Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Kill. Destroy.
Tanner slammed his body into Jonathan’s. The jerk just laughed as he crashed into the floor.
He wouldn’t be laughing when Tanner ripped his throat out.
The scent of Marna’s blood filled his nose and drove the panther into a frenzy. Hurt. His mate was hurt. He’d destroy the bastard who’d made her bleed.
And how had he missed the evil in Jonathan? How had he looked right at him and not seen it?
Because he was human.
No, Tanner had just thought the guy was human. He hadn’t smelled like a shifter, like a vamp, or even a demon. And he hadn’t possessed the telltale scent of an angel.
Just smelled human. Smelled human. Acted human. But that had been nothing but a lie.
Now Jonathan was on his feet and holding some kind of claws in his hands. The SOB thought he was a shifter now, too? Tanner would show him the damage real claws could do.
Tanner sliced out and let his claws rip across Jonathan’s forearms. Jonathan screamed. Blood flowed.
More. Destroy.
Tanner slammed his paws into Tanner’s chest. This time when he took his partner down, Jonathan didn’t get back up. Because he didn’t want to make it easy on him, Tanner sank his claws into Jonathan’s chest. This bastard was going to suffer before he went to hell.
For Cody. For the pain that he’d put his brother through.
For the young cop. That kid hadn’t deserved to have his body mangled on a dark, lonely road.
For Marna. Jonathan never should have come for her. To make her bleed, to make her cry out in pain…
She wasn’t crying anymore.
That knowledge slowly penetrated the rage of the beast. With his claws still buried in Jonathan’s chest, the panther’s head turned to the right. He saw Marna. Lying on the floor. Blood all around her.
Not moving.
Breathing?
Yes, yes, she was breathing. He could hear the faint rasp of her breath. And he could smell…
An angel.
The panther roared, and his head swung back to face Jonathan. The prick was grinning his sick, satisfied grin. Not screaming any longer.
He’d scream again. Tanner would make sure of it.
“F-fucking animal…you’ll never…have her again.”
He’d have her forever. Marna was his. This bastard was dead, and Marna was going to?—
“I touched her…heart.”
The panther’s gaze flew to the claws that Jonathan still gripped in his hand.
Touched it? Or… took it?
“She deserved…” Jonathan coughed up blood. The last of the flames died away. “To be p-punished.”
The beast snarled and his teeth sank into Jonathan’s throat. Jonathan struggled, shoved, tried to break free, but the panther held tight to the prey that would never escape.
Death didn’t come softly. He came hard. With a violent flash of fangs and fury. When Jonathan’s breath choked back into his lungs, when his body stopped spasming, Tanner let him go—straight to hell.
And he saw the angel standing over them. Only Bastion wasn’t reaching down to take the cop.
Bastion was staring over at Marna, and there was no missing the sorrow on his face. “I told her…”
No .
The panther leapt back to her side, but—but there was nothing the beast could do. Nothing but kill and destroy and he’d done that job well.
With her breath barely rasping out, Marna needed the man, not the panther. The shift hit him, brutal and swift, as the fur melted away and his bones reshaped.
Hold on. Marna just had to stay with him a few more moments. He’d shift, and then he could heal her. The same way he’d healed Cody. He could do this.
He reached for Marna with the hands of a man and not the claws of a beast. His fingers were shaking as he lifted her up against him. Her eyes were closed, but at his touch, her lashes slowly lifted.
“I was…waiting for you,” she whispered.
He’d spent his whole life waiting for her.
“Is he…d-dead?”
Tanner didn’t glance back. Bastion had done his job while he’d shifted. “He’s rotting in hell.” Jonathan had better be.
She swallowed. “You know…I…loved you.”
Screw this. “Baby, you’re gonna keep loving me.” He put his hand over her chest. Her blood was warm against his fingers. “You’re gonna love me for the next fifty years, at least.” Power pulsed through him, familiar, as if he’d been using it all of his life.
When he’d just been killing and fighting like a beast.
But this time, he was healing. Saving her life. He’d used the power before, and he could use it now. He would use it. He pulled the healing magic from deep inside of him and pumped it toward her. He could feel the death angel coming closer to him.
“Stand back,” Tanner snarled at Bastion. “You aren’t taking her.” No one was.
“Another soul must be taken,” Bastion said quietly.
“Well, it won’t be her.” Energy poured through him and drove right into her. She gasped and arched beneath his touch, and a faint white light appeared where his hand touched her chest.
