by Cynthia Eden
She knelt near the body. “There aren’t any wounds on him.”
No. He didn’t have to wound in order to kill.
Jade fell back onto her butt and stared up at him. “How’d you do it?”
With a touch. That was what the Angel of Death did. He touched, and he killed, and the rest of the world feared.
That was his life. Or, it had been.
Take anything you want.
She licked her lips and the eyes that made him think too much of pleasure and human sins met his.
Temptation.
It was staring right at him. Sometimes, the most dangerous temptations were the ones that were right in front of you.
Then he saw the fear that slipped over her face. “What are you?” Of course, she’d ask that annoying question again.
It was the question he hated because the answer was—an abomination.
So Az didn’t respond. He’d saved her. Warned her to flee. That meant he’d more than done his part. What happened next would be up to her.
He turned from her and slipped into the rising light of dawn. He blurred his body, moving quickly, and he knew that, to her, it would look as if he vanished.
If only he could.
But just disappearing from the world would be far too easy, and Az knew he wasn’t meant for the easy path.
He was meant to suffer.
Her hero left her with a dead body. Jade stared down at the panther. “Austin, you jackass, I hope you’re somewhere really, really hot.” After the hell he’d put her through over the last few years, he deserved to burn.
The screech of sirens reached her ears. It figured the cops would be fast this one time, when she needed them to be slow. Jade jumped to her feet. “Az!”
She shoved through the broken door. The wood scraped her arm. Perfect. Of course she’d leave DNA evidence behind at a murder scene. But, hopefully, once they examined the body, the wise folks at the NOPD would realize they weren’t dealing with a normal stiff, and they’d make this murder victim just . . . vanish.
Other deaths had a way of disappearing in the Big Easy. Mostly because there were so many Other hiding in the city. When supernaturals looked to blend in with the human population, they flocked to the big cities. It was easier for them to hide in plain sight there. Of course, in New Orleans, the city made for voodoo and magic . . . hiding in plain sight took on a whole new meaning for the paranormals.
She glanced to the left, then to the right. Where the hell was her savior? Big, blond, and way too gorgeous had vanished on her.
Freaking literally vanished. Come on, she did not need this right now. Her savior should have stayed put, and well, done more saving.
You’re not getting away from me that easily.
Her gaze scanned the old cement sidewalk. Looking, looking . . .
Blood drops.
She locked onto those red drops and raced along the spattered trail. Austin had cut her hero too deeply. With that kind of wound, it was amazing that Az could walk at all. She’d been sure Austin had severed his spine—or come real close—but Az had acted like the wound had barely troubled him. An attack that brutal would have crippled her.
Az had killed with a touch. He’d been super strong. And he had amazing endurance.
Oh, yeah, he was the man she’d been dreaming of for years—the man who could finally help her.
Not. Getting. Away. When a girl had been waiting as long as she had for her hero to show up, she didn’t let the guy fly away.
Police cruisers whipped by her. Jade hunched her shoulders and rushed forward even faster. The blood twisted down an alley. Great. Another alley that reeked of piss. Why couldn’t just one ever smell like roses?
Her speed slowed way down as she entered the alley. Not rushing anymore, but more like creeping now as she carefully followed the blood trail. As far as she could tell, there was no way out of this dead-end alley. Red bricks stared back at her and her throbbing forehead reminded her that she’d already gotten up close and personal with the hard edge of bricks once and—
An arm snaked around her and hauled Jade up against a very big, very, very strong male body. There was no chance to scream—not that she’d been planning to scream—because a heavy hand covered her mouth.
“I told you to flee.” His low, rumbling voice.
But then she’d known Az’s touch instantly. There was no mistaking that deadly strength.
“You should have listened to me.” His breath blew over her ear, and she felt the lightest touch of his lips against her lobe. Jade couldn’t help it, she shivered. Her ear had always been a weak spot.
Besides, if Az wasn’t the type of man to make a woman shiver, no one was. Tall, strong, with a face sculpted to perfection, the guy was walking, talking sex appeal. And danger.
Why, why did she always have to want the dangerous ones? She should have learned her lesson by now. Should have fallen for a quiet accountant somewhere.
But if she had, the quiet accountant would have ended up dead—thanks to me.
Better to stick to the ass-kicking type of man.
She opened her mouth to talk and realized, yep, his hand was still over her mouth. More sirens wailed in the distance. Jade tensed, hoping none of those cops felt the urge to search the area, or, oh, follow the trail of blood that led straight to them.
When Az eased his grip, she took a deep breath, and her tongue snaked out just a little and licked his palm.
Maybe that move hadn’t exactly been accidental on her part.
Seduce. Use. Betray.
Some days, it was just her motto. If she’d been a good girl, she would have been dead long ago. Jade had learned that the bad girls lived longer.
Az sucked in a sharp breath at the sensual touch, and Jade felt the unmistakable response of his body behind her. Now that was interest—
He spun her around—spun them around—and pinned her against the bricks. He glared at her, those sky blue eyes of his so bright in the growing dawn. Too bright.
