Page 127 of Angel Betrayed

When Sam closed his eyes, the nightmares came. Because what more did he have but nightmares? He dreamed of fire and a fall that never ended. He dreamed of pain. Agony. Of wings that burned and of an unforgiving earth that broke all of his bones.

Then…her.

The beast was at Seline’s throat. Her eyes were on Sam.

Love…

Why? He tried to shove the images away. He’d failed her. He’d watched while she died. Why the hell had she loved him?

The fire flared hotter. He couldn’t see her anymore. Could only see the flames.

Just the fire.

Then…

Nothing.

Seline, come back to me.

“I can’t.” Her whisper.

The darkness lifted a bit, and he saw her on the bed. Shadows cloaked her.

“Seline?” Hope had him leaping toward her.

She lifted her hands to him. His mouth crashed down on hers. She tasted, oh, damn, she tasted like life. His heaven. Everything he’d ever wanted but never realized he needed. Her body trembled against his. His lips lifted—reluctantly—and he growled, “I thought you’d left me.”

“I did.” The pain in her voice broke the heart that was hers. She will always own my heart. Her fingers smoothed over his chest. “I don’t know how to get back.” A tear slid down her cheek.

He caught the tear with his mouth. Tasted the salt. Tasted her. Real. “Sweetheart, you are back, and I’m not letting you go. Stay. Just…stay.” He had to make her stay. “I’m more than what you’ve seen. We can have a life together. We can have everything.”

Because he’d give her anything.

“Stay.” His hold tightened on her.

“I don’t know how!” Her hand seemed cool on his chest. She eased away from him. Her head tilted back as she studied him. Her neck was smooth, unlined. No scars, no blood.

And he knew this wasn’t real. Fuck, no. Just another nightmare. She’d leave him, and reality would be his hell on earth. “I love you.” Just a nightmare, but he’d tell her anyway. Why hadn’t he told her before? Why hadn’t he realized the truth? “I’d trade my life for yours in an instant.”

Something whispered in the darkness, a soft rustle of sound. Wind seemed to brush over his face. He stared into the shadows around him, aware that his heart had started to thud too fast.

“I can’t get back to you.” Now her hands were on his face. Her fingers trailed down his cheek, over his jaw. As if memorizing him. “I don’t want to forget.”

“You won’t.” A vow. “I won’t.”

But she was fading. Her lips pressed against his once more. He tasted her breath. Life. Love.

Seline.

She vanished. The fire came back. The pain. The torture. But he wouldn’t forget. His Seline had come to him.

And she’d had black angel wings.

She hadn’t been dragged to hell. His angel had been sent to heaven.

He fought through the fire in his nightmares and opened his eyes. He glared at the cracking ceiling above him. “You aren’t taking her!”

Sam knew he didn’t have to fight his way through hell to get Seline back. But he would have to knock down the gates of paradise.

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