Page 120 of Angel Betrayed

The ceiling caved in—no, fell in because Rogziel had just blasted his way through as he hurtled toward them.

“Hell’s waiting,” Rogziel called out, raising his bloody hands, and lightning flew across the room. One bolt slammed into Az’s chest. Another hit Sam’s back. The scent of burned flesh filled Seline’s nostrils.

Burned flesh…and brimstone.

The hound’s teeth were at his throat. Tomas shoved up, but he choked on his own blood. The witch was thrusting a knife into the beast’s side, but the hound wasn’t letting up.

They’d run. Used as many spells as they could, but every time they appeared, the hellhound was right on their asses.

Can’t outrun a hound. Not once the beast gets your scent. The hound would only stop by a master’s command—or when it brought down its prey.

Tomas was down. No matter how hard he fought, he couldn’t get up.

The thudding of Tomas’s heartbeat began to slow. The sunlight dimmed. This was it.

He’d fallen, and now he’d die.

He could still hear Sierra’s screams. She’d never know how he felt about her. She’d never know him at all.

The hound’s breath blew over his face, but then, suddenly, the hound stiffened. The beast lifted its big, ugly head and howled.

The mournful wail shook Tomas’s bones.

The hound licked his throat, drinking away the blood that poured from Tomas’s gaping wounds. Tomas’s hands clawed at the hound’s eyes.

The hellhound leapt back. It howled again, then turned and raced toward the sun.

Tomas couldn’t feel his legs anymore. Or his hands. And that thudding in his ears, so faint…

“Oh, fuck.” Mateo stood over him. “Hold on, Fallen. You hear me? Your woman is out there. You have to help her. You can’t go any damn place yet.”

Sierra.

His lashes were trying to close.

Mateo chanted. Poured something in his wounds that burned and made Tomas howl like the beast had.

Sierra. “Why…” The word came from his torn throat as a whisper. “Leave…?” He couldn’t manage anymore. He wasn’t even sure that Mateo would understand his garbled speech.

“You’re still living…” Tomas thought the witch muttered barely, “so only its master’s command would pull it back.” A pause and Tomas understood, even before Mateo said, “The hellhound has new prey.”

Never taking his gaze off Rogziel, Sam rose to his feet. “I figured you’d be showing up soon.”

Rogziel’s face flushed dark red and his eyes shone black. “And I knew Tomas would bring you to me.”

“That why you had your monster dog waiting to rip him apart? Death was the guy’s finder’s fee?”

Sam slipped out the small vial Mateo had tossed to him and cradled it in the palm of his hand.

“Don’t worry.” Rogziel’s eyes closed for a moment as he inhaled a deep breath. “My monster dog is coming home. The hound will rip you apart, too.”

“Maybe next time.” Sam smiled. Azrael stood in the corner, watching. Waiting. Same routine. Never acting. Always just watching. “This time, I think I’ll rip you apart.” He threw the vial at Rogziel’s feet. The glass shattered, and a thin layer of white smoke rose in the air. High, higher, it wrapped around Rogziel.

The punishment angel screamed, “No!” as he tried to lunge forward, but there was no place for him to go. He was trapped in the cage that he’d first created. Rogziel’s fists slammed into a wall he couldn’t see, but it was one that Sam knew he could damn well feel. Sam smiled and pulled out his weapon. “Gotcha.” Time to carve up an angel.

“No.” Rogziel’s hands dropped. His lips twisted in a grin. “I’ve got you.”

“Sam?” Seline’s worried voice. “I hear?—”

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