Angel Fire: Angel Fire, Book 1

by Johnston, Marie

  He stood proud, his chest puffed out. “If I take a pair of wings, I make damn sure the angel deserves it.”

  “I told him everything. I hadn’t gotten to talk to the senate yet, and I wanted to make a deal with Winger but he had a better idea.”

  “Y’all needed to know who the dirty senators are. The ones gunning for Bryant’s wings would be the best clue.”

  It seemed a bit drastic. Odessa waited for the rest of the story. There was still Winger’s presence and the duffel bag, but nothing changed that Bryant had been found guilty of murder and his wings had been cut off.

  “Winger also told me a tidbit about the wings.” Bryant gestured to Winger to finish the story.

  Winger leaned down to unzip the bag. Odessa gasped. Pewter colored feathers popped out of the opening in the bag.

  “I’m under strict orders to keep each set of wings for a full twenty-four hours. No one’s ever really said why, but I’ve gleaned enough to suspect”—he pinned Bryant with a hard look—“strongly, that it’s a preventative measure, a grace period. In case a de-winging was ever deemed a mistake.”

  Odessa couldn’t believe it. “Do you just pop them back in?”

  The male chuckled. “Nah. I assume we use the mate’s healing ability. If there’s no mate, I bet it’s like a warrior. A sync brand would appear if the fallen is destined to be saved.

  Falling was an angel’s biggest fear. To know that it was reversible, to an extent, would radically change how it was viewed. Or not. Twenty-four hours wasn’t much time.

  Her heart launched into her throat. “How long has it been?”

  “Twenty-three hours and ten minutes,” Winger answered.

  She rushed past Bryant to stand by Winger. “We need to hurry. What do we need to do?”

  Winger raised a sardonic eyebrow and glanced at Bryant.

  Bryant shuffled forward, pain shining in his eyes with each step. “Are you sure, Odessa?”

  Of course, she was. Then she saw past the pain, past the concern, to the insecurity underneath it all.

  “You didn’t know if I’d agree to help you get your wings back.” Odessa was crushed. How could he think she was that shallow? She—

  “I wanted you to have a choice. We have our list of suspects—for certain Senator Kenton. The investigation could go on without me. I’d be fine here.” He stepped closer to her, but stopped. “I didn’t mean to worry you. Honestly. You weren’t supposed to see any of that. After Winger dropped me”—he glared at the angel—“in fucking Calcutta—”

  “Kolkata,” Winger interrupted. “I had to make it look real.”

  “He was going to get you and tell you our plan. See if you were…” Bryant drifted off.

  “See if I was willing to save you?” Odessa asked, bitterness lacing her tone.

  “But you were here already.” His brows drew down. “Did you really plan on living here in secret?”

  “Yes,” Odessa snapped the word out. “Because I love you. There. There’s my choice. What’s yours?”

  “Make it quick, ’cause time’s running out.” Winger could talk all he wanted, but Odessa was intent on Bryant and he was focused on her.

  “You love me?” Bryant echoed.

  Odessa gave him a look like duh.

  He shuffled the rest of the way to her. “I’ve been too afraid to acknowledge my feelings for you. If I did, and you didn’t return them, I’d be destroyed. Wings or not. I love you, Odessa.”

  Happiness and relief filled her. She would’ve been okay if he cared for her, if she was important to him. But love was divine.

  Bryant reached for her face, she leaned in for a kiss when Winger’s throat clearing interrupted them.

  “Tick-tock, people.”

  Odessa broke away but didn’t miss the promise to pick up where they’d left off in Bryant’s gaze. “What do you need us to do?”

  “Bryant, stretch across the table. I’ll plop your wings back in and Odessa will do her healing mojo.”

  Bryant got into position, Odessa knelt next to him.

  Winger dragged the wings out of the duffel and gave them a little shake. “I hosed them off. Hope that didn’t mess anything up.”

  “It’ll be a miracle if this works anyway,” Bryant grumbled, draped over the table.

  She gently lifted his shirt and pried away the blood-soaked rags. “You were a miracle for me when I needed one.”

