After the things hed seen in his mind, he believed her. She attacked in gloom, a phantom who delivered no warning. Without a doubt, there was no crime she found too vile. That didnt mean he was going to heed her demands. You might think yourself powerful, but you cant defeat us all. War is what youll get if you continue to issue such warnings.
Whatever, warrior. I said what I wanted to say. You just better pray this is the last time you see me. The shadows thickened again, enveloping her and leaving absolutely no sign of her presence. Until, right next to his ear, he heard, Oh, and one last thing. This was my courtesy call. Next time, I wont play nice.
Then the world around him crashed back into focus: the buildings at his sides, the trash bags littering the concrete, the inebriated male now passed out cold. Finally, Wrath calmed.
Aeron remained on alert, eyes scanning, body ready. He listened, heard only the deliberate drags of his own breath, the patter of human footsteps beyond the alley and the song of night birds.
Once more his wings expanded and he shot into the air, determined to find Paris and return to their fortress. The other Lords had to be notified. Whoever the bloodthirsty female was, whatever else she could do, she needed to be dealt with. Soon.
CHAPTER TWO
AERON! AERON!
At the fortress, Aerons booted feet hit the balcony that led into his bedroom. Jolted by the unfamiliar female voice, he released Paris.
Aeron!
At that third ear-piercing feminine cry of terror and desperation, both he and Paris spun to face the hill below them. Thick trees knifed toward the sky, obscuring visibility, but there, amid the dappled greens and browns, he could just make out a figure draped in white.
A figure rushing toward their home.
Shadow Girl? Paris asked. How the hell did she make it past our gate so quickly? And on foot, no less?
Aeron had explained what happened with the woman from the alley along the way. Thats not her. This voice was higher, richer and far less confident. The gate I dont know.
Weeks ago, after he and Paris had recovered from battle wounds inflicted by Hunters, they had erected an iron gate around the fortress. That gate stretched fifteen feet tall, was wrapped with barbed wire and had tips sharp enough to cut glass. It also vibrated with enough electricity to send a human into cardiac arrest. Anyone who attempted to climb it wouldnt live long enough to reach the other side.
Think shes Bait? Paris tilted his head, his study of her intensifying. She could have been dropped from a heli, I guess.
Hunters had been known to use beautiful human females to lure the Lords out into the open, distract them and capture them for torture. This one certainly seemed to meet the criteria, possessing long wavy hair the color of chocolate, skin as pale as a cloud and a curved, ethereal body. Aeron couldnt make out her facial features just yet, but he would bet they were exquisite.
His wings unfolded from their slits as he answered, Maybe. Damn Hunters and their perfect timing. Half his friends were gone. Theyd traveled to Rome to search the Temple of the Unspoken Ones, ruins that had recently risen from the sea. They hoped to find anything that would lead them to missing godly artifacts. Four artifacts that, when used together, would then lead to the location of Pandoras box.
Hunters hoped to use that box to lock the demons back inside, destroying the Lords since man could no longer live without demon. The Lords simply hoped to demolish it.
There are trip wires out there. The more Paris spoke, the more Aeron noticed a tremor in his tone. Because of Shadow Girl, as Paris had called her, there hadnt been time for him to bed anyone in town, so his strength must be draining. If shes not careful Even if she is Bait, she doesnt deserve to die like that.
Aeron!
Paris fisted the balcony railing and leaned down for a better look. Whys she calling for you?
And why was she using his name with such familiarity? If shes Bait, Hunters are probably out there right now, lying in wait for me. Ill try and help her and theyll attack.
Paris straightened, face suddenly bathed in moon-light. Bruises had formed under his eyes. Ill get the others, and well take care of her. Of them. He was off before Aeron could reply, striding out of the bedroom, boots thumping against the stone floor.
Aeron kept his focus on the girl. As she continued to race upward, closer and closer to him, he realized the white cloth draping her was actually a robe. And the back of it, which he hadnt been able to see before, was bright red.