His hands had always been used for killing. His claws came out so quickly. But not now. Now was all about healing.
Tanner bent close to Marna. Did she even realize just how important she was to him? “I knew from the first moment I saw you.” Covered in blood. Broken, on the ground. Broken, but still so beautiful. The most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. He’d taken one look at her and realized his life would change. “I knew…you were mine.”
He’d planned to kill Brandt for hurting her. Brother or not, he’d been a dead man. But Azrael had beaten him to the punch.
After that, he’d tried to give Marna space. Tried to let her go. He knew how dangerous he was.
Her breathing steadied. The flesh seemed to close beneath his fingers.
He’d tried, but he hadn’t been able to stay away from her. He’d needed to see her, just to make sure she was safe.
Once he’d actually had her body against his, had his body buried in hers, there’d been no turning back. Love? The word was too tame for the way he felt about her. And he’d never be tame. She consumed him. Made him wild. Desperate.
For her. Always her.
There was another wound in her side. Deep, and bleeding too much. Lethargy pulled at him, but Tanner lifted his left hand and pressed it against her side. Bastion was still there, watching him, but not touching. The death angel needed to leave. Just drag his winged ass away and go.
“She’s not dying,” Tanner growled. Not on his watch. The bad guy was dead. This was the point where they got to live happily ever freaking after.
He was getting his princess. She’d get her beast. The rest of the world could go and screw off.
“Tanner!” He didn’t look up at his brother’s shout. He couldn’t take his attention off Marna. She needed his focus. His power. If that power broke, what would happen to her?
He dug deep, pulled more energy from within, and pushed it toward her wounds.
“No! You can’t!” Now Cody was beside him. He could smell his brother’s blood. So Jonathan hadn’t been lying. The bastard had shot him and left him to die.
We’re harder to kill than you thought.
“Help me!” Cody shouted to someone. Bastion? But then Riley’s form appeared as the vamp crouched down next to Marna. He reached for her.
“Touch her,” Tanner managed, voice barely human, “and die.”
“A soul must be taken,” Bastion said quietly.
Riley jerked and his gaze flew up. Had he heard Bastion? With Marna’s blood in him, he just might have?—
Cody’s hands grabbed Tanner. “You’re killing yourself! Let her go!”
Never.
She just needed a little more energy.
“You’re shaking, dammit! Blood is coming out of your eyes!”
Was that what the moisture was? He’d thought it was tears.
“You’re dying!”
Yeah, well, without her, he might as well be dead. What was he supposed to do? Go back to the life he’d had before her? Not when she’d shown him what he could be.
What he would be.
Cody tried to pull him away. Tanner didn’t budge. He wouldn’t move. Not until her eyes opened again. Not until he saw that she was going to be okay.
“You’re all I’ve got, man! The only family who ever meant shit to me! ” Cody was still jerking on his arms.
“And she’s…” Tanner swallowed. Why was talking so hard? “She’s…what matters to me.”
Marna’s eyes opened. Her eyes weren’t filled with pain. They were so bright and blue that it almost hurt to look into them. Her gaze found his. Widened. Her lips curled in a smile. “Tanner.”
The light vanished from beneath his fingertips. His heart raced in his chest. Far, far too fast, that drumming beat seemed to shake his whole body.
But fear flashed over her delicate features. No, she should never be afraid of him. He’d never hurt her. He’d protect her, take care of her and?—
“Tanner?” Marna sat up.
He slipped back and fell onto the floor.
Then her hands were on him, touching him lightly, but he couldn’t seem to feel her touch. Why couldn’t he feel her? Her skin was silken and soft, and he wanted to feel it one more time.
But he couldn’t seem to feel anything. Not even the clothes Marna had just conjured for him.
Bastion looked down on him. “You traded yourself for her.” He sounded…surprised?
Tanner couldn’t speak, but, hell yes, he’d made the trade. He’d known the risks. Gladly accepted them. His death, her life?
Fucking fair.
Then Marna slapped him. “You aren’t doing this to me!”
Good thing he couldn’t feel anything, or that hit might have hurt.
She caught his face between her hands. “You aren’t dying for me.”
“Yes.” Cody’s voice. Sad. Hopeless. “He is.”
Bastion reached down for him.
Marna stiffened. “Bastion, you’d better yank that hand back, or you will lose it.”
“So someone else does see him,” Riley mumbled and eased back a few feet. “Thought I was going crazy.”
