his gaze.
“I’d already gotten a tracking spell from Mateo. I was coming after you.” His hands were around her hips, loose, but an unbreakable hold. “Brandt never would have gotten to you. I would have found you, and I would have made sure you were safe.”
He was still trying to protect her.
“You can’t . . .” He was already firming again in her, and she wanted to lift up her hips and feel the delicious slide of his flesh within her. Wanted to, but . . . “You can’t always save the world.”
“I’m not interested in the world.” He thrust up into her and her sensitive flesh responded with a ripple of pleasure. “Only you.”
Only you.
The words seemed to bind them, but then, she’d been bound to him from the very first moment she’d seen him.
She just hadn’t realized how deeply she’d fallen.
Past heaven. Past hell. Into the arms of an angel who’d burned.
Brandt stared down at the blood drops that stained the earth. Jade’s blood.
The panther began clawing up from the inside, maddened with fury.
He’d thought the angel had been protecting Jade. Her lover, her protector.
But the distinctive scent of an angel still drifted in the air around him even as Jade’s blood littered the ground.
Hurt.
Jade must have been trying to come back to him. She’d sought him out. She must have remembered that he’d used this area for a base once before.
Jade never forgot anything. For a human, her intellect was fascinating.
One of the many reasons she was
his.
his.
She’d sought him out, been coming to him, but the angel had found her first.
He’d stopped her. Hurt her. Taken her away.
Claws burst from Brandt’s fingertips.
He would forgive Jade. She’d be punished, but forgiven because she’d tried to do the right thing. She’d tried to come back to her mate’s side.
But the angel . . . there’d be no forgiveness for him. Brandt would slice the skin from his body, one slow strip at a time.
The angel thought he knew of hell? Not yet, he didn’t.
But soon . . .
soon.
soon.
And Brandt began to follow the drops of Jade’s blood. It was a perfect trail that would lead him back to his mate.
C
HAPTER
S
EVENTEEN
HAPTER
S
EVENTEEN
M
idnight. That, of course, meant that Sunrise was packed. The line to get inside the club stretched for several blocks.
idnight. That, of course, meant that Sunrise was packed. The line to get inside the club stretched for several blocks.
Az wasn’t exactly the standing-in-line type.
Jade’s gaze was on the pack of human and
Other
waiting for eager entrance. “Uh, do the humans even realize what’s going on in there?”
Other
waiting for eager entrance. “Uh, do the humans even realize what’s going on in there?”
Because most of the folks waiting to get in were human. Scantily clad women. Swaggering men.
If they weren’t careful, they’d wind up being prey for the
Other
tonight. But perhaps that was what some wanted.
Other
tonight. But perhaps that was what some wanted.
“They think they’re getting excitement. They don’t realize the guy who’ll be waiting at the bar actually
is
a vampire looking for a bite.” Humans could find an excuse to explain away just about everything. And for those who saw beneath the masks and into the true hearts of the monsters . . . there were ways to make them forget what they’d seen.
is
a vampire looking for a bite.” Humans could find an excuse to explain away just about everything. And for those who saw beneath the masks and into the true hearts of the monsters . . . there were ways to make them forget what they’d seen.
All it took was a little magic.
There was plenty of magic and
Other
things for sale in Sunrise.
Other
things for sale in Sunrise.
“Come on.” He caught her hand and threaded his fingers through hers. The bouncer at the door was a demon, one of the demons that Sam usually kept very close. Az knew this particular demon was even considered to be a friend of his brother’s.
When Cole saw him coming, he arched a dark brow and snapped his fingers. Instantly, a big, no-neck, bulging muscled mass of a demon took Cole’s place at the door.
“I was told you’d be coming by.” Cole unhooked the silken rope that blocked the line from rushing up those infamous steps that led to Sunrise. “Right this way.”
Az let Jade go in before him. He saw the assessing gaze that Cole slid over her. The demon’s eyes lingered a bit too long on her ass.
“Don’t.” Terse. The only warning he’d give the demon.
Cole smiled. “A guy can look, right? What’s the harm in that?” Then he hurried forward and opened the door. The pounding beat of music spilled outside even as they swept into the club. Alcohol. Sex. Perfume. The smells swirled in the air as the bodies danced and gyrated on the small floor.
There were women up in the golden cage that swung lightly from the ceiling. A band screaming on the small stage.
“That way . . .” Cole pointed to the left. “Your . . . um . . . friends have already been shown to a private room.”
Good. “The woman was with them?”
Cole laughed with real appreciation then. “Yeah, she was.” He leaned toward Az. “Kind of hard to miss a handcuffed, pissed-off angel.”
Az saw Jade’s shoulders relax. “She’s alive.”
Cole glanced toward her and nodded. “But I doubt those guys with her will be once she breaks loose.” He shrugged. “So they’d better hope those cuffs keep holding her in check.”
