Corrupt? Excuse me?
“If you thinkI’mcorrupt, then maybe you should take a good look in the mirror,” I replied, trying not to panic when the two angels began to cross the floor. They pulled matching daggers from their waistbands and grinned. Where the hell were the demons?
I lowered my voice to a tense whisper. “Serena, I know you’re angry and you want to destroy Noah, but…do you think maybe we should run?”
“Absolutely.”
“Is there a door behind the plastic sheet?”
“Yep.”
“Think we’ll make it?”
“Nope.”
“Oh, good. So….are we going to try anyway?”
She nodded. “Now.”
We whirled on our feet and ran. I made it about six steps before a large beefy hand closed around the neckline of my dress. He tugged me back, and I fell onto my ass. I scrabbled back onto my feet and jumped sideways when Rafael swung for me again.
Out of the corner of my eye, Serena threw a punch into Michael’s gut. I didn’t even try to hold back a smug smile when a groan erupted from his throat. The knife flashed in Rafael’s hand again, dragging my attention back onto his twisted face. He looked tormented, broken. As if the world had once crashed down on his head, and this was the only thing he knew how to do.
Not that I could let myself feel sorry for an evil angel who had killed at least a hundred supernaturals in New York City. One who was currently trying to stab me in the heart.
His dagger loomed before my eyes. With a laugh, he slashed it at my face. Terror charged through me, quick and hot like lightning. Az’s face flashed in the back of my mind. Those slats of ice in his eyes. The strong, unyielding jaw. The thought of him steeled my nerves and urged me not to give up.
With a sharp cry, I dodged back, but the knife made contact with my arm. It sliced through my skin, almost to the bone.
Aripof pure, unadulterated power hurtled from my chest and slammed into the attacking angel. Rafael’s eyes widened as the force launched him into the air. He flew across the warehouse and landed by the rolling doors.
Rafael let out a tense laugh as he climbed to his feet, his eyes unfocused and dazed. “Do youreallywant to fight me, Mia McNally? You’re in league with a group of demons who care more about themselves than anything else. Your life will always be in danger as long as you’re with Az. Lucifer is going to find out about this, and he’ll torture you for eternity. Maybe you should rethink which side you’re on.”
The rolling doors shuddered up to the ceiling, and Az stepped inside with shadows pulsing around his body. Fury burned in his eyes as he swung his sword at Rafael’s neck. The angel rolled to the side, and the sword hit the concrete ground.
Az slowly stalked toward him. “I told you to stay away from Mia.”
The danger in his voice sent tremors through my body. Or maybe that was the shock of my wound finally hitting me. My arm burned. Pain flared deep within me, pulsing like a repeated punch against my bones. Slowly, I slid to the floor and caught myself with my palms.
Michael blinked out of the warehouse just as Caim and Phenex rushed inside. Rafael glanced behind him, saw his partner had fled, let out an annoyed growl, and vanished into mist. I sagged toward the ground. The fallen angels were gone. Again. Hopefully, it was for good.
“Ow,” I said as Serena fell to my side, wrapping her hand around my wound to staunch the blood. “That really fucking hurt.”
“Asmodeus,” Serena shouted over her shoulder. “Mia’s losing a lot of blood. She needs healing. Can you do the…?”
Dimly, I realized she hadn’t finished her question. That was odd. What was that all about? Did it have anything to do with the things Az kept secret? Didn’t really make much sense. Why would he want to hide that he could heal people?
Could he heal people?
That would probably be useful right about now. The warehouse began to blur, like grey smudges of paint on a canvas. Darkness hovered in the corners of my eyes. The sound of music filled my head. It was very pretty. So pretty that I didn’t feel the pain anymore.
I opened my mouth to tell Az I liked it. And that I liked him. He needed to know. I’d never told him, and I didn’t want to walk out of his life before giving him the truth.
I was falling for a Prince of Hell.
The world went black.
30
