Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Marna ran to Tanner and threw her arms around him. He felt so good—solid, warm, strong. “I was coming to find you.”
He lifted his head and gazed down into her face. “Like I was gonna let you go.” Then he kissed her. Deep and hot and she met him with a hungry need. Only Tanner. He was the only one who could make her feel this way. Free. Wild.
You’re on the list.
Marna pulled away from him. “We have to go.” Go where? She didn’t know. They just had to get out of the open. Get someplace safe. Away from the death that stalked her.
But Tanner wasn’t moving. And…had she heard gunshots? Or had that just been a car backfiring in the distance?
“Where is he?” Tanner snarled. “Where’s Bastion?”
He hadn’t come after her. She hoped he stayed away. “Gone.” She didn’t want to tell Tanner about the list. What was the point? So he’d get desperate and risk his life for her? If she was on the list…
No escape.
Marna locked her fingers around Tanner’s hand and pulled him toward the building on the right. The big FOR SALE sign told her the place was empty, and with one kick, she sent the front door flying in. The house was dark inside, and all the furniture was gone. Hollow.
The way I feel without him.
“Marna—”
She slammed the door closed. Pushed Tanner back against the wall. Kissed him. How much time did she have left? Couldn’t be long. No one ever lasted long once their name came up on the list.
She wanted her last moments to be with him. Happiness, before whatever hell waiting for her came calling.
His hands were on her waist. Rough fingertips, but with a touch so gentle. His claws were out, but they didn’t so much as scratch her skin. They never did. He always treated her so carefully.
“Tanner!” She heard Cody’s voice as if from a distance. Footsteps pounded outside. She didn’t want to pull free from Tanner. Couldn’t they just stay together a little longer? And let the rest of the world disappear?
But Tanner was gently pushing her back. “He’s worried about you.”
Marna swallowed. She needed to tell him this. Too many humans had passed—at her hand—with unsaid words in their hearts. She didn’t want to go out the same way. “I’ve been happy with you.”
A faint furrow appeared between his brows.
“I don’t want to leave you.” But sometimes it wasn’t about what you wanted. It was about what fate had planned.
“Then don’t.” His eyes seemed to glow as his beast pushed ever closer. “Stay with me, forever.”
She wanted to. Wished that she could. But Marna couldn’t make a promise that she wouldn’t be able to keep. Her hand traced the hard edge of his jaw. “I love you.” She’d never said the words to another.
“Tanner!” Cody was shouting again. So close out in the street. He’d find them at any moment.
Why did that thought make her shiver?
“You what?” Tanner asked. Then a wide smile broke his face. “Baby, you know I’m fucking insane for you.”
She started to smile.
The door flew open and banged against the wall with a thud. Marna’s head turned, and she saw Cody standing in the doorway. His eyes found hers. Narrowed when he saw Tanner holding her so close.
And why was Cody holding a gun?
“I was worried, brother,” Cody said as he took a step closer to them. “You didn’t answer when I called.”
Tanner inhaled, and in a flash, he had Marna behind him. “You’re not my brother. ”
Laughter from Cody. Had laughter ever been so cold?
“You’re not soaked in his blood this time,” Tanner snapped, “so I can smell you.”
“I’m not your brother.” An evil grin. “And you’re not the white knight who gets to live happily-fucking-ever-after with the lost angel.”
A gunshot blasted. Marna screamed. Tanner flinched.
“You don’t get to live at all,” Cody told him. Then he fired again. But Tanner was already leaping forward. The bullet tore into him, and he knocked the gun from Cody’s hands.
Tanner’s claws went for the guy’s throat. “You don’t…steal my brother’s…f-face.”
Tanner’s body slumped. Marna rushed toward the men and grabbed Tanner just before he hit the floor. Tanner looked up at her, and his pupils were pinpricks in his eyes. She’d never seen his skin look so ashen. “Tanner?”
Blood poured from his chest, and smoke drifted up from the wounds. But…silver wouldn’t take her shifter out like this. He was too strong.