She wasnt wearing shoes, and when her bare toe slammed into a rock, she fell, that mass of chocolate hair cascading around her face. There were flowers woven through the curls, some of the petals missing. There were also twigs, but he didnt think shed placed those there intentionally. Her hands were shaking as she reached up and pushed the strands away.
Finally, her features came into view and every muscle in his body jumped, tensed. She was exquisite, just as hed supposed. Even splotchy and swollen from tears as she was. She had huge sky-blue eyes, a perfectly sloped nose, perfectly sculpted cheeks and jaw, both just a little rounded, and perfect lips that formed a lush heart.
Hed never met her before, he would have remembered, but suddenly there was something almostfamiliar about her.
She lumbered to a stand, grimacing and groaning, then started forward. Once again, she fell. A pained sob escaped her, but still she persisted, rising, edging toward the fortress. Bait or not, such determination was admirable.
Somehow she managed to dodge all the traps, weaving around them as if she knew where they were, but when she hit another rock and tumbled to the ground for a third time, she stayed down, shuddering, crying.
His eyes widened as he studied her back. The redWas thatblood? Fresh, still wet? The metallic tang of it drifted on the breeze and reached Aerons nostrils, confirming his suspicions. Oh, yes. It was.
Hers? Or someone elses?
Aeron. No longer a scream, but a pathetic wail. Help me.
His wings expanded before he could think things through. Yes, Hunters would purposely injure Bait before sending her into the lions den, hoping to gain sympathy from the target. Yes, hed probably end up with arrows and bullets in his backagainbut he wasnt going to leave her out there, injured and vulnerable. Wasnt going to allow his friends to risk their lives to saveor destroyhis little visitor.
Why me? he wondered as he shot from the balcony. Up, up he soared before falling toward her. He zigzagged to make himself less of a mark, but no arrows whizzed by and no gunshots sounded. Still, rather than land beside her, he increased his speed, reached out his arms and scooped her up without ever slowing his pace.
Perhaps she was afraid of heights and that was the reason for her sudden stiffening. Perhaps shed expected him to be killed before ever reaching her and, when hed actually managed to latch onto her, had stiffened from terror. Either way, he didnt care. Hed done what hed set out to do. He had her.
She began flailing weakly against his hold, grunting in shock and pain. Dont touch me! Let me go! Let me go, or I swear to
Be still, or by the gods, I will drop you. He had her by the stomach, her face aimed toward the ground. That way, she could see just how far she would fall.
Aeron? She craned her neck to see him. The moment their gazes connected, she relaxed. Even smiled slowly. Aeron, she repeated on a sigh of pleasure. I was afraid you wouldnt come.
That pleasure, undiluted and untouched by malice, surprisedand confusedhim. Women never looked at him like that. Your fear was misplaced. You should have feared I would come.
Her smile faded.
Better. The only thing that disturbed him now was the radio silence from his demon. As with Shadow Girl, images and urges should have bombarded him by now. Worry about it later.
Continuing to zigzag, he flew into his bedroom, not stopping on the balcony as usual. He needed cover as quickly as possible. Just in case. Except, just as he was retracting his wings, they slammed into both sides of the doorway and fire rushed from the tips to the arches.
Aeron ignored the pain as he skidded to his feet. When he righted himself, he strode to the bed and gently laid his charge atop the mattress, facedown. He ran a fingertip along the ridge of her spine and her heart-shaped lips parted on an agonized groan. Hed hoped shed been doused with someone elses blood, but no. Her injuries were real.
The knowledge wouldnt soften him. Shed probably inflicted the damage herselfor allowed the Hunters to do itjust for the sympathy it would evoke. No sympathy from me. Only irritation. As he stomped to his closet, he drew his wings into his back, but broken as they now were, they wouldnt fit under their flaps. That only increased his irritation with her.
He didnt have rope and didnt want to leave the room to find some, so he grabbed two of the neckties Ashlyn had given him in case he ever wanted to dress up. He returned to the bed.
Her cheek pressed into the mattress, her gaze tracking his every move, as if she couldnt help but peer at himand not in revulsion as most females did. She watched him with something akin to desire.
An act, surely.
