Angel Betrayed (The Fallen #2)(83)

Burned flesh . . . and brimstone.





The hound’s teeth were at his throat. Tomas shoved up, but he choked on his own blood. The witch was thrusting a knife into the beast’s side, but the hound wasn’t letting up.

They’d run. Used as many spells as they could, but every time they appeared, the hellhound was right on their asses.

Can’t outrun a hound. Not once the beast gets your scent. The hound would only stop by a master’s command—or when it brought down its prey.

Tomas was down. No matter how hard he fought, he couldn’t get up.

The thudding of Tomas’s heartbeat began to slow. The sunlight dimmed. This was it.

He’d Fallen and now he’d die.

He could still hear Sierra’s screams. She’d never know— The hound’s breath blew over his face, but then, the hound stiffened. The beast lifted its big, ugly head and howled.

The mournful wail shook Tomas’s bones.

The hound licked his throat, drinking away the blood that poured from Tomas’s gaping wounds. Tomas’s hands clawed at the hound’s eyes.

The hellhound leapt back. Howled again, then turned and raced toward the sun.

Tomas couldn’t feel his legs anymore. Or his hands. And that thudding in his ears, so faint . . .

“Oh, f*ck.” Mateo stood over him. “Hold on, angel. You hear me? Your woman is out there. You have to help her. You can’t go any damn place yet.”

Sierra.

His lashes were trying to close.

Mateo chanted. Poured something in his wounds that burned and made him howl like the beast had.

Sierra. “Why . . .” The word came from his torn throat as a whisper. “Leave . . . ?” He couldn’t manage anymore. He wasn’t even sure that Mateo would understand his garbled speech.

“You’re still living . . .” he thought the witch muttered barely, “so only its master’s command would pull it back.” A pause and Tomas understood, even before Mateo said, “The hellhound has new prey.”



Sam rose to his feet, never taking his gaze off Rogziel. “I figured you’d be showing up soon.”

Rogziel’s face flushed dark red and his eyes shone black. “And I knew Tomas would bring you to me.”

“That why you had your pit bull waiting to rip him apart? Death was the guy’s finder’s fee?”

Sam slipped out the small vial Mateo had tossed to him and cradled it in the palm of his hand.

“Don’t worry . . .” Rogziel’s eyes closed for a moment as he inhaled a deep breath. “My pit bull is coming home. The hound will rip you apart, too.”

“Maybe next time.” Sam smiled. Azrael stood in the corner, watching, waiting. Same routine. Never acting. Always just watching. “This time, I think I’ll rip you apart.” He threw the vial at Rogziel’s feet. The glass shattered, and a thin layer of white smoke rose in the air. High, higher, wrapping around Rogziel.

“No!” the punishment angel screamed as he tried to lunge forward, but there was no place for him to go. He was trapped, in the cage that he’d first created. Rogziel’s fists slammed into a wall he couldn’t see, but it was one that Sam knew he could damn well feel. Sam smiled and pulled out his weapon. “Gotcha.” Time to carve up an— “No.” Rogziel’s hands dropped. His lips twisted in a grin. “I’ve got you.”

“Sam . . .” Seline’s worried voice. “I hear—”

Growls. Snarls. The scratch of claws racing over the floor. The hellhound was coming back.

Sam spun around just as the hound lunged into the room. The beast jumped right at him, teeth bared for that deadly bite.

But Az drove his body into the hound’s. “Kill . . . him!” Az shouted as he fought to hold the beast. Teeth snapped at him. Claws ripped into his body. Blood gushed. “Kill . . . Rogziel!”

The scent of flowers filled the room. Flowers . . . angels. More angels were coming. No, not coming, one was already there. Sam looked to the left and saw Jeremian, his pale face stoic. He knew Jeremian. He’d worked with the Death Angel for centuries.

Jeremian’s gaze was on Seline.

“No!” Sam snarled. “You’re not taking her!” He stared at that thin line of white powder on the floor. Once he crossed that line, he wouldn’t be able to get out, not unless Mateo freed him. He’d be bound in there with Rogziel. Neither could get loose.

If he wanted to kill the punishment angel, there was only one way . . .

Sam leapt over the line. He lifted the claw and slashed the weapon down. Rogziel’s blood splattered on him as Rogziel fought back. Twisting, turning, shoving out blasts of power that just exploded in the small space.

Growls and screams surrounded them. The hellhound was fighting to break free of Az’s hold. The beast’s teeth were snapping, claws carving up the floor as it tried to get to Sam. Seline had clamped her arms around the beast as she tried to help Az hold back the hound.

Sam sliced the dragon shifter’s claw across Rogziel’s throat. Blood rained down from the wound. “You’re not getting out alive,” he promised.

“Seline,” Rogziel whispered, and the bastard was smiling.

“You’ll never touch her!” He drove the huge claw into Rogziel’s heart and felt the gush of blood cover his fingers. “And you’re not heading back to heaven.”