Evernight Publishing

www.evernightpublishing.com

Copyright© 2011 Shyla Colt

ISBN:

978-1-926950-62-4

Cover Artist: LF Designs

Editor: Kimberly Bowman

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of

this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or
reproduced electronically or in print without written permission,
except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are

fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or
persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

DEDICATIO'

First of all, thank you to the man upstairs, because through

him all things are possible. You bless me more than I deserve, and for
that I am ever grateful.

Thank you to my husband, who listens to my writer’s woes,

offers supports, and has confidence when I don’t.

To TST and VC who’ve created a safe space for me to

explore my writing style and share my thoughts.

To my family and friends, especially Mom, M, Charmy, and

Jess, for your limitless support over the years.

Thanks to EP for giving me a chance to share my story. And

to you, reader, for giving a new author a shot.

DO''T FEAR THE REAPER

Shyla Colt

Copyright © 2011

Prologue

His dark head bowed as he closed his eyes against the scene

displayed before him. Nox fought back the tears that formed at the
sight of her limp form sprawled across the pavement, limbs bent
awkwardly like a rag doll. Her normally bright brown eyes had begun
to cloud over with death as her spirit struggled to detach itself from
her body. His pale hand hovering above her chest was the only thing
keeping her earthbound. By right, he should let her go to be judged,
but he couldn’t when he knew where she’d be sent.

He was breaking the rules, but he’d lose his wings and be cast

down before he allowed her to burn for an eternity in Hell. She
deserved more than that. His heart thudded in his chest as the reaper
appeared to retrieve Brea’s soul. He allowed his wings to stretch
behind him in warning.

“She has chosen her path, Nox. Your job here is done,” the

blonde reaper said, narrowing her eyes as she took in the guardian
angel’s protective pose.

“I’ll speak to Azrael myself,” he said in a dismissive tone.
Her bee-stung lips turned down in a frown. “You have no say

in this.”

The truth spoken out loud drove home just how off the track

he’d gone.

****
“Leave her, Anna,” Azrael said, appearing beside them.
The stern gaze silenced her protest, and she clamped her

mouth shut. With a curt nod, she disappeared.

“She spoke the truth, Nox. Brea is ready to be gone from this

world. You did your best, but even the most powerful of angels can’t
save their human ward from themselves.” He sympathized. His eyes

filled with curiosity as the dark-haired angel reached out to caress the
girl’s heart-shaped face with the tips of his fingers. It was whispered
that Nox had spent too much time among the humans and had lost his
edge. But up until now, Azrael had vehemently disagreed. To see Nox
wield his sword for a righteous cause was to have fear stricken into
your heart. No amount of time on earth could make his brother forget
those roots. This was something more dangerous.

“It’s my fault she ended up like this, Az. I want to make a deal

for her soul,” he said, eyes lowered to avoid Azrael’s intense gaze.

“Brother, you know we cannot love them,” he reminded.
“Don’t speak to me of rules when I’ve spent most of my life

enforcing them. This is paying a debt. I owe her more than I
delivered. This woman lived through more tragedy in twenty-seven
years than one person experiences in a lifetime. Don’t let my failure
be her damnation,” he pleaded.

“Lie to yourself if you want, brother, but I know better.”
Azrael sighed as he shook his head. What he was about to do

would probably bite him in the ass one day. But there was no way he
could say no when Nox had come to him personally.

“What is it you want me to do?”
“Offer her a job as a reaper and allow her to earn a second

chance.”

“If I agree to do this, you’ll owe me a favor.”
“Name it.”
“Oh no, I won’t be hasty. An opportunity such as this needs to

be savored. You’re a hard man to entangle,” he said.

“At least give me the terms.”
“When I cash in my favor, you’ll carry it out, no questions

asked.”

“Done,” Nox agreed.
“You’re going to agree just like that? She must be very special

then. Can’t say I blame you. She’s a looker, isn’t she?” Az asked. He
was unsettled by the swift manner Nox had laid everything on the line
for this woman.

“Are we making a deal or not, Az?” he asked. His pointed

avoidance of the topic told Azrael how far his brother had slipped.

“We are,” he replied before he dissipated in a dramatic fashion

that made Nox smirk.

****

You’d think being the angel of death would be dramatic

enough, but Az always had to put on a good show to go along with
the title. His attention returned to the brown-skinned woman who had
unintentionally taught him how to love and his heart warmed.

His minded flooded with memories of the many times he’d

longed to take her in his arms and provide comfort. On the surface,
Brea Tackett was a shrewd woman forged of Teflon. But at home
alone under the cover of night, she broke, sobbing silently in a way
that tore his heart to shreds every single time. He’d been a goner from
the moment she’d come into the world and opened large, whisky
brown eyes that seemed to see through to a person's core.

Born to a young mother who already had four other mouths to

feed and a love for narcotics, the cards had been stacked against her
from the start. Perhaps that was why the chink in his armor occurred.
A tiny opening she had used to crawl under his skin and make him
yearn for things he was never to have. He’d watched her grow from
an endearing tot to a vivacious, intelligent, woman with a mouth made
for sinning and a lithe curvy frame that caused him to become all too
aware of how little carnal knowledge he possessed.

“I know you won’t remember this, but let my words remain in

your subconscious. Say yes to Az’s offer and know that somewhere
you’ll always be loved,” he whispered in her ear. One last caress and
a gentle kiss to her cool lips were his final gifts before releasing her
soul to go to the crossroads.

****
As the darkness approached and the world around her began to

fade, Brea couldn’t help but think life was full of ironies. All her life
she’d looked out for number one, kept a low profile, did what she had
to do to survive, and avoided relationships. It figured that the one
time she broke her own rules it would lead her to a pine box six feet
deep. Her lungs were on fire as she coughed, and the metallic tang of
blood bloomed on her tongue. It was clear her time was near. She
cursed the day she allowed herself to lower her guard and believe in
love and happy endings as she yielded to the darkness.

****
The rapid blinks of her lids alerted her to the fact that she

wasn’t dead but sitting on a white pew in the middle of a large
cathedral. Confused, she attempted to piece together what had
occurred.

One moment she had been lying on the pavement taking her

last breaths, and now she was…where was she?

“You’re in purgatory,” a deep voice informed.
Her eyes grew wide as she took in the beautiful being who had

spoken. Tall and regal with pale blue eyes, black hair that framed an
androgynous face, and a set of wings that rested a foot above his
shoulders. The man before her was the epitome of what an avenging
angel should be. His features were so sharp he could have been carved
from ice, but his voice was all male. Thoughts of the life she’d led
twisted her stomach into knots.

“I’m Azrael, the Angel of Death,” he said. His glossy grey

wings unfurled to stretch out twenty feet behind him.

Yes you are, she thought.
All the Bible passages her grandmother had read about people

falling to their knees in fear when in the presences of an angel rang
true. Because right now her eyes were trained on the ground, she
couldn’t look at him head on, and she’d never felt so unworthy.

“You’re here to take me to Hell, aren’t you?” she asked. Brea

knew her life hadn’t been one of virtue or righteousness, and now it
was time to pay the piper.

“No, Brea, this is purgatory. You did much in your life you

knew was wrong, but your heart is still a good one, and you have
faith. Which is why I’m here to offer you a second chance.”

“A second chance?” she whispered, the murmured words more

for her ears than his as she slumped down in her seat flooded with
relief. The vision of a lake of fire she’d imagined she would burn in
pushed to the back of her mind. “What do I need to do?”

“Come and work for me as a reaper.”
“A reaper?” she questioned. Vivid pictures of her skin

withering away to leave behind bone replaced those she’d had of fire.

“You don’t want that, just let go. You’ve had to fight twenty-

seven long years. You can’t do more,” whispered the tiny voice that
had led her to trouble many times over.

“o!” she thought, determined to resist the fear that

threatened to paralyze her and render her weak. She hadn’t fought for
her soul in life, but she’d be damned if she didn’t do it now.

A familiar voice in the back of her mind told her accepting

was the right decision. To question her luck was ridiculous. It was
more than she deserved after all the wrong she’d done.

“Yes, a reaper. A guide who’ll take orders directly from me

and greet those who are on their way to the afterlife. For the most
part, you’re simply transport. But if He deems it necessary, a taker of
souls.”

“Do I turn into a skeleton, get a scythe and a black robe?” she

asked, shocked when his full-bodied laughter filled the empty space.

“That’s one of the many things humans got wrong. My job is

bigger than one angel, which is why there are many reapers who can
look however they wish to.”

“How long will I have this job as a reaper?”
“Until my Father deems you are ready.”
“When do I start?” she asked.
“Now,” Az said. He snapped his fingers, and a worn scroll

and a quill appeared. “This is your contract, it says you will abide by
the rules of the reaper, remaining vigilant and true to your position
until it’s deemed you’ve earned salvation.”

“W-Wait, what do you mean vigilant?”
“This is purgatory, Brea. Your soul is hanging in the balance.

My fallen brothers will do their best to tempt you and claim it for the
pit.”

“Your brothers? You mean demons!” This felt like a

nightmare. One she prayed she would wake up from. Snug and comfy
in her bed as she laughed over the strange journey her mind had taken
her on.

“Nothing worth having is every easy, Brea Tackett,” Azrael

said.

Her hand wavered as she signed the parchment before she

could convince herself to do otherwise.

“I’ve assigned Anna as your mentor. She’ll teach you all you

need to know.”

His hand gestured to the right and revealed a slender blonde

with azure colored eyes. Clad in a knee-length, cream dress and a
matching cream-colored hat with a flower on the side, she was a
frozen moment in time.

“The 20’s were her era,” Az explained before his body

vanished.

Brea’s jaw dropped.
“You’ll have to get used to his entrances and exits, honey. The

big cheese is dramatic by nature,” she stated in a drawl that sounded

straight out of an old black and white. “I know there’s a lot to take in
right now, so let’s just start with the basics. I’m Anna,” she said. Her
slender hand held out in a polite gesture was so familiar it put her at
ease.

“Brea,” she replied. Maybe she would be okay after all.

Chapter One

"Between Jobs?" Anna asked. Her eyes lifted from the mojito

she sipped and she offered a smile.

They'd gone from the role of mentor and student to something

closer to sisters long ago, and Brea often sought her out when she had
down time. Time wasn’t linear here, and though she couldn’t say for
sure how long she’d been in purgatory, it felt like years. Not that she
had complaints. It was amazing here. Whatever you could envision in
your mind was yours, and the rules were cake.

"For the moment," Brea replied. You never knew when you’d

get a summons.

The dark denim jeans and Something Corporate t-shirt

transformed into a pale pink flapper dress and feather headband with a
thought.

"You look good all dolled up," Anna complimented.
"Charmer, you always look flawless," Brea sent back as she

took in the merriment around them.

This was Anna's favorite era to visit. Which was why they

were seated at a round table covered with a scarlet tablecloth in the
middle of a crowded speakeasy. The drinks flowed, jazz played in the
background, and the men and woman were dressed to the nines. Brea
had never given much thought about it during her life, but she truly
enjoyed the 20's.

"How long have you been here, Anna?"
With her blonde hair, blue eyes, full red lips, and elfin face,

she had always reminded Brea of a fairy. Except for her eyes. Those
azure pools were filled to the brim with sadness and unspeakable
pain. You didn't often ask what had landed others to this place, but
after a time, Anna had volunteered her story.

Driven insane by grief and hunger after her family's business

had collapsed and her husband turned abusive, Anna had committed
suicide. She had leapt to her death like so many others of the time.
Now she was one of the best reapers out there, but Brea knew she'd
never be ready to move on until she dealt with the pain of her past.

"Awhile," she said. A flick of her wrist sent the rest of the

liquid down her throat, and she signaled for a refill. "Have you had
any visitors lately?"

What Az had mentioned had come to pass. At times you'd get

a fallen angel sideling up to you swearing things were so much better
playing for the other team.

"No, just Nox. They seem to give him a wide berth, so really

he's helping me," Brea said, amused.

"He's much more dangerous than you give him credit for. You

should be more cautious," Anna admonished.

It was a conversation they found themselves having on a

regular basis. Her decision to be in a relationship with Nox hadn’t
been a conclusion she’d come to lightly. But it proved impossible to
keep things platonic when their lips inevitably ended up locked
together. He’d always stood out from the other fallen angels, and
something in his spirit called to her. It was more than lust; it was
kinship. They got each other on an unspoken level that most searched
their whole life for and never found.

"His only crime was indecision, Anna," she reminded. "It's not

like he took up arms with his brethren and got cast out. He can still
visit Heaven."

"I know. I just don't trust him. There are things he's hiding."
"We all have our secrets here, Anna. Who are we to judge?"

Brea asked.

"It's not about judgment. I worry about you." Anna placed her

hand on top of Brea's and squeeze lightly. "I don't want you to give
your heart to someone who doesn't deserve it."

"That’ll never happen. My heart isn’t being offered. You

know how I feel about that," she said. Jaw clenched, she thought
about the misguided love she'd held and how it would have driven her
straight to Hell if not for her current job title. “I'll be fine."

"I know you have a good head on your shoulders. You always

did think quickly on your feet during training. ’Sides, it doesn't
matter. I say whatever the two of you have together is potent stuff. I
feel like I'm about to combust just being in the same room as you."

“Jealous?" Brea teased.
"Very."
"It's not like you can't scratch the itch. There are plenty of

reapers throwing themselves at your feet, ready and waiting to
worship you like the vixen you are."

