Leeanna balks.
“You’re in no position to barter, traitor,” Malachi jeers at Zeke, throwing the same insult at him.
“Lee,” Zeke pleads, “you know I’m right.”
“Are you? Plans change all the time.”
“What game are you playing?” he snaps.
“Why do you care what happens to her?” Her lip lifts into a Cheshire-cat grin that looks more evil than angelic. Her reaction belies her words. She’s mocking him. But for what exactly? “You already know the ending.”
I’d still be considering what the hell she’s talking about if Zeke’s reaction hadn’t caught my attention. His back is straight, and his eyes are narrowed on Leeanna.
“What is she talking about?” I ask, looking between the two.
“Why, Lee? After everything?”
Despite the fact that I’m moments away from having my life snuffed out at the hands of my former friends, I’m jealous. Pain, regret, and something akin to yearning radiates off both Leeanna and Zeke. My Zeke.
I don’t want anything serious. He’s not mine.
“Burn her, for all I care,” Lee says, before turning her back on all of us and walking away.
“You coward,” I scream at her retreating form, as Malachi lowers me to my knees, securing my hands together behind my back.
“Any last words?” he says through gritted teeth.
“This is done, Mal. You and I both know this joke has gone too far.” Zeke’s glare is lethal.
“Has it?”
Zeke doesn’t get to say another word as something large crashes through the cemetery, taking down tombstones as it runs toward us. Malachi’s head lifts to the sky and he wails, a sound that makes my ears feel like they’re going to bleed. I can’t even shield them from the sound, since my hands are still secured behind me.
The crashing continues. It’s getting closer. Malachi and the others spread their wings before they all take to the skies, retreating. As soon as they are out of sight, the loud sound ceases.
Zeke and I share an ominous look. The cemetery is eerily quiet. Not a single bird chirps or branch rustles. The wind that once whipped through this place is gone. If the lack of noise isn’t odd enough, the bigger question is what could’ve frightened off three archangels?
“Victoria.”
The word is whispered in my ear for only me to hear. Chills cascade over my body, leaving me cold to the bone.
Lucifer.
He’s here, and that is not good for me.
When we’re back at the loft, Zeke holds me in his arms and strokes my hair. I haven’t stopped shaking since the cemetery.
“Baby, you’re safe,” Zeke coos in my ear. “They were just playing a horrible prank.”
If only that were the reason for my trembling.
“Angels don’t prank, Zeke.” My teeth chatter. The cold that slipped under my skin is bone deep and not retreating, no matter how many blankets he layers me with.
“On Earth they do.” He inhales. “They won’t get away with anything like that again.”
Theybeing Leeanna and Malachi. Two angels who at one time were my family. We had each other’s backs. Now, they’d throw me to the wolves. The sequence of the night’s events runs through my head and keeps getting stuck on the interaction between Zeke and Leeanna. So many strange comments and looks of longing. I might never unsee them.
I’m torn between wanting Zeke here and wanting him far away from me. He came to my defense, but his affection for Leeanna is clear to anyone with half a brain. With that thought, the chills subside and give way to a burning anger. An unfair anger.
