Battle Angel (Immortal City 3)

“This isn’t about us, Jackson,” Maddy said.

“No? Then what is it about?” Jacks said. “It better be important. I would be in very serious trouble if they knew where I was right now. And especially big trouble if they knew who I was with.”

Maddy had never seen Jacks so cold. So distant. He was purposefully keeping her away, at more than arm’s length. How was she ever going to get through to him?

On top of everything, his aggression was making it impossible for her to remember what she had planned on saying.

“Jacks,” she started, “you once loved a half-human half-Angel girl.”

“I did. And I thought she loved me, too. But I was wrong,” Jacks said.

“Don’t say that,” said Maddy. His words landed like a punch to her gut. But she had to keep telling herself that she wasn’t here to make herself feel better. She was here for humankind. Maddy took a breath to calm herself before looking back into his eyes.

“Humanity doesn’t deserve this,” Maddy said. “And you know it.”

Jacks turned and looked out on the darkened city. “Humans are self-destructive, Maddy. They can’t be saved from themselves. Loyalty is not a component of human nature.” He eyed Maddy coldly. “The demons are just doing your job more efficiently.”

“Listen to yourself, Jacks,” Maddy said, a cold emptiness gripping her heart. “This isn’t you.”

For a moment, she thought she saw a crack of doubt enter Jackson’s face. He looked into Maddy’s eyes, and Maddy could see it. Something she’d said had touched him. But as soon as it was there, it flickered away as if it had never been.

“Maybe you don’t know me anymore, Maddy,” Jacks said.

“You sound like one of the Council’s PR people,” Maddy said.

Jackson’s lip curled. “The Council and Gabriel were the ones who pardoned me. The NAS was going to take my wings after I saved you, Maddy, but they saw something in me and gave me another chance. They’re the good guys.”

“The good guys, Jacks?” Maddy shook her head. It was hopeless, just as she had known it would be.

At least now she could tell Linden she tried. That she had done her best. It had been a foolish, last-ditch plan, but she had still harbored a shred of hope that it could have worked out differently. Remembering that hope, she spoke up again.

“What have they done to you, Jackson? I barely recognize you.” Maddy looked at the angry Angel in front of her. How could he be so brainwashed? This couldn’t just be the result of her choice on the pier. . . .

“They haven’t done anything to me,” Jacks said. “I’m just staying with my kind. There is a future for Angels, and I’m going to be part of it.”

“A future? With the demons? Where are the Angels, Jacks?” She was feeling more frightened than devastated as she continued to listen to this Jackson impostor.

“I’m not here to discuss our plans, Maddy,” Jackson said, face slightly flushing. “You chose not to be with us, remember? I came here to hear you out. To see if maybe you’d changed your mind and decided to listen to the Angel in you. And I did hear you. It’s clear you haven’t changed anything.”

“I’m sorry to bother you, Jacks,” Maddy said as diplomatically as possible. “I’m going to go now.”

Jackson whirled toward her, his eyes blazing under the bright light shining down from the four-car garage.

“I don’t know why I even agreed to meet you. You made your choice,” Jacks said angrily. “It’s humiliating for me to even be here.” His voice cracked with emotion as he turned away. “I don’t even know why I’m doing this to myself.”

“Jacks—” Seeing him in front of her, suffering, made Maddy’s voice turn tender. Despite his hardness now, her heart went out to him, the Angel she loved.

Almost unconsciously, she moved toward him, like she had done a thousand times before. And he turned to her.

Before she knew what had happened, their hands had found each other. As their fingers intertwined, Maddy felt as if her body had been jolted by a spark, just like it had in the diner the very first time they met.

Surprise struck both their faces as they moved toward each other. Jackson took Maddy in his arms and Maddy was right there with him, and their faces, which had tried to be so brave, were now so close, almost kissing, and she could feel his gentle breath. . . .

Maddy suddenly pulled away.

“Maddy. It’s not too late,” Jacks breathed. He held her in his arms to keep her close, to make sure she felt the energy and attraction coursing through them.

“Jacks, I can’t do this,” she whispered.