Page 32 of Angel Betrayed

“Ah, I guess you do know him.” The angel world was composed of thousands, but it figured that her bad luck would hold and Sam would actually know Rogziel.

His hands tightened. “I know he’s a sick asshole who should have burned long ago.”

Yep, definitely sounded like he knew Rogziel. Maybe the angel world was smaller than she realized.

Falling from heaven had hurt like a bitch.

Omayo stared below at the bustle of the streets. He didn’t remember how long ago he had actually fallen, because time had lost meaning for him. He didn’t know. Didn’t care.

Humans flocked on the street below. He watched them. Had always watched them.

The morning sunlight slipped across the river’s surface. Couples walked hand-in-hand. Young lovers stopped to kiss. Tourists snapped photographs. Laughter and voices filled the air.

Emotion.

He could sense it all around him, and, finally, he could feel.

Pleasure. Joy. Happiness. No more watching, now he felt everything. Just like humans. No, more than the humans. He appreciated each moment more because he knew what it was like to live in a void and feel nothing.

He turned away from the balcony and paced back inside his apartment. His shoulders rolled, and for an instant, he felt the flutter of wings that weren’t there.

Small price to pay.

So he’d burned. So there would be no more flying for him. The clouds lost their appeal after centuries anyway.

He’d fallen. He’d fucked. He’d loved. He’d laughed.

Humans were the lucky ones. They had paradise right at their fingertips, and they didn’t understand their joy.

He understood.

He’d burned for this joy.

A knock rapped at his door. He frowned but walked forward. He glanced through the peephole—humans had such fun little inventions—and surprise had his jaw slackening.

He jumped back—too late. The door flew inward, and the heavy wood landed on his body.

“Hello, friend.” The mocking voice grated as Omayo shoved the wood away from his body. He surged to his feet, more than ready to?—

A growl reached his ears. Low, menacing.

He stilled even as terror rose within him, spiking his blood and making his heart shudder.

“I know all about you,” that voice he knew too well said.

Omayo saw what waited in the doorway. The building was empty—just his apartment and a vacant garage downstairs. No one could help him.

As if humans could fight this. They’d be slaughtered in an instant if they tried. He’d never risked a human life before. He wouldn’t start now.

“You watched them too long.”

Omayo stumbled back and sent a burst of power right at his old friend. “Get out!”

But the one he’d known for centuries didn’t move.

The blast seemed to have no effect. “You wanted to feel, Omayo.”

Was that so wrong? His hands fisted. “Centuries of nothing. Nothing. They have it all. I just wanted?—”

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