Shaking first her left foot then her right, Cassandra worked the blood back to her extremities. She wasnt completely warm yet, and sensed her blazing cheeks may have developed a touch of frostbite.
Sam turned to her, too sexy in only leather pants and boots. In the midst of a winter storm, he had marched her home wearing nothing but that. Stunning.
His shoulder-length dark hair, scruffed this way and that, spoke more of the bed-tousled look than angry warrior. Muscles and, wellwho could disregard those guns? And since when had a man accessorized with deadly weapons appealed to her? She liked danger, but not the sort that could kill.
Where is the rest of your arsenal?
In the bedroom, she offered sweetly.
He stalked down the hallway.
Cassandra made a beeline for the shelf of cookbooks above the stove. She pulled out the red leather-bound grimoire Granny had given her and paged to the spell designed to put a force field of white light around her to protect her from angels.
She found the dog-eared page and began to chant the Latin verse.
A hand slammed the book shut, pinching her fingers in it. An overbearingly sexy male leaned over her shoulder, whisking her bare back with the hard curve of his pectoral muscle. No, sweetie. You dont want to keep me at a distance.
Im pretty sure I do. Mostly. Yes, she did! Back off, will you?
And what will you do when the vampires come? How will you protect yourself?
If youd stop raiding my arsenal, Id give em what-for with a bullet to the brain.
Wont kill a vampire. You need a wooden stake.
Thats Dracula movie stuff. The stake doesnt need to be made of wood, and thats definitely not the only way to kill a vampire. A bullet will slow a vamp down, and Ive a machete to slice off their heads, and
And something special she wasnt going to reveal to anyone. She had to keep at least one ace up her sleeve.
Thatll probably do the job. The angel slid a hand along her jaw, and when Cassandra thought he was feeling her skin, deciding if she were soft enough for him to have his way with her, he abruptly tipped up her chin. You want a repulsion spell against me? Ill give you a simple one. A means to put me back and give you space. You can use it if I ever feel the compulsion come upon me.
The compulsion? She knew what he was talking about, but wanted to hear it from him.
To have sex with you.
She swore at the back of her throat and her body sank against the stove. Granny had explained all this and had made Cassandra and her sister repeat it until theyd known it by rote. But until now shed never felt the implications of what it would be like to stand before the man who wanted to ruin her life.
Why must he be so handsome? And his eyes. All angels had kaleidoscope eyes, but shed never imagined the mix of colors could be so utterly captivating. She didnt want to run from him, she wanted to put her arms around him, andno!
Snap out of it, Caz. The moment you start thinking youre a musean object that an angel seeks to usethen youve lost the battle. Youre more than that. You are strong. Youve trained for this!
Listen, Cassandra. He lifted her by the elbow to stand straight and she met his eyes. It was peaceful there. His voice soothed her too sweetly for a man she should fear. The word is agothé. Try it.
Agothé.
As if struck by an invisible force, the angel was slammed against the kitchen wall, his arms pinned out and his feet dangling above the cement floor. His bare chest, impossibly strapped with muscles of steel, heaved.
He smiled. See?
How long does that work for? She slunk along the counter, backing away from him.
Not long.
Not long was long enough for her.
Cassandra raced down the hallway and into her bedroom. Kicking off her wet boots, she grabbed a pair of black wool leggings and slipped them on. Pulling out of a drawer a thick red sweater she knew she was going to need to stay warm, she first put on a tank top, then yanked the sweater over her head and tugged it over her hips.
Because the angel was right. She couldnt stick around here any longer. Not now that the Fallen knew it was her home.
Her computer flickered, and she grabbed the flash drive from the USB port. It was on a nylon lanyard, which she pulled over her head. Next important item was her rosary, which she slipped on next to the lanyard, then thought about it and tucked it under the sweater. Granny had given it to her; she didnt want to lose it.
Another Taser from the bedside drawer she fit into her back pocket. The pocket-size Ruger she kept stuffed between the mattresses wasnt there. The angel must have found it during his swift reconnaissance.
