I laugh. “That’s rich. You get to interrogate me, but won’t answer any of my questions? Not happening, you broody asshole. If you’re going to act secretive, I am too.”
“I’m making conversation,” Luca says, peaking under the blood-soaked flannel shirt. “I think it’s closing up, Ali.”
“Yes. I can tell.” Alistair pulls back from my wrist and licks the wound slowly, his eyes darting between me and the discarded sword. “Although, I’m not sure if my prognosis would be favorable if Ciprian hadn’t happened along.”
“Happy to be of service.” I salute him sarcastically, pretending I don’t hear him subtly questioning the story of how I found him.
“I’ll call in a favor and have someone come get the bodies,” Alistair says, wiping his bloody phone screen on his jeans, then scowling at the dead angels.
Luca sighs. “I’m more worried about what we’re going to tell Celine.” He glances at me and closes his mouth.
“Why would she care?” I snap. “Are all angels related?”Annoyed by his secrets, I push to my feet, lurching unsteadily into the wall as the world spins sickeningly.
“Woah!” Luca grabs my arm to steady me. “Take it slow, you’ve lost a lot of blood.”
“I’d be fine if some of it would leave my dick and go somewhere useful,” I groan.
Alistair chuckles. His smirk is devious as he wipes a drop of my blood from his lips, then sucks it off his finger. “My apologies,” he croons.
“I hate to criticize someone who almost died, but I feel like I need to let you know that you don’t sound sorry at all,” I say, yawning as my knees buckle.
“Okay, that’s it.” Luca helps me back to the ground. “Sit down before you fall down. I’ll go get my car.”
“Sounds great.” I yawn again, the beginnings of a reckless idea taking shape in my head as Luca jogs away. Letting my head sag, I lean into my exhaustion, focusing on the techniques I used to fall asleep as a kid after a particularly disturbing training session with Dad.
If they have a shred of honor between them, which I suspect they do despite their fringe manners, they won’t leave me unconscious in the street. If they decide to kill me, well, I can only hope I come to in time to stop them. Eyes heavy, I drift off, hoping I wake up one step closer to answers.
TWENTY-FIVE
Unspoken rule of the Fringes #97:
It’s better to make a pile of your enemies than allow them to pile up.
CELINE
I roll my fingers over my throbbing temples, an electric current of tension buzzing through me. “I’m not sure I’m hearing this right,” I say.
“That’s because it’s fucking messy.” Luca shakes his head. “Your brain is trying to reject the reality out of self-preservation.”
I smack his chest, but my heart isn’t in it. Not when it’s way too busy beating like a drum, every instinct demanding I step up and protect them both.This isn’t the same as before. You’re not helpless anymore.
When Luca stumbled into the Fang, missing his overshirt and streaked with blood, I wanted to strip him and check every inch of his body for injuries. After he told me what happened, the guilt almost crushed me.
I need to talk to Alistair and make things right. He’s in the lineof fire—exactly as I feared—and it almost cost him his life. And now Ciprian is somehow involved, lying like wilted lettuce on Alistair’s black leather couch, his mouth hanging open.
Luca points at the unconscious demon. “I know it’s not ideal, but he saved Alistair’s life. I couldn’t leave him.”
I groan and pace another lap around the unfamiliar room, careful not to let my wings hit the furniture. “I get that, but why are we here and not my place?”
“He doesn’t belong at your place,” he says, tossing his arms up. “And Alistair said it was fine to bring him here, something about wards.”
I sigh, my nerves fried. “I noticed them when I came in. Like an ice bath.”
“I hope it wasn’t too uncomfortable for you, angel.” Alistair walks in, his normally fluid walk slow and jerky.
“Are you okay?” I demand, cringing when my tone makes the question sound less concerned and more like an interrogation.
Alistair stops in front of me, the corner of his lips curling. “Nothing eight hours of rest won’t fix. I’ll be right as rain before you know it.”