“Vampire…” Marna’s voice held a lethal edge. “Don’t even think of leaving.”
Why was the vampire there? Tanner tried to push up but found his arms wouldn’t move. No, he couldn’t move.
Marna leaned over him again. “You save me, and I save you.” She bent and pressed a kiss to his lips. He tasted salt. Tears? “That’s how it works,” she whispered.
She pulled back. He didn’t want her to pull back. Didn’t want her to leave.
But Marna lifted her arm and bared her wrist. “Bite me, vamp.”
A growl broke from Tanner’s lips. Riley had better not?—
“It’s okay.” Marna’s eyes were on his. Bastion stood at her back. The angel was always too close to her. “He’s not drinking from me.”
“Uh, I’m not?” Riley asked. Then Tanner saw him, coming up on Marna’s side. Taking her offered wrist. “Then what am I doing?”
“Opening a vein.” Her eyes didn’t leave Tanner. “And saving my shifter.”
Her blood. He’d told her not to give him her blood again. It was too addictive. The blood connected him to her even deeper. So deep that if she ever left him, what would remain?
Nothing.
“I’m not leaving you.” Did she know what he was thinking? A flash of pain crossed her face. “And you’re not leaving me.” She put her wrist to his mouth. Blood trickled past his lips. “There’s no time for a fancy transfusion, but it worked when you drank my blood before.”
Because the beast inside lived on blood and death.
Not her blood. It was the beast’s denial, and the man’s.
“If you want to stay with me, if you want to be sure all the vampires and the demons out there don’t get my blood or me, then you’ll drink.”
No one would get her. No one would hurt her.
“Drink,” Marna said again, and he did.
Her blood slid down his throat. The panther had taken blood from prey plenty of times, but the man hadn’t. He choked, hating what he was doing to her. Hard hands held him down. His gaze flew to the left. To the right. Riley and Cody were pinning him down and making sure he couldn’t move.
“Drink for me,” Marna whispered, “because I don’t want to lose you.”
He closed his eyes and drank. At first, the blood didn’t seem to do anything to him. Maybe he was already too far gone. He’d wanted to stay with her, wanted to be at her side forever, but maybe fate had other plans.
Fate had always screwed with him.
Marna pulled her hand away. Tanner licked his lips. He still tasted her, and now, he could almost feel her, inside his mind. A warmth spread within him and filled him with energy and strength.
Deep within him, the panther seemed to stretch and roar.
Alive.
Tanner opened his eyes. “I’m…not leaving you.”
Her smile was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. “No, you’re damn well not.” Then she bent toward him once more and her lips feathered over his cheek.
Cody and Riley eased their grips and pulled away from him. Over Marna’s shoulder, Tanner saw Bastion. Waiting. Watching. His dark wings curled toward his body. His eyes flickered with emotion.
Was he going to have to fight the angel now? He’d killed one jerk-off already. What else was he gonna have to do?
Tanner rose, but kept a strong grip on Marna. He was naked because of his shift, but that was the least of his worries. They’d cheated death, for the moment, and that was what mattered.
“Nice trick, shifter,” Bastion said.
Riley flinched. “I need to get the hell out of here.”
“I didn’t realize beasts were so adept at healing.” Bastion’s wings unfurled. “Guess there is more to you than killing.”
“And there’s more to you than death,” Marna fired back, her voice strong and certain. “There always has been more, Bastion. You aren’t like the others.”
The angel’s hands were clenched into fists. “I was supposed to…” He swallowed and finished, “You should have died today.”
And what would happen, Tanner wondered, once the angel went back upstairs without his charge?
But Bastion lifted his chin and smiled. “I’ve heard the fall is one wild bitch of a ride.”
Wait…had the guy just said?—?
“I didn’t want you to fall for me,” Marna told him. Yeah, well, Tanner sure as shit didn’t want that either. Bastion, earthbound? Dogging their steps? Spilling over with emotion?
“Not for you.” Bastion shook his head and straightened his shoulders. “For me. Because maybe I want to know just what it is that humans feel.”
Lust. Fury. Need. Love.
“Find me when I fall,” Bastion said. His gaze darted between Marna and Tanner. “Help me, and any debt you owe me is paid.”
A debt for not taking a soul? Yeah, they’d find Bastion all right.
And then Tanner would make sure the Fallen kept his hands off Marna.