And yet, that desirethere was something familiar about it. Something unsettling. Thats what hed noticed earlier, he thought. When shed called his name, that same desire had been evident and deep down, hed known hed encountered it before. When? Where?
From her?
He continued to stare down at her, and Wrathwas still silent, he realized. This was (supposedly) the first time hed ever been in her presence, yet his demon still wasnt flashing her sins through his mind. That was odd. Had happened only once before. With Legion. Why, hed never figured out. Gods knew his baby girl had sinned.
So why was it happening again? With possible Bait, no less?
This woman, had she never sinned? Had she never said an unkind word to another? Never purposely tripped someone or stolen something as simple as a piece of candy? Those pure, sky eyes said no. Or, like Legion, had she sinned but for whatever reason, flew under Wraths radar?
Who are you? His fingers wrapped around one of her fragile wristsmmm, warm, smooth skinand anchored it to a bedpost with the tie. He repeated the action with her other wrist.
Not once did she protest. It was as if shed expectedand already acceptedthat she would receive such treatment. My name is Olivia.
Olivia. A pretty name. Fitting. Delicate. Actually, the only thing that wasnt delicate about her was her voice. Layer after layer ofwhat was that? The only word he could think to describe it was honesty, and so much drifted from her, he was knocked backward.
That voice had never told a lie, he would bet. It couldnt have.
What are you doing here, Olivia?
Im hereIm here for you.
Again, that truthit was a force that flowed into his ears, through his body, and sent him staggering. There wasnt room for doubts. Not a single one. He was simply compelled to believe her.
Sabin, keeper of Doubt, would have loved her. Nothing pleased the warriors demon more than tearing down anothers confidence.
Are you Bait?
No.
Again, he believed her; he had no choice. Are you here to kill me? He straightened and crossed his arms over his chest, glaring down at her, waiting.
He knew how fierce he looked, but again, she didnt react as females usually did: trembling, cowering, crying. She fluttered her long, black lashes at him, seemingly hurt that hed maligned her character.
No, of course not. She paused. Well, not anymore.
Not anymore? So. At one time, you meant to slay me?
I was once sent to do so, yes.
Such honesty By whom?
At first, I was sent by the One True Deity to merely watch you. I didnt mean to scare your little friend away. I was only trying to do my job. Fresh tears filled her eyes, turning those beautiful blue irises into pools of remorse.
No softening. Who is the One True Deity?
Pure love lit her expression, momentarily chasing away that sheen of pain. Deity of you, Deity of me. Far more powerful than your gods, though mostly content to remain in the shadows, and so rarely acknowledged. Father to humans. Father toangels. Like me.
Angels. Like me. As the words echoed in his head, Aerons eyes widened. No wonder his demon couldnt sense any wickedness in her. No wonder her gaze felt familiar to him. She was an angel. The angel, actually. The one sent to kill him, by her own admission. Though she didnt plan to end him anymore. Why?
And did it matter? This delicate creature had been, at one point, his appointed executioner.
Suddenly he wanted to laugh. As if she could have overpowered him.
You couldnt see her. Would you truly have been able to stop her, had she gone for your head?
The thought hit him and he lost his amusement. She was the one who had been watching him these many weeks. She was the one who had followed him, unseen, driving a pained Legion away.
Which begged the question of why Wrath wasnt reacting as Legion always did. With fear and even physical agony. Perhaps the angel controlled which demons sensed her, he considered. That would certainly be a handy ability to possess, keeping her intended victims ignorant of her presenceand intentions.
He waited for brutal rage to fill him. Rage hed promised to unleash on this creature time and time again should she ever reveal herself. When the rage failed to appear, he waited for resolve. He must protect his friends at any cost.
But that, too, remained hopelessly out of reach. What he got instead? Confusion.
You are
The angel who has been watching you, yes, she said, confirming his suspicions. Or rather, I was an angel. Her eyelids sealed shut, tears catching in her lashes. Her chin trembled. Now Im nothing.
Though he believed herhow could he not? That voice Seriously, he wanted to doubt her about something, anything, but couldnt manage itAeron extended a shaky hand. What are you, a child? Man up.