She ran out of the bedroom and slammed into a solid object. Her palms slapped against hard, muscled flesh. For a moment, she stared at his skin, nicely tanned and stretched like silk over steel. How could a body be so hard? And why did a flash of her tongue tracing between his nipples disturb her thoughts?
Told you it only works a short while, he offered with a wry grin.
She began to say the word again, but he pressed a palm over her mouth. It was just for you to try. Hear me out before you turn the word into a Tourettes tic.
She nodded.
Whats this? He grabbed the flash drive and pulled it from the plastic cover.
Nothing. Just important papers. Financial stuff, you know. If Im not returning
Pushing her back into the bedroom, he inserted the USB in the computer drive, and Cassandra was so shocked at the angels actions she stumbled to sit on the bed. It was as if he knew her every secret. Or had been given a clue to finding each one. Could their sigils have something to do with that? She just didnt know.
She averted her gaze to the silver angel posed on the dresser. The face resembled the live angel poised before the computer. Had she brought him to life by invoking him in silver?
She caught her head in her palms. The silver rings she wore reminded her of another time shed tried to invoke danger. Would she never learn?
The monitor beeped, prompting her attention, and a list flashed on the screen. Sam turned and eyed her. Financial stuff?
Its just a list, she murmured. My grandmother gave it to me.
A list of all the Fallen ones names and their sigils. He whistled, impressed. Honey, you do not want this to fall into vampire hands.
Its not going to.
No, because Ill make sure it doesnt He dragged the computer file to the trash.
Cassandra dove for the flash drive and tugged it out. He gripped her wrist. Agothé!
The angel was forced against the wall again, arms spread. He struggled futilely. Fine! Keep it, he said. But you make sure it is erased from the computer and any other copies you have are destroyed. Your home will be searched, I can guarantee it.
She thought about it. He seemed to know what was up in this whole war between the vampires, Fallen and muses. Double clicking the trash icon, she emptied it.
Wheres the original? he asked.
I burned it after transferring it to the computer.
Dont lie to me, Cassandra.
Im not.
Wheres the original? he asked.
I burned it after transferring it to the computer.
Dont lie to me, Cassandra.
Im not.
Okay, so she was, but he didnt need to know she had the original book and was still in the process of scanning all the pages into digital files. Granny had suggested she be very careful with the last page; it wasnt to be scannedever.
She made a concerted effort not to look out the bedroom door to the bathroom as she grabbed the Taser and marched out, leaving him pinned to the wall next to her X-Files poster and the angel sculpture.
He met her in the living room poised casually near the couch, hands on his hips. How did he do that? It was as if he could move at supernatural speedah, yes. He had the ability to walk swiftly, hundreds of miles an hour. It is what hed done to walk the world and gain knowledge. Because he couldnt fly. Once an angels feet touched earth, they lost their divinity, and their.
Cassandra noticed the object hooked at his hip for the first time. Your halo?
She clamped a palm over her mouth. He had his own halo? But he should have lost that when Falling. It was a powerful weapon in the hands of its owner.
He tapped the circlet, and it clinked dully. Found it in the halo hunters bag. It is mine. He stroked the curved blade and it glowed as blue as Cassandras sigil had.
Despite her dread, an innate curiosity nudged to the surface of her mind, and Cassandra leaned toward the marvelous device. Can I touch it?
He snapped it against his chest. I dont think so.
Why not? You afraid I can use it? Mortals cant kill angels.
In theory.
Really? Well, that went a ways in answering a few of her questions. Perhaps a mortal could kill an angel; in fact, she knew that one had. He wasnt about to hand over something she could use as a weapon against him. Smart angel.
It holds your earthbound soul, she stammered. Why dont you claim it? Then you dont have to Hurt me, she couldnt say.
Dont want it. When Im finished here He looked aside, apparently unwilling to complete that statement.
So the angel had a few secrets of his own. Which meant he wasnt entirely undefeatable. If the enemy had a secret, it was most certainly his greatest weakness.
