“You think that can best me?”
Lily picked up a stool and smashed it across Law’s back. The angel—no, boulder—didn’t move. Shit. Law turned and pushed her across the room, her back crashing hard against the wall in the dining room off the kitchen. Pain ricocheted up her arm, and she saw it sat at an odd angle. Her body rolled, and she almost vomited. Not again. She didn’t want to die. She staggered to her feet, her vision blurring.
Jamie screamed from the kitchen. Her body lay on the floor, blood pouring from her side. Lily took a step toward her. She had to save her friend. A hand pulled her back against the wall, and she cursed at the pain.
“Stupid bitch,” Striker growled. He slapped her across the face, the sting nearly blinding her. “You don’t get to help that little one in there. You get to sit here,” he pulled her hair and forced her head to the side to watch Jamie try to crawl away, “and watch your friend die. To be sure you can’t move…”
Sharp. Hot. Pain.
Something silver dug into her side, she couldn’t see what it had been, and a warmth seeped through her shirt. Her body swayed, but Striker held her up. Law raised his sword, toying with her friend. Jamie tried to crawl away, but Lily didn’t think she would make it.
Rage bubbled up through Lily. It was as if she’d finally unlocked something. Energy pooled through her as her body strengthened. Her body glowed gold, radiant.
This was her true self.
She growled.
Striker pulled back, but still kept his hand on her. His face lost all color and he blinked. “What the fuck are you?” Striker yelled.
She pulled from his grip and knocked him back with amazing strength. With determination in her step, she walked toward the kitchen, picked up Ambrose’s axe that lay on the floor next to his motionless body, and growled again.
Law paused in mid motion, his sword in the air about to decapitate her friend, looked over his shoulder, and Lily struck. She cleaved his body in two at the neck, his head rolling to the ground, his body standing for a few moments before it crumpled to the floor. Blood seeped around them, and Lily dropped to her knees, the last of her energy gone.
“I’m sorry, Jamie,” she rasped out.
Blood trailed from her friend’s lips as she tried to smile. “You look good in gold.”
Lily rested her head on Jaime’s cheek, their tears mixing with their blood.
“You stupid bitch! You killed him. I don’t know what the fuck you are. You can’t be a brownie because you were a fucking human, but you’re going to die now.”
Striker swung his sword then stopped mid motion. A thin line of blood appeared at his neck.
“No…” Striker whispered, his eyes wide.
His head slid off his shoulders, and Lily gasped. Shade leaned against the wall behind Striker’s dead body, his face ashen, blood leaking from his mouth, eyes, nose, and ears.
“Lily.”
Her spirit broken, her body in pain, tears rolled down her cheeks. “Save Jamie.”
Ambrose came into the kitchen, a look of sorrow on his face. “I will try.”
“It’s pretty bad.” Jamie coughed, blood coming out of the corner of her mouth.
Ambrose knelt by them and ran a finger down Jamie’s cheek. “Don’t ask questions, but you will live.”
Confusion covered Jamie’s face, and Lily felt the same.
“Ambrose…”
“I said no questions.” He gently picked up her friend, wincing as he stood, and carried Jamie away.
“Lily, let me look at you.” Shade walked toward her, and she met him halfway, sliding in the blood of their enemies and each other’s.
“I thought you were dead,” she croaked out.
He brushed her bangs from her face with a bloody hand. “I’m okay.” He winced. “Well, I will be. He didn’t have enough of the dust to do permanent damage.”
They staggered to the living room and collapsed. “Where did he get the dust?”
Shade shook his head and took off his shirt. He placed his wadded up shirt on her wound, and she winced.
“Sorry, baby. I need to get the bleeding stopped so you can heal on your own.” He kissed her, blood and all, and she melted.
She’d almost lost him.
“I don’t know where he got the stuff, baby, but we’ll find out. It doesn’t matter. We’re alive and there will be hell to pay with the council, but we’ll make it through.”
