CHAPTER1
Endor
I clenchedmy jaw as I waited for the attendant at the La Quinta hotel to finish whatever the fuck she was doing on the computer that was taking damn near eternity.
The walk through Pine Ridge was needed, especially after Valory’s little act of heroism.
Just who the fuck did she think she was?
Shooting first and asking questions later, that is supposed to be my job.Not the pretty little angel’s.
All angels are just trigger-happy, if you ask me.Pent up in the big castle in the sky all the time, having to follow orders and law without any chance of deviating.
I should have expected Valory to flex her angelic power the first chance she got when dear old daddy Matthew wasn’t watching her like a hawk.
I bet it felt good, too.
The thought made me wonder if she was susceptible to falling off the bandwagon, and just how much it would take to push her...Perhaps I could add more than one soul to my roster to really cement my contractor deal.No demon’s ever pulled an angel to the dark side before.
Finally, the sloth passing for a person looked up from her computer screen and handed me two key cards.
“Your room is on the top floor, hope that won’t be a problem,” she said with a pop of her gum.She sucked her bubble inward, chomping on it so loud, I thought the sound itself was nails on a fucking chalkboard.I took the keycards from her, grumbling a thank you as I slid them in my pants pocket.
Once I exited the hotel, I found my way around to the back parking lot.It wasn’t late by human standards, only about eight pm.But by the darkness that blanketed the sad little town of Pine Ridge, New York, it felt like midnight, which I was rather thankful for.
I made my way behind the dumpster, unsheathing my wings.It felt so fucking good to let them out, let them stretch, and I was swept up in their magnetism once more.It didn’t take me long to reach Valory and Mercy, who was still sleeping peacefully in Valory’s arms like some stray kitten.
Valory looked at her like she was the sun, moon, and stars; with so much wonder and awe, I felt like I was intruding.Her golden hair fell over her tan shoulder, her skin practically glowing against the white and ivory dress that looked far too regal for the back alley of some side street.She looked beautiful, like a true angel.
I realized I was staring, and shook it off.It wasn’t like I’d never seen a beautiful woman before, they were a dime a dozen where I came from, so I saw them all the time in Hell.But I’d never really looked at an angel up close before.
I folded my wings down, but I did not sheath them.The sound of light flapping alerted Valory, breaking her awestruck gaze and the weird spell that had fallen over me.
“I didn’t hear you arrive,” she said, her eyes shifting from awestruck to cold and panicked.
I shrugged as I took my time striding up to them.Carefully, slowly.
“Surprised you stayed put.I would have thought you’d be rushing off to save the day again.”
Valory pursed her lips.
“Well, I would have, but that would defeat the order that wework together, wouldn’t it?”
I slid my hands into my pockets as I reached her.Her wings fluttered, covering her legs, covering Mercy, but even in the low light reflecting off the puddles, I could see they went on forever.Thoughts of what they’d look like wrapped aroundmywaist threatened to push forth, but I resist them.
For now.
I would poison this angel soon enough, but right then, my only concern was the lost soul she was so enamored with.
Valory looked up at me, her blue eyes ablaze, cheeks flushed as she took in the sight of me in my grandiosity.I flexed my wings for good measure.
Go on and get a good look.I know they are badass.
“Thispartnershipwill work best if you listen to me and let me lead.”
Valory moved to stand, careful not to wake Mercy.
“This partnership will work best if you keep me in the loop.I did not know where you were going, or what you were doing, and—”
