Angel Betrayed (7 page)
Seline kissed him. She pressed her lips tight against his and crushed her body to Sam’s. The kiss was hot, deep, wild, and when their tongues met, the lust exploded inside her.
And inside him because she could feel Sam’s need blooming in the air. Getting deeper, stronger. Hotter. Wilder.
Seline took that need, absorbing it greedily even as she rubbed her body against his. Oh, but the man had power. So much wonderful, tempting power.
Power that is mine now.
Taking that power, absorbing it—the energy gave her the boost she needed. She didn’t have to be inside a dream in order to take control from him. She could beat the guy right here in reality.
But she let the kiss linger. Just a moment longer. One minute. Two. Sam knew how to kiss, and his body promised such raw pleasure.
Next time.
She planted her hands against his chest.
Should have seen this coming, Sam.
Seline shoved him back just as she’d done in the dream-walk. Only this time, her throw packed one hell of a lot more punch.
Should have seen this coming, Sam.
Seline shoved him back just as she’d done in the dream-walk. Only this time, her throw packed one hell of a lot more punch.
He landed in the water with a splash.
Gator bait.
She grabbed the throttle and rammed it home. The boat lurched forward.
Gator bait.
She grabbed the throttle and rammed it home. The boat lurched forward.
Sam would chase her. She knew it. Shaking him wouldn’t be an easy task.
Of course, she didn’t actually want to shake him. She just wanted to bring him in closer to base.
Whether Sam liked it or not, they were going to be partners. He could hate her, he could distrust her, but in the end, he’d need her.
Just as she needed him.
Seline swiped a hand over her mouth.
I can still taste him.
The man’s taste was incredible. Better than that fancy wine she’d grown to crave.
I can still taste him.
The man’s taste was incredible. Better than that fancy wine she’d grown to crave.
“Seline!”
His roar sent birds and insects scattering into the air.
His roar sent birds and insects scattering into the air.
She smiled. Sam was turning out to be exactly what she’d expected. Killing him would have been a crying shame. Some monsters needed to be put down, true, but others . . .
Others just needed to be let out of their cages so they could attack the real bastards out there.
Watch out, Rogziel. This time, you’re my target.
Watch out, Rogziel. This time, you’re my target.
The angel would never know what hit him.
Time for him to be punished.
C
HAPTER
F
OUR
HAPTER
F
OUR
D
arkness still cloaked the city. Seline walked slowly down the street as the scent of the river teased her nose. Sam hadn’t followed her. She’d looked back—too many times to count—but she’d only seen the dark water.
arkness still cloaked the city. Seline walked slowly down the street as the scent of the river teased her nose. Sam hadn’t followed her. She’d looked back—too many times to count—but she’d only seen the dark water.
She hunched her shoulders as she hurried forward. Just because he hadn’t followed her
then
sure didn’t mean she wouldn’t be seeing her Fallen again soon.
then
sure didn’t mean she wouldn’t be seeing her Fallen again soon.
A rush of wind blew against her face, and her hair flew up, momentarily blocking her vision. Her hand rose to brush it back, but her fingers tangled with—
His.
“Hello, Seline.”
Her body tightened at that husky rumble.
Half of Sam’s mouth kicked up in a reckless smile. “Didn’t think I’d let you get away that easily, did you?”
“No.” Her hand fell. “I was sure you wouldn’t.” But shoving him into that icy water had felt good. She offered him her own smile. “Enjoy your swim?” Not that she could tell he’d even been in the water. His clothes were perfectly dry; he was breathing easily and not looking at all like he’d just raced out of the swamp to meet her in the New Orleans warehouse district.
His hand brushed back her hair. His touch was gentle, lover-like, but his gaze blazed with a banked fury. Hmmm . . . maybe not so banked.
“Tell me where my brother is.”
She ignored the ball of fear swirling in her gut. “I asked for a deal, remember? So either you agree . . .” She knocked his hand aside and walked around him.
Keep walking, don’t look back. Act like you’ve got this.
“Or we’re done,” she threw out as she stared straight ahead.
Keep walking, don’t look back. Act like you’ve got this.
“Or we’re done,” she threw out as she stared straight ahead.
Silence.
Her lips pressed together, but her steps continued. Four
A.M.
The city was dead. Well, mostly. The rest of it was
un
dead.
A.M.
The city was dead. Well, mostly. The rest of it was
un
dead.
“I could
make
you tell me.” And he was in front of her. Just like that. One blink, and bam, hello, Fallen.
make
you tell me.” And he was in front of her. Just like that. One blink, and bam, hello, Fallen.
She shook her head. “You could try.” Now her laughter came, but it had a hard edge. “Do you really think you’re the first bad-ass I’ve come across? I’m not easy to break.” Bruise, yes, break, no.
Sam tilted his head to the right as he studied her. “Who tried to break you?” Anger hummed in the words.
You’re just like him. He’s burning, and you’ll burn, too. Only I can save you.
Rogziel’s words pounded in her mind. How many times had he told her the same thing?
Evil. Hell. Burn.
Rogziel’s words pounded in her mind. How many times had he told her the same thing?
