Archangels Creed Box Set 1-3

by Azure Boone

  Devyn spun in her seat. "Jake isn't going to just let her go."

  Kassern smiled at her ignorance, finding it kind of cute, and so typically human. "Yes he will."

  Her gaze dropped briefly to his glowing cross before she faced forward. He knew she wasn't altogether sure which side he was on. Smart girl. One of the reasons he picked her, for her skepticism. He needed somebody cautious and very aware of the potential dangers that lurked at every corner. His preacher was cautious of all the things he knew, but he didn't know enough. Devyn, on the other hand, did. She finished off their little picture perfectly in that regard.

  ****

  "Wait for me. Don't leave the car."

  Kassern headed up the flight of stairs, hoping the events of the next few minutes wouldn't create too much of a spiritual racket. Dealing with another herd of demons rated pretty low on his To Do list. He needed to get Karly and take them all someplace safe for a few days. He wasn't positive yet, but it seemed he was actually tired. Had to be part of the humanity perks he'd inherited. To him, it was just a time obstacle he did not need.

  He neared the door and paused. Where was Karly's guardian? He stared at the knob but the outer surface didn't give way for him to see if the lock was engaged. Great, he couldn't see? His jaw tensed at his new human gifts of weakness. Just how much strength had he lost? Had any vital abilities deserted him?

  He turned the knob and nudged the door open, the locks splintering off. Still had his warrior's strength. Huge plus there.

  "Heyyy man, you broke the door."

  Kassern regarded the skinny guy with the slurred voice on his right, noting the drug confusion crimping his forehead. "Where's Jake?"

  The man broke into a rotten toothed smile. "Up in the back." He raised his brows. "Havin' a li'l fun with his ol' lady, Karly. Ask real nice like, he might let you get a li'l bit o' that."

  Nauseated, Kassern listened as he walked through the apartment dump, wishing he'd lost his angelic sense of smell instead of his hearing. Temporary. Damn well better be.

  He stepped over an overturned lamp and heard them. The sound coming from the room at the end of the short hall nearly locked his limbs. A sharp female cry and cynical laughter from more than one male. Three steps and he kicked open the door, interrupting the sick party.

  Four men surrounded the human girl, beaten and burned beyond recognition, tied to the bed, nothing hidden. The blood pooling between her legs brought a rage Kassern was not used to. Another human weakness.

  Her guardian stood nearby, wringing his hands, tears coursing down his cheeks. He turned helpless eyes to Kassern. "I just couldn't do enough to make a helpful difference."

  The fury that coursed through Kassern called his armor out in haphazard fashion, rather than his usual strategic pattern. Ruby daggers sprang out of his knuckles while gauntlets covered his hands, and spiked vambraces turned his forearms to lethal weapons. His lower legs sported razor-blade embellished greaves and spurs appeared on his heels.

  The human to his left stank with Karly's blood, so he took him first.

  When Kassern spun him, the man pulled a gun from his waistband and fired. Kassern's shields dissolved the bullets before they could strike him. With one flick of a finger, he sent a probe into the man's head, and learned his identity and a long list of depravities in a millisecond.

  So this was Jake.

  The first blow of Kassern's fist sent blood flying through the air. The second crushed bone. One of the other men chose that moment to attack him from behind, coming with a knife and trying to reach around his neck. Kassern kicked backward, the spur on his heel ripping into the man's thigh. Chaos erupted, with Kassern at the center and blood running freely.

  He took his time making them pay, making them bleed and scream while he covered their bodies with his seal, the holy cross. Every one of the judgments went tendon deep and came with the citing of every sin they were guilty.

  Five minutes of mutilation left him heaving in the center of the bloody room, the four men moaning in debilitating pain. If they were lucky, they'd pass out before they bled to death. If they lived, they would wear his mark for all to see, forever. Kassern glanced at Karly, who stared at him through narrow slits permitted by the grotesque swelling of her face. Her limbs trembling uncontrollably as he hurried to the bed and severed her bindings with a fingernail. He breathed a ruby mist over her body that formed a silk-like blanket covering her nudity and soothing her wounds. He carefully scooped her up.