“I stole his life, so why not his face?” More laughter. Cold and grating.
Tanner was trying to claw at his wounds in order to get the bullets out.
“I learned from my mistakes,” Cody announced. No, not Cody. Who the hell was it? “Those bullets had enough tranq in them to take out an elephant. Much less a mangy shifter like him. Tranq and a dark witch’s magic.”
Marna surged to her feet. Her hands clenched at her sides. She stared at the man who thought he’d take Tanner away from her, and she let her fire rip right out at him.
He lifted his hand and waved the flames away. “You have to do better than that, angel?—”
She grabbed for the gun that had dropped on the floor—and then she pointed the weapon right back at the jerk. In a flash, she surged forward and had the barrel pressing against his chest. “I’m just getting started.”
She pulled the trigger as he screamed. The bullet blasted through him even as blood splattered around her. He fell back. His body twitched on the floor, trembling, and Marna aimed down at him, then she fired again.
He stopped twitching. And he stopped being Cody.
As she watched, his features slowly changed. In death, shifters always resumed their human forms. She didn’t know what the hell this bastard was—shifter, demon, angel—but he was changing back.
His shoulders narrowed. His body thinned. Bones snapped in his face. His cheeks became leaner.
Not a face of evil. Not a monster. A man she knew.
His eyes were closed, his body not moving—and he was Tanner’s partner. Jonathan was the monster who’d been after them. Jonathan.
He was also the man she’d just killed.
The scent of flowers teased her nose. Grim satisfaction filled her. A death angel would be coming to collect Jonathan’s soul soon.
One less monster in the world.
She turned back around to find her shifter. Tanner was still on the floor. His eyes were closed, and his breathing was labored. She knelt next to him. His claws were buried in his chest. He’d been trying to take out the last bullet. Swallowing, she guided his hand and used his claws to dig deeper into his body. Then she reached inside the wound, biting her lip to stop the trembling, and she found the bullet with her own shaking fingertips.
She pulled the bullet out. Dropped it. Marna took his face in her hands and smeared blood on his cheeks where she touched him. “It’s going to be okay,” she promised him. “He’s gone now. We’re both going to be?—”
Laughter.
The cruelest sound she’d ever heard. Marna kept her hold on Tanner, but she turned her head so that she could see Jonathan’s body.
Only he wasn’t dead. Not even close. He sat up. Blood streamed down his chest, but Jonathan didn’t seem particularly impacted by the injuries any longer. “You play dirty,” he told her.
She reached out and grabbed for the gun. Fired again. More blood. How many more bullets? And shouldn’t the tranqs knock him out, too? Why weren’t they working?
He rose to his feet.
The gun clicked. No more bullets.
“Seems being an angel hybrid has more than its share of advantages. Drugs don’t have an effect on me. They can’t knock me out—can’t even give me a damn buzz. And other wounds…” He touched his chest. Just that fast— not bleeding anymore. Not good. “They heal almost as fast as I get them.”
She had to find a weapon. The SOB was a hybrid. Okay…so half human, half angel? Or half angel and half something else that would be really, really hard to kill?
When it came to angels, mortal weapons just wouldn’t do the trick. So she needed something strong enough to kill the guy, something not made by mortal means. Marna glanced down at Tanner’s hands. His claws hadn’t retracted. Not yet.
Those will do the trick. She just had to get Jonathan killing close.
“I can see your wings, you know,” Jonathan told her, his eyes at a point just over her shoulder. “The first time I saw you—and them—I knew just how perfect we’d be together.”
So he’d taken her face, Tanner’s face, Cody’s face…and killed. “We’re not going to be anything together.” She kept her hold on Tanner. Had his breathing changed or was that her imagination? Heal faster. Heal faster.
“Do you know what it’s like to be different?” Jonathan was just talking to her like they had all the time in the world to chat. Like he hadn’t shot her lover and killed people all over the city. Insane. Yes, she could see the madness now. He wasn’t bothering to hide it anymore. “To know that you’re all alone, while the rest of the world is running around, blind?”
