Page 55 of Angel Betrayed

Some vampires were hooked on angel blood because that power rush could be tasted. And for those who killed Fallen, there was nothing quite like the psychic blast to amp up your power. The blast hit the person closest to the Fallen at the moment of death.

Whoever had attacked Anthea had been forced to leave before the job was finished. Because you heard me coming? Yes, he bet the asshole was close by. Watching him and cursing because Sam was the one with Anthea’s power.

Power he didn’t want.

He pulled Seline to the edge of the sidewalk. Then he stared at the house.

Goodbye, Anthea.

The house exploded in a ball of flames.

Rogziel perched on top of the brick house, his gaze on the fire trucks and humans who swarmed below. He’d followed the fire trucks and the cop cars. He’d suspected they would take him to his prey.

Not many would dare to light the sky this way. The smoke from the inferno drifted high, so high, into the sky. Like a giant black fist striking out at heaven.

Careful or heaven will hit back.

The house was gone. Burned in flames that were far too hot for a normal fire. Yet despite the heat, the fire didn’t spread to any of the other houses.

Because that wasn’t the plan.

Rogziel’s gaze surveyed the crowd. There. Sam was on his motorcycle, watching the fire, and not caring that the human cops were just feet away from him.

Seline was at his side. She should know better than to get so near to the fire.

As he watched, Seline leaned in even closer to the Fallen. She whispered something in his ear, and Rogziel saw her lips brush against his cheek.

Like mother, like lying daughter.

Seline climbed on the motorcycle behind Sam. After a moment, the bike pulled away from the curb.

The humans—so blind—didn’t even glance up. But maybe that was Sam’s power at work. He’d been walking the earth for centuries. If anyone could manipulate the humans, it would be him.

Sam should have been the one to burn. He had burned, but, somehow, he’d escaped the fires of hell.

Seline’s body hugged his as they left the neighborhood.

Rogziel straightened to his full height. Humans wouldn’t see him. Not unless he bid them to do so. His wings stretched behind him. Powerful and strong. Not burned away to hideous scars like Sam’s.

He still had power. Enough to take down the Fallen and the half-blood demon who’d finally shown her true colors.

Which one would die first?

Did it really matter?

He smiled and leapt into the air.

Sam didn’t take them back to New Orleans. Seline curled her body against his and held on. She didn’t know where they were going, but as long as they were putting those flames behind them, she wasn’t going to question Sam. So she held on, and the miles drifted past. The sun sank, and the dark night sky covered them.

They stopped only long enough for gas and for Sam to make some phone calls. Probably alerting his men. And somebody called Keenan.

She fell asleep at some point. Her dreams were restless, filled with blood and fire, and when the motorcycle braked to a stop, Seline’s eyes flew open. “Wh-where are we?”

Darkness. Thick and total.

“Laredo.”

Wait. “Laredo? As in Laredo, Texas?”

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