Cole turned to stride back outside, but Az lifted his hand and stopped him. “There will be one more guest for our little private party.” He paused. “Be
very
careful around him. Bastion isn’t the kind you want to antagonize. Actually, you don’t want to touch him at all.”
very
careful around him. Bastion isn’t the kind you want to antagonize. Actually, you don’t want to touch him at all.”
“Great.” Cole sighed and shook his head. “Another Death Angel? Can’t any of you assholes just stay in heaven these days?”
“He’s not Fallen.” Not yet. But if Bastion stayed on the path he seemed to be taking . . . “He’s blond, my height, and—”
“And I think I’ll be able to figure out which guy’s the angel. Not my first ball game.” Cole spun away. “Fucking angels,” he muttered.
Az waved his hand, and the crowd parted before him. The dancers didn’t even realize they were moving back. It was as if a light wind blew right by them, ushering them subtly to the side, but he and Jade could now slide through the crush of bodies without any problem.
They avoided the once-again-bolted metal doors, though Az was sure that the hellhound had been . . . relocated. Instead, they took the winding hallway that led away from the crowd. When he arrived before the reserved room—the room that Sam kept especially for occasions when
Other
needed a private place to meet—Az didn’t bother to knock. He waved his hand and the door flew open.
Other
needed a private place to meet—Az didn’t bother to knock. He waved his hand and the door flew open.
Marna’s blue eyes widened with fear when she saw him. She was seated in a wooden chair, with her hands cuffed behind her. Tanner stood on one side of her while Cody paced near the back of the room.
The door slammed against the wall, jerking everyone’s attention toward him and Jade.
“Azrael.”
Marna’s sharp voice.
Marna’s sharp voice.
“Why is she cuffed?” Jade demanded as she pushed forward. “She should be taking it easy, not—”
“Her wounds have healed,” Cody told her as he stepped toward her. Then he stopped and glanced over at Marna. “As much as they can heal.”
Marna laughed then. A bitter, tight laugh that Az had never expected to hear from the angel who cared too much. “He means the blood’s stopped—but my wings are long gone.”
Tears glittered in her eyes, shining like jagged diamonds.
“Uncuff her,” Jade snapped.
Tanner’s body stiffened. “I’m not real sure that’s a good plan, there, Jade.” His faint drawl had thickened. “One touch and—”
“She’s been hurt enough.” Jade strode closer to her. Az made sure he shadowed her moves. “Just let her go,” Jade said.
Marna’s gaze darted to him. The fear was still there. Fear and fury and . . .
Hope?
“There’s some kind of spell on the cuffs,” Marna said, her voice soft now, almost broken. “I can’t get out of them, no matter what I do.”
Jade’s attention jumped back to Tanner. “Get the key and get her out.”
But Tanner stood his ground. “You really that eager for her to kill you? The wings might be gone, but her powers aren’t. One touch, and you aren’t coming back.”
“The touch doesn’t work on me anymore. At least, Bastion said it didn’t.”
Marna’s eyes widened, and Az saw the hope die in her gaze.
He realized that she’d been planning to finish her mission. To kill Jade.
The hell she would.
Az strode forward. He crouched in front of Marna and made sure that their gazes held. “We found you in those woods. The two men behind you—”
“They aren’t men!” Her voice was stronger now, more caked with fury than fear. “One’s an animal, one’s a demon, and they’re both linked to the bastard who did this to me!”
“A bastard who’s got angel blood.” This came from the demon doc who Az knew must have spent hours trying to help Marna. “He’s like you, so before you start looking down that perfect nose of yours at us
animals,
remember that. Angels can go bad, too.”
animals,
remember that. Angels can go bad, too.”
She never looked away from Az. “I know that. I’ve seen bad angels with my own eyes.”
He refused to feel shame. “Bastion is looking for you.”
Her lashes lowered to conceal her gaze. “He can’t take me home.”
No, the rules didn’t work that way. You had to fly into heaven on your own steam.
“He can take care of you, though. He can help you.” Az exhaled. “So can I. You aren’t going to be alone down here.” He’d make sure of it.
A tear leaked from her eye. “He-he liked hurting me.” She took a deep breath. “He was . . . laughing while he cut me.”
Tanner backed away from her, fast. Az looked up and realized that the shifter’s claws had burst from his skin. Rage drew deep lines on his face, and Az knew that fury was directed right at Brandt.
“We’re going to stop him,” Jade told her. Her hand lifted, as if she’d touch Marna’s shoulder, but she hesitated. “He won’t hurt anyone else.”
Marna’s head rose as she focused on Jade. “If he’s really like us . . .” Her gaze swung to Az, “Then how can you kill him?”