"Well, this gal just isn't interested," Anna said with a sharp

shrug that made Brea sigh. She still had a lot of healing to do.

"There's still good out there, Anna. You'll see."
"I think you're letting your hormones do the talking."
"If I was doing that, I'd be a lot less frustrated. One look from

the man and my panties are soaked, but we still haven't sealed the
deal." She huffed, her frustration audible.

Sex wasn't forbidden here, but making love to a fallen angel

seemed very morally gray, even for a reaper. Of course that didn't
mean they hadn’t tried everything else. There were a lot more ways
to bring pleasure that didn't involve his stiff cock in her wet pussy,
though she visualized it often.

"One thing I can say about Nox is he truly cares for you.

That’s in his eyes—Duty calls," she said and then was gone.

Content to remain at the table, Brea went over their

conversation only to find her thoughts inexplicably drawn back to
Nox. He was a complication she didn't need, but she couldn't stop.
Nox had come to mean too much, and at times, she got the feeling she
was just as much his lifeline as he was hers. He was that gray area
between black and white. Logic said their relationship was forbidden,
but other than a few meaningful comments from Az, no one said
anything. Brea had decided long ago that was good enough for her.
With a rueful smile, she allowed her mind to wander back to the first
time she'd seen him.

****
Her legs ate up the brick walkway as she made her way to the

cathedral where Az liked to hold his "meetings". She pushed the door
back and froze at the sight that greeted her. ot twenty feet away
stood sin incarnate. His long, lithe body was incased in a dark pair of
slacks that hugged his firm rear, and a black button-up caressed his
broad shoulders like a lover’s hands. He was well over six feet with
alabaster skin, a shock of black hair artlessly arranged on top of his
head and across his brow. His full lips begged to be kissed. His
chocolate eyes were framed by long lashes, and his expressive
eyebrows intrigued her.

From a distance, he made desire tighten low in her belly, but

when his eyes met hers, she felt a slow, dull ache begin in her womb.
The spark of returned interest made her suck in a sharp breath as she
continued her approach. Everything about this man screamed fallen
angel, but the knowledge didn't change how she felt.

"Aaah, Brea, right on time," Az said as he waved her over.

"This is my brother, ox. ox, this is Brea."
"Hi, ox," she said, her mouth suddenly dry as she shook his

hand.

His fingers were long, slender, and slightly curved like

someone who would paint or play the piano. And as they wrapped
around hers, she was warmed by their heat. They were strong,
capable hands that led her to think very dirty thoughts.

"Hello, Brea. It's very nice to meet you," he replied in a husky

yet melodic voice that made her think of whiskey and her favorite
slow jams. Something in his stance told her his feelings mirrored her
own, and she knew right away he was going to get her into trouble.
But it would be worth it.

****
"Now that the blonde buzz-kill is gone, why don't you and I

have a chat," a buttery smooth voice asked.

Her lips turned down as she was brought back to the present

and took in her guest. "I don't remember inviting you to the table,
Boden."

"Well you girls do always like to play hard to get," he leaned

in to whisper huskily. His lips moved close to her ear as if to share an
intimate moment.

The sound of his voice should have made her melt into a pile

of woman goo. But as a reaper, she saw much more than the beautiful
façade presented. She saw the darkness that lay beneath his silky,
chin-length, chocolate brown hair, olive skin, and puppy-dog brown
eyes.

"We've gone over this many times. I don't do the coy girl-

who-says-one-thing-but-really-means-another routine. Besides, I’d
imagine you'd be tired of rejection by now."

"Oh no, that just makes the victory so much sweeter," he

rasped. The low gravel in his voice sent a chill up her spine as she
attempted to play it cool.

There were times when she could sense the darkness clawing

to get out. It made her edgy. Even in a crowded place like this one.

"Cocky," she said, a roll of her eyes the only other response

she showed. She could leave, but she'd learned a long time ago he'd
simply follow. Better to remain on neutral ground.

"This dance has been done a million times, and it always ends

the same." She sighed.

"You have to be bored with this."
"What? The 20’s aren’t your era?" she asked.
"Same job, same boring M. O. Wait on orders, transport souls,

yada, yada, yada. All the time just waiting for the day the gates of
Heaven rolled open and God announces you've finally done your
penance and earned your reward."

"And I suppose you have it better?" She snorted.
"Oh yes, I get to do things I actually like."
"Given that you're a sick and twisted individual, I don't think

that's anything to brag about." She gasped when he grabbed her wrist
roughly and moved them to a damp, dark alley.

"I would’ve raked you over hot coals a long time ago, little

girl, but apparently you’re special," he snarled. “Which means we
have to play by the rules. It also means we’ll continue to be relentless,
and this will never end until you say those three magical words."

"Three words?" she asked.
What he was doing right now straddled the line between what

was allowed and what wasn’t, bringing her to some nondescript
location that reeked of fire and brimstone and was too close to Hell
for comfort.

"Three words, Brea." He pressed his firm body against her,

and her stomach rolled. “Yes- I -will.”

"Go fuck yourself." She flinched when his eyes flashed

crimson and the air became filled with the cloying scent of power,
death, and things done in the shadows. Rules or not, she knew he was
about to cross the tenuous line he balanced on.

"I'm going to show you why you should say yes." He growled

gutturally as his voice distorted into sounds no human throat could
ever hope to make.

She tensed and prepared herself for pain. A clap of thunder

and a bright flash of lighting lit up the area around them, bringing
everything to a halt. Her head jerked to the right, and her vision filled
with a pair of black wings and a three-foot sword that blazed blue.
But it was the familiar face of Nox that made her sigh with relief.

"I’m going to give you three seconds to crawl back beneath

the rock you came out from under," he said in a dangerous tone full of
violence waiting to be unleashed.

"You won't always have the upper hand," Boden said, and

then he disappeared.

Brea’s legs gave way, and she slid down the wall toward a

heap of God knows what.

"I've got you," Nox said.
His thick arms stopped her descent and lifted her against his

body, wrapping her in a cocoon of downy feathers. The silken shelter
was a balm to her frayed nerves. Here she was safe. She tucked her
flushed face into his neck and inhaled his rich scent into her lungs,
content to allow him to care for her as they transported from the alley.

****
"It’s been a long time since I took up my weapon." His deep

voice was hesitant and soft as they appeared on the carpeted floor of
his living room. He unwrapped her, and she felt bereft the moment he
let go. Her weakness filled her with shame as she focused on the issue
and steeled herself for the argument to come. He had kept important
things from her. It was a betrayal she couldn’t overlook despite the
fact that she wanted to. She had Nox in front of her with his wings
unveiled and a soft expression on his face. The last thing she wanted
to address was lies. She crossed her arms over her chest to hide the
hardened points of her nipples and turned her attention to his weapon.

The metal blade was immense; three feet high, three inches

across and thick. Polished to a high gloss, it gleamed with a blue hue
that promised to be deadly if it touched your skin.

"Who are you really?" she asked.
She’d always assumed he was a fallen angel when he told her

he was an outcast because he couldn't choose between his Father and
his brothers. But after all she'd seen she had her doubts. The sword
was no mere trinket, and the powers he wielded spoke of someone
who still held God’s favor. It sickened her that even up here she could
be made a fool, just like before. She’d let her guard down, had begun
to trust, and here she was feeling hurt and deceived.

"He's been using you just like Ryan. You've spent all this time

here and haven't learned shit," a voice in her head taunted.

Brea held on tight to the anger that burned in her belly as she

turned to him with thinned lips stretched across her clenched teeth.

"Don’t be afraid of me, Brea," he whispered in a voice so full

of power it made a shiver run up her spine.

She did not know the man who stood before her. The

sarcastic, witty, and deliciously tempting man who touched her in all
the right places and made life bearable was gone, leaving a stranger

his wake. His chocolate eyes gleamed a brilliant amber that made his
long lashes look like soot against his luminous skin. It all forced her
gaze anywhere but on him.

"I thought I actually knew you, that we had something—” She

stopped, not about to let him see how vulnerable she’d become. "Just
answer my question. You owe me at least that much."

"I’m still the man who knows you best," he insisted.
A snort of distorted laughter was the only reply she could

muster. She refused to do this again. Her body trembled as she
remembered Ryan's callous last words.

“I hope you know this is just business, baby. You know too

much, and I can’t have that kind of liability running around. Your
heart hasn’t been in your work lately, and that’s a red flag,” Ryan
had said from his position above her with a black 9mm pointed at her
head.

“You were a good wifey while it lasts, and if it’s any

consolation, you’ll be hard to replace,” had been the last words he
spoke before he pulled the trigger, sending the bullets flying from the
silencer and into her body.

"Brea—”
"No," she spat. Her sherry brown eyes were wide as she stared

at the wall behind him, unable to meet his gaze, while the ghost of her
past tried to jump from its closet.

"Brea, look at me," he demanded. He held her head immobile

between his hands as he devoured her lips with an intensity that
bruised. Nipping, sucking, and caressing until he coaxed her lips into
response. Forced to admit defeat, her body relaxed against him and
came to life.

"Nox, I don't know you. Not really.” Her chest heaved as she

sucked in oxygen.

"You do." His fingers combed through her black silk.
"I don't even know what you are! A true fallen angel doesn’t

have God on his speed dial," she said.

"You'll find my Father picks and chooses what he does and

doesn’t do very carefully."

"More evasiveness."
"I'm not trying to be evasive, but the things you’re asking

about haven’t been spoken of in some time," he said.

His fingers unwound from her hair as he began the almost

painful process of the disentanglement of their bodies. Her arms were
beneath his shirt, her nails digging into his back, and her legs wrapped
around his waist. It disarmed her how quickly things got out of
control when he was involved. Once she was lowered to the floor,
she studied the new side of him that had been revealed.

He paced the length of the room in long, sure strides that made

her realize this was the warrior who lived inside of the man. Every
man who went into battle needed a reason to come home. Would it be
so wrong for her to be his?

"Before the war came to break the peace in Heaven, I was an

arch angel," he admitted.

She took a step away as his past threatened to bowl her over.

Reapers shouldn’t mess with fallen, but they didn’t mess with angels
period.

"What?" Her stomach balked at the idea of being with

someone who'd once held so much power. Absolute power corrupts
absolutely was more than an idealistic phrase. She'd seen it work first-
hand.

"Second in command to Michael, I did my Father's bidding for

a long time," he continued, obviously eager to clear the air.

"Then how did you become…this?" she asked, gesturing

toward the shiny black wings that piqued her curiosity. They'd felt
soft and downy cushioned around her just minutes before, and her
fingers itched to touch them. Unlike in myths, an angel's wings
weren’t always visible, and this was her first time viewing Nox's.

"When the war broke out, at first I fought for my Father, by

Michael’s side. But as it raged on and more I loved fell, I grew sick of
everything. The bloodshed, the anger, and the hate; all emotions
angels were never meant to experience. It did something…strange to
me," he said, his voice small and shaky like a confused child.

"So I put down my weapon and refused to fight. My brother

Michael barked orders and attempted to browbeat me back into the
fray, but all of his efforts fell on deaf ears. I disappointed my Father,
but it wasn't a true betrayal. So instead of casting me down with the
disobedient or smiting me, he stripped me of my title and marked me
with the wings of a fallen to show my shame to all who would look
upon me. It was merciful."

"Merciful," she whispered, mostly to herself. Bile threatened

to climb up in her throat and choke her. If an angel of the Lord could
fall out of favor so easily, what chance did she truly have of ever
being worthy in his eyes?

"one, which is why you should weigh your options very

carefully," a sinister voice in her head taunted.

"Smiting isn’t something one would ever want to endure,"

Nox said.

She swallowed to moisten her dry mouth, anxious as she

wondered, again, if she’d made the right decisions. She did her best to
follow all the rules, but at times, she doubted.

"Why would you say you were fallen?" she asked, the dark

thoughts that threatened to overwhelm her shoved in to the back of
her mind where they lived.

"There are more ways to fall than being cast into the pit,

Brea."

"I know you can go to Heaven."
"When I have to, yes."
"Wait, what do you mean ‘when you have to’?" She asked.

The wheels in her mind spun, trying to decipher what his words
meant. She felt as if a string behind her navel was being tugged, and
she cursed Az’s timing as she was summoned.

"This isn't over," she promised before answering Az.

Chapter Two

A deep breath pushed from his lungs as he sank down onto his

couch. The carefully constructed world he’d created was about to
crumble. From the moment he’d seen her in Az’s office, he’d known
staying away wasn’t an option. He had no knowledge of wooing, but
he was a master of the hunt. So he’d treated her like an elusive quarry,
appearing where she happened to be, drawing her in by revealing
common interests, and carrying on deep conversations. In the end,
she’d been the one to call him on his actions and pushed them over
the precarious edge of friendship they’d been balanced on.

****
A Year Earlier
“ox, are you following me?” she asked suddenly, making his

eyebrows raise up into sharp points.

They’d been standing on the deck of one of Az’s many

homes, engrossed in conversation as they looked out to the ocean a
few feet away. Separating themselves from the others was their norm,
so he never saw this bombshell coming.

“I’m not blind, you know,” she said. Her lips pursed as she

studied him from beneath lowered lids. “You’re always in the same
places at the same times, and purgatory is a vast landscape of
dreams. I’ll be the first to admit, I love our conversations, but it’s
time you tell me what your motives are.” She crossed her arms
beneath her full breasts in a protective gesture that made his mouth
water.