“Will you be in trouble for killing Striker?” If so, that didn’t make any sense. The other angel was a traitor and a murderer, but did they have proof?
“I’ll get out of it.” Though he didn’t sound too sure.
“I love you,” she whispered.
He held her face in his palm and rubbed a thumb over her bottom lip. “I love you, too.”
“Don’t leave me,” she begged, uncaring of how she sounded. She couldn’t lose him.
He gave a sad smile. “Never.”
* * * *
Jamie had passed out when Ambrose carried her to his room. He cleaned her wounds, ignoring the odd pain in his heart at the thought of this girl—no woman—hurt. She wasn’t a supernatural. Not yet, anyway.
Whatever the lightning strike had given, it hadn’t manifested in her yet, if powers manifested at all. He suspected it would take Jamie meeting her true mate and consummating the relationship for that to happen.
He knew for a fact that wouldn’t happen. It couldn’t.
And, because of something that he couldn’t tell her, much less himself, he could help her heal her wounds. They would ask questions, but that didn’t mean he had to answer them. That was something left for later… or never, if he had anything to say about it.
He didn’t have answers anyway.
At least not any he wanted to give.
He bent over her and healed her side. The wound knitted together, and she sighed. He healed her other cuts and bruises, and an unexpected connection formed between; a bond that could not be denied. them
“Ambrose?” Jamie turned her head and opened her brown eyes.
His breath caught at the beauty, but he shoved it away. He’d had his chance at a happy ending. He didn’t need another.
“What is it, honey?”
Honey? She wasn’t his honey. His honey was long since buried. A dull pain throbbed where his heart used to dwell.
He didn’t like this brown-haired girl. She brought up too many memories of a life he’d rather forget.
“Thank you.”
A strange feeling filled him, much like… hope?
He shook it away.
“Do your best not to get stabbed next time.” He stood and turned his back, hating that he felt like an ass.
Jamie coughed from the bed, but he forced himself not to turn back. “You know me, always falling onto sharp, pointy things. I’ll be more careful.”
“Do.”
Ambrose walked out of the room, ignoring the pull to make him go back.
Jamie would be fine, and he could ignore her. He had other things to do anyway. Like figure out how they’d explain Striker’s death to the council. He needed proof of the angel’s traitorous acts.
He set his jaw, determined. Shade would not pay for another’s acts. The younger angel was like a brother to him. He couldn’t lose him.
Because if he did, he’d have nothing left.
Chapter 22
A summons from the council never led to good things. Shade walked through the ornate hall, his fists clenched. The death of a council member couldn’t go unnoticed, as much as Shade would have liked to sweep it under the rug. Literally, in Striker’s case. As soon as he’d ensured Lily was healed, he’d felt the tug of a summons.
He’d kissed her softly, though she’d done her best to hold onto him. She had known as well as he did, that the council would not be happy. He would do his best to get back to her. He’d just found her. He didn’t want to leave her yet, or ever.
His body still ached where he’d healed from
the demon’s dust. Fuck, just one whiff of that stuff could kill an angel. Thankfully, Striker hadn’t had enough for two, and he and Ambrose were warriors, though it’d almost killed him to feel helpless, then watch as Striker attacked Lily.
His Lily had done incredibly well as a warrior. She’d found her trigger and fought back. Even though the caveman inside him wanted to lock her away to keep her safe, the fact that she had the strength to take care of herself brought more pride than anything he could have done to protect her. He’d have done anything to avoid taking a life, even the life of an angel as horrible as Law. The look on her face…
She’d killed Law. He’d help her pick up the pieces for what she’d done, just as he knew she’d do for him. She wouldn’t face the consequences of that action because, according to the council, Law was already dead.
It was only the death of Striker for which they had to answer.
Shade was ready. He’d do whatever he could to go back to his Lily.
He walked through the doors that reached to the sky, and Shade couldn’t help but remember the last time he’d been summoned to a full council. That event had led him down this strange path and to her, and it had been worth it in all respects.