  Kassern carried her out of the carnage and to the car. He tried not to feel the damage they'd done but having her so close to him brought it into his pores. His rage returned as he hurried, along with a bone-deep fatigue. He needed to get them all someplace safe so he could rest.

  But first, he'd have to do something to ease Karly's pains. Especially the emotional and spiritual. She wouldn't heal with her heart and will this broken.

  Troy stayed silent, paying careful attention to the road. Anything to keep from focusing on the sounds and smells behind him. Thinking about what Jake had done to Karly took him directly into a waking nightmare, and had already made him lose his cookies.

  "We need to stop," Kassern muttered from the back seat where he still cradled Karly in his lap.

  Troy eyed him in the mirror. Stop? "You think it's safe?"

  "No." Kassern met his gaze. "But she must be tended and cleansed of what they've done."

  "I'll stop at the next exit." They'd been driving for nearly two hours. Kassern said he wanted them as far from the city as possible.

  "We'll rest for six hours and move." Kassern's tone lowered.

  A glance in the rearview revealed Kassern studying Karly's sleeping face.

  "Where are we going after?" Troy asked. Wherever it was, he should stop at an ATM. He didn't have a great deal in the bank, but they'd probably need every penny to finance their little vacation.

  "Uriel hasn't told me yet."

  "Who's that?"

  "My commander."

  "Well, when will you know?"

  Kassern again met his gaze in the mirror. "When my humans are strong enough."

  Strong enough? "For what?"

  "To enter the holy sanctuary."

  "The holy…what holy sanctuary?"

  Kassern leaned his head against the seat and closed his eyes. "The only place on earth that you'll be safe while my brothers finish the circle."

  The circle. Had he mentioned that before? "And that would be…what circle?"

  Troy hated hitting him with twenty questions when it seemed the angel was exhausted. But he had to know.

  "The one we'll need to defeat the army of--”

  Karly’s sudden screams cut off the angel’s tired words. It had to be the fifth time she’d done that, like her mind was set to detonate with the reoccurring nightmare. Troy watched once more, fascinated as Kassern pulled her face close to his and whispered foreign words softly to her. And like a drug, it seemed to knock her out.

  Troy squeezed Devyn's shoulder when she covered her face with her hands and cried. Again. When Kassern had got in the car with Karly, Devyn nearly lost it when she realized what they'd done to her.

  Following the signs from the highway, Troy found a decent looking hotel off the main drag of the city the exit led them to. It only took a few moments to get them registered for the adjoining rooms Kassern insisted on while everyone else waited in the car.

  Letting them into the first room, Troy opened the connecting door so Kassern could take Karly through and lay her down.

  Devyn started toward the shower, then paused. "What about Karly? I might need help to get her cleaned up."

  "Don't worry about it. I've got her." Kassern turned to the connecting door, Karly still cradled against his chest.

  "And how is that appropriate?" Protective belligerence weighed in Devyn's voice and the angel glanced over his shoulder.

  Shaking his head, Kassern headed into the other ro
om. "Because I'm an angel. Stop worrying."

  Devyn didn't say anything else, apparently satisfied with his answer. Or just unable to argue.

  Troy ran his hand over her arm. "Why don't you get that shower? I saw a pizza sign in the gas station next door. By the time you're finished, I should have something for you to eat."

  Devyn agreed and went into the bathroom. A couple minutes later, he heard the water come on. Troy tapped at the partially closed connecting door. When Kassern only grunted in reply, he pushed the door open and stepped through.

  Karly lay on the double bed, mostly covered, while Kassern bent over her, cleaning wounds with a tenderness that seemed at odds with his somewhat abrasive personality. He spoke without glancing up. "I need you and Devyn to join again."

  "Uh, excuse me?" Surely he hadn't heard correctly.

  Kassern looked up finally. Troy's heart skipped a beat at how gaunt the angel's face had become. Dark smudges lay under sunken eyes. When Kassern straightened to stand, the fluid grace that normally marked his movement had been replaced by jerky fatigue.