Her skin shone a warm mocha beneath the sun’s rays, and he

found himself wondering once more if it was as soft as it looked. He’d
had many fantasies about running his hands over that silken skin,
exploring every line and curve inch by inch.

“Why do I need a motive?” He shoved his hands into his jeans

to avoid the temptation swiftly mounting.

“Because you’re a man,” she countered in a bitter tone that

made his heart ache. Even here, her past continued to haunt.

“We both know I’m not a man,” he teased. His joy soared and

his heartbeat quickened when he coaxed a throaty chuckle from her.

“You’re an enigma, ox. You speak with fallen, but you don’t

act like one, never tempting reapers and holding Az’s friendship. I

know we all have our secrets, so I won’t pry. But I refuse to play the
fool ever again,” she said, turning to face him. She wore anger well.
The fiery delivery turned her whiskey brown eyes into something akin
to liquid gold and caused her lips to pucker and part as if waiting to
be kissed.

“W–what are you talking about?” He detested the way she

made him tongue-tied.

All the years he’d lived and all the powers he possessed did

nothing to help him when it came to the strange feelings she evoked. It
was like his blood was on fire as it rushed through his veins and his
skin was too tight, making him shift his weight to seek relief.

“When I look into your eyes, I see a hungry wolf waiting to

pounce on his prey,” she replied.

A deep frown marred her beautiful lips as her eyes made a

thorough examination. The intimate observation made his breath
catch in his throat, and he had to force shuttering breaths out his
mouth. His grip on control was tenuous at best.

“My question is what are you hungry for?” she asked, slowly

drawing out each word.

He leaned in to place his mouth beside her ear and ignored

the voice in his head that screamed for him to walk away.

“I’m hungry for you, Brea Tackett,” he whispered. His molten

chocolate eyes relished the shiver that visibly shook her body as he
pulled away, tossed her a wink, and turned on his heels.

“Wait!”
Her cry brought him to a halt and he looked over his shoulder.
“You’re just going to leave?” The distress in her voice

conveyed her need.

He smiled and nodded. “Before I do something neither of us is

ready for.”

ox was careful not to rush ahead and have her pull back.

He’d waited years for this, and he’d be damned if he’d let his
hastiness ruin things before they started. Patience was a quality he
had in spades. It was matters of the flesh he was hazy on. But he knew
just the place to go for advice.

****
“I don’t have much time, so listen up,” Az said. His presence

immediately brought Nox from his reverie. “You’re treading on thin

ice. What you’re doing isn’t going unnoticed. Already the whispers
have begun among us.”

“There are always whispers, Az.”
“Not like these. Not about one of us acting too human. The

rules were made for a reason. You know we don’t deal with emotions
outside of those we were created with.”

“How is it we can feel something He didn’t mean us to?”
“Look at Lui, brother. He was blinded by emotions.”
“Lui wanted to run Heaven. It’s a lot different.”
“Is it? A desire that’s all consuming and self-involved can lead

you down a dark road. If you care about Brea, would you take her
down with you so easily?” he asked before disappearing as seamlessly
as he had appeared.

****
Brea ran a wobbly hand ran through her disheveled hair,

making a valiant effort to look presentable. She stood outside the
cathedral where Az did most of his official business, and her nerves
threatened to eat her alive.

She wanted to believe the impromptu summons had nothing to

do with the person she’d just been with, but she wasn’t that naïve. Her
strength gathered around her like a shield, she pushed open the double
doors and made her way inside the empty cathedral.

“I’m here as requested, Az,” she said, her voice even. Her

steps were slow and unhurried as she strolled up the aisle to meet her
boss. But on the inside she was sweating like a sinner in church.

“We need to talk about the company you’ve been keeping

lately,” he said.

Her face went up in flames and her heart hurtled into her shoe.
“Boden singling you out is troubling,” he said. “What he did

today bordered on desperate, which means my brothers want you
badly.”

“Me?”
“Yes. There’s much you have yet to realize.”
“And you can’t just tell me because…”
“To tell you too much would be taking away your right to

choose. We both know your relationship with Nox is a very grey area,
but I will say this, he isn’t the man he appears to be. And if anyone
could see the truth about him, it would be you.”

His words confused her more than ever, and she had to bite

her tongue to keep the peace. Az wasn’t one to stand for sass. She
despised the way angels offered up information that only managed to
make you feel like you knew even less than you had before.

“Could you be more abstract, Az?”she asked, rolling her eyes.
“This will all make sense when it’s supposed to. For now, I

have a mission for you.”

“This is more than a simple reaping, isn’t it?” A strange

tension had begun to build in the air.

“Garrick Larkin is a very important man, and right now his

soul is in mortal peril. I need you to do more than return it. I need you
to protect it.”

“I don’t know anything about protecting someone, Az. I

transport souls and occasionally return them if they were taken
wrongfully or lost. That’s where my job description stops.”

“So you’re not willing to take on this task?” he asked.
She didn’t know a damn thing about being a protector. Her

specialty had been quite the opposite.

“And you were so good at it too,” whispered the dark voice

inside her she could never fully escape. She had lulled Ryan’s victims
into a false sense of security so he and his crew could come in and–

No, she wouldn’t dwell on that now. If she ever wanted to get

out of here, she’d best jump at every offer tossed her way. It was kind
of a compliment that he’d choose her when he had so many others to
pick from.

“No, I’m just saying I wouldn’t know what I was doing.”
“You will,” Az promised.
The index finger he pressed against her forehead burned cold,

and her knees buckled. Her strength of will was the only thing that
kept her on her feet as she was filled with data. The first piece of
information felt like a scalpel to the brain, foreign and painful as it
became knowledge. The facts were too numerous to glean at once, but
she got impressions. Medical terminology, angelic language, and
weaponry surged to the surface. She was going to be a real live Buffy
by the time Az was done.

“When you arrive, you’ll be flesh and blood once more.

You’ll place Garrick’s soul back into his body, and then you need to
bring him to Angel Fire, New Mexico,” he informed her after she’d
had a few minutes to regain her composer.

“How the hell am I supposed to get someone who just woke

from a coma out of the bed and on the run?”

“Have faith, Brea. I did more than give you knowledge,” he

said.

She was whisked away in mid protest.
****
Brea found herself in a hospital room and scowled.
“For an angel, you’re a real asshole, Az,” she whispered,

pleased with the knowledge that wherever he was, he’d hear her.

She turned to face the pale boy lying in the hospital bed,

bruised, battered, and hooked to monitors. She drew a blank. How
was she supposed to get him out of here without anyone noticing?

“Try asking,” Anna said.
Her sudden appearance caused Brea to jump a mile high.

“Dammnit! Don’t do that!”

“Usually you sense me coming,” Anna said, holding her hands

up in an attempt to pacify.

“Yeah well, my reaper radar is on the fritz right now,

considering…” She scowled and gestured to her corporal form.

“Yeah, Az told me about that. He also said to tell you he

didn’t appreciate that last comment,” she said, clearly amused by
Brea’s frustration.

Brea was known as someone who kept her cool. But this

whole situation had her out of sorts.

“I’m sure he didn’t. Are you here to actually help me or just

laugh at my ineptitude?”

“Is that any way to talk to your former mentor,” Anna teased.

She moved to stand beside Garrick. “I’m here to, once again, act as
your guide. Before you replace his soul, you need to heal his body.”

“I can’t…” she began, trailing off. Then, the knowledge rose

in her mind, and she leaned forward to place her pointer finger on his
temple, willing white light and healing to travel throughout his body.
She watched in awe as his bruises faded and his breathing evened.
How many more revelations was she in for?

“I take it you know where I’m headed?”
“No, I was given an order to help and nothing more. Whoever

he is, they want him badly, Brea,” she said.

“I figured as much when they sent me back here and covered

me in skin.”

“I’ll be in touch, but now I must take my leave,” Anna said

and then she disappeared.

“I don’t know what you did, kid, but you’re real important to a

lot of people. And you may very well get me killed.” Eyes closed,
she reached for the well that existed inside her chest and found the
glowing ball of white light that was his soul. “Know me and know the
truth of all that has happened, Garrick Larkin,” Brea commanded as
she sent the sphere of light back to its home with new knowledge.

“Garrick,” she whispered, cautious as his eyes fluttered open a

few moments later.

“Brea. Wait, how did I know that? What’s going on?” he

asked. His green eyes darted from left to right as he shot up in bed.
White knuckles gripped the handles of the bed, and his breath came
out in short spurts.

“I’ll explain everything later, but right now we need to leave,”

she said.

Her nimble fingers disconnected the machinery as she tried to

sooth him with her voice. The sense of doom that hovered over her
seemed to grow at a rapid pace.

“Leave for where?” Garrick asked. He was all thumbs as he

attempted to unwrap his stiff fingers from the metal bars.

“Not now,” Brea said.
She was helping him from the bed as the door to the room was

ripped off its hinges, revealing a smug-looking Boden. The hospital
alarms began to ring.

“Well someone isn’t where they’re supposed to be. Does

Daddy know?” he taunted.

Her nerves kicked into over drive as she placed herself

between him and Garrick.

“Oh please, don’t play the hero. I’d hate to have to ruin that

tight, little body you’re in,” he said, a leer on his face.

His rant gave her time to talk herself down from the ledge. She

couldn’t go head to head with Boden, but she could think her way out
of the confrontation.

“Do you really think I’d come down here unprepared, Bo?”
“You’re bluffing,” he said. The ramrod straight way he held

his body was a contrast to his words.

“Am I?” She titled her head to the side, scouring the room

with her eyes. Scenarios for escape pieced themselves together with
the items scattered around the room.

“Only one way to find out,” he replied.
The blur of motion was unexpected as he launched toward her.

The lights in the room flickered, and the dresser across the room
slammed into Boden and pinned him to the wall.

“Oh, so we’re going for the lead role as Carrie now?” he

asked. “Too much Stephen King.” His voice was a gravel-filled growl
that forced her into action.

“I’ll make a way out of here, but I need you to run.”
“Run! I just woke from a coma!”
“Trust me,” she said. Her brown eyes silently pleaded with his

green ones until he gave a nod of agreement.

“Now!” She tore a hole in the white wall behind his bed with

her powers. The dresser exploded, raining down bits of wood and
melted metal knobs.

“You know I love the chase, Bre Bre!” Boden’s voice was

distorted and low as he leapt to the right to avoid the hospital bed she
flung toward him. Garrick took advantage of his dialogue and raced
through the gap in the wall.

“Don’t stop until I tell you to!”
Her legs and arms pumped and she ignored the heated breath

she swore she felt on the back of her neck. Their game of cat and
mouse continued as she perforated wall after wall and they worked
their way down the floor, piles of debris and destruction left in their
wake.

“I can’t keep this up much longer,” Garrick huffed as they

neared the end of the hallway.

“I know,” she said.
Brea grabbed his hand and pulled them from the empty room.

Like salmon that swam up stream, they struggled against the flow of
bodies headed in the opposite direction to end up back where they
started.

“Did you really think I’d let you get away from me a second

time?” Boden asked. He stood in front of them, just as Brea had
planned.

“No,” she said, gratified when her powers wrenched open the

doors and drug Boden’s body inside. The thick elevator door banged
shut to trap him.

Gotcha, she thought.
His furious bellows chased them down the corridor. She

clutched Garrick’s arm and headed to the stairwell. She half supported
half drug the winded man down the final flight of stairs and through
the hall to the outside of the building. She sent a silent thank you to
Az when she spotted Anna in a blue Honda that had seen better days.

“He thought you might need this. It’s got a full tank,” she said.

Worry etched her creased brow as they piled inside. “Go. I’ll stall
him.”

Brea nodded, not about to look a gift horse in the mouth, and

she peeled out of the parking lot.

****
“This is all real, isn’t it? You’re a reaper and that was a fallen

angel?” Garrick asked. His voice was soft as they continued their trek
down the highway a few hours later.

“Well, Boden was a demon, but never an angel; just a sucker

that sold his soul. That he’s walking on earth is a bad sign,” she said.
Her eyes moved from him to the rear view, and she put as much
distance between them and the hospital as possible.

Brea wasn’t used to being the one hunted. It gave her a

whole new level of respect for the lives she’d ruined her first time
around. Ryan had always made her think the people he punished
deserved it. That he was just looking out for his business, trying to
keep them well fed with a roof over their head. God, she’d been so
naïve, so ripe for the picking, and ready to be whisked away from her
deplorable living situation that she’d ate it up, believed every lie he’d
spun right up until the very end.

“Bad sign?” he asked.
“Yeah, like end of the line for human kind, apocalypse kind of

bad.”

“We can’t let this happen!”
“What do you think we’re doing now?”
“Driving aimlessly,” he offered with a shrug.
“Well you’re partially right. We are winging it a bit. But I

have a destination, some help from above, and a map that’s somehow
permanently etched into my brain.”

“I don’t find that very comforting,” he stated dryly.
His tug on the hem of his paper-thin gown reminded her they

needed to stop at a Wal-Mart soon. She shrugged off her black leather
jacket and tossed it to him.