She licked her lips. Okay. If he wanted to talk, she’d keep him talking. That would give Tanner and his shifter self more time to push the drugs from his system. “You’re earthbound.”
Jonathan blinked. “I’m an angel, just like you.”
Not even close. “You don’t have wings. Not even shadows.” Like the Fallen did. She took a deep breath and fought to keep her voice flat. She didn’t want to give him her fear. “We call—we call those like you the earthbound.” Because no matter what, they weren’t supposed to make it up to heaven. Not while they were still alive, anyway.
The only earthbound who’d ever made it upstairs had been Seline. And Sammael hadn’t been about to let his lady go without a fight.
Sammael. She could sure use some of his power right then.
You just have to get angry enough. You have to want to kill. That was what he’d told her, but well, hell, wanting to kill wouldn’t help her now. Even if she could summon up that power, the death touch never worked on those with angel blood.
Angels weren’t supposed to kill their own kind.
But then again, there was a lot that angels weren’t supposed to be doing.
“Earthbound.” Jonathan seemed to be tasting the word. His smile flashed again, and he lifted his hand toward her. “Come. It’s time to leave him behind.”
She wasn’t going anywhere.
“At first, I didn’t realize why I needed to kill.” Jonathan’s voice was smooth. Almost thoughtful. He still offered his hand to her. “I mean, I was only fifteen when I made my first kill. I thought something must be wrong with me. I just—I couldn’t stop myself. I found my prey. Stalked him. Made sure he suffered.”
She didn’t want to hear this. But the stiffness of Tanner’s body told her that he was definitely coming around. Now if he’d just use those fierce claws of his…
Jonathan’s hand dropped to his side. “He was one of my old foster dads. I was always being bounced around. Fucking abandoned as a kid—why would an angel do that?”
Marna didn’t answer. Not that she had time to talk. Jonathan’s eyes were burning brighter, and his words came faster as he snapped, “He never should have touched me. I told him… told him I’d get him back. Vengeance. And I did. I found him. I hunted him. I killed him while he begged and screamed.” His breath heaved out. “The first kill, but not the last.”
The way he was talking about vengeance…“Your—your mother or father—one of them could have been a punishment angel.” Only the way he’d been killing—that wasn’t the way punishers worked. When they punished, it was never about emotion or payback. It was just duty.
The punishment angels weren’t supposed to enjoy their dark work.
“How many?” Marna asked quietly. Jonathan wasn’t coming closer to her. She needed him closer. “How many more did you kill over the years?”
“Hundreds,” he revealed with relish. “Criminals. Thieves. Whores. Murderers. They all needed to be punished, and I was the instrument of that punishment.”
Her mouth was so dry that it hurt to swallow. “How did you know what they’d done?”
He took a gliding step toward her. “I could see the sin on them. Almost smell it.” His gaze dropped to Tanner. “Like I see it on him. Evil. He reeks of it. He’s got blood on him, and it will never wash off.”
Like the crazy jerk in front of her could talk.
“I’m going to kill him for you,” Jonathan promised with a nod. “Just like I killed the others for you.”
For you. Her heart lurched as she began to fully understand.
The two panther shifters in the alley…
“I knew you wanted those animals dead. You tried to do it. I saw you. ”
A shiver slid over her at his words.
“I shot them full with one of my special mixes. A quick injection…”
Back in the interrogation room, he’d mentioned drugs. The cocky bastard, he’d been telling her what he’d done to them.
“They never even had the time to scream.”
No, they’d just had time to die.
Jonathan’s gaze dropped to Tanner’s still body. “He’s the one who led me to you. He was so focused on you, almost addicted. I wondered about the woman who was driving him crazy. Then I learned the truth about you. And I knew we were meant to be.”
“You knew nothing,” she whispered. Tanner’s body was completely still against her. Still—but tight and tensed for battle. He was ready to attack, she knew it. And when he made his move, those claws of his had better go deep. Determined to distract Jonathan, she stood up. She needed to give Tanner the perfect moment to strike. “You don’t know anything about me. I am nothing like you.”
