Angel in Chains (The Fallen #3)(46)

When Cody got to work slowly pulling back the bandages, she stared up at the ceiling. Faint cracks crisscrossed the white paint above her, and she focused her gaze on them. The sick feeling in her gut told her that she’d have scars on her chest that looked just like those cracks. Long, jagged.

A light touch of air hit her skin when the demon pulled back the bandages.

“How . . .” Surprise roughed the word even as the doctor leaned closer to her. “I’ll be damned.”

She’d been avoiding looking at her wounds but now . . . Jade risked a fast glance down, but only saw the doctor reaching for scissors. Tweezers.

Her gaze immediately jumped back to the ceiling.

After a moment, she felt a light tugging on her chest. Then he pulled something out—stitches? She had to look like Frankenstein’s monster, and she knew it was weak, but Jade didn’t want to see those wounds right then. Give her a few more hours, and she’d woman-up and do the deed but right then . . .

“You’re healed.”

Lie. But . . . her eyes darted down to the ravaged flesh that she hadn’t wanted to see. Only it wasn’t marred. Not so much as scratched. Pale as ever, smooth. No sign of the deep cuts that had torn through flesh and muscle.

“Az!” She screamed his name because in that moment, she was terrified of what she’d become.

The door flew open and slammed back against the wall. Az stood in the entranceway, filling the space. His hands were clenched. His eyes blazing. “Get away from her!” He roared. And in the next second, he’d leapt across the room. Az grabbed the demon by the back of the neck and hurtled him against the wall.

Jade realized she was naked from the waist down. She yanked up the sheet and ended the peep show.

“Easy!” Tanner lifted his hands when Az rounded on him. “We weren’t hurting her.”

“I was . . . just . . .” The demon rose and winced. “I was merely checking her out.”

“I saw that.” A lethal edge underscored Az’s words. He spun to face the doctor, giving Jade his back, and that was when she actually paid attention enough to notice his wings.

Not real wings. More like shadows. Thick, black, they rose from his bare shoulders and extended high above him.

They were dark and so beautiful.

“She was scared,” Az snarled as he closed in on the demon. “I heard her fear.” His hands were clenched into powerful fists.

Uh, oh. Jade kept a hold on her sheet as she hopped out of bed. Her knees didn’t so much as jiggle when her feet touched down on the wooden floor. That angel blood sure packed a powerful punch.

“Because she realized—we both realized—” Cody spoke quickly now as he pressed his back against the wall in an attempt to put more distance between him and Az. “We realized that she’s healed.”

Jade crept up behind Az. Tanner didn’t move. She reached out and her fingers skimmed over those shadowy wings. She could almost feel them against her skin. Like silk.

Az stiffened. He’d loved it when she stroked his scars before. What effect would it have on him when she touched these shadowy remnants of his wings?

“Jade . . .” Her name was a rasp, heavy with need, lust.

She stroked the shadows once more.

This time, he shuddered.

“She’s healed,” Cody said again. “And—”

Az turned to face her. His jaw was locked, and his eyes still burned hot enough to scorch her. And the man looked like he could eat her.

Oh, my.

“I think it’s time for us to get out of here.” Tanner hurried over and grabbed Cody’s arm. “They need to . . . talk.”

“Talk? I don’t think talking is what—”

Tanner knocked his brother’s head into the wall then hustled him out of the room.

The shifter made sure to slam the door closed behind him.

Az’s wings were out of her reach now, but she wanted to touch them again. “I can see them,” she whispered.

He shook his head. “Nothing’s there. The wings burned away when I fell.”

Maybe. But those shadows were still there. She stepped closer to him. Jade kept one hand on the sheet that she’d hurriedly wrapped around her body while her left hand lifted and touched those shadows. “What does it feel like when I touch them?” Jade whispered.

“They aren’t there.”

Something was. Her fingers went right through the silken remnants.

He stepped back and put enough distance between them so that she couldn’t touch his wings. Then he caught her hand and held tight. “You’re seeing what was,” he gritted. “My blood’s in you. Only those with an angel’s blood can—”

“Thank you,” her soft words cut him off.

He blinked. Shook his head.

“You saved me.” That she knew with certainty.

His fingers tightened on hers. “I was afraid I was too late.”

No. Leave it to an angel to know just how to cheat death.

“Are you afraid of me?” Az asked as his eyes searched hers.

She let the sheet drop. It pooled on the floor between them. “No.” Jade moved closer to him.

His head lowered toward hers. “You’re sure . . . ?” Only inches separated their mouths as he asked, “You’re certain you aren’t still hurt?”