Scowling at his display of weakness, he steadied his hand and flipped away her hair, careful not to touch her injured skin. He pinched the scooped neck of her robe and gently tugged. The soft material ripped easily, revealing the expanse of her back.
Once again, his eyes widened. Between her shoulder blades, where wings should have protruded, were two long grooves of broken skin, tendons torn to the spine, ripped muscle and even a peek at bone. They were savage wounds, violent and unmerciful, blood still seeping from them. Hed had his own wings forcibly removed once, and it had been the most painful injury of his very long life.
What happened? The hoarseness of his voice threw him.
Ive fallen, she rasped, shame dripping from her tone. She buried her face in the pillow. Im angel no more.
Why? Never having encountered an angel beforewell, besides Lysander, but that bastard didnt count because he refused to speak to the Lords about anything of importanceAeron didnt know much about them. He only knew what Legion had told him, and of course, there was a very good chance her recounting had been colored by her hatred of them. Nothing shed described fit with the female on his bed.
Angels, Legion had said, were emotionless, soulless creatures with only one purpose: the destruction of their darker counterpart, the demons. Shed also claimed that, every so often, an angel would succumb to the lures of the flesh, intrigued by the very beings heor shewas supposed to loathe. That angel would then be kicked straight into hell, where the demons she had once defeated were finally allowed a little vengeance.
Was that what had happened to this one? Aeron wondered. A trip to hell, where demons had tormented her? Possible.
Should he untie her? Her eyesso guileless, so innocent. Now they said help me. And save me.
But most of all, they said hold me and never let go.
Hed been tricked by such innocence before, he thought, stopping himself before he could act. Baden had been tricked, as well, and had died for it.
A smart man would learn a little more about this woman first, he decided.
Who took your wings? The question emerged as a gruff bark, and he nodded in satisfaction.
She gulped, shuddered. Once I was cast
Aeron, you stupid shit, a male voice said, hushing her. Tell me you didnt Paris stalked into his bedroom, but ground to a halt when he spotted Olivia. His eyes narrowed, and he ran his tongue over his teeth. So. Its true. You really flew out there and grabbed her.
Olivia stiffened, keeping her face hidden from view. Her shoulders began shaking as if she were sobbing. Was she finally scared? Now?
Why? Women adored Paris.
Concentrate. Aeron didnt have to ask how Paris knew what hed done. Torin, keeper of the demon of Disease, monitored the fortress and the hill it sat upon twenty-eight hours a day, nine days a week (or so it seemed). I thought you were gathering the others.
Torin texted me, and I went to him first.
And what did he tell you about her?
Hallway, his friend said, motioning to the door with a tilt of his chin.
Aeron shook his head. We can discuss her here. Shes not Bait.
Another swipe of his tongue over his straight, white teeth. And I thought I was stupid when it came to females. How do you know what she is? Did she tell you and you couldnt help but believe her? His tone was sneering.
Shes an angel, despot. The one whos been watching me.
That wiped the scorn from Pariss expression. An actual angel? From heaven?
Yes.
Like Lysander?
Yes.
Very slowly, Paris looked her over. Female connoisseur that he wasor used to behe probably knew everything about her body by the time he was done. The size of her breasts, the flare of her hips, the exact length of her legs. That did not annoy Aeron. She meant nothing to him. Nothing but trouble.
Whatever she is, Paris said, far less angry than hed been, it doesnt mean shes not working with our enemy. Need I remind you that Galen, the worlds biggest blowhard, says hes an angel?
Yeah, but hes lying.
And she cant be?
Aeron scrubbed a hand down his suddenly tired face. Olivia. Are you working with Galen to harm us?
No, she mumbled, and Paris stumbled backward, just as Aeron had done, clutching his chest.
My gods, his friend gasped. That voice
I know.
Shes not Bait, and shes not helping Galen. A statement of fact from Paris now.
I know, Aeron repeated.
Paris shook his head as if to clear his thoughts. Still. Lucien will want to search the hill for Hunters. Just in case.