Evil. Hell. Burn.
She’d been trapped with him for as long as she could remember. “I just want to be free,” she whispered, and this time, she was telling Sam the absolute truth.
His eyes narrowed.
“I was supposed to kill you.” She could give him that much, here in the darkness, alone on the street. “But I didn’t.”
He lifted his hand, stared at it, then looked back at her. “You truly don’t know what I can do.” Then he leaned closer. “Do you know how many angels there are?”
Hundreds. Thousands. She’d greedily absorbed every bit of angel lore and gossip that she’d ever heard over the years.
His hand slid down her arm, and a shiver skated over her skin. She was hypersensitive to him. So aware of his touch, his body.
Damn succubus blood. Sometimes, it just made her weak.
“I was an Angel of Death.”
She didn’t move. “You told me that already.” She’d never met another Angel of Death. Most people hadn’t. You only saw an Angel of Death when it was your time to die. The last visit was with the AOD.
“One touch . . .” The back of his hand slid over her skin. “And I kill.” His head lowered toward her, but he didn’t make the mistake of kissing her.
One kiss and I can kill.
“You sure you want to push me?” His question was barely more than a growl.
Don’t let him see the fear.
She lifted her chin. “You won’t kill me.” He’d had too many chances. “You need me. Right now, I’m your best bet for finding your brother.” She let another laugh roll free as she stared into his eyes. “So give me your word, Fallen, and let’s get this show on the road.”
She lifted her chin. “You won’t kill me.” He’d had too many chances. “You need me. Right now, I’m your best bet for finding your brother.” She let another laugh roll free as she stared into his eyes. “So give me your word, Fallen, and let’s get this show on the road.”
His jaw hardened. “You’ll take me to Az?”
She nodded. “And when the time comes, you’ll owe me—so you do
exactly
what I say.” Having an Angel of Death at her command would be perfect. She’d love to see someone try to take down that guard dog.
exactly
what I say.” Having an Angel of Death at her command would be perfect. She’d love to see someone try to take down that guard dog.
“Fine,” he gritted out.
Her gaze dropped to his lips. “Want to seal the deal with a kiss?” He was touching her, and she wasn’t running in fear. Surely the big, bad demon could handle one more kiss from her.
His hands closed around her shoulders, and he lifted her up onto her toes. His mouth took hers with heat and lust and wild need, and oh, it was exactly what she needed. A spike of power fueled her blood.
More.
She wanted to touch his flesh. Wanted to sink onto him and let the pleasure take her.
More.
She wanted to touch his flesh. Wanted to sink onto him and let the pleasure take her.
It had been far too long since she’d let go with her lover. When lust could kill, you always had to keep your control in bed.
Even when you wanted to let it shatter.
Sam’s dark head lifted. She saw the same lust she felt reflected in his eyes.
But then his gaze left her as his stare swept the street. “Where is he?”
Right. Business before pleasure. “Close.” She started walking, and Sam fell in right beside her. Rogziel had a containment center set up in the middle of the warehouse district. A low-profile place on the outside, but one that was well secured and perfect on the inside for the type of work Rogziel preferred.
Good thing she knew just how to get inside that warehouse.
They moved closer to the hulking shadows made by the buildings. They advanced in silence as the path twisted and turned. Ten minutes. Fifteen.
When Warehouse 609 appeared before them, Seline stopped. She put her hand on Sam’s chest. “This is as far as you go.” Her voice was a breath of sound.
“The hell it is.” He rocked forward, and his muscles tensed beneath her palm. “Is he in there, is he—”
Her hand fisted in his shirt-front and she jerked. The fabric tore. He blinked at her. “You don’t go in,” she said, this time making her words an order. Her gaze swept the front of the warehouse. It looked like two guards were stationed outside.
It wasn’t those two that they had to worry about. If Rogziel was inside . . .
hello, hell.
hello, hell.
“My boss could be in there—him and a dozen other guards that we don’t want to piss off right now.” Sometimes, you had to pick your moments. Going up against Rogziel when he had his little army at his beck and call wasn’t a good idea. “Let me go in and scout the scene. Your brother
was
here, but they could have moved him to a new site already.”
Or they could have killed him, and just where would that leave me?
was
here, but they could have moved him to a new site already.”
Or they could have killed him, and just where would that leave me?
Sam glared down at her.
“We have a deal,” she snapped at him, running a not-quite-steady hand through her hair as she tried to smooth it back. “I don’t want to go in with guns blazing, okay?” Because she did have a few friends who should be in that warehouse. Well, semi-friends. Humans didn’t usually like to get too close to her. “Let’s try to keep the body count to a minimum.”
“Why do you care?” He seemed genuinely confused.
Well, crap. What? Did he think a succubus couldn’t
feel?
She felt too much. “Because I don’t want any more blood on my hands. I’ve already got enough.” She took a deep breath. “Look, I can get inside instantly, I can search the warehouse, and if your brother is still there”—okay, this was the dicey part—“I’ll serve him up to you on a silver platter.”
As long as you remember that you owe me.
feel?