“Well it’s all I have to offer.”
“Thanks for the pep talk.”
“Anytime,” she shot back.
Her harsh words and flippant attitude must have built a

horrible first impression. This wasn’t what Az had expected when he
set her up on this mission. She owed him better. Who she was being
now wasn’t who she became once she’d been given a second chance.
This was the steel-balled bitch on wheels who had died on the
pavement cold, alone, and completely numb to everything and
everyone because she’d been damaged past the point of function.

“Look, Garrick. I’m sorry. I’m just as new to this as you are.

One day I’m minding my own business, doing reaping jobs. And the
next thing I know, I’m put on a mission and all hell breaks loose,
literally,” she said. None of this was her fault, and it wasn’t fair to
take things out on him.

“What’s with the whole reaping thing anyways?”
“People pass on and I come and collect them. No judging and

no taking them up or down, just a bridge from the living to the world
of the dead.”

“But you put my soul back.”
“You were a very special case. And occasionally, if the person

is wronged or the natural flow of things is disturbed by Lui, we’ll
make an exception and return it.”

“Lui?”
“Yeah, I’m talking about exactly who you think I am. First

lesson of Angels 101, names have power, so don’t go spouting them
out unless you know who you’re dealing with and what side they’re
on. Not that I think that’s truly his name, but I’m not taking any
chances.”

“Wait, you think it’s some sort of alias.”
“Yeah, they go by them all the time.”
“This doesn’t sound like anything I’ve ever heard before.”
“Funny thing about the truth, it’s usually not the version most

people know. Angels are definitely not cherub-faced blonde babies
flitting around spreading joy and love. Yes, many of them do good

and are the most amazing beings you could every have the fortune of
coming into contact with, but that doesn’t account for all of them.
And there’s a war going that you don’t want to get caught up in.”

“I’d say it’s a little too late for that.”
“Much too late; but I for once choose not to go gently into that

good night,” she said. The quote borrowed from a famous poem.

“Dylan Thomas.”
“Ooh a scholar, and one of Heaven’s most wanted. You’re a

prize catch,” she retorted cheekily making him laugh.

“How can you be so calm right now?”
“Calm, oh no. Inside I’m a train wreck. I just have a gift, or

sometimes curse, of using humor to help me deal. Usually drives
others crazy.”

“I think I appreciate it,” he murmured.
It was obvious he was still dazed. She’d been there before.
“Good man,” she said.
“Why do they want me?”
“That I don’t know, but something tells me we’d better find

out soon.”

“How?”
“No clue right now. All I got is an address, given to me by

another reaper, and this ancient Honda Prelude.”

“This still doesn’t sound promising.”
“You’re preaching to the choir, kid,” she said.
Brea reached down to grab one of the energy drinks they’d

bought at a truck stop. She had a feeling they’d had some help from
the winged ones with shielding, but it would only last so long. When
you really wanted to find a loophole, you could. And Lui had pretty
much made it a pastime.

The Q and A session continued as they ate up the road,

stopping only to gas up and do potty breaks. It was just past seven in
the morning the next day when weariness forced them to break, so
they pulled into a nondescript motel in Mesa, Arizona, and rented a
room. Paying with cash, they stumbled inside the dingy space and
slipped into a blissful sleep.

Chapter Three

“Brea,” Garrick’s voice repeated relentlessly, drawing her

from her sound slumber.

“Mhmm,” she groaned, forcing her sandpaper-filled eyelids to

open and peer out of the mound of blankets and sheets.

“I know why they’re after me,” Garrick said.
The confused boy from the day before had morphed into a

man confident about where he stood. His tone was smooth and even,
his entire manner altered.

“What?” she asked, confused. She sat up in bed, shaking her

head and rubbing her bleary eyes in an attempt to clear the cobwebs
that had formed in her brain.

“Chokmah came to me in a dream last night and explained

everything.”

“Chokmah the angel came to you in your dreams last night

and gave you the four-one-one on why we’re headed to Angel Fire
with the Hounds of Hell on our tale?” She repeated bit by bit to insure
she’d gotten it right.

“Yes,” he said in a Zen-like voice that made her skin scrawl.
The man showered, dressed, and seated upright in the bed

beside her was a far cry from the one she’d abducted from the
hospital.

“Garrick, is that still…you?” she asked, not sure if the angel

had done more than visit.

Because of the effect their true visage had on humans, they

often inhabited a human body to convey messages.

“Yes, I’ve just been… enlightened you could say,” he replied.
Brea raised an eyebrow skeptically.
“I’ll fill you in on everything in the car. But right now, you

need to shower and dress so we can get back on the road. The angels
are shielding our location at the moment, but they can’t do it
indefinitely.”

“Whatever you say, kid,” she replied.
She eased from bed, grabbed her duffel, and headed past him

into the bathroom. After undressing, she set the water as hot as she
could stand before slipping inside and allowing the spray to massage
her stiff muscles into submission, while she mentally prepped for the

shit storm headed their way. She stepped down from the shower and
wrapped her body in a white towel.

Her jaw dropped.
Ten feet away, Nox waited, casually propped against the wall.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“You said we weren’t finished with our conversation.” He

shrugged.

“That didn’t mean I wanted you to stalk me,” she murmured,

mindful of Garrick in the other room. “How did you find me?” she
asked, suddenly numb. She’d always known Nox teetered on the edge
of good and evil. Maybe this was where he crossed that line.

“I always know where you are,” he whispered huskily as he

approached. His relentless steps caused her to retreat until her body
met counter and she was forced to grasp the marble for support as he
pressed his length along hers.

“Besides, you’re hidden from evil, not morally ambiguous,”

he said. His reply answered the silent question that had formed in her
head.

“There’s the how, but not the why.”
“I already told you. A week ago you wouldn’t have asked me

for a reason,” he said. His rich baritone was full of regret as he pinned
her with his dark gaze.

“Nox…” Frozen by the unexpected display of emotion that

swam on the surface, she was unable to respond with a witty
comeback. A shudder rippled through her body at the vision he made
in the faded blue shirt that caressed his broad shoulders and the pants
that highlighted his taut ass and long, lean legs.

“We have a lot of unfinished things between us, you and me,”

he breathed into her ear.

She bit back a moan as the heated air teased her senses. After

all this time, he knew what she liked. Warm hands gripped her hips,
and she felt her body turn to putty when he lifted her to sit on the
counter. The coolness of the stone met her heated flesh and coaxed a
whimper from her parted lips. Her nipples pebbled in response and
her pussy began to throb with want.

“W-What are you doing,” she managed huskily as he lowered

himself to his knees. A thrill of panic and delight spiraled though her
body at the sight of her lover prepared to pleasure.

“You smell like flowers, musk, and honey. Such a delicious

combination, it’d be a crime to let all that cream go to waste.”

Her cry echoed off the walls when he tugged the towel from

around her body and barred her to his hungry gaze

“Do you know I can smell how much you want me?”
Her body quivered.
“Mmm, you have such a pretty pussy, baby.”
A growl rumbled in his chest as he spread her legs apart and

took in the smooth glistening mound wet with her desire.

“Thank you,” she whispered.
He ran a teasing finger over her swollen nub and her hips jerk.

No matter how many times they shared this intimacy, his admiration
always made her feel like it was their first. He’d been timid and
somewhat awkward when their relationship first entered physical
territory. But what he lacked in skill he more than made up for in
sincerity. No one else had ever looked at her with the worship visible
in his gaze. It almost made up for the constant sexual frustration
experienced when they stopped short of consummation.

“Anxious, aren’t you? Normally I’d draw this out, but seeing

as how we’re short on time…”

He buried his fingers into her moist cavern and elicited a gasp.

Her fingers gripped the counter for dear life, and she bit down on her
bottom lip hard enough to break the skin. She wanted to ask for more,
but fought to hold onto control. It was all a part of the game they
played.

“You’re ready for me, aren’t you, baby?”
“Yes.”
She moaned and her hips swiveled up and down in time with

his strokes.

****
He loved seeing her submit this way. Her voice strained as

she went all soft and needy. The tone she used when she begged him
for the release only he could provide was almost enough to bring him
to his own competition. Nox kept their eyes connected as he leaned in
to lave her bundle of nerves, making her buck her hips. He brought
his hand up to massage her breast.

“Nox,” Brea whimpered.

Her hands clenched in his thick hair as she slammed herself

onto his fingers. Her full lips opened in a silent plea for more. Unable
to resist her lure, he stood and moved to her mouth. The salty tang of
her flavor danced on the edge of her tongue as he consumed her and
she purred.

His agile fingers alternated between thrusts and pinches to

her swollen bud as he increased his pace. The chant of his name on
her tongue signaled she was close to climax and he pulled away from
their kiss.

“Not yet, baby, I want you to come in my mouth.”
Her pussy clamped down on his fingers in response and he

returned to his knees. His stiff tongue plunged into her hot heat, and
he moaned as her walls gripped him tight.

“Come for me, Brea,” he said against her clit.
His quick movements in and out of her slit at a speed no

human could manage sent her flying over the age. He slurped down
every bit of her release and continued to lap at her opening until she
was a boneless heap. With a final kiss to her mound, he moved back
and eased her off the counter and into his arms, inhaling her scent as
he savored the peaceful moment he knew might be one of their last.

****
“What are you doing?” She asked.
Fear filled her voice as he made to follow her from the

bathroom once she was dressed.

“He already knows I’m here,” Nox said, ignoring her protests

as he continued to follow behind her.

“Nox, you have a favor to return,” Garrick said.
The fact that Garrick knew Nox’s name and had a message

made the hair on Brea’s neck stand on end. “How do you know who
he is?”

“I know many things now, Brea,” he said.
She frowned.
“Garrick here is a prophet, isn’t that right?” Nox drawled,

clearly unimpressed.

“I see your connections in Heaven are still strong,” Garrick

said.

Brea’s neck moved from left to right in a perpetual swivel that

made her feel like she was at a tennis match. How the hell did
Garrick know who Nox was?

“We both know this isn’t about the company I keep, so why

don’t you cut to the chase.”

“Your favor is being called in now,” he said.
Nox disappeared in a flash of light.
“What was that about?” Brea asked, not fond of the tone the

mission had taken.

“He’s lost, but there’s still hope for him. You’ve seen that,”

Garrick said. His hazel eyes were filled with wisdom beyond his
twenty-one years.

“You know a lot more than you’re telling me.”
“Yes,” he agreed.
The small smile that he offered was full of remorse. But the

display did nothing to quell her anger. This had to be her true test,
because as it stood now, she wanted to kill this man herself.

“I’ll finish packing and we can go,” she said.
She turned her back away from him to help take the edge off

her anger. Right now it was all too easy to ignore the fact that she
wanted a second chance. She didn’t like being in the dark.

They’re hiding something from you to keep you cooperative,

she thought.

****
Ryan Rodriguez had seemed like a blessing from Heaven

when she’d first met him. A small-time thug with an easy smile,
muscular body, and enough power to keep all the predators in the
neighborhood away, he had been an escape from the house where she
spent as little time as possible. Her crack-head mother was often high
or raving about something. With all her other siblings long gone,
she’d been victim to her mother’s rage and maniac behavior.

Ryan had changed all that. He’d put new clothes on her back

and food in her belly. When he moved her out of her mother’s
apartment to his own, it made him her knight in shining armor.

It was that hero worship and the loss of her virginity that

blinded her to the rapid descent into the dark. It started small, running
errands, dropping of packages. But eventually it escalated to
participation of a more hands-on nature.

Sickened by the things she’d done, she was grateful when

Garrick started up a conversation.

“You’re angry.”
“No I’m not. I just don’t like being out of the loop.”

“We’re looking for the Ark.”
“For the boat that Noah built a trillion centuries ago?” she

asked.

“No, the Ark of the Covenant. The tablet with the agreement

between God and Moses inscribed on it.”

“Why?
“Because I’m a descendant of Moses. Once I renew that

covenant with my blood, a new generation of prophets and warriors
will awaken.”

“Okay, that I get. Why do they want to stop you so badly?”
“To insure their side will win. Demons are tired of living

down there in Hell. They want out. And as far as their concerned, our
world should be their playground.”

“I’m sure they’ve always felt like that. Why is everything

happening now?”

“They’ve found a loophole. Humans have free will, so a vessel

carrying a fallen angel can walk the earth. But this renewal would
help even the playing field.”

Her head was full of the new information as they drove when

a thought occurred to her.

“You know why I was chosen for this, don’t you?” she asked.
“I do, Brea, but it’s not my place to tell you. God will reveal

his plans for you in due time.”

“I think I liked you better pre-prophet, Garrick,” she said. Her

fingers cranked up the radio and a semi-comfortable silence filled the
car.

****
“I wonder what your little girlfriend would think if she knew

the dirty little secret you’ve been carrying around.”

Boden appeared before Nox, to the right of the bench he’d

been sitting on while he cleared his mind before his visit to Az.

“You’ve been a naughty messenger of God, haven’t you?

Making deals with Azrael, falling in love with a human. Quite a
conflict of interests.” He tsked then grinned as the angel pinned him
with a stare full of fury.

“I don’t now nor have I ever needed to prove anything, least of

all you,” Nox boomed.

“I wonder if Brea would feel the same way.”

“Don’t speak her name,” Nox said, his voice a deep rumble as

he stood to his full height and his dark wings spread behind him in a
show of dominance. “We both know you’re bound to the rules as
surely as I–”

“I am. But you know, you never can tell who’s going to snap

and cross that line. Of course, if you made a deal with us…” Boden
trailed off before he disappeared, his antagonist laughter lingering.