Jonathan’s brows rose. “You wanted to kill. You wanted to punish.” His eyes were bright with a feverish light. “I punished for you. I killed for you, and I’ll do it again.” He rushed for her.
Marna was ready. She pushed out with her fire. He batted it away with one hand, but that was what she wanted him to do. In that instant, while his focus was on the flames, she kicked him, then drove her fist into his jaw. He stumbled to the side.
And Tanner attacked. He jumped up and struck with his claws out. His claws sank into Jonathan’s chest.
Jonathan screamed in fury and pain as he wrenched away from the attack. The hybrid stumbled back.
“I’m punishing now,” Tanner snarled. “I’m?—”
Jonathan sent a wave of fire blasting right at Tanner. Tanner’s arms burned, and Marna leapt in front of him. “Stop!”
The flames froze. Not by Jonathan’s will, but by hers. Fury pumped inside of her. So strong that her whole body seemed to ache. “You aren’t killing him.” Not when Tanner was the one thing on this earth that she cared about.
The flames disappeared into a wisp of smoke.
“You choose him? ” Shock slackened Jonathan’s features.
What? Was he really that delusional? Did he think?—
“I’m just like you!” His hands fell limply at his sides. “I’ve killed… for you. ” Now he sounded lost. “He’s done nothing for you while I’ve done everything.”
Wrong. Tanner had done the one thing that mattered most. He’d given her a reason to live.
Jonathan shook his head. “We can put the world back in order. Punish the wicked. Send the monsters to hell.”
Didn’t he see? “You are one of those monsters.” One of the worst she’d ever seen. And he didn’t understand just how evil he truly was. “That young cop you attacked, what was his crime?”
He’d left an innocent to die—why? The human cop had never done anything to her or to him.
But Jonathan shouted, “He saw you! I know he did! You were with Tanner, so he must have seen! And he would have told the others that you were still alive?—”
“You almost killed him for that?” she broke in, stunned. Tanner was behind her, swearing, and…she could smell his burned flesh.
Jonathan’s lips curved. “I’ve killed for less.”
Monster. “That’s not the way of our kind.”
Jonathan glared at her. “I thought you’d understand. I thought you’d appreciate all I’ve done.” He shook his head and looked sad, but determined. “I see the truth now.”
The truth? What? That she was standing between him and Tanner, determined to keep her lover safe?
“You don’t see a fucking thing,” Tanner growled, “but in a few minutes, I’ll be making you see plenty.”
Marna glanced back quickly. Tanner was on his feet. Burned. Bloody. But not out. Not by a long shot. The floor groaned as he stalked closer.
She focused back on Jonathan.
He smiled. “You still think this can end well for you?” His furious gaze was on Tanner.
“I know it will.” Tanner pushed to her side and weaved a bit. He needed to shift, but if he did, he’d be vulnerable. Could she keep Jonathan busy long enough for Tanner to make that shift?
I’ll have to.
“Your brother is bleeding out in the back of a patrol car.” Jonathan spoke casually as he wiped his bloody hands on his shirt. “You’re both dying today, shifter. The only question is…which one of you gets to hell first?”
“ You do,” Tanner promised him. “Then when we…get there…Cody and I will take turns kicking your…ass.”
Jonathan laughed. “Want to taste that fire again?” A ball of flames rose above his hand. “I’ll burn all your skin right off your body.”
No, he wouldn’t. She just had to get him away from Tanner long enough for her shifter to heal. To heal and then kick ass. He did that ass kicking so well.
“You’re not killing us,” she told Jonathan. “We’re killing you.” Not a lie. Promises weren’t lies.
But he laughed and sent his blasts of fire all around the room. The fire licked its way up the walls.
Marna pushed out with her own energy and whirled around as she tried to fight the blaze. How was he so strong?
While she was still so weak?