A strong wind ripped through the room, sending them all stumbling back. All but Bastion. He rose up as if tossed by the wind. The air around him grew dark.
“See you soon,” Bastion promised as the wind grew even stronger and howled with its own fury.
Then he vanished.
“Holy fuck,” Riley rasped. “Is he really gonna fall?”
Marna’s face tightened with sadness. “Yes.”
Because he hadn’t taken Marna’s soul? Or because he didn’t take mine?
Either way, Bastion would be earthbound soon.
Cody strode toward them. He glared at Tanner an instant before hauling him close in a back-breaking hug. “Bastard. You weren’t supposed to use that fancy-ass light trick anymore.” He eased back and gazed steadily at Tanner. “But for her, you’d do any damn thing, wouldn’t you?”
Fight. Lie. Kill.
Die.
Tanner nodded.
Cody released him and grabbed Marna. He hugged her just as tightly. “Welcome to the fucked-up family,” he whispered against her ear, though Tanner’s shifter hearing easily picked up his words. “I promise, from now on, things will be different. Better.”
Could they be any worse?
Cody released her. “We’re not just our father’s sons.”
No. Not even close. Tanner couldn’t even feel the echo of that old bastard anymore. He really was gone now. Rotting in the ground. Burning in hell. Either way, he was gone.
“We’re more,” Tanner agreed, nodding, but his gaze was on Marna. He’d prove to her that he could be more than a killer.
But first…first he was getting her out of that place. Away from the dead body on the floor. Away from the blood and the memories and the fear.
Someone must have heard all the gunshots and howling. The cops would be coming. And since he wasn’t exactly on good terms with his brothers and sisters in blue…
Time to leave.
Tanner lifted his hand to Marna. Without any hesitation, she wound her fingers through his. Marna’s gaze didn’t drop to Jonathan’s dead body as they left the trashed and scorched room. Tanner’s did. In death, Jonathan didn’t look so violent or twisted. But then, most of the time, he hadn’t looked that way in life, either. Not until the end.
The end…
It could have been me dead on the floor.
“But it fucking wasn’t,” Tanner rumbled, and his hold tightened on Marna. They walked out together and left Death exactly where he belonged—behind them.
Tanner wasn’t sure what he’d find waiting back at his place. Half a dozen cop cars, maybe a SWAT team? All gunning for him. Because he was the hunted one now, right? The cop who’d gone bad and taken out his captain.
But the street was empty.
He parked the patrol car and turned to stare at Marna. “We’re gonna need to leave town.” Because the cops would come for him, sooner or later.
She just smiled and looked so beautiful that she made his heart hurt. “I’d like to see the rest of the world. When you’re out ferrying souls, there’s not much time for sightseeing.”
No. He, ah, bet there wasn’t.
The door squeaked as she opened it and hurried toward the porch. Tanner pushed open his door, and when the wind blew toward him, he immediately caught the scent of the intruder. They weren’t alone after all.
Not so empty.
“Marna!” Tanner yelled.
She was on the steps now.
His warning had come too late. Sammael strolled out. He quirked a brow and put his hands on his hips. “Took you long enough to come home, shifter.”
Tanner bounded up the steps. “What the hell are you doing in my house?”
“Waiting.” Said so casually. “You didn’t really expect me to sit outside, did you?”
What? Did the Fallen think he was some kind of damn celebrity? “Why. Are. You. Here?”
Sam lifted his brows. “So you can say thank you?”
Tanner lunged for him. Marna grabbed Tanner’s arms and held him back. “Easy.” Her breath whispered against him as she turned to face Sammael. “We found the killer on our own. So if that’s what you were coming to tell us?—”
“And where is Jonathan Pardue now?”
Tanner’s whole body tightened. How long had the Fallen known Jonathan was the one gunning for them? That hard stare of Sam’s gave nothing away. Probably the whole time. “He’s dead.”
“Yes, well, I always say, a death job is always done best when it’s done by your own hands.” Sam offered a faint smile. A smug one. “Right, shifter? Don’t you feel better knowing that you sent the bastard to hell?”
Like he needed to be taught some kind of life lesson by Sam. “Marna could have been the one to die.”
“I was on Bastion’s list,” she said as anger hummed in her voice.
But Sam just shrugged. “He’s always been half in love with you. He never would have taken your soul.”
Tanner broke away from Marna. He grabbed Sam around the neck and shoved him against the wall of the house. “Listen, you cold bastard?—”
Sam shook his head. “This isn’t the way to thank me.”
