Angel in Chains (The Fallen #3)(15)

Laughter floated in the air on an alcohol breeze. Women hung off balconies, flashing for the crowd below.

She hadn’t gone back to her place. At this point, Jade just wasn’t sure if the small apartment was still safe. First the pack had come for her, and then she’d learned about the demons.

Her temporary anonymity in this city had definitely been blown to hell.

Jade was afraid that if she went back to that apartment, she’d find another hunter waiting for her.

The city wasn’t a haven for her. Not anymore.

“Hey, baby.” A big, smiling guy jostled into her. “Can I buy you a drink?”

“No, thanks.” She pushed away from him. The last thing she wanted was to get chummy with some frat boy looking for a good time.

“But, baby!” Now he sounded hurt. “I’ve got—”

The crowd around her cheered. The women on the balcony to the right had flashed. Again.

“You’ve got the wrong woman,” she told him. “Go try your luck with someone else.” Maybe one of the Ms. Flashies.

His eyes narrowed on her, and she realized that, unfortunately, he wasn’t as drunk as she’d thought. “Holy shit, is that blood on you?” frat guy demanded, now with a note of shock in his voice.

And, yes, yes, it was. Demon blood could be a bitch to get out of a girl’s shirt, too. No matter how many washes, that thick stuff just stayed.

This time when she yanked away from the frat boy, he let her go. Actually, he all but shoved her in his haste to get away. Hmm. Future reference note. Show a little blood and the guys will vanish fast.

She pushed through the crowds as she wound her way up to the nearest open apartment that she could find. Lucky for her, some folks invited the world in to their homes for a Mardi Gras party.

A good, nonstop party was going on right at the end of the street. She slipped inside the open doors. Found a bedroom. Two couples were making out on the bed. She ignored them, they ignored her, and she grabbed a clean shirt from the closet.

Jade ditched her bloody clothes and dressed quickly. The top was a little tight across the breasts, but she wasn’t about to be complaining.

Not even close.

She eased up the stairs and then out onto the balcony. Her gaze swept the crowd below. She saw a large, rippling mass of bodies. Laughter. Drinking. Kisses.

Then . . .

Az.

He stood in the middle of the crowd, silent, strong, and he was staring right up at her.

Her heart seemed to stop. His stare was so hot, even across that stream of bodies. It almost seemed like she could feel the burn of his gaze and the heat from his touch.

Fear? Yeah, she feared him. How could she not, after everything that had happened? But, she wanted him, too. In that instant, Jade realized that she wanted Az far more than she feared him. Dangerous, but . . .

She wasn’t exactly the type to play things safe. Her reckless side was part of her problem.

He’s the key. Use him. They can’t hurt him.

But. . .

But her gaze darted over Az’s shoulder, and she saw two familiar figures moving toward him through the wild crush of the crowd. The figures were steadily closing in on their prey. Az was focused on her. He didn’t even know that danger was right there.

Riley and Anton, two of Brandt’s vicious packmates, were stalking toward him. Their gazes were on him. Even far away, she could see the flash of their claws.

“No!” Jade shouted as she gripped the wrought-iron balcony railing.

But the crowd below her just cheered. Az didn’t move.

He’d touched and killed, but what would happen when he didn’t have the chance to strike first?

Jade didn’t want to find out. “Riley, Anton!” She screamed their names. “Here I am, bastards!”

More roars from the crowd. They would yell at anything. But she knew the shifters heard her because their gazes ripped away from Az and locked right on her.

“Leave him alone.” She knew her words would be lost to the madness of the crowd, but those shifters with their enhanced senses, if they couldn’t hear her actual words, then they’d still be able to read her lips.

Riley smiled at her, and shook his head. Then he brought his claws up to his throat and mimicked slicing across his neck.

Bastard.

Az was not going to die while she watched.





CHAPTER FOUR

The crowd’s roar drowned out her screams. Az began walking toward her. The shifters kept stalking behind him.

No, no, no.

“Behind you!” Jade yelled as loudly as she could. “They are right behind you!”

Az didn’t glance back. This was not working. Her gaze darted below her. Okay, that was just a one story drop. She’d survive that fall, right? Maybe with a few broken bones, maybe just with some bruises. She could do this.

She had to do this.

Drawing in a shaky breath, Jade climbed over the railing. The crowd cheered louder. Louder.

She jumped.

And was caught by three guys. What the hell? They swung her around, cheering.

Crazy *s. But they had just saved her some hurt. So she placed a fast kiss on the nearest cheek and leapt out of those cradling arms. Then Jade started running for Az. “They’re after you, they’re—”

A gunshot ripped through the crowd. The blast of the gunshot finally—finally—brought silence.