Angel Betrayed (The Fallen 2)

“Doesn’t matter at all.” Sam hauled her through the window. Oddly enough, the guy made sure she didn’t get another cut on her flesh. Probably saving all the blood and gore for his own personal delivery.

Oh, damn.

Then he dropped her onto the floor. When she shoved the hair back from her eyes, Seline glared up at him. His eyes weren’t blue any longer. They were demon black. Behind him, she saw the shadowy image of wide wings that shouldn’t be there.

I felt his scars.

Demons didn’t have wings, yet he had a demon’s eyes.

“What are you?” she whispered. Down to five choices . . . and right then her top choice was not good at all.

He smiled.

“Fuck.” Alex lowered his binoculars and turned to the man beside him. “Did you just see that shit?”

The other hunter, face pale and eyes wide, nodded.

Sammael had caught Seline mid-drop and dragged her back inside the second-story window.

“He’s going to kill her,” Alex said, huffing out a breath. They’d parked far enough away that Sammael wouldn’t see them, but close enough so that they could keep tabs on Seline.

“Probably,” the guy next to him grunted.

Seline had been their best hope of eliminating Sammael. When bullets and knives didn’t work, you had to be real freaking creative about taking out the trash.

Rogziel wasn’t gonna like this. The boss had been so sure that Seline could handle this job.

“Do we go in after her?” the other hunter asked.

Alex lifted his binoculars one more time. All he could see was broken glass and the dark interior of the house. He didn’t hear any screams, not yet anyway. He’d figured Seline for the screaming type.

Maybe Seline would be able to work some of her magic.

Maybe not.

He couldn’t say that he particularly cared either way. One less demon in the world. “No, she’s on her own.” He nodded toward the driver. “Now get us the hell out of here before Sammael comes looking for us.” Because Seline would talk. She’d beg for her life. For mercy. Everyone always did.

Even the strong broke under the right pressure, and Alex knew that in spite of Seline’s demon powers, she wasn’t particularly strong. Using sex . . . how much weaker could you get?

Besides, he’d bet that Sammael knew all about applying the right pressure and pain.

I hope it’s quick, Seline. Because while Alex hadn’t liked what Seline was, he hadn’t hated her, either. She’d tried to fight her instincts, and she’d done her duty on the jobs they’d worked together.

The van pulled away and left the faded antebellum house behind in the thick swamp.

Alex knew he’d never see Seline O’Shaw again. Another assassin would be sent after Sammael. Maybe this one would have better luck than the last three. Sammael was just a tough bastard to kill.

But everyone dies sometime.

Sooner or later, Sam would see hell again.

Then he’d be the one screaming.

Sam was naked. And aroused. Seline tried to yank her eyes away from the swollen length of his cock, but when she stared up at his furious features, um—that view wasn’t exactly good.

“Who sent you.” Not a question, a furious demand.

She blinked and tried to look innocent. Right, like she’d ever been able to manage that feat. Thanks to her incubus father, playing innocent had always been a stretch of her acting abilities. “Look, Sam, I don’t know what you—”

“I know what you are.” He stalked closer. She scrambled to her feet because she wasn’t just going to kneel on the floor and wait for him to kill her. She wasn’t easy pickings. “Your skin is still glowing, your cheeks are flushed, and the room is nearly crackling with your power.” His eyes narrowed to chips of black fire. “Did you really think I wouldn’t know when a succubus was dream-walking with me?”

Well, she’d hoped he wouldn’t know. The others hadn’t. Most guys just thought they were in the middle of one awesome dream. Just a dream that folks didn’t exactly wake up from.

“Seline!”

Her hands clenched. “I’m not a succubus.” Her voice came out strong and clear—a very good thing. She was rather proud of that tone. But her heart still raced hard enough to shake her chest, and her gaze wanted to dip down the broad expanse of his chest.

Focus. Why did she have to possess such a weakness? Fear should be her only concern then, not lingering lust. Again, thanks, Dad. Wonder if he heard her thoughts in hell? Probably not, but it never hurt to send out bad vibes.

“Liar,” Sam tossed out, and the back of his hand skimmed down her cheek. “I suspected the first time I saw you on stage. The humans got weak while you just seemed to shine.”

Shine. Yes, that was one of the effects. When she absorbed enough energy, her skin took on a faint glow. The glow was relative to the amount of power she stored. The more power, the greater that glow.

Sam had been a wonderful source of power. All that sensual energy just waiting for her. Now she was lit up like a human sparkler.

His head leaned toward her, and his lips brushed lightly over hers. Seline refused to back down. Instead, she just stole more of his energy. His mistake. He should really stop underestimating her.

“Did you know,” he began, his mouth hovering over hers, “I can kill you as easily as I kiss you?”

Seline swallowed. And I can kill you with a kiss.

His tongue whispered over her lips. “Succubus.”

Only a half-breed one. That’s why she had to be physically close in order to dream-walk with him. Her lashes lifted, and she gazed into his eyes. Scary, dark eyes that she still found strangely compelling. Then she voiced the suspicion that had fueled her heart as she said, “Angel.” The wings . . .

“Not anymore. These days, I’m Fallen.”

For an instant, her world seemed to stop as fear froze her blood. Fallen—just like her mother. An angel for a mother and a demon incubus for a father. Oh, yeah, she’d been screwed up from birth, and since her parents had wound up killing each other before she could even walk . . .

Seline knocked his hands away. “I didn’t want this job.”

“Oh?” One black brow rose. “So you’re done playing the innocent victim in need of help?”

“I’ve never been innocent.” Time to drop the act. Partially, anyway.

“Neither have I.” His grin was wicked.

Fallen. Damn. She hadn’t counted on that, but now it made sense. No wonder Rogziel had been so determined to get Sam. Who better for her boss to take down than Sam? He’d been hot to send Sam to hell, and now she truly understood why.