Page 74 of Angel Betrayed

Not long, just a few precious moments. That slowdown, that weakness was just what he needed.

Time to take out two sinners.

The smoke billowed, and Rogziel stalked toward the motel. The only humans around worked for him. His team—one that he’d ordered to seek cover in the nearby woods. All the innocents were gone.

Suffer, sinners, suffer.

The blast had blown Sam out of the motel room. He lay in the parking lot with some of his flesh torn away. His clothes burned as he pushed himself to his feet. He stared at the wreckage and screamed, “Seline!”

Interesting. Another way to punish.

Rogziel flew forward. “She won’t walk away from that.” Not weak Seline.

Sam’s head whipped toward him. The smoke and fire had covered Rogziel’s scent, just as he’d planned, and Sam hadn’t even been aware that the true threat was so close. Rogziel saw the fury in the Fallen’s eyes, and he said, “She won’t walk away, and neither will you.”

“Fuck you!” Sam tossed a ball of fire his way.

The ball withered to smoke before it could touch Rogziel’s skin.

He expected another attack. Instead, Sam whirled and rushed toward the burning building.

Rogziel frowned. The Fallen thought to save someone? Now that was surprising. He hadn’t anticipated this sacrifice.

Pity it was too late for Sam to atone.

Before Sam could rush straight into the flames, Az appeared in the smoke. His arms cradled a too-still Seline.

How perfect. Rogziel should have known that Azrael would kill her.

Sam roared and lunged for his brother.

The Fallen didn’t understand that rage made them weak, even as it made his little pet hungry. The beast was close now. Just minutes away. Soon it would burst free and feed.

Seline coughed.

Rogziel stopped smiling.

The smoke was choking her, and the arms around her were way too tight. Seline blinked her streaming eyes. “Ease up, Sam. We’re out, it’s?—”

Sam wasn’t holding her. Someone was yelling. Fire crackled, and Az held her in his arms.

“You’re safe,” he told her, and she realized that his clothes were smoldering.

In the next instant, she wasn’t in his arms any longer. Sam had her. Yeah, thanks for the too-late rescue. Sam shoved her behind his body. “Run,” he ordered as he faced off against Az.

She glanced around. She hadn’t been burned because Az had protected her with his body. He saved me. That just didn’t jive with the story she’d been given. A crazy psycho wouldn’t care about protecting her. “Sam, wait!”

Something was very wrong. Two fire attacks, and she was sure neither had come from Az.

Sam sent a blast of energy at Az, and the Fallen flew back into the fire. Sam spared her a brief glance over his shoulder. “Rogziel is here, and you need to run.”

She stumbled back. Her gaze swept around the parking lot. She didn’t see Rogziel, but since the creep could fly, he could be anywhere.

Az leapt out of the fire and barreled into Sam. Power crackled in the air as they tossed psychic attacks at each other. They rolled on the ground, and a deep crevice appeared beneath them.

Too much power.

Lightning crashed between them.

---