Angel of Darkness (The Fallen #1)(89)

Az’s eyes narrowed. “Why does she matter? You were an angel—and you can be again. This world, the hell here, you don’t need it.”

The coyote began to shift once more as he transformed back into the form of a man. Every shift would bring him strength. That was the way of the beast.

Keenan said, “I might not need the world.” The pain. The hate. The wars. “But I need her.”

Az’s wings stretched. “Why?”

The angel seemed lost. Probably because he was. “Because I love her.” Simple.

“Angels don’t love!”

“I do.” Nicole’s breath blew lightly against his throat. Good, she’d taken enough blood to keep her alive until he could get them out of there. Keenan pushed her behind his body, positioning her so that he was in front of her and the brick wall was at her back.

“You can’t stay down here.” A muscle jerked in Az’s jaw. “This isn’t the place for you.”

“Wherever she is ... that’s where I’ll be.”

Carlos stood now, strong, grinning, his claws out and his sharpened teeth glinting.

“You going to sic your dog on me?” Keenan demanded, and Nicole’s fingers pressed into his back. “You’re the one who sent him here, after all.” Yes, he’d figured that out. The alley. The cathedral. “You’re the only one who knew what this place meant to Nicole.”

Az’s smile held an evil edge. Damn. This guy was supposed to be the good one?

“I thought angels helped people,” Nicole said, her voice weak but clear. “I thought you were supposed to protect humans, to keep them safe!”

“Told you before, you’re not human.” Disgust had Az’s lips twisting. “You should have died that night. Couldn’t you see? We were trying to be merciful!”

Carlos stalked closer.

“How?” Nicole demanded. “By letting that bastard rape me? By letting him rip out my throat?”

“The cancer inside you would have broken your body. You would have suffered for months. Just like your mother, you would have withered away.” Az lifted his hand and snapped his fingers. “Instead, your pain lasted only a few moments.”

Cancer?

“Didn’t know that, did you, Keenan? Why did you think your charge was racing for those church steps that night? Humans always turn to God when they need something.” Az stepped back and cleared the path for Carlos. “Then they turn away when he needs them.” Az pointed at Keenan. “You shouldn’t have turned away.”

Keenan held Az’s stare and felt the fury rise even higher.

“This is your last chance.” Az expelled a hard breath. “You can still come back.”

You just have to kill her.

Keenan smiled. “Fuck you, Az.”

Az blinked, then his jaw tightened. “Then you’ve chosen. I wonder what waits in the next world for an angel that fell?”

Carlos ran toward them, his claws out, long, sharp, and deadly.

Keenan wasn’t afraid. The rage was too strong. He could touch and kill and he’d take Carlos out.

But would Carlos manage to kill him in that instant, too? It just depended on who could strike first, who would be fastest ...

But the rush of wings filled his ears before he could attack. Az grabbed Keenan and hauled him away from Nicole. The bastard’s grip was unbreakable and they rammed into the side of the alley.

And Carlos—grinning bastard—swiped out with his claws and struck Nicole.

“No!” Keenan leapt for him.

Az tightened his grip. “You can’t kill me with just a touch.” Az held him pinned to the building. The faint rays of sunlight spilled into the alley. “This time, you will watch her die.”

No, he wouldn’t. Keenan rammed his head into Az’s. But Az just laughed.

Nicole screamed.

Keenan’s gaze flew to her. More blood flowed. Carlos had sliced her arms and chest with his claws.

“A vamp, especially one so new, is no match for a shifter.” Az sounded so detached.

“Nicole!”

She swiped out with her own claws and managed to catch Carlos in the side. He grunted at the pain and promised, “I’ll kill you, then I’ll take your lover’s blood.”

“The sunlight will speed up her death.” Az smiled and told Keenan, “Don’t worry, she won’t suffer long.”

Fucking crazy bastard.

“No,” Keenan agreed, “she won’t.” And the rage poured from him— In a ball of red-hot flame that blasted into Az.

This time, Az was the one who screamed—a loud, pain-filled cry as he flew back. Az hit the ground and rolled over and over, trying to put out the fire.

“That fire didn’t come from man, *.” From me. “I conjured it and I damn well can control it.” Not you. So it would burn the flesh right off Az. Az would heal, eventually, but first, he’d hurt like hell.

“I’ll take his blood ... and he’ll be my weapon ...” The shifter’s taunt.

He spun and saw Carlos still circling Nicole.

“I’m no one’s weapon!” Keenan roared. “Not anymore.” Then he grabbed Carlos.

The shifter died before he could scream.