Angel of Darkness (The Fallen 1)

Screw the angels waiting.

She brushed by him and felt a little jolt of electricity zing her as her shoulder pressed against his.

“He was desperate to save you.”

Right. He’d looked desperate when she first saw him in that cemetery. Now he was just desperate to kick her butt out. Why?

Nicole forced her back to stay straight and tall as she walked. She wasn’t about to show weakness in front of Sam.

“Don’t you wonder … how he killed that shifter?”

Yes, she did. But Keenan hadn’t exactly been the chatting type with her upstairs. “I thought … she must have broken her neck, the angle she attacked—”

“She didn’t break her neck.”

She stopped walking.

“You didn’t think it through, did you? But then, I’m guessing you’re still so thirsty for blood that you can’t think very much at all right now, can you?”

She was thinking he was an ass. How was that for thinking?

Nicole took another step toward the door and freedom.

He was there, of course. Instantly blocking her path.

“How do you do that?” she asked, rubbing a tired hand over her neck. “Nobody is supposed to move like that.”

“Different angels have different strengths.” His gaze tracked down her body. “And different weaknesses.” He caught her right wrist. She expected pain, a rough touch, but his hold was light. Almost … gentle.

“The chains bit into you here.” His thumb slid over the dark red line that still marked her wrist. He caught her other hand and traced the similar mark. “And here.”

Nicole swallowed. “Yes.”

“He had you chained in one of those crypts. The juicy steak to bait the trap.”

At least someone seemed to understand what Carlos had planned. “Keenan won’t listen to me. He’s the one in danger right now, and—”

“And here,” he kept talking, seeming to roll right over her words. “This is where you made the first break in your wrist when you realized you had to get out … in order to save Keenan.”

She inclined her head toward him. “The first break is always the hardest, right?” She tried to sound flippant.

His lips hitched up a bit. “Bet you damn near shattered your bones to break loose. That’s why that college kid was sleeping near Laveau’s vault, eh? You needed a drink.” He still had her hands and didn’t seem to be showing signs of letting go. “I’m guessing you still need a drink. It takes a lot to overcome fire and broken bones.”

Yes, it did. “I’ll find a snack.”

“You sound so tough, but the words don’t really suit you, schoolteacher.”

What? He thought schoolteachers weren’t tough? Had the guy ever been in a school?

“Maybe after you have your bite, you’ll be able to think better. Then you’ll realize what’s really going on here.”

Jerk. “Why don’t you just tell me what’s happening? If you know why Keenan’s suddenly pushing me away, then just say—”

“He thinks he’s keeping you safe.”

“Bullshit.” She’d call it just as she saw it. “I think it’s more likely he decided to feed me to the wolves.” Or to the coyotes.

Sam shook his head. “Think about the dead girl. How did she die?”

“I don’t know! She came at Keenan. They hit. His hand shoved between her jaws, and she fell over.” Dead.

“One touch,” Sam murmured.

Her heart beat faster. “You’re not saying …”

“He told you how it was for death angels, right? To take the soul, you just have to touch.”

“He’s touched me.” Plenty of times and in plenty of ways. Sam was lying to her, had to be.

“There’s something else you should know.” He paused. “Angels, even fallen angels, can’t lie. So when I tell you something, trust me.”

She wouldn’t trust the guy as far as she could throw his shadow-winged self. “Keenan lost his powers when he fell.”

“No, he just forgot them.”

Uh, what?

“Falling isn’t easy.” His thumbs stroked her wrists. She tried to yank away but he wouldn’t let her go. “Once you get here, you’re lucky if you can even remember your own name.”

Keenan hadn’t remembered, not at first. He’d told her that.

“Then the memories start to filter back. When they first come, you think you have to be batshit crazy. But then … then you start to know.”

Right. He’d fallen. Been there, done that. So, of course, Sam could speak from experience.

“You start to know,” he said again, “and then, slowly, the powers come back.”

Her breath seemed to be freezing in her chest. “You’re telling me that Keenan can kill with a touch.” Her gaze fell to their hands. “That you can.” Then why are you touching me?

“If killing that way was what I wanted …” His eyes glinted. “Yes.”

Good thing he didn’t seem to want it then.

“Sometimes the powers are locked deep inside, and you have to chip away at the locked box to get them out.”

Her stomach started to knot.

“Sometimes, you just need the right key to open that box.” His smile stretched. “You were a wonderful key.”

If he weren’t holding her hands in that unbreakable grip, she would have punched him then. Not the sweet move of a schoolteacher, but the hard right hook of a vamp who’d learned to fight dirty. “You’ve been using me.” Her eyes narrowed. “Just how did Mike find out where we were hiding?”

His smile dimmed a bit. “You think I led him to you?”

The hard suspicion in her gut said yes. “Didn’t you?”

His hold became harder. “I’m the one who helped Keenan find you in that cemetery.”

She realized he hadn’t answered her. Like Keenan, the guy couldn’t say just yes or no. “Angels can’t lie, but that doesn’t mean they have to tell the complete truth, right?” Cause there was a difference. “They can avoid answering the question or they can—they can just twist their words, twist the truth.”

He nodded. “I knew the first time I saw you that you’d be the key to making Keenan break.”

He’s getting lost in you. “I don’t want him to break.”

“Really? Don’t you want a little vengeance? Come on …” His voice lowered. “It’s just us. Keenan’s upstairs, hating the world. He won’t know what you say.”