You ready to rock?
Im not going anywhere with you. Where is a Sinistari demon when I need one?
You know more than I expected, he said.
What were your expectations? A stupid woman who would swoon at your feet and beg you to take her to bed?
He smirked. I am pleased you are not as you describe. Do you have a spell to summon the Sinistari?
I do. Cassandra eyed the grimoire, lying open on the black granite kitchen counter.
The angel took it and the book sparked into flames. He held it until the flames began to lick at his flesh, then dropped it in the sink.
Now you dont. So heres the plan. We will go after the vampires. Kill them all. Thatll take care of their interference. And if we encounter any Fallen along the way, well take those out, too. Thats what this will come in handy for. He tapped the halo.
And why do I need to come along? Wouldnt it be safer if you tucked me away somewhere?
I need to protect you. I cant do that unless youre with me. Youve already seen what can happen if you go off on your own.
That was a coincidence. They intended to rob me
Oh, really? And since when are vampires more interested in robbing than biting? He lifted a querying brow. This will be dangerous for you. Are you willing to risk everything, Cassandra?
For what? To save the world? To end some kind of apocalypse?
Its not the apocalypse, but it is the beginning of a very dark time. Should the vampires succeed in breeding more nephilimI am aware one is soon to be born, and nothing good can come of thatsomething very akin to the end times could result. Well need stakes.
What about the Sinistari?
What about those metal-brained misfits of angeldom?
A Sinistari can kill you, thus ending your grand plans to save the world.
You put your faith on the wrong side, Cassandra.
I dont believe in faith.
Ah? You do have faithyou just dont want to believe in yourself.
I suppose an angel would say something like that. Sort of your creed, eh? If it works for you. But it doesnt work for me.
Please. He extended a hand. Trust me?
She shook her head and took a step away from him. I trust no one.
Your grandmother teach you that? Smart old lady.
Shed kick your ass if she was still alive. She was black belt karate and a judo master.
Impressive. Im guessing she taught you that defense jazz you attempted against the vampires?
Cassandra nodded.
I have those skills and more. The strength of a dozen mortal men, surely. Can you at least agree I may have the ability to protect you?
You may. But Im not sure I wouldnt be safer hitching the train to Siberia.
The Fallen walk all parts of the world. You know about them seeking their muses. If the Fallen has attempted his muse, then he goes on to the next muse, and the next. Which means not only are the vampires pursuing you, but also frustrated Fallen.
Again he extended his hand.
Danger? She was all for it. But she worked alone.
Cassandra made to slap her palm onto his, but instead, she shoved him toward the center of the living room and recited the ancient spell, Letencious! Tricurcious!
A triumvirate of angel sigils drawn with invisible ink on the wall behind the television, the front door and the wall in the kitchen connected, trapping the angel in the center of the living room.
Sam slammed a fist against the invisible wall. A kick of his boot proved as ineffective. Oh, this is rich. You think you can keep me in here while you go play with the vampires?
Im not going near the bloodsuckers. Cassandra stuffed her feet into knee-high boots lined in fur that she kept by the door, then scrounged for her leather gloves, which should be in the drawer at the end of the kitchen counter. And youre not coming along to protect me.
Dont do this, he said calmly, so quietly she paused and looked at the icon of a man who stood trapped but inches away. Cassandra, please.
Dont use my name, she said. You have no power over me!
Cassandra Stevens, muse mine. We have been bonded since the beginning. Since before you were born. He rubbed a palm over his bare chest. Do you think this is easy for me? To deny the compulsion?
You said you didnt feel it unless you were in half form. Easy, or not easy, dont you think its safer for me to keep you under lock and key? What if this compulsion does hit you? Will you be able to stop yourself from attacking me?
I hope so.
Hope? Oh, brother. More angel babble.
In this human form I am not a threat to you, he protested.
I know the drill, buddy. Only in half formwhat the hell were your wings made from anyway?
Silver. Interesting, isnt it, he noted, with a nod to a silver plate on the wall, that you are a silversmith?