He just had to live through this meeting
“Shade Griffin, you’ve decided to grace us with your presence,” Caine drawled, his eyes narrowed.
Shade bowed his head. “You’ve summoned me.”
Caine lifted a lip in disgust. “You’ve killed a council member. Do you understand what you’ve done?”
Shade met the other man’s gaze. Caine flinched and Shade inwardly smirked. “I killed a traitor and a murderer. I’ve done our race a service.”
“You killed an angel in cold blood to protect a human!”
“That human is my true half, and I expect you to treat her as such.”
“A human cannot be a true half.”
Shade closed his eyes. The truth would come out sooner or later, but he couldn’t have the council think he’d hidden anything.
“She was human. Not anymore.”
“That’s not possible.”
“Actually, it is. A lightning bolt struck, awakening something in her DNA.” He was careful not to reveal just how many had been struck.
“Lightning, you say?” Agnes, another council member, asked.
Shade nodded.
“It doesn’t matter; she will have to be killed. We cannot allow abominations in our midst,” Caine spat.
Rage filled Shade, but he held his ground. He was in enough trouble as it was.
“Caine, I’m disappointed in you,” Agnes said. “Lighnting is from the gods, or our God, as you’d put it. It is a blessing.” She leveled her too-knowing gaze at Shade. “A blessing that must be handled with careful hands, but I’m sure you and your mentor are doing just that.”
Shade gave a quick nod, relieved.
Caine threw up his hands. “Fine. Let Ambrose deal with the blessed, but it’s a moot point. Shade, you’re the reason we’re here. You killed a council member, and you have no proof of his so-called crimes.”
Shade growled. No, of course, he didn’t have proof. He wasn’t allowed to search Striker’s home as he was the murderer in the council’s eyes.
Agnes gave him a look of pity, but she didn’t say anything. He clenched his fists. They wouldn’t kill him, would they? He’d fight his way out if he had to do so.
“Shade Griffin, for your crimes against the angelic council and all they govern, I sentence you to a life on the ground. You’re to lose your wings.”
Fuck. No.
Caine flew from his seat, sword in hand. “Kneel and take your punishment, traitor.”
“Is this how you reward someone who saved your life?” Shade asked, ready to flee if he had to. He didn’t want to kill his way out. He just wanted to get back to Lily and keep his wings. Each was such an integral part of him. He wouldn’t be himself without them.
“You killed a man who did more for this council than you ever have.”
“Now that’s a lie,” Shade growled.
Caine raised his sword, and Shade tensed.
“I would refrain from doing that if I were you, Caine,” Ambrose said from the doorway.
Shade’s body relaxed somewhat at the sound of his friend’s voice. The other angel had found something. After all, the council had only barred Shade from Striker’s residence, not Ambrose. Ambrose may have been there, but he hadn’t laid the final blow. There was no such thing as guilt by association by angels. If they killed then they also were killed. Hopefully, just not this time.
“You were not invited to our chambers, Ambrose!” Caine bellowed.
Ambrose raised a brow, cool and collected. “I see. Since when was it in the best interest of the council for a warrior to be tried and convicted without counsel?”
“Since he killed a member of our council and doesn’t deny it!” Caine screamed.
“Of course I didn’t deny it. I only deny the reasons you think I’ve done it,” Shade argued.
“Ah, yes. Those reasons.” Ambrose hurled a gold-plated book at Caine, who dropped his sword caught it.
Shade stood, the last of the tension leaving his body. That book must be the proof they needed.
“What is this?” Caine asked.
“Your proof,” Ambrose answered.
“And? It’s a book.”
Ambrose let out a sigh, and Shade held back a laugh. “If you would open the book and read it…” Shade bit his tongue. “The book clearly states all of Striker’s exploits. Like how he gave the dust to a human man named Glenn. You see, Striker wanted to find a pretty woman who didn’t have a man in her life so that Shade might fall for her. Honestly, it was such a stretch that I’m surprised it worked. How he wanted me and Shade dead. Oh, and how he was the leader of the rogue angels in the Angelic Wars.”