  "Are you okay?" Troy instinctively reached to steady Kassern.

  "Not really. Karly needs more healing right away, but being in this realm is exhausting. Since I don't have time to rest first, I need you and Devyn to do your thing again and give me a little energy boost." He scrubbed one hand across his bare chest.

  The absentminded motion brought Troy's attention to the cross glowing there. He was sure the glow wasn't as bright as before. "Uh, okay. Now?"

  Kassern gave a small grin. "Don't sound so eager, Troy." Karly moaned softly and the grin disappeared. "You have time for that pizza first. As long as you make it quick. If you don't mind, make the pizza a double. Karly will need to eat as soon as she can."

  "Okay, I'll see you in a few minutes." Lost in thought, Troy crossed the parking lot to the gas station and bought the pizza. By the time he returned to their room, he still hadn't figured out how to tell Devyn they'd been ordered to perform again.

  As he set the pizza on the table, the bathroom door opened. Clouds of steam wafted out, backlit from the bathroom, with only a dim lamp on in the main room. The air left Troy's lungs in a rush as Devyn stood there, silent and unmoving.

  The combination of the lighting and steam accentuated every perfect curve, making his hands beg to trace the lines of her body. She stepped further into the room and turned on another lamp. The cotton boxer shorts and tank top she wore clung to her damp skin, the fabric so worn it was all but transparent. Sudden heat filled his groin and made his jeans excruciatingly uncomfortable. He managed to keep them on only by sheer will power.

  "You brought pizza?" Devyn came all the way into the middle of the room, and broke the spell that had mesmerized Troy.

  "I did. I think I'll have a slice with you, then get a shower myself."

  By the time he seated himself and slid a piece of the greasy pizza onto a napkin, Devyn was already halfway through her first slice. All the while, she made those little near-orgasmic sounds of appreciation that had haunted him since the leftover Thanksgiving meal in his kitchen.

  Suddenly aware of his gaze on her, she glanced up and smiled, and his cock twitched in response, making him shift to ease the pressure his jeans applied. "Sorry, I haven't had good pizza in a while." She took another bite, then spoke around it. "And it's been years since I've had it so loaded with toppings. Pepperoni is a luxury for me, and other meats and veggies are like… maybe one of those gourmet dishes? The ones that are only about two bites and all artistic on the plate, and cost more than my rent for six months?" The rest of the slice disappeared and she reached for another.

  Troy's heart wrenched at the deprivation she'd survived, that things he regarded as substandard were extravagant indulgences to her. Out of habit, he thanked God for his good fortune, and for the first time, had a new appreciation for the blessings he often took for granted.

  "Enjoy it. There's plenty, and we can get more. They make it twenty-four/seven. We'll make sure to get another as we leave, too." He finished his own slice. "I'm going to get that shower now. Enjoy your pizza." He grinned as she nodded and smiled around another mouthful.

  Safely in the bathroom, he couldn't get his jeans opened fast enough. Relieved of the pressure, his hard-on surged to full erection, the head rising over the waistband of his briefs. He staggered as the reaction made him lightheaded. He would never have guessed sexual desire could cause such changes in his body. He'd had hard-ons before, especially when he was younger, but he had trained his body to resist sexual stimulation. Such drastic changes were more than a little disturbing.

  He stepped into the shower, goose bumps crawling over his skin in response to the icy cold water. His damn dick stayed hard and throbbed with every beat of his heart, despite the frigid needles of water bouncing off his skin. He washed as fast as he could, refusing to touch the thing, knowing full well if he did, he wouldn't stop until he came.

  How was he going to tell Devyn they'd been ordered to perform again? What if she didn't want to make love again so soon? He had no idea how often women could have sex and fully enjoy it. And even though he'd made love to Devyn once, he was like a nervous virgin all over again.

  Troy shook his head as he dried himself off, not understanding why he trembled. Seems making love to her once would've removed the whole I'm a virgin syndrome from his body. When they made love and he'd…done all those things, he hadn't had a worry. Never been more confident. Was she feeling the same?

  The bathroom door opened and he clutched the towel at his waist, heart flipping.