One of the many reasons Aeron had always followed Lucien. The warrior was smart and cautious. When he finishes, call a meeting with whoevers here and tell them about the other woman. The one from the alley.
Paris nodded and suddenly there was a sparkle in his blue eyes. Quite an evening youve had so far, huh? I wonder who else youll meet tonight.
Gods help me if theres another, he muttered.
You shouldnt have challenged Cronus, my friend.
Aerons stomach clenched as his gaze swung back to the angel. Had the god king actually answered his dare? Was Olivia to be the one who led him for a merry chase? His heart was pounding, he realized, and his blood was heating.
He ground his teeth. Didnt matter whether she was or not. She could try to tempt him, but even she, with her fall of chocolate hair, baby blues and heart-shaped lips, would fail to do so.
I dont regret my words. Truth or lie, he didnt know. He hadnt thought Cronus had any power over the angels. So how then would the god king have sent her here? Or was he not responsible? Perhaps Aeron was mistaken and Cronus had nothing to do with this.
Again, it didnt matter. Not only would the angel fail to tempt him, he would ensure she left before she had time to cause a single moment of concern.
Just so you know, Paris said, Torin saw this one on the hill with his hidden cameras. Said she dug her way out of the ground.
Out of the ground. Did that mean she had been tossed into hell, and had then been forced to claw her way free? He couldnt picture the fragile-looking female doing such a thingand surviving, that is. But then he recalled the determination shed displayed while running toward the fortress. Maybe.
Is that true? He looked her over with new eyes. Sure enough, there was dirt under her fingernails and smeared on her arms. Besides the blood, however, her robe was perfectly clean.
In fact, as he watched, the tear hed made wove itself back together, much like his body did when wounded. A piece of cloth with healing properties. Would wonders never cease?
Olivia. You will answer.
She nodded without glancing up. He heard a sniff, sniff. Yes, she was sobbing.
An ache bloomed in his chest, but he ignored it. Doesnt matter what she is or what shes endured. You will not soften, damn it. She frightens and hurts Legion and has to go.
A real, live angel, Paris said, clearly awed. Ill take her to my room, if youd like, and
Shes too injured for bedsport, Aeron snapped.
Paris eyed him strangely for a moment, then grinned and shook his head. I wasnt sizing her up or anything, so let go of your jealousy.
That didnt even deserve a response. Hed never experienced jealousy, and wasnt about to start now. So why were you offering to take her to your room?
So I can bandage her wounds. Whos the despot now?
Ill take care of her. Maybe. Could angels tolerate human medicine? Or would it hurt them? He knew well the dangers of giving one race something meant for another. Ashlyn had almost died when shed drunk wine meant only for immortals.
He would have called for Lysander, but the elite warrior angel was currently living in the heavens with Bianka and if there was a way to reach him, Aeron hadnt been told what it was. Besides, Lysander didnt like him and wasnt the type to willingly offer information about his race.
You want to be the responsible one, fine. But admit it. Paris tossed him another grin. Youre staking a claim on her.
No. Im not. He didnt have even the smallest desire to do so. It was just that she was injured and couldnt take care of herself, and was therefore in no position to be anyones bedmate. And thats all Paris would want her for. Sex. No matter what the warrior claimed.
Besides, shed called for Aeron. Screamed Aerons name.
Undeterred, Paris continued, An angel isnt technically human, you know. An angel is something more.
Aeron popped his jaw. Of all the things for the man to remember from their earlier conversation. I said Im not staking a claim.
Paris laughed. Whatever you say, compadre. Enjoy your female.
Aerons hands curled into fists, his friends laughter not so welcome now. Go and tell Lucien everything weve discussed, but under no circumstances are you to inform the women that theres a wounded angel here. Theyll raid my room wanting to meet her and now is not the time for that.
Why? Do you plan to make out with her?
His teeth ground with so much force he feared they would soon be nothing but a fond memory. I plan to question her.
Ah. So thats what the kids are calling it these days. Well, have fun. With that, a still-grinning Paris strolled from the room.