“Thank you?” Marna repeated, coming closer. “You haven’t done anything!”
Sam shoved against Tanner. Because he was trying— trying— to hold on to his control, Tanner eased back a few feet. He caught Marna’s hand. Rubbed his fingers over her knuckles and took a steadying breath.
Don’t kick angel ass. Not yet.
“I’ve done plenty.” Now Sam sounded, what? Insulted? Definitely. He glared at Marna. “I’m the one who made sure your pet wasn’t locked in a cage. Shifters do hate those cages, don’t they?” His knowing gaze drifted back to Tanner. “Something about the beasts they carry…”
Tanner growled at him.
Sam smiled. “Let’s just say that I made all the trouble with the law vanish for you. You’re now cleared of the attack on that kid cop. Cleared of all the shit with the captain. Hell, when you go back to work, they might even give you a medal.” He lifted his hands with an honest-to-God voila -type gesture. “What can I say? I am that good.”
“You’re full of shit,” Tanner snapped. “I’m not?—”
“The chief of police is a demon, and let’s say that he owes me more than just his soul.” Sam dropped his hands. “All I had to do was explain a few facts to him. A little while ago, he took care of making all the evidence fit with the new version of the story.”
The chief of—well, he’d suspected that after meeting the guy a few times. Tanner rubbed his chin. “And the new version is…?”
“Your captain was killed in the line of duty. She was tracking the real killer, one who’d been killing all over the city. You tried to save her, the same way you tried to save that kid cop—Hodges—but sometimes, well, death can’t be stopped.”
Sometimes, he could be.
“You took out the killer today—a rogue cop who’d crossed the line by attacking others on the police force and manipulating evidence.” Sammael made a little tsk, tsk sound. “Sometimes, even the boys in blue can go bat-shit crazy like Jonathan.”
“And the video?” The one showing someone with his face attacking the injured cop?
“What video?” Sam asked, voice mild, then firmer as he explained, “There is no video.”
Right, he got the picture. Not anymore, there wasn’t any video.
Sam brushed past them and headed down the steps. “You still haven’t said thanks.”
He was back on the police force. Not wanted. Not hunted. He could stay in New Orleans with Marna. After he took her on those sightseeing trips she wanted. Things wouldn’t always be perfect, and he was sure he’d have to smooth over more shit at the precinct to make sure all suspicion was gone, but…“Thank you.”
“That’s a start.” Sam didn’t look back. “It’ll take more before we’re even.”
With that Fallen, there was always a price.
Sam headed down the sidewalk. Then he paused and glanced back at Marna. “You still can’t kill, can you?”
She stared back at him, then shook her head. “Not with the death touch.”
His brow furrowed.
“It’s not like the death touch would have worked on another angel anyway, even a hybrid angel,” Marna said. Her shoulders lifted and fell in a small roll. “But believe me, I wanted to kill.”
Sam’s gaze had become hooded. That gaze swept over Marna once, twice, and seemed to measure her.
Then his eyes widened. He glanced back at Tanner, and for an instant, Tanner thought the Fallen had pity in his stare. Now why the hell would Sam pity him? All was supposed to be freaking sunshine now.
“Some aren’t meant for death,” Sam murmured. “Some are meant for something much different.” His head cocked as he studied Marna again. “You never should have been a death angel. We all knew you hated carrying the souls. Everybody knew, but you did your duty for so long.”
“Not anymore,” Marna told him, and her fingers twined with Tanner’s. “Now I’m free.”
Did Sam shake his head a little? Tanner’s gut clenched. The Fallen knew something he wasn’t saying. Something that already had Tanner’s whole body locking up as if he was about to take a blow.
But Sam pointed at Tanner and advised, “Stay close to her.” His gaze drifted back to Marna. “Guard what you want the most.” Then he turned away. “Oh…and, by the way, I made sure every damn supernatural in this city knows that angel blood is off the menu. Permanently.” The words floated to them on a breeze. “And I only had to kill a few paranormals to get the point across.”
Just a few?
“Don’t worry, cop, they all had it coming.” Sam was at the edge of the sidewalk. There one moment, and gone the next. Vanished, as if he’d never been there.
Guard what you want the most.
Tanner pulled Marna closer to him. She actually wanted him, loved him—scars, claws, beast, and all. She’d been willing to risk her life for him.
He’d guard her for as long as he had breath.