“You don’t want to play with me.” His voice probably would have frightened small children.
Good thing she wasn’t a kid. And, um, who said she was playing? “Y-you saved me.” He had. So impressive. “A-and you were hurt.” She didn’t even have to fake the tremble in her voice. Running from the cops often made her voice all trembly. It was that wild fear/adrenaline combo.
He glared down at her. “I heal fast.”
Wonderful. Extra bonus for them. She licked her lips, and his gaze flickered down at the movement of her tongue. Even better. This morning—minus the mild concussion and near dismemberment—was rocking for her. “Yeah, well, while you’re healing, you’re also leaving a trail of blood all over town.”
His brows pulled together as he tossed a glance at the blood that littered the ground near them.
“And cops are probably raiding your place right now,” she continued, talking too fast. But they needed to move. “So why don’t you let me take you someplace safe? You can finish healing, clean up the blood . . .”
His gaze searched hers. “You want to . . . help me?”
Not exactly. “Yes.” She smiled at him. Jade hoped the smile looked innocent. She’d been told before that she could fake innocent pretty well. Okay, except for the eyes. Her eyes always screwed things up for her, so she carefully lowered her gaze. “You saved me. Now let me return the favor.”
He didn’t speak.
So she took his hand. Jade carefully laced her fingers with his. The guy’s hand swallowed hers. His touch also made her heart beat way too fast.
“You shouldn’t touch me.” His words came out sounding gruff.
Now she forced herself to meet his eyes. “I’m not afraid of you. You saved me.” If it hadn’t been for him, she would have been on her way back to hell.
“You should fear me.” He tried to pull his hand away.
She tightened her grip. “And you should learn to trust other people.”
The wail of a
siren drifted in the air. Jade tensed. The chitchat was fun, but . . . “We need to get out of here.”
His bright gaze raked her once more. But, after the briefest of hesitations, he nodded.
Yes.
“I’ve got a car waiting,” she told Az as she pulled him behind her. Good thing she’d stashed her ride close by, before the crazy shifter attack. She and Az could hop into the car and head out. Then he could just bleed in the vehicle and stop that dripping trail of blood. “In ten minutes, we’ll be safe.”
Well, as safe as they could be with one very angry pack of panther shifters after them.
Normally, panthers were a solitary breed. But if they got a strong alpha to lead them—a sick fuck who knew all about control—then they’d band together and make life hell for everyone else.
These particular panther shifters had been after her for years. Always hunting. Destroying everything and everyone in their path.
Some guys just had a real hard time letting go . . .
So you had to kill them in order for the message to sink in.
“Come on,” she whispered. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”
Before another hunt began.
“Austin’s dead.”
Brandt Dupre glanced up at the announcement. The swamp waited behind him, bloody with the fire of the rising sun. He cocked a brow as he studied the panther shifter before him. Riley was practically vibrating with rage, probably because the blood and bruises on his body indicated the guy had just gotten his ass seriously kicked.
“Jade?” Brandt asked softly. Oh, but even after all these years, she could still surprise him. Taking out one of his most trusted panther assassins. He’d have to punish her for that, of course, but . . .
“It wasn’t her.” Riley spat on the ground. Blood dripped from his lips. “It was that big, blond bastard who—”
Brandt lunged at the shifter. His claws burst from his fingertips as he grabbed Riley by the throat. “A man was with Jade?” With his Jade?
Riley nodded as Brandt’s claws sliced his throat. Riley didn’t even flinch when the blood slid down his neck.
Rage burned in Brandt’s body. Jade should have learned by now. She should know better.
This was their war. She didn’t get to bring others into their battle. She sure as hell didn’t get to fuck others.
How many dead bodies would he have to leave before she figured that fact out? Did she want him to keep killing those foolish enough to go to her aid?
She must.
He tossed Riley back a few feet. The shifter fell onto the dark earth. Brandt turned to face the swamp as he fought to control his temper. “He’s dead.” An order. And what the alpha wanted . . .
He got.
Why couldn’t Jade understand that?
“He may not be so easy to kill.”
Brandt stiffened at Riley’s muttered words. Then he glanced over his shoulder.
Riley had risen to his feet. The shifter ignored his bleeding neck but brushed off his hands. “The guy’s not human.” Riley swallowed and his Adam’s apple bobbed. “I’m not even sure what the fuck he is.”
Interesting. “But you’re sure that he was with my Jade?” Mine. She belonged to him, body and soul.
“Damn white knight.” Riley’s twisted sneer showed his growing canines. “The dude came rushing up out of nowhere, trying to save her.”
His words calmed the beast inside of Brandt. If the stranger had rushed up and joined the fight, then the fool could have just been a good Samaritan. And perhaps the bastard wasn’t fucking Jade.
But whoever he was, he’d still killed a shifter.
“Find him,” Brandt ordered. “Bring him to me.” He smiled. “Then I’ll rip him open.” He deserved his fun, and the panthers deserved their revenge.
After all, he’d rather liked Austin.
Perhaps he’d even let Jade watch while he slaughtered her knight.
