Angel in Chains (The Fallen #3)(90)

“And I want you to beg for death.” Death’s ready for you.

“But I guess we don’t always get what we want.” Brandt’s claws burst from his fingertips. He lifted his hand.

And slammed right against the invisible wall of the cage that had been forged by Angel Dust.

“Dumb *,” Sam’s voice called out. “You’re angel, too. It keeps us in, and you can’t cross it, not unless you break the line.”

Brandt’s gaze dropped to the fine line of dust on the floor. When he looked back up, Az had the gun in his hand. He aimed it right at Brandt’s face. “I’m betting these bullets can get out though,” Az said. He bet they could get out and kill Brandt where he stood.

Brandt didn’t hesitate. In a flash, he hauled Jade in front of him.

Her eyes opened slowly, and, with growing fear, she stared down the barrel of the gun that Az had pointed right at her.

“Go ahead,” Brandt taunted him. “Kill me, but kill her, too.”

Bastion had vanished. The other panther shifters raced for the door. The flames just grew bigger and hotter with every moment that passed.

“Az . . .” He saw her lips move but no sound slipped from Jade’s mouth. Her gaze held his. So deep, so intense.

He lowered the gun.

Brandt hauled her back. The grip he had around her throat had his claws just an inch from her flesh.

“Don’t hurt her,” Az ordered, voice booming.

But Brandt didn’t answer.

“Dammit, don’t hurt her!”

“I wasn’t just using you, Az.” Jade’s words were being swallowed by the flames. He had to fight to hear her as she said, “I was loving you . . .”

Then the flames flared higher. Brandt took her away.

“I am sorry,” Bastion’s whisper filled his ears as the angel appeared once more.

Now Az knew just why the angel was apologizing.

“No!” Az clawed at the invisible wall, but it wouldn’t give. The magic was too strong. The fire burned.

And Jade was gone.





The shifters had split, running away into the darkness as soon as they escaped the growing inferno that was Sunrise.

Brandt moved quickly with Jade and her body bounced and ached with each step since she was tossed over his shoulder like a damn sack. Snarling, Jade kicked out at him. Her nails dug into his back.

He didn’t slow down.

They rounded the corner. Sirens wailed in the distance. Those fire trucks damn well needed to hurry.

“Fire won’t . . . kill him,” she managed to grit out. Her hair dangled over her face as all the blood rushed to her head. “He’ll come after you.” Flames wouldn’t stop Az for long.

“I’m rather counting on that.”

Cocky bastard.

Another turn. This time, she recognized the street. Hard not to recognize Bourbon Street. Partygoers strolled around, laughing, and beads crunched beneath Brandt’s boots as he stalked forward.

“Help me!” Jade screamed through the fall of her hair.

She managed to temporarily shove that hair out of her way and saw two men glance her way. Oh, come on, even during Mardi Gras, it wasn’t cool to just let some * run away with a struggling woman over his shoulder.

The guys realized that. She heard the thud of their footsteps running toward.

“Hey, man, let her go—”

Brandt growled at them, a deep, inhuman growl. “Stay away or die.” She had no doubt that he was flashing fangs.

But the guys didn’t back away.

“Look, freak,” one snarled right back, “let that lady—”

Brandt tossed him away with one hand.

The other guy’s feet beat a hasty retreat.

Brandt dropped her to the ground. As she scrambled to her knees, he stared down at her with eyes that glowed with his fury—and with the power of the beast inside him. “Call for help again, and I’ll cut the head off the first dumb * who comes to your rescue.”

He would.

Brandt grabbed her arm. “Let’s go, baby.”





The flames licked their way across the floor, slowly destroying everything in their path. Too slowly.

Sam alternately snarled and swore as the heat and smoke thickened in the room.

Az didn’t move. Not now. He just waited. The flames only had to come a bit closer.

Just a bit.

The fire crackled over the edges of the Angel Dust. The dust ignited, flaring in a blue-white flame.

And the prison was broken.

Az lunged from the trap and shoved out his hands. The flames lanced his skin, but he ignored the fire and pushed out with his own power. A bitter wind swept through Sunrise, howling like a wolf, and the flames died in an instant.

Slowly, his head turned to the right. Toward the door that Brandt had used when he took Jade away.

Bastion was gone. The angel had better not be near her.

Az took a step forward.

“Uh, yeah, brother,” Sam’s voice stopped him. “Before you head out to kick ass and save the day, do you think you can do me a favor and get me the hell out of here?”

He glanced back. Sam stood with his arms crossed over his chest and managed to look both pissed and bored.

Az shook his head. “You’ll just try to stop me.”