Angel of Darkness (The Fallen 1)

CHAPTER TEN

The flames crackled around him, flaring high, golden and red, seeming to strike out like snakes as he followed the broken screams.

Keenan kept his head down, moving quickly, jumping and darting through the fire. Nicole was safe, he’d seen to it; now he just had to—

There.

He saw her through the flames. The woman who’d pulled the gun on Sam. She was behind the bar. Trapped by the fire. Her hand was over her mouth, and she was coughing.

Behind the bar. Great. Right next to the wall with the alcohol. The last place you wanted to be when flames were so close.

Her head turned. Her wild eyes met his. The flames swarmed higher, and he knew time was running out.

Then the bar ignited.

Damning the flames, he ran through the fire.

Nicole sucked in a deep gulp of air. One. Two. Her starving lungs filled greedily and her fingers began to move.

Damn that Sam. He wasn’t helping them.

Breaking us.

She pushed up slowly as her chest heaved. The air was bitter with smoke and it stung her throat, but she wasn’t about to be choosy then. She’d take what she could get.

Her gaze flew around the area. Cops were on the scene now, swarming in their patrol cars. They were holding a crowd back. A fire truck roared up the street.

No sign of Sam.

Or Keenan.

Still in there.

She stared at the gaping hole in the wall. Smoke billowed. The crackle of flames taunted her.

If Keenan had come out, he wouldn’t have just left her on the ground. She was sure of it.

Her knees shook a bit when she stood. Whatever Sam had hit her with, it had been strong.

Thirst had her throat drying up. Or maybe that was the smoke. Or the fear.

“Hey! Hey, lady!”

Her head whipped around at the call. A uniformed cop waved at her, his round face tense.

“Get away from there, lady! The fire crew’s comin’! Get back!”

Could a fire kill a Fallen? Fire killed nearly everything—everyone—else. Witches. Vampires.

“Sorry,” she muttered to the cop and dove for that opening, “but he needs me.”

She wouldn’t let Keenan break. Sam could go screw himself.

Keenan wouldn’t break.

The vampire went into the flames.

Unexpected.

She should have run. Covered her own ass.

Not gone back for her lover.

But Sam smiled as she disappeared. He’d hoped she’d risk her safety for the Fallen. Hoped—but hope was such a weak thing.

Fleeting.

Human.

The fire could fry her skin off in moments. Vamps burned just as quickly as witches.

The light scent of flowers teased his nose and his smile vanished.

Someone would be dying that night.

Keenan. His vampire. Or the helpless humans inside.

The scent grew stronger. The wind pressed against his body.

Someone would die.

Someone always did.

The ceiling was collapsing. The groans and creaks of the wood and beams above Keenan blended with the crackles of the flames. He hoisted his burden, being careful to keep her limbs from the fire. The woman—Seline—had screamed when he jumped through the flames. She’d tried to stumble back, but had smacked her head into the glass counter behind the bar.

He’d barely caught her before she fell into the fire.

He glanced around and held her tight. The fire had caught him on his arms and his legs. The pain throbbed, making his gut churn.

Nicole had taught him of pleasure.

Now pleasure’s evil bitch of a sister was back—and he didn’t like her much.

The fire closed in.

Keenan lifted his right hand. He’d conjured fire before, so that meant that he should be able to control the flames. He’d already tried, over and over, but so far, no luck.

“Keenan!”

Now the flames seemed to be calling his name. Taunting him to walk through that hot kiss once more.

“Keenan! This way!”

No, that wasn’t the fire calling. Nicole. She was inside. Surrounded by that burning hell when she should be safe, outside, protected.

No.

He wasn’t aware he’d shouted the word, not until he heard the echo of his voice.

Then the flames before him, the fire that separated him from Nicole, began to flicker.

The fire would destroy her. Boil the skin off her flesh.

“No!” The building shook and the fire between them sputtered out in a blink. The rage stirred in his gut, and he ran to Nicole.

She grabbed his hand and he barely felt the pain, such was the pleasure of her touch.

But she was coughing and tears streaked from her eyes. “We’ve … got to … get out …”

So much fire still burned. The blaze was deliberate, he knew it. Someone had set this trap.

His fist slammed into the wall. The bricks cracked. They didn’t break, not like when Sam had—

The bricks exploded and thick chunks flew out into the air. And Sam was there. He shoved his way inside and reached for the woman Keenan carried. “Give her to me!”

For an instant, Keenan wondered if Sam would throw the woman back into the fire. She barely seemed to breathe and blood matted her hair.

But Sam pulled her close and tucked her head against his chest. “Weak human …”

All humans were weak. It was just how they’d been designed.

Sam spun away with the woman, and Keenan grabbed Nicole. “You shouldn’t have …”

The flames snapped and snarled around them.

“ … come after me!”

Her fingers locked with his. “Later! Let’s get—”

The ceiling collapsed with a shriek of boards and metal. Nicole slammed into him and pushed Keenan through that broken wall. She tumbled out right after him.

The whoosh of fire filled his ears, then he hit the concrete. The flesh scraped from his arms and hands. He rolled and caught Nicole when she landed on top of him. Ash stained her right cheek and her eyes were wide and dark. Her breath eased out on a sigh. The fire still raged behind her.

He kissed her. Keenan grabbed the back of her head, tangled his fingers in the thickness of her hair, and crashed his mouth down onto hers.

Too close. That fire had been too close to her.

Death comes.

The scent of flowers fought with the ash, choking him.

Death comes.

His tongue drove into her mouth. Her ni**les pushed against his chest.

Not right now, you don’t! You’re not taking her.

He wouldn’t let Az win. He hadn’t fallen just to lose her. He’d do whatever it took to face off against his ex-boss.

Even slipping into the dark.

“Get ’em out of there!” A voice thundered, and then hands were grabbing at him, her, and yanking them apart. Keenan growled, ready to rip and tear and—