The small bag tied to his waist felt too heavy, and so did the gun he’d tucked into the side of his belt. “Even angels can die. He’ll go down. Trust me.”
She swallowed and Az knew Marna was trying to hold on to her control. Without the magical protection of her wings, she’d be feeling the full brunt of human emotions. The angel probably felt as if she were breaking apart from the inside.
He’d felt that way. Still did.
Jade’s hand touched Marna’s shoulder. The scent of flowers flooded the room then. Az rose to his feet. He didn’t need to glance back to know that Bastion had joined them.
The tears trickled down Marna’s cheeks faster now. “Don’t . . . look at me.” Her stark whisper.
Az knew that she was ashamed for Bastion to see her this way.
In the next moment, Bastion couldn’t see her at all. Tanner had stepped in front of Marna, shielding her. “Who the fuck are you?” His gaze slanted to Az. “Don’t remember you saying that anyone else would be joining this little party.”
No, he hadn’t said that. “Bastion is here for Marna.”
Tanner glanced over his shoulder at the sobbing angel. “Maybe Marna doesn’t want to go with him.” His claws were still out, but Az noticed the shifter carefully kept them from Marna’s line of sight.
“I can’t go!” Marna bit out the words. “Bastion, it’s too late.”
In a flash, Bastion was standing toe-to-toe with Tanner. “You don’t want to come between us,” he told the shifter. His wings brushed the top of the room. He was letting all of them see him—just as he was.
But Tanner didn’t look particularly intimidated. “I know how this works,” Tanner said as he barred his sharp canines. “Unless my name turned up in that fancy book upstairs that used to belong to Azrael here, you can’t touch me.” He smiled. “Unless you’re looking to see those wings of yours burn right off. ’Cause killing someone not marked for death, that’s a falling offense, right?”
“It was for me,” Sam said from the doorway, his voice lazy but lethal.
Bastion stiffened. “Sammael.”
“Long time no see huh, Bastion?”
Jade’s gaze swept the room. “Well, isn’t this just the big old angelic reunion.” She shoved Tanner. Her elbow caught him off guard and made the shifter stagger. Or maybe he wasn’t caught off guard. Maybe that blood was still making her stronger than she should be. “Give me the keys to the cuffs.”
Tanner’s eyes narrowed on her. “Don’t have them.”
“I do.” Cody lifted a small, golden ring from his pocket. “But I want her promise first.” It wasn’t surprising that the demon would be the less trusting one. “No one dies by her touch tonight.”
Sam strolled forward. “Seems like a fair enough trade for your freedom, Marna.”
Bastion didn’t speak.
“I-I promise,” Marna spoke softly.
Tanner turned. Cody tossed him the key. Az thought the shifter’s eyes softened when he glanced back at Marna. A mistake, that. Marna might seem weak now, but she wouldn’t be that way for long.
Tanner reached behind her and a moment later, Az heard the soft snick as the cuff was released.
Just that fast, Marna was up, out of the chair—and she had her right hand punched into Cody’s chest as she slammed him into the nearest wall.
“I thought we had a deal!” Tanner shouted as he lunged forward to help his brother.
“We do.” Marna didn’t spare him a glance. “I’m not killing him. I never said anything about not
hurting
him.” A pause. “Or you.” Her smile held a cruel edge.
hurting
him.” A pause. “Or you.” Her smile held a cruel edge.
An eye for an eye.
Angels were too acquainted with the old ways.
Angels were too acquainted with the old ways.
“They helped you,” Jade reminded her. “They’re the reason you’re not still lying in a pool of your own blood in the woods. And by the way, Brandt was hunting out in those woods. If he’d found you—instead of them—what do you think would have happened?”
Marna frowned and took a step away from Cody. That small movement was all Tanner needed. He grabbed her hand, twisted her, and then trapped Marna within his embrace.
She screamed.
“Easy,” he said, holding her carefully. “I’m not gonna hurt you, but that’s the brother I actually like.”
She shuddered in his arms.
Az grabbed Bastion’s hand when the angel tried to step by him. “You don’t want to do that.” Az glanced deliberately at Bastion’s dark wings. “Killing a shifter will cost you too much.”
Bastion managed a nod, and Az could see him trying to pull his control back. Az didn’t move, though, not until he was sure no one in that room was about to die.
It took them all a few moments to calm back down. Az did think it was interesting, though, that Marna didn’t once try to use her Death Touch on the shifter. Seemed like a good sign. She bit him, she scratched him, but she didn’t kill him.
Sam shut the door and secured them all in the room.
“Looks like the team’s all here,” Jade murmured. “Well, most of the team. Where’s Seline?”
“Somewhere safe, with a hellhound making sure she stays away from Sunrise.” Sam’s answer was instant. His gaze cut to Bastion. “I wasn’t about to let a Death Angel near her.”
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