Nox’s pensive eyes studied the empty space left behind.

Boden hadn’t revealed much, which meant Nox would see him again.

****
“You know, Az, you could’ve just chimed in and said you

wanted to see me. You didn’t have to make Garrick your middleman,”
Nox said as he appeared in the Cathedral where Azrael waited.

“It wouldn’t have lent the same dramatic flair,” Az said with a

shrug.

You’re placed in charge of life and death and suddenly you

have a somewhat inflated sense of self, Nox thought, rolling his eyes.
“What’s the favor, Az?” Nox asked, ready to end the theatrical
display created by the silence that stretched out.

“I want you to protect Brea twenty-four seven until this

mission is complete. I get the feeling she’s going to need it, but be
careful you don’t cross a line you can’t come back from,” Az
cautioned.

“What’s in it for you?” he asked, suspicious. Everything Az

did have a purpose.

“You agreed to do whatever I asked without question,” Az

reminded.

“When do you want me to start,” Nox forced through clenched

teeth as his temper threatened to rise.

He’d been among humans too long, and when he spent time

with his brethren, he felt it. They weren’t in touch with their feelings
the way humans were, but he was a different case. After he’d been
stripped of his rank, God had used him predominantly to
communicate with humans and keep the balance between Heaven,
Hell, and Earth as a sort of enforcer.

“Now,” Az answered, and he placed Nox inside the blue

Honda.

“Az, you’re an asshole,” Nox whispered aloud.

The unexpected presence made Brea and Garrick jump in the

front seats.

“Nox!” Brea roared.
“Don’t kill the messenger. This was Az’s idea,” he shot back,

furious at the position he found himself in.

He and Brea together were like a lit match close to dry

kindling. It was inevitable the two would meet; the brilliant blaze that
followed sure to consume everything around them. Trapped in
close quarters with her on a daily basis was more than he could resist.
His morals might be low now, but he knew he was about to sink
lower. Angels weren’t meant to poses carnal knowledge. It was the
one thing that made him keep a strangle hold on his base instincts.
Rules were often bent, but that wasn’t one that went unchecked.

****
“Glad to see you’re back with a sunny disposition,” she

scoffed.

Shamed by her outburst, she focused in on the road. Her

contempt was unwarranted. The bitter comments in her mind were a
defense mechanism. Which was useless when the thing she fought
was herself.

It would be better if she kept her mouth shut. She had this

whole turning over a new leaf vow to live up to. She hated the raw
emotions Nox always managed to evoke in her. From the moment
they’d met, Brea had felt like she’d known him her entire life. The
rare occurrence had led to her letting down her guard in a way she’d
never been able to with anyone else. At times, it was a gift, but lately
it seemed like quite the curse.

“I think you should inform her of the changes that have taken

place,” Garrick said.

The shady suggestion hit her the wrong way. “What are you

talking about?” She cut her brown eyes cut in his direction.

“I’m with you until the mission is completed,” he mumbled.
“Aces,” she shot.
Brea cranked up the radio with a vicious turn of the dial and

snorted. Highway to Hell filled the car, triggering a bout of hysterical
laughter.

“I hope this isn’t a hint,” Garrick teased.
She wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes. “There

might be hope for you yet, Larkin.”

“I think you’re starting to rub off on me.”
****
“Did he react as I predicted?” Lucifer asked. His eyes lifted

from his desk as his most successful servant took a seat across from
him.

Boden had gotten every soul he’d ever been assigned to

tempt. It was an impressive feat. One that almost made him wish he
was a fallen angel himself. Except that much ambition could be a
dangerous thing. No, having his soul under lock and key was a much
better option.

“Yes,” Boden replied.
It wasn’t like Lucifer to follow the rules down to the letter or

hold back when he wanted something. But he’d been working on
Brea for a long time. He wasn’t going to ruin all that hard work now
by jumping the gun.

“Good. We’ll need Brea on our side to turn the tables. And if

she falls, my brother will follow,” Lui assured.

An arrogant leer curved the ends of his mouth upward. Sooner

or later, he always got what he wanted. Nox had kept him from
receiving her when he should have. But in the end, it was the love he
held for her that would bring her back to Lucifer. It was almost poetic,
really.

Truth be told, Lui would much rather have Nox by his side

than against him in battle. And not just because he was wicked with a
weapon. Nox managed to still hold a fondness for him as a relative.
His brother had always played the middleman between Heaven and
Hell, making sure the rules were followed. But Brea Tackett had
changed everything. Nox’s strength and loyalty coupled with Brea’s
gift could be the key to getting out of this pit and up onto the surface.

“Tonight you’ll visit her in her dreams and see what makes the

spitfire tick.”

“It will be as you say,” Boden agreed. He stood and delivered

a stiff bow before he turned on his heels and walked out of the office.

Chapter Four

“Figures. Even in my dreams I can’t catch a break,” Brea said.
The sight of Boden with his cupids bow and his lips spread

into a predatory smile caused her to groan.

“Maybe this is just your subconscious telling you exactly

what you want,” he countered. The deceptive cheer in his tone earned
a scowl.

The Wild Animal Park had always been a place she loved to

visit. But to be seated on a bench beside Boden was surreal.

“You might be stunning on the outside, but I can see what lies

beneath. And it’s nothing I’d touch with a fifty-foot pole,” Brea said.

The dilapidated form inside the man screaming for attention,

love, and acceptance made her feel cold. She wasn’t sure what Az had
done to her when he’d tapped his finger on her forehead, but it had
boosted her natural pension for reading a person’s true self. It was one
of the many reasons Ryan had always taken her with him to important
meetings.

“At least the façade I present is my true one. We both know

Nox has been keeping you in the dark. Are you really going to put
your neck out there for someone who can’t even tell you the truth? I
know I wouldn’t.”

“I’m sure he has his reasons,” she answered. Careful not to

show she had doubt. The questions she couldn’t answer were so
numerous she felt like she would drown. She’d thought that love
transcended all once, simply to be let down. Only a fool would make
the same mistake twice.

“Your faith would be admirable if it wasn’t so misplaced,” he

said. “You make a deal with us, and all of this could disappear, trying
to prove your worth, being stuck in limbo. Don’t you miss being able
to do what you want when you want? Imagine a life with no
limitations.”

Humiliation swept over her as parts of her perked up to

consider the offer. No matter how hard she tried, she was never able
to rid herself of the traitor that lived inside her mind.

“I know how much of a struggle it was for you during life

trying to be so good but failing time and time again because that
sinister hunger inside you demanded to be fed,” Boden said.

The accurate words took her by surprise. She gasped. How

could he know that?

“Just let go and embrace that darkness, Brea. Let it take you

over and never look back,” he insisted.

Unable to contain her curiosity, Brea tilted her head to the

side. A mental battle waged as the devil on her shoulder began to
speak. What he offered was so easy. The lies he packaged so prettily
wrapped she was unable to walk away.

“You must be lost,” a familiar voice boomed.
The reprieve Nox provided was a necessity to her survival. A

reminder of all she stood to lose. It was the perfect wake-up call.

“Oh, I’ll be going. I’ve done what I came to do.”
“One day there won’t be an exit,” Nox said. He stalked

forward as Boden disappeared with an insolent wink.

Nox turned to place a hot hand on the small of Brea’s back.

“Are you okay?”

As an angel, his core temperature was hotter than a normal

human’s. One of the many things she lo—liked about him. The
passion he invoked had always screamed more than lust. But his
rescue of her from Boden in the alley clarified that it was more than a
sexual attraction.

“Yeah, he didn’t try anything…”
His behavior had been odd. It wasn’t like Boden to just leave.
“I don’t understand what he’s up to,” she said.
“I know why he was here,” he admitted.
His chocolate eyes flashed to gold as his powers rose around

them. The electricity zinged through her body creating tiny fires that
licked at her flesh. The outline of his wings flickered behind him, and
her core dripped in response. It was rare that she saw him like this.
But every time she did, it was all she could do to keep from rubbing
her body along his like a cat in heat.

“When you were alive, I was your guardian angel.”
His announcement stunned. But more than that, it glued the

pieces together. That was why he’d always felt so familiar. Why
would he hesitate to tell her that? It wasn’t like she blamed him for
the road she’d taken in life. There had always been an angel on her
shoulder warning her against poor choices. The voice of the little
devil that goaded her into action had simply been more enticing. The

fact that Nox knew all her dirty deeds made her nauseous. How could
he stand to look at her?

“That’s not all, is it?” she asked.
Her heart sank into her belly like a stone when he shook his

head no.

“No. When you died, I asked Az to offer you a job as a reaper.

In return, I owed him a favor. Which is why I’m here now,” he said.

The truth cut her to the quick. Even her second chance had

been a farce. Without his interference, she’d be trapped in the pit with
those she was hunted by.

“I should have known better than to trust you. Ever since we

met it’s been nothing but smoke and fucking mirrors! I thought
maybe here things might be different, so I took a chance, let my guard
down, fell for you. And this is where it gets me.”

“What did you just say,” he asked. His body was still as a

statue, and his guttural tone sent up red flags.

“I said I should have known better.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about,” Nox said.
He moved to crowd her. His face so close to hers their lips

almost touched. The sexual tension mixed with her anger and made
her unsure if she wanted to leave or wrestle him to the ground.

“I won’t be dismissed because you suddenly feel

uncomfortable, when everything about our relationship has thrown me
out of my element,” he said. “I’ve watched you your entire life, seeing
a man not worthy to kiss your shoes put his hands on what I
considered mine. Now that I actually have you in front of me and you
feel the same way, you aren’t going anywhere.”

“You can’t keep me here.”
“We both know I don’t need to keep you by means of physical

restraint,” he said. The hard tone in his voice told her he refused to
give an inch.

“No, but you forget, this is my dream,” she snapped. Head

held high, she squared her jaw and willed herself to wake.

****
She came to in a cold sweat and cursed the angel in the other

room that was connected to hers by a door. At this moment, the metal
entry didn’t seem a big enough safeguard.

“Fuck!” The swear felt good on her tongue but did nil to help

her return to sleep. Insomnia was always a good way to finish an
argument-filled night.

“I told you that one was trouble,” Anna chimed.
Startled, Brea jump up from the bed.
“Maybe next time I’ll listen,” she replied. “Not that I’m not

happy to see you, but what are you doing here?”

Her body was heavy with sleep as she stood. She stretched her

stiff arms over her head in an attempt to limber up.

“Az sent me. He said he had some information you might find

interesting.”

“What?” Brea asked.
You never really knew what you were going to get with Az.

He could be easygoing one minute and a real hard-ass the next. Not
that he’d see it that way. Angels thought differently than humans.

“Angels were never meant to know our kind of love. It makes

them unpredictable, overwhelms their thoughts and their senses. And
with the powers they’re capable of wielding, you could see how it’d
make for a dangerous situation.”

She turned her body away to hide her grief-stricken

expression. Her eyes closed against the pain that exploded in her
chest. The only answer was to let Nox go. But the thought left a black
hole where her heart should be.

There were times when she thought she wanted to kill him,

sure. But at the end of the day, they always found their way back to
one another. In her entire life, he was the one thing she thought of as
being truly hers. How could she be asked to give that up? On the other
hand, how could she be selfish enough to let him suffer because of
her? It was a catch twenty-two.

“Tell him I got his message loud and clear,” she said. Her

throat swelled as she choked back tears.

“I’ll tell him,” Anna said and then she exited.
Dazed, Brea backed up to sit on the edge of the bed. She

rested her elbows on her knees and hung her head. A prayer for
guidance and the strength to do what was right rested on her lips. If
God wanted her to be at her lowest in order to build a new foundation
from the ground up, he’d succeeded.

****

“What’s wrong?” Nox asked. His body was an unexpected

fixture as he appeared on the floor in front of her.

“You shouldn’t be here right now.”
“Wherever you are is where I should be. Especially when

you’re upset like this.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you weren’t supposed to be with a

human?”

“Because I knew you’d react this way. I was damned the day I

fell in love with you.”

“I refuse to let you do this.”
“It’s already been done. The question is, are you going to let it

destroy what we have now? We’re trying to prevent the end of the
world, Brea. If we fail, I want to have known at least some
happiness.”

“I’m not worth what you’re risking,” she insisted.
“You’re everything,” Nox said. His gentle hands cupped her

face as his eyes bore into her. The intensity of the power that radiated
from him made her tremble. It was a tangible heat that tore at her
desire to do the right thing. He’d never gone angel with her when they
were like this.

“Nox,” she said.
“Lenox. I want to hear my true name on your lips,” he

whispered.

The trust he honored her with was a painful blow to her

resolve. How could she deny him this?

“Lenox,” she said, feeling her panties grow moist as the ache

in her center spiraled out of control. His touch heated her skin, and the
vibrations in his chest reminded her of how human he wasn’t.

“Will you have me?” he questioned.
Just let me have this one thing, and I’ll quite him cold turkey,

she thought.

“Yes, Lenox,” she whispered. The sound of his given name

was decadent, like a rich wine on her tongue. It had a weight and
power to it that spoke of his age.

What followed next wasn’t words but movement. He moved

like a shadow, his pace too fast to track as he came to kneel beside her
on the bed. His sharp teeth sank deep into the flesh of her neck and a
flash of lighting hot pain swept its way through her body. It felt like
she had swallowed the sun as a violent orgasm ripped free. Her

scream was the last thing she registered as she saw white behind her
lids and her mind went blank.

