Angel in Chains (The Fallen #3)(9)

Az stared at the closed door. After a moment, he waved his hand and instantly clothed his body in fresh clothes. He hadn’t needed her to wash the others. Working magic was easy for him. Always had been. Magic was one of his gifts.

The water continued to pour in the bathroom.

The mortal wanted him to leave her alone . . .

But sometimes, mortals didn’t always get what they wanted. Especially not when they tempted him so much.





He’d left.

As she tiptoed out of the bathroom, Jade’s hands tightened around the towel that covered her body. It was good that he’d left.

So why did her chest ache?

She took a deep breath. For once, she’d done the right thing. She hadn’t dragged Az into her hell.

She could handle this nightmare, and he—he’d be much better off the farther away he got from her. For his sake, Jade hoped the guy hightailed it far and fast.

Besides, she was used to being on her own. It was the way she wanted to be. Az would have just complicated things for her. Distracted her.

And . . . and she could still taste him on her lips.

Dammit.





Az waited until the sun fell, then he sought out his brother Sammael at the Fallen’s favorite club.

Brother. He and Sammael—or, rather, Sam, since his brother preferred that version of his name—weren’t exactly close, especially since Az had spent an inordinate amount of time attempting to kill Sam over the centuries.

But, well, bygones. That was all in the past. He hoped. As long as Sam didn’t come looking for some payback anytime soon.

A long line of humans waited outside the doors of Sunrise. Humans were always trying to play on the dark side. Maybe they sensed that the club catered to a wilder clientele. Maybe they wanted the rush that came from risking death.

Fools.

He shoved past the paranormal bouncer and headed inside. Sam was at the bar, looking bored as he talked to one of his demons. Sam spent too much time with the demons. And with hellhounds. But, luckily, Sam’s hound wasn’t in Sunrise right then. Perhaps later the beast would make his appearance.

Sam gave an exaggerated sigh when he caught sight of Az in the bar’s mirror. He spun on the stool to face him. “Visiting again?” Sam waved toward the stage. “And the entertainment hasn’t even started yet. My, you are out prowling the streets early tonight.”

Az’s back teeth ground together. “I want to talk to Seline.”

Sam raised a brow. “Now what would you want with my Seline?” Possessive steel had entered his voice.

Because Seline was his. A woman who’d traded heaven to live with Sam in this hell. Az still didn’t get quite why she’d made that particular choice. For love, or so she said.

“Ah . . .” Sam nodded and his gaze sharpened as he snapped his fingers. “You want to grill her on how to get back upstairs, right? Because that’s always what you f*cking want to do . . . go back. Go back. Sometimes, Az, you can be such a whiny bitch.” He grabbed a shot glass and drained the contents in a quick gulp. “You screwed up, you got tossed here, now deal with it.”

But he didn’t want to deal with it. Az was tired of the emotions that were growing stronger every day. Ripping me apart. And since he’d met Jade, the lust inside had been growing—all day. He couldn’t stop thinking about her. Couldn’t stop wanting her.

He could still smell the scent of strawberries.

Az exhaled on a heavy breath. “This world isn’t for me.” He’d ruled over an army of angels, and now he was reduced to fighting shifters in a dirty alley in order to get his kicks. “I’m going back.”

“Not unless you get redemption,” a soft, feminine voice told him.

Seline.

He glanced into the mirror and saw that Sam’s mate stood just behind him. Seline’s warm, brown gaze met his in the mirror. “If you really hate it here so much,” she continued, shrugging her slender shoulders and sending her blond hair sliding back, “then prove that you should get the free pass back upstairs.”

Upstairs. Where there were no pesky emotions to plague him. No feelings to tie him into knots. No needs that made him ache. Only duty and death.

“If that’s what you want . . .” Sam interrupted, voice taunting as he offered his hand to Seline. She stepped toward him and their fingers locked. “But something tells me that the longer you’re down here,” Sam said, amusement flickering in his eyes, “the more you’re gonna like it.”

Az’s gaze drifted around the bar. Couples were dancing, their bodies too close together. Nearly screwing right there in public. Drinks poured and were guzzled instantly. Magic drifted in the air.

Booze. Alcohol. Sex.

Jade.

He blinked, wondering for a moment if he’d imagined her. But, no, this wasn’t another fantasy.

She was there. Standing just inside the doorway with her eyes narrowed as she scanned the bar.

“See something you like?” Sam taunted. “Because I sure think you must.”

Az realized his whole body had stiffened. He’d even taken a step toward her without realizing it.

Sam’s left hand slapped onto Az’s shoulder, and it felt like a burning poker had been laid against his skin. Probably because Sam was still pissed at him and wanted the touch to hurt. Sam was as powerful as Az, and the other Fallen knew how to control fire and magic just as easily—if not more easily—than Az did.