Jegudiel (Deadly Virtues 2)

Diel came behind her, wrapping Noa in his arms as he too watched them die. As the priests’ eyes glazed over and their chests stopped moving, Noa sank back against Diel, utterly replete.

She had barely touched his chest when Diel whirled her around and spread her across his legs. His hands were on her cheeks. She was bleeding, ruined and exhausted, but as she looked at Diel, she smiled. Her split lips trembled and tears flooded her eyes, but as she met his bright blue gaze, a hint of the monster she loved too peeking through, making himself known, Noa felt at home.

“Noa …” Diel pressed his mouth against hers. No words needed to be shared. He had come for her. Noa had survived.

And she was going home.

She kissed him back, savoring his taste, the feel of his lips against hers, even the spilled blood being shared between them. When they broke apart, Noa sank against him, completely vulnerable in his arms, but knowing he would never hurt her. Quite the opposite—he would cherish her. Diel held her close, being careful of her wounds.

The door behind them opened, and a frantic “Noa!” echoed around the cave. The relief at hearing Dinah’s voice was a balm to Noa’s frayed soul. Dinah wrapped herself around Noa from behind, then quickly jerked back. Noa turned her head and saw Dinah staring down at Noa’s shredded body. One by one, her sisters appeared, followed by the Fallen.

Naomi rushed to Noa, her careful healer’s fingers assessing Noa’s wounds. “Home,” Naomi mouthed, and all Noa could do was nod once. “I’ll fix you.”

“Auguste?” Sela asked, his eyes searching for signs of his brother.

Noa shook her head, but Diel said, “Got away.” Sela’s jaw tightened and he turned his head away, every part of him emanating pure rage.

Noa looked at Dinah. “Priscilla …”

Dinah’s eyes widened, and she searched the cave just as Sela had done. “Here? Where?” Then she stilled, and understanding flashed across her expression. “The explosions again.” Her lips kicked up in a knowing smirk, and she nodded, affection for Priscilla and her strange ways shining through.

“She’s staying away for now.” Noa winced; her body ached from even trying to speak. The adrenaline she had found at killing the twins was fading and the true extent of her injuries beginning to show. “Wants to take them down from the inside.”

Gabriel bent down beside Noa. “We need to leave,” he said gently. His blue eyes landed on the dead twin priests. Noa saw a flicker of sadness show in his sagged shoulders. But she was beginning to learn that it wasn’t in sympathy for the men who deserved their deaths, but for any life being lost.

“We need to make sure you’re okay,” Gabriel said, focusing back on Noa. He looked at the iron maiden. Noa’s still-wet blood decorated the sharp spikes that, only minutes later, would have finally killed her. “We all need to get home to safety. More Brethren will be coming soon, we can bank on that. The Shadows are on clean-up duty. But we can’t hang around here.”

Diel shifted beneath Noa, and he carefully got to his feet, Noa secure in his arms. She leaned her head against his broad chest; his hard muscles felt like a feather pillow underneath her.

As Diel carried her to the stairs, the potent scent of gasoline filled her nose. She opened her eyes to see Uriel pouring gas from a canister all over the medieval inquisition devices and finally over the slain priests. As they backed toward the door, Bara aimed his flame thrower at the basement, lighting it up. He shut the door, and Uriel poured gas on the stairs and the main body of the church behind them as they went.

The next thing Noa knew, they were crossing the field. The cold wind stung her hundreds of wounds. She clung to Diel, trying her best to stave off the pain. She caught the spread of stars up above and cherished being above ground. But just as beautiful as the stars were the sapphire eyes that kept dropping down to her to make sure she was okay.

So Noa held on to that sight. She couldn’t imagine anything more breathtaking.

They reached the van, Noa tucked into the safety of Diel’s chest. The van began to move. The blaze of the burning church was the only light around them. In the silence, not caring who was listening, Noa lifted her chin, caught Diel’s eyes and said, “You came for me.”

Diel’s head twitched, eyes blinking fast. He ran his hand down her cheek and, emotion thick in his voice, said, “To hell.” Noa’s skin bumped at his gruffly spoken words. Her heart swelled and her soul leaned even deeper into his. “I’d follow you straight into hell.”

“You did,” Noa said, breathing easier now she was in his hold. She lay back into his chest and closed her swollen eyes. Anywhere with Father Auguste was hell. But Diel, his brothers, and Noa’s sisters had come for her, clamoring past priest-robed demons and the pits of the inferno itself to find her.