Tanner bent his head toward her and brushed his lips against hers. He didn’t care about the rest of the world. Right then, she was the only thing that mattered.
Not his job. Not the fears from the past. Nothing but her.
Her tongue slid against his.
Only her.
By the time they made it inside, he was so hard for her that he ached. Tanner slammed the door closed behind them and lifted Marna into his arms. He rushed up the stairs with her, kissing her, loving her taste.
Nothing had ever tasted as good as her. Nothing ever would.
Sunlight drifted through the window. It lit up the room and the bed. He put her down gently and choked back his lust. This time, he wanted to show her care and control. Wanted to show her how much she meant to him.
He stepped away from her. Stripped. His shirt hit the floor. His boots and jeans vanished into a corner. Naked, he went back to her.
She smiled and stole his breath. Since when did an angel look so familiar with sin?
Marna pulled off her shirt. Tossed it to join his. “I want you so much, Tanner.” Her voice was husky with desire.
She ditched her shoes. Slid out of her jeans and underwear. So perfect. He swallowed and stood back, almost afraid to touch her. His hands were too big. His body too rough.
Then she crooked her finger at him. “Come and get me.”
Death didn’t matter. Life did. She mattered.
And he’d most definitely get her.
He pulled her to the edge of the bed. Knelt on the floor. Parted her thighs. And put his mouth on her. Her moans filled his ears and made his cock twitch. She was slick with her arousal, and he wanted to devour her. Love her taste.
He felt her first orgasm against his tongue. Heard the gasp of his name. A good start.
He pushed his fingers inside of her. Rose up so that he could stare down at her face. Her skin was flushed, and her eyes sparkled. Her tight nipples pointed toward him as they seemed to beg for his mouth.
Another taste.
He took her breast into his mouth. Sucked. Licked. Let her feel the edge of his teeth.
The second time she came, her sex clenched around his fingers.
Good, but he wanted more.
His cock was heavy and hard when he positioned it between her legs. No protection, just skin to skin. His fingers twined with hers as he pushed her hands back against the mattress. Her hips arched up, and he leaned over the bed to better push his cock into her tight sex.
He kissed her when he thrust inside. Kissed her and loved the tight, slick feel of her around him. He drove into her, deep and steady, then withdrew. Again and again.
His thrusts became faster.
His control started to fracture. Marna could always break his control.
Her legs locked around his hips. Her tongue slipped over his mouth.
His thrusts became even harder.
Her hips arched against him, so eager, and he pushed deep into her.
Deeper. Harder.
His lips tore from hers, and he kissed his way down her neck. Down, on down, as she called out his name. When he came to that sweet spot where neck met shoulder, he licked her skin.
Panthers claimed their mates with a mark on this spot. He’d bitten her once, but this time—this time he knew what he was doing.
Forever.
His teeth scored her. Her body stiffened beneath him, and, fuck, yes, she came around his cock again.
Tanner exploded inside of her as his control shattered. He didn’t whisper her name. He roared it. And he held on to her, thrusting deep as he climaxed into her body. The end hadn’t come for them. This…this was their beginning.
His heart drummed wildly in his ears. So fast. But he wasn’t sated. Not close. He wanted her again and again, and he’d have her.
But for now, he lifted his body off hers. He stared down into her eyes, and told her, “I love you.”
More than life. More than enough to beat death.
She gave him a smile, one that was sweet and sexy at the same time, and she rolled away from him.
That was when his heart stopped. Her hair slid off her back and revealed the scars that crossed her shoulders.
But they weren’t scars any longer.
When they’d made love before, back at that cabin in the swamp, the scars had felt rougher beneath his fingertips. Hell yes, he’d noticed that, but he hadn’t thought much of it. He’d been too busy catching a killer. He’d forgotten the scars.
Until now.
Guard what you want the most.
Carefully, his fingers touched what should have been red scars. She gasped beneath his touch. The sound was filled with pleasure, not pain.
Wings are the most sensitive part of an angel’s body.
But her wings had been cut away. She’d lost them. Become trapped on earth with him.
She couldn’t go back to heaven because she didn’t have her wings.
His fingers slid gently over her back.
Only he was touching silken wings that were growing from her shoulders. Her wings might have been cut away, but they were growing back.
If her wings were coming back, then that meant she’d be going back to heaven. Angels didn’t stay on earth. Only the Fallen did, and Marna had never truly fallen.
It was time for her to go back home.