  Devyn.

  Nude.

  He did the rude thing and looked directly at her breasts, his stomach going nuts with adrenalin. Her nipples stood erect and insistent on his undivided attention. His lips parted with the instant urge to lick and suckle every part of them.

  She slowly closed the gap between them, every step pumping even more heat into his groin. Try as he might, he could not take his eyes off her approaching breasts.

  "You want them?"

  At the sultry enticement in her voice, he met her gaze for several seconds, the fire in his manhood pulsating. "Yes." The word croaked.

  Imprisoned by the passion in her eyes, he felt Devyn's fingers on his towel. Her eyes lowered to his chest and she leaned in and put her mouth right on his nipple.

  Troy gasped at the bold act and sensation. Her fingers brushed against his abs and turned them to rock as she undid his towel and it fell to the floor. Jesus. Her fingers slid along the ridges of his torso then she pushed with her palms till his back met the wall. His pulse thundering in his ears, he watched as her lips kissed a painfully slow trail down the center of the muscles lining his torso. He wasn't sure what to do with his hands, so, he embraced the wall the best he could.

  At one time he thought only depraved sinners did that. There should've been guilt. But no shame could survive the inferno of desire she created in him. His only concern at that second was not coming before she started doing what he thought she had planned.

  Going to her knees before him, she stroked her fingers along his erection. He clenched his eyes shut at how good it felt, then jerked his gaze down with a gasp when a silky flick set fire to the tip. Heat pulsed almost painfully in his groin as she placed kisses along the length, one hand tight around the base, the other discovering everything between his legs.

  "Oh God," he gasped, his hand coming to rest on her hair.

  Her gaze raised to his as she opened her mouth and took him in. Troy's other hand flew to her head at the shocking sensation and she moaned as she slowly pumped her hot mouth over nearly his entire length. He groaned and gasped as the heat demanded things from him. His fingers clenched in her hair and he pumped back, amazed at the sensations. But the sight of Devyn's sweet mouth moving over his cock, her eyes shining with a combination of heated desire and some tenderness he didn't recognize sent him into a ravishing frenzy of nearly coming
, wanting to come, and wanting to wait and prolong the sweet torture.

  She mewled to him while she sucked, gasping when she circled the entire end with her tongue. It felt so damn good that Troy cursed aloud and Devyn seemed to take that as a plea for more.

  She returned to pumping her mouth over his length until he hit the back of her throat. Troy was lost to the desire, only caring about watching himself slide in and out of her mouth. She looked so amazing devouring him that way and he never dreamed it might feel so good. "Devyn, yes." The words croaked between his rapid breathing.

  She moaned, sucking faster in agreement.

  "Oh God, yes." His fingers clenched her hair tighter as the heat built to explosive levels. Troy pumped his hips faster wanting to come right on her mouth the way she had come on his.

  "Yes, come baby," she gasped on the head, before returning to pumping her mouth on his entire length at a hungry pace.

  "Oh God yes, suck it, suck me." He gripped her head with both hands and pumped in time with the orgasm surging like a wave. The fiery sperm shot into her mouth and Troy's roar met her gasp as he threw his head back and let it take him to that other dimension. Seemed like an eternity in those few seconds before he slowly became aware of her soft moans as she rubbed the head of his shaft all over her shiny lips, wet with his come. He could hardly believe she'd done that. And where were the feelings of disgust that should accompany an act he'd always considered dirty and sinful?

  When her eyes fluttered open and met his gaze, Troy couldn't wait to do the same for her. Just like she'd done to him.

  Grabbing a towel, she wiped her face then kissed her way up his body. Impatient, Troy pulled her up the rest of the way and claimed her mouth hungrily as he turned with her, placing her back against the wall. "Your turn," he whispered right in her mouth.

  Her hands pulled in his hair by the time his lips and tongue claimed her breasts. Filling his hands with the firm satin, he flicked her nipples relentlessly, loving the way she arched and pushed them into his mouth. He could hardly wait to make her orgasm again. Make her call his name. He never dreamed he could love anything so much.