Another death. More blood. When her knight died, maybe then she’d finally realize there was no escape.
She belonged to him. Forever.
CHAPTER TWO
“You should strip.”
Her big blond badass turned and frowned at her.
Jade offered him one of her innocent smiles. “Your clothes are soaked with blood. Give them to me, and I’ll go wash them for you.” Didn’t that sound friendly? Helpful? “And you can, um, go shower.” She waved her hand to indicate the small bathroom that waited just down the hallway.
Her temporary place—’cause, yeah, all of her places were temporary these days—wasn’t much. A small apartment nestled on the edge of the Quarter. She was on the top floor and an abandoned antique shop waited below her.
She’d painted the walls. Covered them with murals of the city. She had a . . . thing about painting. It was the one talent she’d always had. Well, painting and killing. But the killing talent had come to her later in life.
So while the furniture in the place might look like shit, she thought the décor was pretty stellar.
Jade held out her hand. “Ahem. The clothes.”
He turned to fully face her, and the guy showed no signs of being in the mood to strip. A real pity.
How was she supposed to seduce him if he was going to be so difficult? She barely smothered her sigh.
But then his hands reached for the bottom of his shirt. His eyes were on her. She offered an encouraging smile. Come on, big guy, take it all off for me.
He yanked off the shirt. Tossed it to her with a casual wave of his hand.
She didn’t let her jaw drop. But, wow, damn, Az was built. Talk about some extremely lickable abs.
“I’ll . . . take care of this.” She stepped closer to him and cleared her throat. “Now let me see your back. I want to make sure—”
But he stiffened.
She put her hand on his arm. Oh, he was nice and warm. “I know, you said you’re a super healer. But just let me check those wounds out, okay?”
A muscle jerked in his jaw. “My back doesn’t hurt.”
Right. The tough guy didn’t feel pain. “I need to see how badly you’re injured.” She stared up at him and waited.
His nostrils flared, just a bit. “Why do you,” he inhaled again, “smell like . . . strawberries?”
Ah, okay. Not the question she’d expected. But maybe this was a good sign. He was showing actual interest in her. Or, at least, interest in her scent. “It’s the soap I use.” She inclined her head toward the bathroom. “Pretty soon you’ll be smelling the same way.”
His eyes narrowed. “I don’t wish to smell like strawberries.”
“Don’t knock it.” It was better than smelling like blood and a piss-filled alley. She shook her head and pushed him toward the bathroom. As he turned—ha, she got him—her gaze slipped over his back, and she couldn’t control the gasp that broke from her lips.
“I told you I’d heal,” he tossed back as he stepped into the bathroom.
And he was right. The deep gashes from the shifter’s claws were gone. Blood stained his back, but the wounds were completely healed.
But it wasn’t his super healing that had caused her gasp.
No, the shock had come from the sight of the angry, thick, and still very fresh scars that lined his upper back. Those scars perfectly traced the path of his shoulder blades. Perfectly.
He’d healed without so much as a scratch remaining from a shifter’s attack on his spine. So what the hell had gotten hold of him and left those deep scars on Az’s flesh?
He kicked off his boots. While she was trying to figure out what paranormal creature had cut him, Az ditched his jeans.
Of course, her gaze had to drop to his ass.
Nice. Actually, much, much better than nice.
Then he stepped into the shower and the rush of water filled the room.
Jade remembered to take a breath then. Okay, step one of her plan had just worked. She had the guy in her apartment. Actually, naked and in her apartment.
She grabbed his jeans and snuck out of the bathroom. Her hands dove into his pockets for a quick and dirty search. A search that proved totally useless. Dammit, no ID! Who went around New Orleans without so much as a wallet?
Az—Azrael. Did the guy only have one name? She needed more info from him. About him.
She shoved the clothes into the washing machine and hurried back toward the driving rush of running water in her bathroom. Steam filled the room, and she could see the hard outline of Az’s body behind the thin shower curtain.
It had been a while since she’d had a lover. Actually, it had been seventeen months, fourteen days, and six hours. Not that she was counting.
Okay, so she was.
But she couldn’t erase the memory of her last lover’s screams from her head. No matter how hard she tried, Jade couldn’t forget them. My fault.
The image of his death was burned in her memory, and she wouldn’t be forgetting it, or him, anytime soon. Johnny had been another painful lesson for her. Most humans weren’t strong enough to survive the battle that she found herself in. And falling for a human guy—one who couldn’t fight the shifters coming for her—that was a plan sure to guarantee death.
Her gaze lingered on Az. He wasn’t human, she knew that. But what was he? How strong would he really be? If she pushed him, if she got close to him, would he wind up the same way Johnny had? Bleeding? Broken? With her name on his lips?
But he took out a shifter. Killed him with just a touch.
She wanted to believe Az was strong enough to defeat anything or anyone that would come his way.
Only . . . something had ripped his back apart. He’d been attacked by a being so strong that he still bore the scars.
She reached for a towel. Placed it near the shower. Until she found out just who—what—Az was, she couldn’t risk sleeping with him. She’d just have to go back to counting the days.