The other council members let out gasps and Shade wanted to scream. Really? He’d already told them all this, yet they hear about it from a book and now they believe? Yes, it had been written in Striker’s hand, but he’d have thought that, after having fought for them for a thousand years, he’d at least have earned a fraction of their trust.
Apparently not.
Caine cursed and leafed through the gold-plated book. Gold-plated? Really?
“Striker was an arrogant and stupid man to have left this around.”
Ambrose grinned. “Indeed.”
Caine closed his eyes, and Shade waited. “In light of these new developments, I rescind the order to take your wings, Shade.”
Shade waited again.
Caine cursed. “Fine. I apologize.”
He nodded. “Forgiven, but remember, the lightning-struck victims are mine.” He’d told the women he’d protect them, and he would.
“Agreed. Take care of them. Not all will be as…lenient as I am.” Caine walked away and Shade held back a snort. Yes, others might want to hurt the women, and that’s why he and Ambrose would protect them.
Caine turned back. “Oh, it seems we have an open seat on the council. Do either of you want it?”
“No,” he and Ambrose said quickly.
Caine threw back his head and laughed. “Didn’t think so. Oh, and Shade, congratulations on your true half.”
Shade smiled, thinking of his green-eyed beauty. He was going home to his Lily and was keeping his wings. What more did he need?
He and Ambrose walked outside, the wind in their hair. “Thanks, old man.”
Ambrose smacked him on the back, careful of Shade’s wings. “Anytime. Now, I do believe the girls are at Dante’s Circle. Should we head there?”
“About time.”
* * * *
Lily leaned into Shade’s side and sighed. It was over, at least mostly. She still was a bit OCD, but she could at least control it better now that she’d accepted her powers. Shade was safe from the council, and so was she, come to think of it. She snuggled closer to Shade, his freshly cleaned smell soothing her. H
e wrapped his arm around her and kissed the top of her head.
“Hey, you okay?”
“Mmm hmm.”
He grinned and bent to capture her lips. She sank into his taste as if she would into the most decadent chocolate she could buy.
“Uh, enough with the PDA already,” Faith said, interrupting them, she threw a pretzel from a bowl on the table.
“What did I say about throwing food?” Dante asked, then sat, straddling a chair at their table.
“That we shouldn’t do it with you not around?” Nadie asked, batting her eyelashes.
They broke out into laughter, and Dante rolled his eyes, taking a sip of his beer. They’d closed the bar and gathered at their usual table, drinking their usual drinks and having a most unusual conversation.
“So, you’re telling us that the reason we were all struck by lightning was because the gods, or God, wanted to awaken something in our DNA?” Becca asked.
Ambrose nodded. “Either that, or it’s nature’s way of bringing forth more supernaturals.”
“So, we just have to have sex with our true half, and bam, we’re growing horns or wings?” Amara asked, playing with her glass of rum and Coke, but not drinking.
Lily blushed and hid her face against Shade’s side. Her friends laughed good naturedly, but God, talk about mortifying.
“That’s what we think,” Shade answered, laughing.
“Don’t laugh at me,” Lily pouted, holding back smile. He was just too cute for his own good.
“I’m sorry, baby.” He kissed her again and she forgot what she was supposed to be mad about. He was particularly good at that.
“I’m glad you’re okay though, Jamie,” Nadie said. “I don’t know how you healed so fast, but maybe it’s a good thing everything is changing.”
Jamie gave a small shrug and darted her gaze to Ambrose, who pointedly ignored everyone at the table. Whatever had happened in Ambrose’s room when he’d healed her had made them both act oddly, but Jamie wouldn’t spill. Whatever it was, Lily was glad that her friend had healed, though the question as to how danced on her tongue.
“Well, I don’t think any of us are feeling any different. So, maybe nothing will happen,” Eliana said, looking hopeful.
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