Dark Kings (Feathers and Fate #1) - Sadie Moss Page 0,74

man?” Phoenix says, half-rising from his seat.

“He’s gone!” Ford growls the words right in my face, shaking me. “What did you do with him? Why did you let him escape?”

“Who?” I blurt out, terrified.

All of Ford’s anger, all of what makes him Wrath, is concentrated on me, and I want to burst into tears. I know it’s not very warrior-like of me, and angels are supposed to be warriors; we’re supposed to be fighting a war for Upstairs, for our home and the side of good—but I can’t help how I feel.

And right now I feel very, very afraid.

“Our. Fucking. Lead.” The blond man’s usually clear blue eyes seem to blaze with fire. “You let him escape! And now he’s probably off warning whoever else is behind this thing that we’re coming after them! Our advantage is fucking gone! The element of surprise is gone. What the fuck did you do?”

Oh. Crap.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Phoenix

Trinity’s eyes go wide with shock as Ford crowds her with his body, dipping his head so his face is just inches from hers.

She looks shocked.

And terrified.

Dammit.

I usually make it a point not to get involved in any of my brothers’ fights or arguments. There’s no reason to, usually. They always work it out in the end, after they get whatever the hell it is out of their system.

But this is total bullshit. Trinity didn’t let Henrik go. She was with us the whole damn time, and even if there was a moment when she could’ve slipped away and freed him, that makes no damn sense.

Ford is thinking with his rage again, which is to say, he’s not thinking at all.

And now I’ve gotta do something I really fucking hate to do.

Step in.

I open my mouth to draw a breath, but before I can say anything, Trinity snaps. Seriously, I swear I can almost hear the sound of a rubber band twanging as her back goes ramrod straight.

“Are you kidding me?” she shrieks, and out of the corner of my eye, I see Remington’s eyebrows shoot straight up. All three of us are watching her and Ford, riveted to the sight before us. “I didn’t let him go! Why on earth would I do that when I’m the one who wanted to close the stupid portal in the first place! So why would I do anything to sabotage that? Huh?”

The angel is at least a foot shorter than Ford is, and about half his body weight. She’s barefoot, and still dressed in the slinky gown she wore to the casino, although it’s now stained with blood and dirt and ripped in a few somewhat revealing places.

Her chest is heaving, and her wings have popped out in her righteous anger.

She’s fucking gorgeous.

“I don’t accuse you of sabotage every time something doesn’t go right,” she continues, taking a step toward Ford, her chin jutting out defiantly. “And just because I didn’t want to kill that demon doesn’t mean I’m going to sneak around behind your back and let him go. I understood why you kept him tied up before—that’s why I didn’t say anything then! And yes, I may be a little innocent and naive sometimes, but if the alternative is to be a raging asshole like you, I’ll stick to my naivety, thanks very much!”

She punctuates the final word by poking him in the chest.

Hard.

Ford seems to puff up, his muscles all bunching and tightening as his hands curl into fists. His nostrils flare, the muscles along the side of his face jumping wildly as he grits his teeth.

Trinity falls back a little, losing a bit of her steam in the face of my brother’s anger, but I know Ford isn’t reacting this way just because he’s mad.

It’s because he’s turned the hell on.

To be honest, I kind of am too.

Fuck, that was amazing to watch.

Not a lot of people have ever stood up to Ford, and I’m talking about the entirety of our existence here. Brave men and hardened warriors have turned into quivering little babies when confronted with the force of Wrath’s undiluted rage.

But not Trin.

Well, okay, fine. She is quivering a little bit. But I honestly can’t tell if it’s from fear or anger, and either way, she’s not backing down. Tension builds in the air between the two of them, crackling and electric. Rage is pouring out of Ford, infusing the whole room, but arousal is too. He looks like he’s on the verge of grabbing Trinity and… well, I’m not quite sure what. I