She felt too much. “Because I don’t want any more blood on my hands. I’ve already got enough.” She took a deep breath. “Look, I can get inside instantly, I can search the warehouse, and if your brother is still there”—okay, this was the dicey part—“I’ll serve him up to you on a silver platter.”
As long as you remember that you owe me.
He stared at her. Time slipped away in silence.
She shifted her weight to her right foot. “Jeez, look, we don’t have all—”
“Go in.” His shoulders rolled. “But if you try to cross me, it’ll be the worst mistake you make. I promise you that.”
Sam crossed his arms and watched Seline slip away. He didn’t trust her, not for a moment, but . . .
I want her.
Even though he knew better than to want a succubus. Talk about a lethal package.
She approached the guards. They must have recognized her because they opened the double doors and led her right inside the building.
Is Az in there?
His back teeth were clenched. To be so close to his vengeance now.
So close
.
His back teeth were clenched. To be so close to his vengeance now.
So close
.
Don’t betray me, Seline.
If she did, if this was just a setup . . . She’d learn just how painful his touch could be.
If she did, if this was just a setup . . . She’d learn just how painful his touch could be.
“Seline? What the hell?”
She turned at the call and found Alex Graham striding toward her. He wore all black, and a holster circled his shoulders.
A human, one who made it his mission to hunt monsters.
And one who
should
have been her backup for the night.
should
have been her backup for the night.
She let her face harden with anger because she had a role to play. “Did you forget that you were supposed to be watching my ass?” she demanded.
His eyes swept over her, lingering just a bit on the cuts that still sliced across her wrist and forearm. He shrugged, the move far too careless for her taste. “I thought you were dead. I saw that guy grab you and pull you back inside the house.”
Oh, so he
had
been watching. Then when things got hot, he’d turned tail and run.
Way to leave a woman behind.
“You didn’t think about coming to my aid?” That’s what a team was supposed to be for.
had
been watching. Then when things got hot, he’d turned tail and run.
Way to leave a woman behind.
“You didn’t think about coming to my aid?” That’s what a team was supposed to be for.
“That wasn’t my job.”
She took the hit and kept her chin up.
“I was supposed to watch. You were supposed to . . . well . . .” His lips twisted, and she caught the flash of disgust on his face. “Do your thing.”
Her
thing.
Like she hadn’t risked her life for this group over and over again.
thing.
Like she hadn’t risked her life for this group over and over again.
“Is he dead?” Alex wanted to know as he came close. Not too close. He never got too close. Like being a demon was some kind of virus he didn’t want to catch.
She’d never liked the man. Seline worked with him because she had to—Rogziel wouldn’t let her do anything else.
This is all you have, Seline.
Rogziel’s voice whispered through her mind.
You want redemption, then you fight for it.You kill for it. You earn it.
Rogziel’s voice whispered through her mind.
You want redemption, then you fight for it.You kill for it. You earn it.
The price for redemption was too high. She just wanted freedom.
“Sammael’s not dead.” Now she could mix truth and lie for this part. “I took some of his . . . power and managed to slip away.” She exhaled and shook her head. “He’s stronger than we thought. Much stronger. I need to talk to Rogziel—”
“He’s not here.” A brief pause, then Alex said, “He’s out hunting.”
Well, perfect. Then she could get the Az guy and slip right away. Because other than a few guards, the place was deserted.
“He wants us to relocate to a more secure site,” Alex continued.
Ah, that explained the lack of personnel.
“We’ll be transferring out the last prisoner soon.”
“The last one?”
Oh, come on, be Az, be . . .
Oh, come on, be Az, be . . .
Alex turned away. “He’s a real piece of work. A Fallen.” He shook his head and kept walking. “Can you believe an angel would be dumb enough to fall from heaven?”
“I’ve seen dumber things.”
Like you, just walking away from me now after you admitted you left me to die.
Seline grabbed the nearest object she could find—a metal chair that she lifted easily—and she slammed it into the back of Alex’s head.
Like you, just walking away from me now after you admitted you left me to die.
Seline grabbed the nearest object she could find—a metal chair that she lifted easily—and she slammed it into the back of Alex’s head.
He went down, and she leaned over him. “Maybe that will teach you to stop looking at me like I’m a piece of dog shit stuck on your shoe.” She’d seen the look in his eyes, in most of the eyes of the humans who were under Rogziel’s thumb, and she was tired of being trash. Seline yanked the keys off his belt. Alex always had the keys to the cages. As Rogziel’s first in command, he was the one given top access all the time.
She jumped up and hurried down the hall on the left. There wouldn’t be much time before someone found his body.
So she’d better haul ass.
She turned a quick left, a hard right, and still she didn’t see any other guards or personnel. She knew that the most dangerous
Other
were always kept in containment until Rogziel issued his judgment on them. This area of the warehouse had been reinforced for their containment.
Other
-proofed, so to speak. Silver cages for the shifters, magic blocks for the witches, and—
Other
were always kept in containment until Rogziel issued his judgment on them. This area of the warehouse had been reinforced for their containment.
Other
-proofed, so to speak. Silver cages for the shifters, magic blocks for the witches, and—
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