young priests’ eyes, his panic making his movements sloppy.
“Hold on, I got you!” I jumped in next to him, cutting through with all my might, but the smoke was thick, almost solid in its density.
“Kais, that big fucker’s coming!”
“Where the fuck is the angel?” I bellowed.
“Kais…”
Zach’s voice was hoarse, weak. At some point I dropped my crossbow and tried to feel around for him. The smoke was so thick, so suffocating. My limbs ached and my eyes burned, but I forced them open just to see the light of his flaming sword. I didn’t know if it was my eyesight or the smoke closing in that made the light grow steadily dimmer.
“Zach, grab my hand!” I called out blindly.
And then his light was snuffed out.
13
Fuck Angels, Fuck Hellions
Deyva
I quickly decided that pacing around in the chapel while the guys were out fighting wraiths was not going to do me any good. Kais made it seem like it wasn’t a big deal, but fuck, I was actually worried about them. All of them. Even Zach and Stavros, the little shits. Not Azariah though. I hoped those wraiths dragged him back by his good wing and kept him there.
My decision made, I headed out the front door of the church. As long as I stayed within the gate, I should be okay, I reminded myself. I just wanted to watch them for my own peace of mind and maybe show some moral support. I could flash them like with Kais in the gym this morning, if that would help.
Nah, better not distract them. Although Zach’s face would be priceless. I made a mental note to ask him if he’d ever seen boobs in person before.
Each step toward the gate was a slow drag, as if through mud. Coming closer to that border of safety felt like I was walking directly into Kimaris' clutches again. My hands clenched in front of me and my pulse accelerated with every step forward.
Here’s good. I can see them from here.
I had to admit it—the guys looked sexy in action. Desire and hunger rippled through me as I watched. Zach was precise and deadly with his flaming blade, making it look like a dance. Stavros and Kais looked like action heros with their weapons. Azariah? Typical fucking angel, putting on a show with his holy light.
Worry cut through my desire as a cluster of wraiths began to gather and morph just outside the gate right in front of me. I instinctively took a few steps back. They can’t get through. You’re safe.
Kais said something to Azariah, pointing to the wraiths closest to me. The angel answered and started in that direction. Too fucking slowly.
“Well, slow down a little. You won’t want to attack them before their power goes up exponentially,” I muttered.
As if he heard me, the angel caught my eye and smiled as he started toward the gate. I glowered back, crossing my arms. He held up a long, lithe arm covered in slender muscle tone to summon his holy light again. Glowing like a miniature sun, he smote the wraith without breaking a sweat.
So he’s a powerful one, I realized. Possibly one of the guardians closest to God. What could he have done to end up in Hell?
To my utter shock, rather than turning back to help the guys, he hopped over the gate and headed straight toward me.
“What are you doing?” I cried out. “Get back out there! They need you!”
“Ah, they’ve got it handled.” The cocky bastard waved a hand dismissively. “I figured now’s the perfect time for you and I to have a little one-on-one, First Daughter.”
“Are you fucking kidding me right now? They are mortal, they could die!”
“Oh, so you care if they live or die, despite having a plethora of food sources here at the ready.” Azariah stroked his chin pensively. “Very interesting.”
“You winged shit! Why the fuck are you even here?” I demanded.
“Why are you?” he countered.
I hated him almost as much as Kimaris at that point. Especially because up close, his cockiness practically making a film on my tongue, my instinct was to feed from him. To shove my tongue in his stupidly pretty mouth and rub the front of his pants until he felt like a steel pipe. Angels were like a superfood and a euphoric drug all in one. He’d power me better than Stavros, better than any of the morsels I took from the guys in their dreams.
And being with a human man made me