Angel in Chains (The Fallen #3)(84)

Tanner backed away from her, fast. Az looked up and realized that the shifter’s claws had burst from his skin. Rage drew deep lines on his face, and Az knew that fury was directed right at Brandt.

“We’re going to stop him,” Jade told her. Her hand lifted, as if she’d touch Marna’s shoulder, but she hesitated. “He won’t hurt anyone else.”

Marna’s head rose as she focused on Jade. “If he’s really like us . . .” Her gaze swung to Az, “Then how can you kill him?”

The small bag tied to his waist felt too heavy, and so did the gun he’d tucked into the side of his belt. “Even angels can die. He’ll go down. Trust me.”

She swallowed and Az knew Marna was trying to hold on to her control. Without the magical protection of her wings, she’d be feeling the full brunt of human emotions. The angel probably felt as if she were breaking apart from the inside.

He’d felt that way. Still did.

Jade’s hand touched Marna’s shoulder. The scent of flowers flooded the room then. Az rose to his feet. He didn’t need to glance back to know that Bastion had joined them.

The tears trickled down Marna’s cheeks faster now. “Don’t . . . look at me.” Her stark whisper.

Az knew that she was ashamed for Bastion to see her this way.

In the next moment, Bastion couldn’t see her at all. Tanner had stepped in front of Marna, shielding her. “Who the f*ck are you?” His gaze slanted to Az. “Don’t remember you saying that anyone else would be joining this little party.”

No, he hadn’t said that. “Bastion is here for Marna.”

Tanner glanced over his shoulder at the sobbing angel. “Maybe Marna doesn’t want to go with him.” His claws were still out, but Az noticed the shifter carefully kept them from Marna’s line of sight.

“I can’t go!” Marna bit out the words. “Bastion, it’s too late.”

In a flash, Bastion was standing toe-to-toe with Tanner. “You don’t want to come between us,” he told the shifter. His wings brushed the top of the room. He was letting all of them see him—just as he was.

But Tanner didn’t look particularly intimidated. “I know how this works,” Tanner said as he barred his sharp canines. “Unless my name turned up in that fancy book upstairs that used to belong to Azrael here, you can’t touch me.” He smiled. “Unless you’re looking to see those wings of yours burn right off. ’Cause killing someone not marked for death, that’s a falling offense, right?”

“It was for me,” Sam said from the doorway, his voice lazy but lethal.

Bastion stiffened. “Sammael.”

“Long time no see huh, Bastion?”

Jade’s gaze swept the room. “Well, isn’t this just the big old angelic reunion.” She shoved Tanner. Her elbow caught him off guard and made the shifter stagger. Or maybe he wasn’t caught off guard. Maybe that blood was still making her stronger than she should be. “Give me the keys to the cuffs.”

Tanner’s eyes narrowed on her. “Don’t have them.”

“I do.” Cody lifted a small, golden ring from his pocket. “But I want her promise first.” It wasn’t surprising that the demon would be the less trusting one. “No one dies by her touch tonight.”

Sam strolled forward. “Seems like a fair enough trade for your freedom, Marna.”

Bastion didn’t speak.

“I-I promise,” Marna spoke softly.

Tanner turned. Cody tossed him the key. Az thought the shifter’s eyes softened when he glanced back at Marna. A mistake, that. Marna might seem weak now, but she wouldn’t be that way for long.

Tanner reached behind her and a moment later, Az heard the soft snick as the cuff was released.

Just that fast, Marna was up, out of the chair—and she had her right hand punched into Cody’s chest as she slammed him into the nearest wall.

“I thought we had a deal!” Tanner shouted as he lunged forward to help his brother.

“We do.” Marna didn’t spare him a glance. “I’m not killing him. I never said anything about not hurting him.” A pause. “Or you.” Her smile held a cruel edge.

An eye for an eye. Angels were too acquainted with the old ways.

“They helped you,” Jade reminded her. “They’re the reason you’re not still lying in a pool of your own blood in the woods. And by the way, Brandt was hunting out in those woods. If he’d found you—instead of them—what do you think would have happened?”

Marna frowned and took a step away from Cody. That small movement was all Tanner needed. He grabbed her hand, twisted her, and then trapped Marna within his embrace.

She screamed.

“Easy,” he said, holding her carefully. “I’m not gonna hurt you, but that’s the brother I actually like.”

She shuddered in his arms.

Az grabbed Bastion’s hand when the angel tried to step by him. “You don’t want to do that.” Az glanced deliberately at Bastion’s dark wings. “Killing a shifter will cost you too much.”

Bastion managed a nod, and Az could see him trying to pull his control back. Az didn’t move, though, not until he was sure no one in that room was about to die.