****
When awareness returned, she was naked, legs sprawled wide

while Lenox feasted on her like a buffet. The vision of his dark head
buried between her thighs combined with the torture he inflicted on
her swollen clit was enough to bring her back to the brink. The
delicious licks and flicks of his tongue had her fingers clenched in the
sheets. Her head tossed from side to side as she rocked her hips,
desperate for completion. He must have sensed her eyes on him,
because he pulled back and gave her a predatory smile. The flash of
white was luminous in the darkened room.

“You’re mine now, Brea Tackett. I’ve marked you.” His sharp

nails buried into the flesh of her thighs as he watched her expression.

“What do you mean you marked me?” she asked.
“That heat you felt was my own personal signature.”
The angelic words that poured from his mouth must have been

too old for her to properly translate. Because what he said made no
sense.

“Now that you know I’m going to claim you—”
“Claim me?”
The scream of ecstasy that fell from her mouth emptied all

other thoughts as he plunged into her depths. He rode her body with
hard, sure thrusts. The inhuman growls and grunts were an erotic
symphony to her ears. Her hands roamed his sweat-slicked back as
she did her best to keep up with his break-neck pace. The sex
bordered on violence as he lifted her legs over his shoulder to
penetrate deeper. Each stroke placed her on the cusp of pain as his
dick hit her cervix. This first time had been built from too many
month of frustration to be filled with soft-spoken words and gentle
caresses.

“Lenox.”
Her voice sounded strained and raw as he filled her full with

not just his cock but his power. Her breath stuttered from her chest as
he gripped her hips, moving her to keep time with his crazed pace.

“You feel so good,” he said. “So much tighter and wetter than

I ever dreamed.”

His fingers spasmed and she knew he’d leave bruises. The

thought of his fingerprints on her skin made her whimper.

“Harder, please harder,” she begged.
The slap of skin on skin became a strange aphrodisiac as they

moved together on the border of pleasure and pain. A pressure unlike
any she’d ever felt gathered at her center. Every emotion she held for
Nox released in a powerful spray of cum as her walls tightened
around him. The feel of his thick shoot of semen inside her an
exquisite gift.

“You have been claimed, Brea. Leaving is no longer an

option,” he whispered.

****
“You realize last night changes nothing.”
Brea kept her back to him a she eased the black tank top over

her head and down her torso. She felt as if her soul was exposed. But
there was no help to be found for her attachment now. She’d passed
the point of no return long ago. They both had. Though the words had
never been spoken, they both knew it. Love had been her downfall in
life, but she refused to let it be his now.

“Did you hear anything I said earlier?”
“Did you hear what I said? I refuse to be the reason you get

cast down.”

“Why do you care, Brea?”
“What do you mean why do I care? We’re friends!” she

snapped.

Her promise to let him go was a bittersweet contradiction to

the love she felt.

“Is that all we are? Friends?” The venom present in his voice

was like a knife to her heart.

“What do you want from me?” She whispered brokenly.

Couldn’t he see she was doing her best to protect him?

“The truth.”
“I’m not lying!”
“Yes you are. Maybe by omission, but its lying nonetheless.

Why can’t you just tell me?” he pleaded.

“Because I can’t.”
The forlorn expression that crossed his face in response to her

words completed the extraction of her heart from her chest. She
would die a million deaths like the one before if only she could avoid

this moment. To see the only person she ever truly loved being ripped
to pieces because she couldn’t say the three words etched in her heart
was too much to bear.

“You can’t choose for me,” he said. His large hands rotated

her body to face him.

“No but I won’t be a willing participant either.”
“What was last night then?” Nox asked, his thick brows

arched in query.

“A mistake that won’t happen again,” she vowed.
“I meant what I said, you’re mine.”
“I’m not an inanimate object.”
“And I’m not human,” he countered. “What I did last night

cannot be reversed, and the sooner you realize we belong together, the
better off we’ll both be.” His boots pounded a staccato onto the floor
as he stormed past her and slammed the door.

She struggled to slow her erratic heartbeat as she found the

strength to resist the urge to race after him and smooth the rough
waters. There were a million moments, shared kisses, coveted glances
and make-out sessions cut short that had led up to last night. But the
alternative was unacceptable. The sooner they got Garrick to Angel
Fire the better.

She quickly gathered her things, eager to put the hotel room

that held too many memories behind her. Once inside the lobby she
laughed aloud at the sight that greeted her. Garret held a carton of
coffee and a box of donuts, a wide grin carved on his well-rested face.
He appeared to be on a road trip with friends, not on a race for his life
with the balance of the world in his hands. Maybe it was a good sign.
He knew a lot she didn’t.

“They delivered,” he explained.
“Let’s hit the road,” she said.
Brea kept her swagger intact as she strode toward the car, head

held high and eyes straight ahead. The words “never let them see you
sweat” fresh in her mind.

****
The view of Brea’s ass as she sashayed to the car like she

didn’t have a care in the world made Nox’s blood heat to a boiling
point. How could one human turn him into knots? He felt like he was
ready to come out of his skin, and she looked as if she could care less.
He’d been among human for longer than he could remember. He’d

held a number of different titles; watcher, protector, and messenger to
name a few. But from the moment he’d been assigned to Brea, none
of that had mattered. Everything had changed. She evoked emotions
in him he didn’t know he was capable of. His love bordered on
obsession, and yet he could do nothing to stop the possession that rose
where she was concerned.

The sunlight playing on her raven locks was an invitation to

curl a finger around a silken strand. The sharp press of his nails into
the flesh of his palms was the only thing that stopped him. It was like
being a child allowed to taste sugar for the first time. It was sweet on
your tongue and sent a shock wave through your system that left you
wanting more.

Chapter Five

If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself,

Lucifer thought, tired of waiting for Boden to complete the task he’d
been given.

With a snap of his fingers, Lui was transported outside of the

family style restaurant where Brea sat alone, waiting on the boys to
return to the table. Clad from head to toe in a crisp white suit and
matching loafers, he made his way inside, freezing the patrons and
time with a thought.

****
“Brea, this meeting has been a long time coming,” he said

jovially, a smile on his lips as she looked up at him.

One look at the impossible beauty of the man before her and

Brea knew instantly who he was. His hair was the color of midnight,
slicked back and curling around his ears, and his eyes were an
impossible shade of blue. The face was one that would make any girl
weak in the knees, strong jaw, high cheekbones, and full lips that
promised hours of pleasure.

“What do you want?” She asked nervously.
“Just to talk,” he said.
His graceful air made his steps appear to be glides that never

quite reached the ground. Her knees knocked together as he moved to
sit across from her in the booth.

“I find that really hard to believe,” she said, sure he knew she

literally shook in her boots.

“You’ve been around long enough to know I must abide by

certain rules, so relax, finish your meal,” he said. Lui sent a careless
gesture toward her half-eaten grilled cheese and fries.

Afraid to anger the powerful being in front of her, she picked

up one of the slices with unsteady hands and brought it to her mouth.

“I just don’t want to see you make the same mistakes I did,

placing your trust in someone who’s only going to let you down,” He
shook his head in a sympathetic manner. “I gave Him everything I
had, and I got cast into the pit for my trouble. Do you really think he’s
going to grant you that second chance?”

“You never know until you try, right?” Brea asked. Her keen

eyes watched his every move as her body remained tense and ready to
spring into action.

“I wouldn’t make you give up Lenox. I want to see my brother

happy. He’s done his duty for a long time. He, more than anyone,
deserves to be rewarded,” he said. “You know I still love my brothers,
but he’s the only one who doesn’t despise me. I like you, Brea.
You’ve got a sense of humor, a tough attitude. You’d be a good
addition to my staff. All you have to do is hand over Garrick and join
me.”

“I’m going to have to respectfully decline that offer.”
“You won’t always,” he assured her. “Remember I gave you a

choice.”

Lui glanced up and grinned at Nox as if they were old friends.

“Lenox, it’s been too long.” He seemed oblivious to the way the angel
glowered down at him as he rounded the corner, sword drawn. “I was
just leaving, but I’ll be back later.”

“Are you okay?” Nox asked just as the windows in the diner

exploded one by one.

Instinctively, she dropped her body to the floor. Her hands

covered her head and she tucked her body into a ball to avoid the
glass that rained down around them.

“Cover, Garrick!” she called, crawling her way past the booths

on her belly.

The building shook and the wind outside blew fast and hard. It

sounded like a locomotive was about to barrel its way through the
walls. Most would think it was a tornado, but she knew better. Now
that they had a location, they were coming for them.

Brea rose up on her feet when she reached the end of the aisle

and leapt into a dead run to follow Nox, who ran just ahead of
Garrick. The prophet’s face was slack jawed, and his green eyes were
wide and shell-shocked. Poor kid had come out of the bathroom to
this.

“Our car won’t make it in this!” Nox cried as they exited the

rear entrance and struggled against the wind that threatened to bowl
them over.

“I’ll procure us a new one,” Brea said.
Her eyes scanned the lot and she was drawn to the black

Escalade parked a few spaces away. Always nice to see a skill she’d

acquired previously could be useful now. It made her feel like there
was a bigger plan at work.

“I know stealing isn’t the way to go, but you asked me to keep

Garrick safe at all costs.”

Her arms shrugged free of the leather as her jacket slid down

her arms, and she wrapped it around her hand so she could punch out
the window.

“Get Garrick as far away as you can. I’ll handle this,” Nox

said.

The reaper on a mission was quick with a curt nod as she

forced her body to continue forward despite the protest that rested on
the tip of her tongue.

“Garrick, get into the front seat,” she commanded.
She opened the door and pulled the wiring from beneath the

dash, starting the car in a minute flat.

“Thank God you were a criminal once,” Garrick said.
“Right,” she agreed.
The sound of tires on the pavement and the smell of burned

rubber filled the air as they peeled out of the parking lot. The
restaurant lit up like a firework, and she wondered when she’d see
Lenox again. Every mile they drove with no appearance of Nox made
the anxiety level in the car rise.

“Do you think we lost them?” Garrick asked.
“I’m not sure,” Brea said.
A cry tore from her throat as she swerved to avoid hitting the

figure that suddenly appeared in the road just ahead. A sharp jerk of
the wheel to the left wasn’t enough to avoid the crash. The impact of
the body against the windshield caused a deafening crack. The wheels
locked, and the car skidded along the road. The slow rotation through
the air ended in an explosion of metal and glass as the car hit the
blacktop. She prayed Garrick had fastened his seat belt. Dazed and
bleeding from nicks inflicted by shards of glass, she opened her eyes.
Disoriented, it felt like she was trying to swim up from the depths of
murky waters as she fought to regroup.

“Garrick, are you okay?” she called, turning her stiff neck to

view her unconscious passenger.

The blood rushed to her head as she braced her hands against

the roof to give herself room to maneuver. Brea glanced out the

window and panicked as the body she’d struck began to unbend and
rise.

“No,” she whispered. Her stomach clenched as the outline

turned into a familiar figure clad in black.

“Garrick, wake up!” She was desperate now. Her hands

tugged against the restraint that had become a noose as she recognized
Boden.

“I told you one day you wouldn’t be able to escape,” Boden

said, smug and arrogant as he knelt beside the window. “Is that gas I
smell?” He snapped his fingers and a flame sprung to life twenty feet
away.

Her heart leapt into her throat as a million thoughts raced

through her mind. Is this how her mission would end? Premature and
up in smoke. It would be so easy to just give in right now.

Failure is not an option, she thought. Even if this was the end

of the line, her death would be honorable.

“Seems like you’re in a pickle, Brea.” He leaned in to caress

her face. “I almost feel sorry for you, being stuck with such a piss-
poor excuse for a protector,” he said, the taunt directed at a now
conscious Garrick. His hazel eyes were free of fear as he returned
Boden’s stare. She couldn’t help but feel proud.

“You have nothing to say?”Boden continued.
Brea lowered the hands she’d used to brace herself against the

roof and reached inside her jacket, thankful for the time his arrogant
rant gave her. Her slim fingers grasped the vial she’d placed on the
inside pocket and popped the cork. She freed them from the seatbelts
as she tossed the holy water holy water directly onto his face.

“Run,” she yelled, rolling toward the window.
Their limbs scrambled across the ceiling. Boden’s screams

echoed through the car, and she prayed the lead they’d gained would
be enough.

Wobbly legs carried them toward the wooded area that lined

the road where they regrouped.

“How far away from the city?” she asked.
Brea disregarded the branches that scraped at her skin and

tugged at her hair.

“What?”
“You’re the navigating prophet. How far are we from the

city?” she repeated.

They needed to cover as much ground as possible. But if they

were headed the wrong way, it would be counter-productive. Angel
Fire had been a thirty-minute drive from the restaurant, so she knew
they were close. It would take Boden a few minutes to recover from
his bath. But once he did, he’d be after them with an axe to grind.

“About ten miles.”
“In which direction?” she asked.
Their pace slowed as he pulled his cell phone from his pocket

and they got their bearings.

“This way.” Garrick veered to the left. “How do they keep

finding us now?” he asked as they continued at a grueling pace.

“Because Lui has gotten involved,” she said. A brief summary

of the past events brought him up to date, her words a replay of
everything that had happened in the diner.