  A choking sound could be heard from Winger. “Can you two hit pause on the lovey-dovey until I’m gone?”

  “You don’t want to hear how I didn’t know I had a favorite color until I looked into Odessa’s eyes?”

  A warm glow filled Odessa. She knew Bryant was teasing Winger, but there was truth in his words.

  “God, no. I might take my own wings.” Winger hefted Bryant’s pair. He leveled them over the holes in Bryant’s back and placed them in.

  Bryant jerked, his body going taunt. Right now, there was no healing. Just an object getting shoved into his wounds.

  Odessa flared her wings over Bryant and leaned in. She concentrated on the ripped flesh in his back.

  For a few terrifying seconds, nothing happened. She squeezed her eyes shut and thought about how much this male meant to her.

  A deep moan emanated from her mate. “It feels like my back’s covered in angel fire.”

  Did that mean it was working? She concentrated harder.

  “Think about his wings.” Winger spoke in her ear. He was standing over them, holding Bryant’s wings in place. “Think about repairing his tissue, healing his wings back in place.”

  Odessa did as instructed. She envisioned Bryant’s back like a well gone dry. As his wings were poured in, his skin and bones, and tendons took them in, greedy for the substance. She pictured the wound closing around the base of each appendage, sealing stronger than before. Finally, she thought of what Bryant looked like, wings proudly flared—breathtaking. Her heart skipped a beat.

  A deep groan vibrated through his body. Odessa opened her eyes and leaned back.

  She watched as Winger tentatively let go of Bryant’s wings.

  Another rough sound came from Bryant. “If it worked, I might need a wing sling for a while.”

  A wide grin spread across Winger’s face. “Congrats, dude. You’re the first angel in history to be re-winged.”

  Odessa spread her fingers over the feathers, smoothing them under her hand. She couldn’t believe it. “We did it,” she breathed.

  “You did it.” Bryant shifted to look at her. Love poured through his gaze. “Have I mentioned how in love I am with you?”

  “On that note.” Winger grabbed his duffel and shook his wings out. “I’m outta here. Rest up for a day and I’ll talk to Senator Naasim. Come find me and we’ll take down Stede and Senator Kenton.”

  Winger stepped out on the deck and disappeared.

  Odessa continued to stroke Bryant’s feathers. He grabbed her hand and they both stood.

  “I need a shower.” He led her to the bathroom.

  Odessa gave him a stern look and tried to break away. “You go clean up. I want you to rest.”

  The look he turned on her was pure fire. “I don’t need my wings for what I have planned.”

  Her breath hitched. She tugged on the belt to her robe and it fell open.

  An ardent smile spread across his face. “Now that is a sight worth falling for.”

  Chapter 30

  Bryant glanced between Senator Naasim and Director Richter. Or rather, former Director Richter.

  “You’re in charge now.” Leo Richter made a disgusted noise. “I can’t. I can’t even fucking walk. How can I lead the warriors?”

  “You can still get around. Your wings—ˮ

  The bitter male interrupted with a disgusted sound. “They’re no good indoors. Fucking wings. Why wasn’t it those that burned? Then maybe Millie wouldn’t have to care for me like a baby.”

  The director’s reaction took Bryant by surprise. He couldn’t
blame the guy, he was still in a bad place after his injuries. But Bryant was damn glad he had his wings.

  He was more than a little concerned about Richter. The male wasn’t merely his boss, he was a friend. Bryant had lost enough friends to angel fire, damn if he’d let Leo give up on life.

  “Look, sir. I realize you’ve got some shit going on. I’ll give you time to work that out, but don’t think for one minute, I’m staying in the director’s chair. The fire took your legs away. It didn’t take your brain.”

  He stood up because he anticipated the male to either get very angry or very morose. The answer was definitely angry.

  Taking a gamble, he decided to plant a seed in the director’s mind, using the male’s own words on him. Ones he heard himself not too long ago.

  “You can still live a fulfilling life, even without legs. Many humans are good at it.” Staying would be pointless. Richter had his mind set. For now. Bryant turned to the stately senator who’d been watching the exchange. “I’ll be back after we get shit with the senate straightened out. Ma’am?”

