Avenging Angel (The Fallen 4)

Bastion’s hand lowered over the man’s chest.

Paul shrank back. The fear in his eyes deepened.

Paul looked at Bastion, saw him for exactly what he was, and the cop was terrified by that sight. Why? Paul hadn’t led a bad life. No agonies waited on the other side for this man.

Yet the human feared.

He fears me.

Bastion’s wings stretched behind him. The human stared at them with . . . recognition?

A low, long humming filled the operating room.

“He’s flat-lining!”

And the human’s eyes stayed open. Terrified.

Another soul to take.

Bastion’s wings spread more as he rose. He wondered . . . when had he begun to dread his duty?

To resent the souls?

I want more.

An image of Marna flashed before his eyes. Not the Marna he’d known before. Quiet. Innocent.

Perfect.

The Marna he’d seen just a little while ago. Moaning. Eager. Flushed with pleasure.

I want more.

The doctors and the nurses gasped when a long, thick crack ripped across the ceiling.

I’ll have more.

And he left, without taking the soul of Paul Hodges.

CHAPTER TEN

“Where are we going?” Marna asked as she hunched down into her seat. They’d headed away from the city, and the only light that she saw now came from the heavy, thick moon that hung low in the sky.

Twisting trees surrounded the narrow road. To the left, dark water glinted in the moonlight.

“We need to find Cody.”

The demon doctor. Her fingers pressed against her legs. When she’d been so afraid and angry earlier, she’d been able to start the fire once more. She’d felt the hot rush of power, and it had left her feeling . . . restless.

Tense.

Edgy.

Her gaze returned to the window once more. Past those trees, she saw only the lines of the swamp.

I lost my life in a swamp like this. No, not like—this place was where she’d lost her life.

The exact spot waited just a few miles away.

A girl didn’t forget the worst moment of her life. Not when she got to re-live it over and over again most nights.

“I hate the swamp.” The words slipped from her as she glanced back at him. She did hate it. The musky smell. The dampness. The death. Maybe some looked at the savagery of the swamp and saw beauty, but she’d never see it. Because she could never forget.

“Don’t worry. We’re not staying long.” She saw his nostrils flare and his body seemed to tense. “We’ll find Cody, make sure his ass is safe, and then we—”

They’d rounded a corner. Driven down deeper into the swamp. And now they could see the blaze. Had that been what he’d scented moments before?

A fire, only one that was burning far brighter than the flames Marna had created back in New Orleans.

Tanner slammed his foot down on the accelerator.

Marna’s breath ached in her lungs. The fire was coming from Cody’s cabin.

Memories rushed through her mind. Inside that cabin was Cody’s makeshift clinic.

I woke up there. Tied down.

Tanner and Cody had been afraid to let her loose because they’d been worried that she’d touch them.

And kill them.

Only she hadn’t been able to kill anyone.

The vehicle lurched forward as Tanner pushed the SUV to drive even faster. She grabbed for the door and held on tight as they raced toward the flames.

Was Cody inside that cabin? Demons were supposed to be able to control fire, so few ever died in flames. Unless . . .

Unless someone was there to make sure a demon died.

Cody . . . he wasn’t a bad demon.

Smoke drifted into the sky, and Marna could have sworn that, even in the vehicle, she felt the heat from that fire on her skin.

Cody had saved her. Stitched her up. Protected her.

And now the one haven she’d ever had burned before her.

Tanner slammed on the brakes, and the SUV screeched to a jarring stop. He leapt from the vehicle and ran toward the blaze. Hands shaking, she followed him.

“Cody!” Tanner yelled his brother’s name.

Marna didn’t speak. She knew Tanner would be able to smell his brother, hoped he could, anyway, even over the harsh scent of fire and smoke. He had those great shifter ears, so he should be able to hear if Cody—

Tanner’s head whipped to the left. Toward the thick line of vegetation bordering the swamp. His nostrils flared, and he took off running.

At first, Marna didn’t move. She’d never wanted to go back into a swamp again. But if Tanner needed her . . .

Her shoulders straightened. She could do this. No, she would do this.

She followed her panther shifter into her own hell. The trees were gnarled, hunched, and insects chirped all around her as she followed the pounding thud of Tanner’s racing feet. He was shouting his brother’s name again, so she knew he must have caught Cody’s scent.

Not in the fire.

Cody had escaped. He’d gotten out. He’d—

Tanner’s footsteps stopped. They just seemed to disappear. Marna frowned and slowed. He’d been up to the right. She’d heard his shout from that area moments before.

Marna hurried forward. Raced to the right.

But saw only more thick trees. More heavy vegetation. He’d been there. Hadn’t he?

Only now he was gone.

The insects chirped louder.

Try to f**king fly now.

The voice from her nightmares whispered through Marna’s head. She looked up, across the water, and saw the spot that had marked the end for her.

Fall.

The ground wasn’t blood-soaked anymore. The remains of her wings didn’t litter the earth, but the area was black. Everything in a ten-foot radius had died, marking the place where an angel had lost her wings.

She turned away, not wanting to see that place. “Tanner!” He had to be close by. He was—

“Marna . . .” A whisper. One that came from behind her.

Not Tanner’s voice. Her blood chilled.

Tanner lunged forward and flew through the air. His body slammed into his prey’s, and they fell to the ground, twisting and hitting the earth with a heavy thud.

“What the hell?” Cody demanded. “Get the f**k off—wait, Tanner?”

His brother was alive. If he weren’t so happy about that fact, Tanner would be kicking the jerk’s ass for scaring him so much.

Tanner climbed to his feet. “Who did it?”

Cody pushed off the ground and glanced around with a heaving chest. He’d been running, and the guy hadn’t even seemed to hear Tanner’s shouts. Tackling him had been the only option available. “What are you talking about?” Cody asked, giving him a fast, sideways glance.