“I’m not so sure it’s just me they’re after,” he said.
“What do you mean?”
“All roads seem to lead back to you with Boden, Lui, and

Nox.”

“Because I’m your protector,” she said.
The excuse sounded weak even to her ears. She’d always

known there was more to this mission than Az had explained. But as
time passed, she’d begun to think there was more to her period.

“Is that why?” he asked.
“You have something you want to say to me?” Brea asked,

arching an eyebrow.

“Just giving you some food for thought.”
“Anyone ever tell you you’re a bad liar?” she asked.
Her concentration returned to her foot placement as a slip

almost sent her down the incline face first. Reaching out to grab a
branch to steady her way, she focused on the trek.

****
“What are you doing, Lui?” Nox asked.
One minute he’d been rushing back into the café to fight off

Boden, and the next he was here across from Lui.

“Do I need a reason to see family?”
“Yes, you do,” Nox said. “We both know you can’t keep me

here indefinitely. But a lot can happen between now and then, so let’s
cut to the chase.”

“So businesslike. I thought you were more acclimated to your

surroundings these days,” Lui taunted, rising from the leather chair
he’d been lounging in and striding toward Nox.

“Is that what this is about? You’re still jealous of humans?”
“Jealous of them? They’re less than nothing, and yet they have

everything we don’t. The ability to choose their own path, to love
unconditionally, and experience carnal pleasure with no
consequences. Can you actually tell me that doesn’t bother you?”

“It’s not my place to question His will.”
“You would say that. The one who was allowed to lay down

his weapon and not be cast into the pit with the rest of us.”

“Just because I’m not down here doesn’t mean I didn’t fall.”
“Maybe not yet, but we both know it’s just a matter of time.

You claimed her. Does she even know what that entails?” Lui asked.

His eyes filled with glee when Nox shifted his weight

nervously.

“I’ll take that as a no. She has no idea she’ll gain memories

that aren’t hers, her powers will increase exponentially, and she’ll
become capable of conception. Or maybe that’s your plan, to leave
something behind of yourself after you’re gone,” Lui said.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I know everything there is to know about wanting what

you’re told you can’t have and saying fuck the rules.”

“The only things that come out of your mouth are lies, Lui.”
“We both know that’s not true. I may omit, but I never lie.

Besides, lately I’d say you’ve been doing the same thing. Wonder
how Brea will feel about that?”

“Don’t talk about her like you know her.”
“You think you’re the only one who watched over her all this

time. She’s a player in Daddy’s game; save the world or watch it burn
to the ground.”

“This isn’t a game.”
“It is for us. Our lives will continue as they have been,

unless…I win,” he said suggestively. “Imagine a world where I ruled
and we could live as we please for once, experience all those decadent
emotions.”

Lui’s eyes closed, and the angelic look he wore reminded Nox

that he was the most beautiful angel ever created. It always made him

laugh when he saw the cartoon version of his brother, all red skin and
hooves. In reality, he would put any model or actor to shame.

“If you changed all the dynamics already put into place, you’d

be unhappy with the end result.”

“Why do you say that?” Lui asked.
“Because if you destroy what you covet, what will be left for

you?”

“Paradise, brother.”
“I think we’ll just have to agree to disagree,” Nox said gently.

He’d always felt sorry for his brother because he truly believed
everything he said.

“Are you going to tell me about Brea?” he asked. You never

knew what you were going to get with Lui.

“Hmm, I’ll give you some of what I know, but not all. That’ll

take a deal to pry from my lips. Beautiful Brea has a special
something about her that can be used to sway the balance to one side
or the other. It’s all to do with the genetics. You know there’s power
in the blood.”

“You want her?” Nox asked. His jaw clenched and his hands

balled into fists.

“On my side, not under me. As far as that goes, I could care

less whose bed she warms. No, I want to keep her away from them.
As long as that happens,” Lui said with a shrug.

“I’m listening.” Nox said.
****
Brea wiped the sweat from her brow and paused to lick her

chapped lips. The sun beat down on her face, and the heat and
humidity made her shirt stick to her body.

“I think we should rest for a minute,” she whispered. Her chest

strained as she sucked the thick air down into her lungs.

“Agreed,” Garrick said.
His form bent in half and he placed his hands on his knees.

The pace they’d set was tough, and it went unsaid that the safety of
their destination was worth the pain their bodies were in.

The prick is probably toying with us, she thought.
The holy water had been a last minute emergency store, and

with everything back in their wrecked vehicle, they were like sitting
ducks.

“What’s he waiting for?” Garrick asked exasperated.

Their apprehension built with every step closer to Angel Fire.
“Maybe on an order,” she said.
The memory of Lui’s promise to return was all too vivid in her

mind.

“You were always a smart girl,” chimed the seductive baritone

she prayed she’d never hear again. “Are you sure there’s nothing I can
get you? A bottle of water, a car, a revoked order to a very pissed off
Boden? He really didn’t appreciate your little trick,” Lui informed
her.

“Well it wasn’t meant to tickle,” she replied.
Her eyes widened and filled with disbelief when he threw his

head back and chuckled. She’d met a lot of angels and demons. None
acted this way. It was clear Lucifer had gone around the bend and
never came back.

“I really do like you, Brea. You got moxy,” he said.
His exquisite face was filled with sincerity and affection. Had

Lui really just use the word moxy?

“That’s why I’m giving you another chance to agree to a deal.

I don’t even want your soul.”

“Then what do you want?” she asked.
He was like a street vender with a deck of cards. No matter

how legit it seemed, you knew somehow you were getting screwed.

“For you to turn around and get as far away from Angel Fire

as you can.”

“Just walk away?” she asked.
“Just walk away and don’t look back,” Lucifer said.
His green eye sparkled with hope, and the beauty shook her to

the core. That someone so evil could look like this was a mockery. It
was easy to see how one could be mislead by him. Brea started to
think she had been one of those people.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” she said, sure her refusal would be

the final nail in her coffin.

“You continue to disappoint me. All that potential wasted.” He

sighed.

Lui snapped his fingers and conjured Boden beside him. His

amber eyes were ablaze with anger.

“One word from me, and he’ll rip you to pieces,” he promised.
“Always did want to go out in a blaze of glory,” Brea replied

dryly. She pasted a smile on her face and winked to accompany her

feigned bravado. She wasn’t going to make the same mistake. The
easier path was rarely the right one.

Chapter Six

“Boden, convince her,” he said.
A throne appeared, and Lui sat back like a Roman spectator

overseeing a gladiator match.

Bloodthirsty bastard, she thought.
“I’m going to enjoy this,” Bowen said. His vengeful eyes

convinced her she wasn’t prepared for the onslaught that was destined
to start any minute.

“I’m not going to let you have him,” she vowed.
“B, catch,” Anna said from beside her as she tossed a weapon.

The silver sword stood about three feet tall, glowed an eerie blue, and
had a jewel-encrusted handle.

“This is an angel’s blade,” she whispered, shocked the metal

didn’t burn her flesh as she grasped it instinctively. “I can’t wield
this.”

“Yes, you can,” Anna said and then she was gone.
“Show her no mercy!” Lui yelled, infuriated by the recent

development.

Like a wave coming to shore, Bowen descended on Brea with

a single-mindedness that terrified her. Their blades clanked and
clanged as he came at her like a tornado, and she amazed herself by
holding her own. She didn’t know anything about swords, but
somehow her body knew how to thrust, parry, and dodge to mostly
avoid the sharp edge of his blade. They circled one another with
heavy breaths. Wary eyes sought any weakness available. Her arms
ached, her ribs cried for relief, and blood oozed onto her clothes.

“You can’t win this,” he boasted.
“Are you trying to convince me or yourself?” She taunted,

suddenly able to see the insecurities he kept hidden inside. He was
terrified of failure and weakness. From the moment he’d sold his soul,
he’d focused on being at the top of the food chain, and now all of that
was in danger.

“I know you’re scared, little girl,” he said.
“So are you. You’re afraid to fail. To be tossed back on the

bottom of the pile, just another insignificant man. Just like in life,”
she said, knowing she’d hit her mark when he tensed.

“Shut your mouth!”

His war cry filled the air as he charged her once more. His

skill in swordplay forced her to her knees. When his weight pressed
down on the sword he held against the one she had raised above her
head, she went for his heart with her words.

“Do you really think defeating me will change anything?

You’ll still be trapped in a constant struggle to keep your place. To
want what you can’t have is a recipe for disaster. Angels are created
by God, which means you can never be as they are. What do you
think he’ll do to you when you fail?” The muscles in her arms
screamed for relief as her entire body shook with the effort to hold the
sword.

“Give now, Brea, or I’ll command him to strike,” Lui said.
“Then do it!”
Her eyes remained locked in a stare with Boden, and time

seemed to stutter and slow to a pause.

“That’s enough, Lucifer,” a voice boomed. The tinge of power

in the air made all turned their heads.

“Michael.” Lui rose from his thrown and unfurled his large

black wings like a gothic flower. The shadows he cast spread across
the barren landscape as he took up a sword so black it stood out
against the shadows.

“She has denied you for a third time. You’ve lost,” Michael

said.

It was clear Michael wasn’t impressed or intimidated when he

flung Boden across the dessert toward his master with a casual flick
of his wrist. “Because you say so? When have I ever listened to you,
brother?”

“Don’t make me smite you, brother,” Michael said. His eyes

were sad as the clouds began to roll across the sky to weaken the
sun’s rays.

“I don’t answer to you anymore, remember?” Lucifer’s eyes

burned a brilliant crimson. The same hell-born energy crackled up the
length of his black blade, and the wind howled.

“As you wish,” Michael said.
His frame yielded a light bow before he raised his hand and an

ivory blade appeared, glowing with the white light of the righteous. A
stillness fell over the land as the sun was suddenly swallowed whole.
All heads look up to see Nox fly into view, all thirty feet of wingspan
outstretched as he landed between the two prepared to battle.

“Be still, brothers. Now isn’t the time or the place. You know

the rules, Lui,” he said in a deep voice that Brea had never heard him
use. This was Lenox devoid of any emotion and intent on his
business.

“What are you doing? I thought we had a deal!” Lui raged.
“Did we?” he asked, his dark head inclined to the side. “I gave

you what you needed, an impartial ear to hear you. But I agreed to
nothing. You’re so blinded by your arrogance you always miss what’s
right in front you.”

“You can’t have what’s rightfully mine!” Lui yelled. His

beautiful face twisted and distorted into something almost grotesque
as hate and anger bleed from his every pore.

“Leave us,” Nox replied. The wave of his hand was enough to

make Lui disappear and Brea’s jaw hit the floor. “Help them recover
the artifact, Michael. He won’t be bothering any of you today,” he
said.

Michael graced him with a smile that made Brea want to cry.

Their true beauty was really too much to behold.

“It’s good to see you restored to your former glory,” Michael

said.

The words sent Brea into a panic. Restored? Was he back on

the payroll?

“Who said I ever left it behind completely?” he asked.
Nox’s regal form was gone before Michael could reply.
“Looks like your boy’s moved up in the world,” Garrick said.
“He’s not my boy.”
“Isn’t he?”
“Brea, you saw into his heart. Was there anything left to be

redeemed?” Michael asked.

Her eyes bulged out of her head at the sight of Michael

standing above the disgraced Boden, his pure white sword poised
about the demon’s neck ready to deliver a deathblow. As the painful
events that led him to make his deal played in her head, Brea sighed.
Far be it for her to pass judgment on a lost soul.

“Yes,” she said, nodding her head.
“Your life has been spared. Remember who stood up beside

you in your time of need,” Michael said. He sheathed his sword at his
side. A snap of his fingers had Anna beside him.

“You’ll come with me now,” she said and they both

disappeared.

“Come,” Michael said.
His steps swift and sure as he walked off. His poise was that

of a general. Back straight, hands at his side, and face stern. It was
clear he expected them to follow without question. A look exchange
between Garrick and Brea conveyed neither wanted to ask him
anything. The blond angel didn’t seem to be the type to appreciate
that.

He came to an abrupt halt a few moments later and turned to

face them. “It’s here,” he said.

“Garrick, your mission is complete. We’ll uncover the artifact

and you’ll go on to help the other prophets. But, Brea, we still have
much to discuss. Your path is still undecided.”

The word undecided seemed ominous to her. After all she’d

done, her way to redemption should be paved in gold or at least
yellow bricks. A deep frown creased her mouth as Michael produced
a shovel.

“I’ll get the Ark,” Garrick said. His pale hands gripped the

wooden handle and shoved it into the ground with the same
exuberance of Neil Armstrong on the moon. There road had been a
rocky one.

“Walk with me,” Michael said.
Weary and uncertain of her future, Brea kept pace with his

long-legged stride. When they came to a stop some distance away, she
almost wished she was back in battle with Boden. Michael was
surrounded by an aura of power that made the hair on her neck stand
on end. He presented a calm face, but it was clear he could turn
deadly in the blink of an eye. There was no mistaking him for any
other angel.

“Don’t fear me, Brea. You’ve done well, and my Father is

pleased.”

“H- He is?” she whispered, unable to hold his bright blue gaze

for more than few seconds.

“Yes, you’ve exceeded our expectations.”
“You guys gave me the mission knowing I’d probably fail?”

she asked.

“We knew failure was a possibility. But this journey was

about more than Garrick. It was about you unlocking the powers
inside you and choosing which side you would wield them for.”

