Page 123 of Angel Betrayed

Mateo stared at him with wide eyes. “What are you?—”

“I got my wish. We had a deal. Now send me to hell.”

Mateo blinked at him. “No, you don’t want to go there.”

“I’m not leaving Seline in hell.” This was because of Rogziel. Fucking bastard, having his vengeance. “He sicced his hound on her. She was the prey. Now she’s gone. And I’m not leaving her there to burn.”

Mateo tried to break free of his grip. Sam didn’t let him. His full power was out now and blazing. The only thing he’d ever cared about was gone.

No, I won’t let her go.

“You can’t bring the dead back,” Mateo said, voice rumbling. “I’m sorry, but you can’t do that.”

“Watch me.” Hell couldn’t have her.

“You don’t know what you’re messing with!”

Love…you…

He was one of the oldest angels. The strongest. He’d walked heaven and hell long before men knew to fear the monsters in the dark. “She’s not dying.”

She’s already dead, a sly voice whispered in his mind.

“You’d burn for her?” Mateo shook his head. “Because that’s what will happen. You’ll get in, you’ll burn, and you’ll stay there forever. You don’t have wings anymore. No one will pull your ass out.”

He was the only one who could get Seline out. He could trade for her. Sacrifice. He’d gotten out once. He could do it again. “Send me to hell.” They had a fucking deal.

“It’s not that easy,” Mateo snapped as he tried to jump away from the flames that ate at his feet. “I have to prepare, find the right spell?—”

“Find it.” He was shattering apart on the inside. Only fury kept him in one piece.

“Even if you get there, how do you think you’ll get her out? She can’t get out! Other than power-freaking-houses like you, only punishment angels can walk out of that prison.”

Angel…no wings.

He shoved Mateo away and raced out of the room. He searched every inch of that place for Seline, but she wasn’t there. He couldn’t smell her, couldn’t feel her—nothing.

It wasn’t just like she’d died. It was more. Like she’d just ceased to be entirely.

Angel…no wings.

“Delia!” The hallway shook with his bellow. “Delia, get down here, now!” He was desperate. So desperate he’d turn to an angel for help.

He burst outside of the old house. The dark night stared back at him. No stars glittered. Just a pitch-black sky.

“Delia!”

The angel didn’t answer him. He raged, but she didn’t appear.

Mateo came out with Az’s unconscious body slung over his shoulder. “We need to get out of here.”

No angel. No heaven for him. Hell…hell was now. Seline, gone, burning.

He stared at Az. His brother had actually tried to help him. That should matter for something. But he couldn’t feel anything right then. Just an icy numbness that suffocated him.

“I…saw her die, in my vision.” Mateo’s voice was halting. “I told you. She was covered in blood.”

She had been.

---