Every time she put out the fire, he started it again. Bones were snapping near her, popping, and Tanner was shifting. Yes. She just had to keep battling the flames and keep Jonathan fighting her long enough for Tanner to?—
Something sharp pressed into her side. Pain stabbed through her—no, she’d been stabbed .
The flames rose higher. She turned and found Jonathan inches from her. “You disappointed me,” he said and sounded so sad. “So I have to punish you now.”
No. She shook her head. The flames were so hot.
Bones were still popping. A panther was growling and…
“Your lover wasn’t the first shifter I met,” Jonathan told her. “So many beasts over the years. So fucking many. Those animals begged for their justice, and I gave them just what they deserved.”
The pain twisted in her side. Marna glanced down. Her blood spilled down her clothing.
“At death, a shifter’s body always goes back to its human form.”
She knew this crap. Pain pulsed through her. The fire was rising again, and she couldn’t seem to muster the energy to fight the flames.
“But if you can cut off a shifter’s limbs before the beast dies, those pieces don’t ever change back. They freeze, and you get a real nice souvenir.”
He was a sick freak.
He yanked his hand back. Marna gasped at the agony. And she saw it wasn’t a knife that had stabbed into her. Heavy claws had dug into her body and torn her muscles.
Claws?
Her gaze rose to meet his.
“I took these from that panther shifter in the swamp. Russell. The fool thought he was such a badass, but you should have heard him crying when I sliced off his hand. I took my time with him. I tore that animal apart with his own damn claws.” He smiled. “Then I kept my souvenir because I knew just how well a shifter’s claws could work against the other supernaturals out there.”
Other supernaturals… me. Angels could be killed by those claws. So could every other supernatural beast that walked the earth.
Her body trembled. The scent of flowers deepened. And…was that an angel she saw? Slipping into the room?
“I didn’t want to use these on you. But you gave me no choice.” He lifted his hand and drove the claws into her chest. “If you’re not with me, angel, then you’re dead to me.”
Blood dripped from her lips. “Bastion…” She could see him now.
He’d come for her. Just like he’d said.
“You should have been more.” Spittle flew from Jonathan’s mouth. His face was right next to hers. Her body shook, and he raged at her, “You were supposed to be mine. Supposed to be perfect! Forever!”
No one was perfect. Not even an angel. She hurt so much, but the pain wouldn’t last. Nothing lasts. She tasted blood and death on her tongue. But she heard the fierce growl of her panther and the sound had a smile curving her lips. Jonathan wouldn’t kill anyone else. Not after Tanner got hold of him.
“Go to hell,” she whispered and fell back.
Even as the panther leapt into the air.
Cody crawled from the car. That bastard… Cody had always told his brother that he had to watch out for the humans. I was right.
Only he hadn’t been watching well enough this time, either.
Pain ate at his insides and twisted his gut. The blasts from Jonathan’s gun had knocked him out for a few moments, and he still couldn’t see straight.
Drugs.
Yeah, he knew the feeling, but…
The bastard cop had made a mistake. Demons and drugs…when you mixed them, you never knew what you’d get.
Addiction. Hell.
He wouldn’t listen to the whispers now. Couldn’t. He had to find Tanner. Find the lost angel. And he had a cop to kill.
He pushed to his feet. Took a heavy breath. Then, he put one foot in front of the other. Again. Again. Blood fell in his wake. The drugs had started to numb the pain but as for the blood—nothing was stopping it. With every step, more flowed from him.
I won’t be weak this time. He’d show Tanner. He could be strong. He could be there to save his brother.
It was his turn.
He just had to…get to Tanner.
Good thing that dawn had come. Otherwise, his blood would be drawing the vamps in.
Good thing…
Then he heard the faint whisper of footsteps behind him. His eyes squeezed closed. He’d never had good luck.
“Um…look at that,” a familiar voice drawled. “A walking blood buffet.”
Cody turned and saw the vamp stalking him.
No, he’d never had good luck.
I’m sorry, Tanner.
Then he faced the creature that stalked him.