Alone once more with his charge, Aeron gazed down at her. Her silent sobbing ended, at least, and she faced him again.
What are you doing here, Olivia? Saying her name shouldnt have affected himhed said it before, after allbut it did. His blood heated another degree. It must be those eyes of herspiercing him
A shuddering breath escaped her. I knew the consequences, knew I was giving up my wings, my abilities, my immortality, but I did it anyway. Its justmy job changed. Joy was no longer mine to give. Only death. And I hated what they wanted me to do. I couldnt do it, Aeron. I just couldnt.
His name on her lips, uttered with such familiarity, affected him, too, and he sucked in a breath. What was wrong with him? Toughen up. Be the cold, hard warrior I know you can be.
I watched you, she continued, as well as those around you, and Iached. I wanted you, and I wanted what they hadfreedom and love and fun. I wanted to play. I wanted to kiss and to touch. I wanted joy of my own. Her gaze met his, bleak, broken. In the end, I had a choice. Fallor kill you. I decided to fall. So here I am. Yours.
CHAPTER THREE
YOURS. SHE SHOULDNT have said that.
Olivia froze in horror, one thought blasting through her mind louder than any other: shed just ruined everything.
She should have eased Aeron into the truth. After all, every time shed approached him these past few weeks, hed threatened her with agony and death. That shed been invisible hadnt mattered. Hed known she was nearby. How, she still hadnt figured out. She should have been imperceptible, as insubstantial as a phantom of the night. And now that she was here, in the flesh and spilling her secrets, he probably viewed her as even more of a threat. He probably viewed her as an enemy.
Probably? She laughed without humor. He did. His questions had lashed at her, cutting deep. Yep. Shed ruined. Hed want nothing to do with her now. Well, except to bestow that agony and death upon her.
You didnt fight your way from the depths of hell to be slaughtered in this fortress. Shed fought her way out of hell for a chance with Aeron. Despite the chance of failure.
You can do this. Having surreptitiously watched him time and time again, she felt she knew him pretty well. He was disciplined, distanced and brutally honest. He trusted no one but his friends. Weakness was not a trait he tolerated. And yet, to those he loved, he was kind, nurturing and solicitous. He placed their well-being above his own. I want to be loved like that.
If only he could have seen her before shed been kicked out of the only home shed ever known. If only hed seen her before her ability to fly had been taken away. Before her newfound skill of creating weapons from air had been obliterated. Before her capacity to shield herself from this worlds evil had been removed.
Now
She was weaker than a human. Having relied on her wings rather than her legs for the whole of her centuries-long existence, she didnt even know how to walk properly. What if she couldnt do this?
A sob escaped her. Shed given up her home and friends for pain, humiliation and helplessness. If Aeron kicked her out, too, shed have nowhere to go.
Dont cry, Aeron ground out.
I canthelpit, she replied between shuddering whimpers. Only once before had she shed tearsand those had sprung because of Aeron, as well, when shed realized her feelings for him were completely overshadowing her sense of self-preservation.
The magnitude of what shed done was now a screaming force inside her head. She was alone, trapped in a frail body she didnt understand, and dependent on the mercy of a man who sometimes wreaked deathly havoc on an unsuspecting public. A public she, as a bringer of joy, had once been responsible for making happy.
Try, damn you.
Can youmaybeI dont knowhold me? she said between gasps of air.
No. He sounded horrified by the thought. You will simply desist immediately.
She cried all the harder. Had she been home her mentor, Lysander, would have gathered her close and cooed until she quieted. At least, she thought he would have done so, since the theory had never been tested.
Poor, sweet Lysander. Did he know she was gone? Did he know she could never return? Hed known she was fascinated with Aeron, spending every free moment in this plane to watch him in secret, unable to complete the terrible task shed been given, but Lysander had never expected her to give up everything for the man.
To be honest, she hadnt, either. Not really.
Perhaps she should have since her troubles had begun even before shed first laid eyes on Aeron.
A few months ago, golden down appeared in her wings. But gold was the color of the warriors, and a warrior she had never longed to be. Even though it would have elevated her station.