  Senator Naasim adopted a demure smile, nodded toward Richter, then followed Bryant out of the room.

  “I must say Warrior Vale, you are an excellent choice for Odessa.”

  Damn right. “Why do you say that?”

  “You don’t desert the people in your life. You care deeply and are an honorable male.” She sighed heavily. “I wish I could say the same about her parents, unfortunately… She and Felicia were both abandoned.” Senator Naasim shook her head, her silver hair glinting in the light. “I knew something must’ve happened for the Montclaires to change like that. If only Kreger had said something.”

  “I agree.” Bryant descended the stairs next to her. “But if I were to put myself in his shoes, he didn’t know who he could trust. He was doing the only thing he knew to keep them safe.”

  “True. I assume you told Winger to approach me because I advocated for Odessa during your trial.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Good choice. Let us grab Odessa and transcend ourselves to the auditorium. The other senators probably have their robes in a bunch since I’m late for session.”

  They collected his mate and arrived in front of the doors of the auditorium. The two guards looked back and forth between Bryant and Odessa, unsure of what to do.

  Bryant twitched his wings in irritation. It was highly satisfying to see their disbelief. Even more satisfying when they eyed Odessa warily, afraid she’d strike again.

  “Move,” Senator Naasim commanded with so much authority, Bryant almost sidled away.

  A blink of uncertainty and then the two males shifted out of her way.

  Bryant opened the doors for the two females to enter.

  Chatter ceased as soon as Bryant entered. The shock was palatable. He could feel their gazes move from him, to his wings, to Odessa, back to his wings. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Winger off to his right with a shit-eating grin.

  “What’s the meaning of this?” Senator Kenton sputtered from the middle.

  Senator Naasim strode toward him. “Senator Kenton, it seems you’ve been keeping a secret from us.” The male’s face turned gray. Senator Naasim walked around where he stood so she could address the crowd. “It would seem Odessa Vale uncovered a conspiracy in the human realm. A plan between the fallen James Hancock and a senator to ally with demons and find a way to cross the Mist to Numen. Care to add to their findings?”

  Gasps and chattering surrounded Bryant. He doubted any of them would have believed him if he brought the news to them at his hearing. Confronted with a fallen who’d gotten his wings back, they were more inclined to listen.

  “That’s preposterous,” Senator Kenton sputtered.

  “Is it?” A female senator stood. She was older than Bryant, but in human years, only looked to be in her thirties. “My mate was a cheater and liar who put our realm at risk. Why would he change among the humans?”

  Chanel Hancock gazed imperiously around the crowd. Her hair was a darker blond than Jagger’s, and her eyes were a golden brown.

  “He goes by Jameson Haddock,” Bryant spoke up. The crowd quieted again. “He’s amassing a human following. Humans that are willing to host demons and hunt angels roaming the earth. Once a watcher became suspicious, she brought her concerns to Odessa’s supervisor. You remember, the one they say died of suicide? No Numen is safe.”

  Senator Kenton snorted in derision. “And you say it was all a part of a big, bad plot between me and Haddock.”

  Bryant glared at the male. “Funny how you adapted to his new name so quickly.” Kenton’s face went from gray to angry red. “Cal Estevan gave Odessa the assignment. She gave him her findings. The next day, he was dead. That night, humans attacked Odessa. The watcher, Magan, was hunted and killed”—Bryant paused for dramatic effect—“by Haddock.”

  Voices rose, none believed him.

  Figured.

  Bryant shouted over the noise. “My team has verified this.” Silence fell again. “We’ve also confirmed that Haddock has discovered a way to inhibit ascension. We need to move on this situation. Now.”

  Senator Naasim spoke up. “In light of this news, I move that we approve Director Richter’s recommendation that Bryant Vale fills his position as Warrior Director. I also move that we have a hearing, immediately, for Senator Kenton.”

  “This is nonsense,” Kenton shouted. “This male killed one of ours.”

  “Nope, sorry.” Bryant flared his wings out, making more than just Senator Kenton jump. “Someone stole one of my weapons from the rubble of the mansion.”

