Angel Betrayed (The Fallen 2)

Sam’s eyes narrowed.

“Omayo’s,” she told him, her voice still hoarse. “I think it’s Omayo’s.”

“Fuck.”

Yeah. “Az said . . . Fallen die.” And he’d meant it.

The last thing she remembered before the fire was Az touching her forehead. She’d been sure that he just sent her to hell. That fire had been unmistakable. So . . . “Why am I still breathing?” she asked softly, aware that her fingers were trembling.

Sam rose and turned away from her. His gaze swept the street.

Her movements much slower, Seline stood as well. Despite the power infusion he’d give her, Seline’s knees wanted to do a little jiggle. She looked to the left, then the right. She didn’t see anyone. “There was so much fire.”

His head whipped back toward her. “Where?”

She rubbed her forehead. She could almost feel Az’s touch still on her skin. “I-I think I was in hell. I couldn’t stop burning.”

A silver SUV barreled down the street. She tensed. “Sam . . .” Her hands reached for him and clamped around his arm. Keep him close.

“Easy.” His breath blew against her hair. “It’s just Cole.”

Another SUV—blue this time—followed. The vehicles slammed to a stop, and the doors flew open.

Cole rushed toward them. You never would’ve thought he’d been shot earlier that day. The demon was sure a fast healer.

“Get her out of here,” Sam ordered.

Cole blinked. The guys behind him—they were all demons; she could see right through their glamour—hesitated.

“But what about—” Cole began.

“Take her to Sunrise and make sure guards stay with her. No one gets in or out of that place without my permission.”

Cole reached for her. Wait, this wasn’t the way this scene was supposed to go down. “No, Az is here, he wants—”

“He wants me,” Sam said, and a muscle flexed in his jaw. “I’m Fallen, and he thinks he’s gonna make me burn. You were my message.”

So a little bit of torture for her was a way of jerking around Sam? Az was a sadistic ass**le.

Cole had his fingers locked around her arm. She glanced back at Sam. Her knees were still shaking, and, this was awkward because that little trip to hell sure had done a number on her. Her energy had plummeted and though Sam had given her a little boost, the kisses hadn’t been enough to fully strengthen her.

She needed so much more, but admitting that fact in front of this group of demons wasn’t exactly her plan. “Sam . . .” Never look weak. Demons fed on weakness.

She did it often enough.

But Sam had turned away. He and a few of the demons were fanning out on the street. Searching for Az.

Others were heading into the building to take care of Omayo. Or what was left of him.

“Sam . . .” She cleared her throat and tried again. “I need . . .”

He still wasn’t looking at her. His whole focus was on searching the scene.

Good luck with that. She knew Az was long gone. Again.

Shaking her head, Seline climbed into the silver SUV. Cole slammed the door shut behind her.

And as the vehicle pulled away from the curb, she wondered why her back still hurt—right beneath both of her shoulder blades. Her back burned and ached, and she felt like she’d lost . . . something in the fire.

A fire that had only been in her mind.

When Sam finally made it to Sunrise, two demons were guarding the door. Tension held his body tight, and rage continued to pump through him.

When he closed his eyes, he could still see Omayo. The messenger angel had never hurt anyone. He hadn’t deserved to go out like that.

Sam pushed past the guards and hurried inside the club. The place was deserted, of course, that’s why he’d ordered Cole to bring Seline there. No one ever actually came to Sunrise when the sun was up. And he didn’t worry about any uninvited guests following him inside then. The demons at the front would keep the place secure. They were a whole lot stronger than they looked.

His gaze drifted around the bar. No sign of Seline. Or Cole.

He remembered the pale flash of Seline’s face. Her hands had trembled as she’d talked about the fire.

Damn Az. Though he’d tried to show no reaction, Sam knew just what his brother had done. Az had given Seline a taste of hell.

Soon you’ll be the one tasting hell, brother.

The faintest murmur of voices reached him. He glanced upstairs. He had a small apartment up there. Just a bedroom and a bath, a place to crash when the nights rolled together.

He headed for the metal stairs. He needed to find out exactly what Az had said to Seline because he already had a dark suspicion, one that didn’t bode well for the Fallen in the area.

A few weeks back, Az had tried to kill another Fallen, but Keenan had been too strong for his brother’s attack. Well, Keenan and the vampire lover who’d fought so fiercely at her man’s side.

If Az had already tried to kill one Fallen, and Omayo’s blood had been on his hands . . . still trying to play God, Az? Even after the Fall? You think you’re the one who should send souls to hell?

He threw open the door to his apartment, and it took the scene before him a bit too long to register.

Seline lounged on the bed, clad in an oversize white robe while Cole bent over her.

What. The. Fuck.

She’d been attacked, weak, so she would have needed power—

I didn’t give her enough.

So she’d turned to Cole? A snarl broke from Sam’s lips.

What. The. Fuck.

Sam lunged across the room and grabbed for Cole.

Seline saw him. She jumped up and knocked the demon back before Sam could touch him.

“Dammit, Seline, you didn’t have to—” Cole broke off when he got a look at Sam’s face. Then the demon’s eyes darted from Sam to Seline. “Guess you did.” A long sigh slipped from his lips. “I am so screwed,” he muttered.

Seline’s clothes were tossed onto the floor. “Yeah,” Sam said very definitely, “you are.”

But Seline stepped between them before Sam could make Cole wish for death. “Ease up, Sam. This isn’t what you think.”

Doubtful. “That so? I’m not staring at a succubus who decided to get a little power surge . . . and a horny-ass demon who is about to learn a whole new meaning to the word ‘hurt’?”

“Succubus?” Cole repeated, and gave a low sigh. “Yep, that would explain some things.”