Angel in Chains (The Fallen #3)(102)

Jade glanced over at him. He couldn’t miss the love in her eyes.

He realized then just how lucky he was. Once, Sam had told him that angels weren’t always pushed out of heaven because they’d done something wrong. Sometimes, they lost heaven as a reward.

Because they were offered something . . . more.

He saw that more in Jade’s eyes.

Thank you. He sent the silent thought out and knew that it would be heard by the one that mattered.

All he’d needed to do was experience a little fall in order to find his paradise.





As the last streaks of darkness slid from the sky, Az walked out onto Jade’s balcony. The sun would be up soon. He could already see the faint streaks of red—like blood—sliding across the horizon.

He stared at the darkness and quietly called, “Bastion.”

Az knew the angel would come. He’d caught Bastion’s scent several times that night.

A rustle of wings, then Bastion appeared beside him. The angel was frowning. Ah . . . Bastion had better be careful. He was showing more and more emotions lately.

Soon he might find himself walking with humans.

“I have an offer for you,” Bastion said with a dramatic air.

At that, Az lifted a brow. Maybe it was too late already. The guy almost sounded human.

Az glanced toward the open balcony door. The white curtains billowed in the breeze. “What kind of offer?”

“You can come back.”

His hands tightened around the railing. “Says who?”

“The angels in charge.”

But they weren’t really in charge.

“I’ve earned redemption?” Az knew he sounded doubtful. “How?”

“You . . . ah . . . haven’t earned redemption.”

He frowned. Right, thought so.

“But some think you might be perfect for a new position that is becoming available.” Bastion paused and cleared his throat. “The punishment angels need a leader. After the way you dispatched Brandt—a being tainted by evil who possessed our own powers—you seem the first choice for the job.”

Az didn’t speak.

“You’ll get your wings back. Your full powers. You’ll even have an army of angels at your beck and call again.”

His gaze returned to that open balcony door. “What happens to Jade?” Az asked quietly.

“Ah . . . well . . .” Bastion exhaled. “Nothing.”

Az looked at him and waited for more.

“She’s off the books. Your Jade isn’t slated to meet her end for a very long time.” Bastion shrugged. “Seems someone gave her a direct dose of angel blood,” his lips curved lightly, “so she has a very un-human-like life expectancy now.”

The tightness in Az’s chest eased.

“You can come home tonight. Ditch this world and be free again.”

He had his freedom.

“I only wish Marna could come, too.” Bastion’s gaze turned toward the empty street below them. “But she is lost.”

Perhaps.

Perhaps not.

Bastion’s wings stretched behind him. “Let’s leave so that we can—”

“No.”

Bastion’s wings froze. “Uh, I’m offering you a chance to return through the gates. For power, for—”

“I’m not leaving.” He wasn’t even tempted.

He could see Bastion struggling to understand. “For . . . her?”

Az nodded and stared silently back at the angel.

“You’d trade all that heaven can give, for a human?” Bastion seemed both shocked and horrified.

Az still didn’t speak. What was there to say? Heaven had given him his human. He needed nothing more.

A muscle flexed along Bastion’s jaw. “Fine. But know that the offer won’t be made again. You’ll be chained here, forever.”

Promises, promises.

Bastion turned away.

“You should be careful,” Az had to tell him. He felt it was only right to offer the warning. After all, he’d almost killed the guy. Amends had to be made some way.

Bastion hesitated and spared him a fuming glance.

Ah, there it was again. “When you let the emotions get to you too much, the lure of the earth will become too strong.”

“I won’t fall.”

How many angels had said that? He’d said that. “We all have temptations.”

“I know my duty. I won’t—”

“You’re already weakened, and you don’t even realize it.” How could the angel be so blind? He’s blind, just like I was. “The rage got to me first,” Az admitted. “The fury about things I couldn’t control.”

Like Sam falling.

Innocents dying.

The guilty sliding away from the punishment angels.

Fury had been his weakness. It was also Bastion’s. “You’re enraged over Marna. That rage is burning in your gut right now.”

“You know nothing!” Bastion snapped at him.

“I know the sound of emotions when I hear them.” He’d warned the angel. The rest would be up to Bastion. “Be careful.”

“I don’t need care. I don’t need—”