Avenging Angel (The Fallen #4)(49)

Need. Desire.

Lust.

Angels don’t lust.

Or did they?

Bastion had retreated and she thought he would leave, but suddenly, he marched right toward them.

No. Marna shoved Tanner back. She put her body between his and Bastion’s. “Don’t even think about it.” Her voice came out as a low, furious order.

Bastion stilled.

“Think about what?” Tanner demanded from behind her.

Marna kept her eyes on Bastion. She wouldn’t look over the angel’s shoulder, at that burned ground that marked her change. She stared into his eyes, saw all that she’d lost, and knew that she wasn’t losing anything else. “You won’t touch him.”

Bastion’s eyes widened. “You’d protect the animal?”

Marna nodded. Tanner wasn’t an animal.

“What the hell is happening?” Tanner demanded. “I can smell him. I just can’t see the bastard.”

Most folks wouldn’t describe angels as bastards. Then again, Tanner wasn’t in that “most” category.

“I just want you to be safe,” Bastion said, and a muscle flexed along the length of his jaw. Another sign of emotion. Did he even realize how close he was to the edge?

“Don’t worry about me,” Marna told him. “Take care of yourself.” She wanted to touch him. To grab him and hold tight and shake him. This wasn’t the Bastion she’d known. “You have too much to lose.”

Bastion glared at Tanner. “I’ve already lost.”

Wind seemed to whip around them. Tanner swore. “If that * wants to play . . .”

Tanner couldn’t play with a death angel. Not and come out still living. No one could win that particular game.

“I’m trying to help you,” Bastion snapped as the wind beat harder. He was losing control. Breaking apart right in front of her. His wings stretched. Flapped. “He’s nothing but a danger to you. If he’s not stopped, he’ll destroy you.”

Marna lifted her chin. Angels don’t lie. Yet she trusted Tanner. So where did that leave her? “You aren’t touching him.” Bastion was now the leader of the death angels. Refusing his order would be unheard of among their kind. Turning against him? An unforgiveable act.

But . . .

But she wasn’t in heaven anymore. And so far, only one person had been there for her since her fall. There to keep her safe. To fight for her.

Maybe it was time for her to start fighting for him.

“You can’t stop Death.” Bastion began to rise into the air. A faint smile twisted his lips. “You know that better than most.”

Damn him.

He vanished.

And Marna finally took a deep breath.

“He’s gone.” Tanner’s voice. Growling. Tense.

She managed a nod.

He turned her toward him. Glared down at her. “What the hell is going on?”

You’ve got a death angel who wants you cold in the ground. She couldn’t lie, but that didn’t mean that she had to tell the truth. “It was just a visit from an old friend.” A warning visit. “Someone who’s worried about me.”

His hands were on her arms. His warm fingers curled around her flesh. “An old friend makes you scream in fear?”

“Yes.” Truth. “When you have old friends like I do.” She should tell him more. “Tanner, I—”

His mouth took hers. His tongue slid past her lips and thrust into her mouth.

After a moment’s hesitation, she kissed him back. She wanted the rush of passion that he could give her. She wanted to forget Bastion and the nightmare memories that waited on that far bank. Marna kissed Tanner with all her passion and felt the wild surge of desire inside her. The lust she felt for him could banish any chill.

His hands slid over her body. Found her ass. Curled and pulled her up against him. There was no mistaking the hard bulge of his arousal. “You’re not going back to the angels.” He whispered the words near her lips. “That’s not your life anymore.”

No. She couldn’t go back. Without her wings, there’d be no way for her to ever get to heaven.

Lost.

His head lifted and his gaze blazed at her. “You’re mine now.”

Marna shook her head. No, she wasn’t. She belonged only to herself, not to—

Tanner kissed her again. She opened her lips and her tongue met his because she liked his taste and loved the heat that spilled through her at his touch. But . . .

Not his.

She wouldn’t belong to another. Not even to someone like Tanner. She’d watched too many humans over the centuries. Belonging led to pain. Betrayal.

If he’s not stopped, he’ll destroy you.

She wouldn’t forget Bastion’s words.

One more hard press of his mouth, and Tanner pulled back. “We have to go.” His gaze darted behind her. To the blackened ground. His stare hardened. “Cody’s out there, and he’s running from who the hell knows what.” His fingers twined with hers. “We have to hurry, we—” Tanner stiffened and spun around.

They weren’t alone any longer—and this time, their visitor wasn’t an angel. Marna didn’t know the woman who stalked so slowly from the woods, but she had two men beside her. Marna recognized those men—shifters. They’d been in this swamp before.