“Wait, unlock?” she asked. “When Az touched me, he didn’t

lend me power?”

“No it was always your birthright to claim. That pull you’ve

always felt toward the darkness is imbedded in your blood.”

“In my blood?” she asked.
Uneasy as the oddities she’d always possessed began to point

in an unwelcomed direction.

“Your line is descended from a nephilim,” he said.
The knowledge was so heavy she took a step back to keep

balanced on legs that trembled. What did that mean for her? What
was she? Half human, half angel? Nephilims were a legend whispered
about among them. She’d never met anyone who’d ever seen one.

The rules about fraternization between humans and angels

were still fresh in her mind, thanks to Az. “I thought that wasn’t
allowed,” she said.

“You should know better than most some things that happen

aren’t part of the rules, but have their purpose,” he said, eyes alight
with knowledge that made her look away mortified.

Yeah, they knew about her and Nox. Whether he was saying

they would turn a blind eye or that it was meant to happen she
couldn’t say, but she sure as hell wasn’t going to ask.

“I can’t be the only one like this.”
“No, but yours is the only line sprung from Lui,” he said.
The confession rocked her. Lucifer was her great-grand? No

wonder he’d come up from the bowels of Hell to collect her
personally. She heard voices. Did bad things because she couldn’t
control herself. He’d come up to collect her himself. She’d always
known there was something wrong with her. Why hadn’t she figured
this out before now? What person had to fight tooth and nail to do
what was decent? One who held the blood of a demon in their veins,
and not the run of your average mill variety. The phenomenon had
lessened with her position as a reaper, but she knew it would never
dissipate completely.

“There’s more, but it’s not my place to say. Your mission has

been completed, for now. So I’ll allow Az to inform you of the rest,”
he said. The bow that followed was yet another shock to her system.

“And Garrick?” she asked, not about to be dismissed without

knowing the kid would be taken care of.

“He’ll be fine,” he assured, a hint of pleasure that she’d

inquired about her friend present in his tone.

“Thank you,” she said.
The familiar tug just below the navel blossomed to signal she

was once more on her way to purgatory. Brea was unsurprised when
she found herself before Az.

“You did good, kid,” he said.
Nice to know even with the possibility of the apocalypse just

around the corner her boss remained the same.

“Thanks, Az,” she whispered tiredly, her voice weary as the

energy she had rode ebbed away.

Today had been a victory. Good had triumphed over evil. And

yet all she could taste in her mouth was ash and despair. She felt
empty and worried for Nox. She had never imagined she would
have to hurt so damn much to keep him safe. “I know you’re
wondering if this is “It”. And the truth is, you passed the test, so if
you want to ascend you can.”

“I hear a huge but in that sentence.”
“My Father has a job position he’d like you to fill,” he said.
“A job,” she mused. “Doing what? I mean, I’m not exactly the

poster child for obedience.”

“No, but you are the perfect candidate for the Harbinger of

Truth.”

The what? she thought. It wasn’t a job position she’d ever

heard of.

“Your ability to see what’s inside a person would make you

invaluable in the fight to keep the apocalypse at bay. There will be
many more like Garrick who will need protection and guidance.”

“Me a guide?”
“Look at what you accomplished with Boden.”
“What exactly happened to him?”
“He’s been offered the same chance at redemption you had,”

he said.

Talk about a one-eighty. Now that she knew what had

happened to Boden, what about Nox?

“You’re thinking about him,” he said, his words a statement as

he faced the white elephant in the room head on, as was his style.

“I guess now is as good a time as any to drop the pretences,”

Brea admitted. She folded her legs beneath her as she eased to sit
down on a pew.

“You know his claim over you is visible for all of us to see.”
The sentence made her gasp. What she’d mistaken for her

flawed translation of the angelic language had been fact.

“What!”
“That it hasn’t been mentioned or condemned means

something,” he said.

If the quick rush of words was meant to reassure her, they

failed.

“Az, how can an angel mark anyone?”
His lips pursed shut as silence fell around them, and her body

began to tremble. Fists balled, she stood. Her movements deliberate
and slow as she stared her boss down.

“Stop with the riddles, Az. I’ve earned that much.”
“You have, but first things first. Do you accept your new

title?” he asked, arching a brow.

“You know I do,” she muttered. Why act like she had a

choice?

“Excellent. It might help you to know that this position puts

you on the same level as angels,” he said.

“Wait. That means Nox and I—”
“Yes, I think you should tell him yourself,” Az said.
A wink was the last thing she saw before he disappeared,

leaving Nox in his wake.

“Lenox,” she said, almost afraid to believe he was actually in

front of her. The man she loved was no longer prohibited. His wings
were stretched out behind him, the black silk a picture of beauty as
they ruffled. “You’re okay.”

The need to touch him for reassurance set her feet on a course

straight toward him.

“Yes, my Brea, now that I see you unharmed I am,” he said.
They met in the middle and he took her in his arms. She

buried her face in his neck and snuggled closer. Her nose inhaled his
scent of sandalwood and sin. Relaxed and untroubled for the first time
in months, she seized the moment. Her hands crept up to stroke a
feather the way she’d longed to since she first saw them. Her
movements were light and tentative as she explored.

“I like it when you touch them,” he whispered.
“I can see that,” she teased.
This magnificent man was hers for the taking. The thought

made her belly tighten and her throat grow dry. She wanted to
continue her examination of his wings, but knew it would lead them
in the wrong direction, provided he still wanted her. She forced her
hands to her sides and stepped back. The unexpected action earned a
look of complete confusion.

“We need to talk.”
As much as she wanted to forge ahead and let the passion take

over, there were things she needed answers to. No one had been clear
about what a claim meant or why it was done. She also needed to
discern if he had known about her relationship to Lui. If the answer
was yes, there’d be a problem.

“Did you know I was related to Lui?” she asked.
His lowered jaw and wide eyes were a better answer than he

could ever provide.

I guess Daddy doesn’t tell him everything, she thought.
“No, but it would explain why I was put in charge of you in

the first place,” he answered. His voice was thoughtful as he closed
the distance between them and trailed his fingers in her hair.

“Why?”
“Most of the humans I guard are special in some way, be it

visions or some holy mission.”

“You didn’t think it was odd that I was just normal?” she

asked.

She gaze at him from beneath lowered lashes, the repetitive

motion of his fingers on her scalp a balm to the hurt the past had
caused.

“I never did anything I should have with you, Brea. You’ve

been the exception to the rule from the day you were born. Your little
fist wrapped around my heart and refused to let go.”

“How can you say that? After all I’ve done—” Her voice

cracked as she shook her head, unable to continue.

“I can’t say, Brea. Why does anyone love another person? I

marked your body, claimed you in the way of my people because
you’re a need I will never satisfy.” The fingers that had been stroking
her hair gripped it tight. “Do you understand, Brea? Not a desire or a
want, a need, something essential for survival.”

The hunger in his eyes was so potent her juices soaked

through her underwear to her jeans. Her legs clamped shut in an
attempt to pacify the ache. Just one more question and she’d give in to
what they both longed for.

“The claim.” Her voice croaked as she latched onto her last

link to sanity.

“Do you want to know what it looks like?” he asked.
He lowered his lids and leaned in to press his full lips against

hers; every utterance a butterfly kiss that made her core contract.

“It’s an iridescent aura that covers you from head to toe,” he

said.

Her hair was released as his hands wandered to her hips. Nox

brought her body against his with a rough jerk. The bulge in his pants
was substantial, and her fingers itched to cup him.

“B-but what does it mean?”
“That I’d kill to protect you,” he said.
She’d always had a thing for a man who knew what was his

and protected it at all costs.

“But what—”
“Later.” Velvet wings wrapped her tight to his body and they

were off.

“It figures you’d bring me here,” Brea teased.
“For an angel, you’re pretty naughty.” The cream-colored

walls seemed to close around her as he growled in his throat.

“Are you telling me this isn’t where you want to be?”
“No,” she said.
He was so tall and she felt so small. Logic told her his stature

hadn’t changed. But the vibe he had tapped in to made him seem lean
and powerful like a cat ready to pounce.

There had been no time to study his changes in the hotel room,

but now that they were unhurried, she was fascinated.

“My power influences you now,” he explained. “Its call can

make you act…different. I’ll change back.”

“No!”
She liked the way she felt, the heaviness of her breast and the

prickles along her skin.

****
“You want me to stay like this,” he asked huskily as their

eyes met.

“Yes.” The bold purr of her affirmation was followed by the

trail of her nails down his chest.

“M-most people are scared of me when I appear this way,” he

admitted. His eyes darkened with lust as his muscles jumped in
response to her nails along his abs.

“We both know how different I am.”
“Yes, we do,” he said.
The unexpected feel of her teeth on his hardened nipple

through his t-shirt made him jump.

“I’m tired of talking, Lennox.”
All five of his senses told him the words she spoke were an

understatement. She was so drenched by cum her jeans were soaked
from her pussy to her upper thighs. The heady scent intoxicated him.
Her regular floral bouquet was now mixed with something spicy and
dangerous because of the claim he held on her body. Claim. The five-
letter word in reference to her made his cock achieve an almost
painful hardness.

He wanted to give her gentle, but when her hand reached

down to massage him through his pants, all that went out the window.
He bucked against her hand as his mouth came down to devour her
plump lips. His teeth bit and his tongue soothed the sting. The need to
mark her tempered his every effort. Drunk off her lips, he moved to
nip her ear and down her neck, sure to dig his teeth deep and leave a
purple bruise behind. It was a sick sort of necessity, but this was what
it meant to love an angel. Deeper emotions, longer stamina, and a
bunch of unknown factors. It wasn’t like there was a handbook they
could refer to.

The mewl she released when he laved her pulse point made

him growl.

“Those clothes need to come off.”
Buttons flew and cloth ripped as he removed the barrier

between them and tossed her to his bed. His now amber eyes glued to
her coffee skin as he undressed. The purple bruise had bloomed nicely
and was stark against her skin. He knelt on the bed and crawled his
way up her body. The heat that rolled off her elicited a moan, already
she’d gained angelic characteristics. Impossible as it seemed, the
thought increased his desire. Her hips jerked up to grind against him
as her slim fingers twined in his hair and yanked.

“I need you now, Lennox!”

****
Brea’s eyes closed of their own accord when he teased her

with his cock. The swollen head pushed less than an inch inside of her
before it was removed. The movement was torture. She needed him to
fill her achy pussy and send her over the edge.

“Are you sure you want me this way?” he asked. The sounds

that left his throat were strange and inhuman.

Every aspect of his appearance was otherworldly. His

chocolate brown orbs shone gold, his wings spread out behind him,
and his skin incandescent. It was an irresistible combination that made
her want to crawl inside his body and live.

“Yes.” She raised her arms to wrap around his neck and pull

him down so she could sink her teeth into his skin. Turnabout was fair
play. The roar he issued next made her threaten to orgasm.

“I don’t think I can be gentle,” he cautioned. His body was

covered in sweat and shaky.

“Then don’t be.” She raked her nails down the length of his

back and he shuddered. His hands white-knuckled as he gripped her
hips too tight and she whimpered.

“I tried to tell you, Brea, tried to warn you what being with me

like this would be.”

“I can handle it, Lennox,” she said.
Her heart stuck in her throat as her body tensed in anticipation

of what was to come. She wanted to be loved hard. It was like his
madness had somehow seeped inside her.

“I want it.”
Her nails sliced through the skin on his back just enough to

draw blood. A cry of protest came from her lips when he pulled
away. But a smile stretched wide when he flipped her onto all fours.

A large hand shot between her legs. Nimble fingers rubbed her

bundle of nerves as her hips rotated against him and he plunged inside
her. His engorged cock penetrated deep.

“Yes!”
The walls of her cunt gripped him tight. Her hands clutched

the sheets as she balanced on all fours and swung her hips back in
time with his rhythm.

“Harder, Lennox!” Her back lowered and her ass lifted into

the air as he drove into her.

“Grab the head board.”

The adjusted angle lined him up with the spot that shot sparks

off in her body, and the added sensation of his hands on her sensitive
breast did the rest.

“I’m going to come.”
“Do it! Come for me, baby, come all over my cock.”
She caught him in a death grip. Her walls quaked and he thrust

his way through it all. The bed rocked and creaked as she clutched the
metal frame in an attempt to remain upright. She squeezed the walls
of her vagina tight and encouraged him with words she knew he liked.

“I know you want to come in this pussy.”
The deep groan and painful jerks of his hip followed as she

continued to coax.

“Whose pussy is this, Lennox?”
“Mine,” he said through gritted teeth. His control relinquished,

and she felt the warmth spread in her womb as he filled her with seed.
Brea slumped back into his chest, her body spent.

“Love you,” Lennox said. He wrapped his arms around her

waist and maneuvered them to lie side by side on the bed.

“And I love you,” she admitted, out loud, for the first time.
Her heart rejoiced as she basked in the warmth of his body.

The wings that wrapped around them both like a warm blanket
created an intimacy that couldn’t be described. Brea had never felt so
close to another person. Really she’d earned more than redemption.
She’d gained love and acceptance. Granted she was a freak of nature
with Lui’s blood, an angelic mark, and a job title that made her an
angel’s equal. But she had a place to belong with Nox, and maybe that
was enough to make up for everything else.

The End

Evernight Publishing

www.evernightpublishing.com