  “My father’s last words to Bryant were instructions to watch over me.” Odessa had everyone’s avid attention. “Fourteen years ago, my family was attacked. My father was told it would happen again.” Her accusatory gaze landed on Senator Kenton. “He was ordered by someone in this room to send Bryant’s team on a fool’s errand. You see, fourteen years ago, his team of warriors were chasing an archmaster that was hunting angels. We think it may be the same archmaster working for Haddock and Kenton.”

  “This is ridiculous,” Senator Kenton scoffed. “We need to call in the enforcers.”

  “Yes, let’s call them in,” Senator Naasim agreed. “Especially Enforcer Stede. He should have a hearing, too.”

  A frail senator sitting in the front row stood. Bryant had heard of Senator Thomas, the oldest senator serving Numen, but he’d never seen him.

  From the way the crowd quieted, even Senators Kenton and Naasim, the male commanded a large amount of respect.

  “I move,” Senator Thomas said, “to hold Senator Kenton and Enforcer Stede until we’ve heard the full story from Warrior Vale.” He made a motion with his hand.

  Bryant jerked around when he sensed movement, but it was just Winger descending through the senator’s seating. He was heading straight for Senator Kenton.

  Alarm filled the senator’s face. He charged for the exit, catching everyone by surprise. Once he cleared the doorway, he disappeared.

  “Coward,” Bryant heard from the crowd.

  “Go find Stede,” Senator Naasim commanded Winger.

  Winger inclined his head. “Ma’am.” The angel strode out of the auditorium.

  Stede would be gone. Bryant planned to comb through the intentions of every angel residing in Numen. He’d make sure this realm was safe from traitorous motivations.

  That is if he became the director, if the senate believed him.

  Senator Thomas hushed the crowd again. “I move to find out what Director Vale has to say and how he plans to keep this realm safe.”

  * * *

  Jameson Haddock stepped out of his Maserati. The phone call he’d gotten summoning him to the desert meeting spot was more than foreboding. Now he was cranky because his car was all dusty.

  The two angels anxiously awaited his arrival surrounded by an air of complete arrogance. Idiots. White robes in red dirt.

  Why would Stede be h
ere? Jameson had never liked the male and was glad he usually went through Andy.

  “Gentlemen.” Jameson leaned against his car and crossed his arms.

  “We have a problem, Haddock.” Senator Kenton ran a hand through his hair. “Do you know anything about fallen getting their wings back?”

  Jameson raised a brow. Don’t they think he’d have a set if it were possible?

  “Something about a mate being able to heal them?”

  Jameson barked out a laugh. “I don’t think my dear Chanel would’ve been so willing to oblige. I take it your plan to de-wing Vale…”

  Kenton emphatically shook his head. “We thought we succeeded. Convinced the senate he killed his mate’s father. I stood five yards away as his wings were hacked off. Then the next day, he shows up with his mate and starts naming me as your Numen accomplice. They were going to hold me and Stede, to be put through a hearing ordered by that old bastard Thomas.”

  Stede scowled, his gaze jumping between them. Jameson watched the two males calmly.

  Fools, the both of them. “They were going to hold you for a hearing, to determine if you were guilty, and you what? Disappeared? Confirmed your guilt by running?”

  The two males looked at each other.

  Stede spoke up first. “We couldn’t risk losing our wings. Once Winger got ahold of us, we would’ve been done.”

  Ah yes, Winger. Jameson’s back throbbed. He remembered well the rise of panic, the mad attempts to run, to descend, to somehow get away, but the executioner’s hold was absolute, holding him firmly in place for each slice of the blade.

  “You still had a chance to spin a story to defend yourselves. Now you’re fugitives.” Jameson was tempted to hop back in his car and drive the fuck off.

  “We had good reason for leaving,” Kenton said with his senator cockiness.

  Jameson hated him all the more for it.

  “And you want what from me?” Maybe Jameson could get some joy out of this. The human realm was now his domain. “I don’t know if you realize this, but without access to the happenings in Numen, you’re worthless to me.”

  “We can still get into Numen, and you can’t,” Stede pointed out.