Page 85 of Angel Betrayed

Literally. Her mother had traded heaven for a night in her demon’s arms.

“Too bad for her,” Seline whispered. “She trusted the wrong man. He killed her.”

Just like I trusted the wrong one.

A bit of blue bled back into Sam’s eyes.

“Rogziel was sent for Brion then. He succeeded at his job.” And he’d kept her alive. All those years, Rogziel had always been around. Watching. Monitoring her as she grew up. He’d placed her with a family, the O’Shaws—humans who guarded her but reported directly to him.

Then he’d eventually come for her and started to train her.

Time to punish. Make your mother proud. Earn redemption.

At first, she’d tried for that sweet promise of redemption. Only later, she’d realized that Rogziel’s punishments weren’t always just, and she’d wondered how much of her soul he was stealing away with each kill.

She looked at her hands. She expected to see blood. Two months ago—when she’d found the woman Rogziel had “punished”—her blood had dripped onto Seline’s hands.

Seline glanced over at the vampire. Unlike many of Rogziel’s flock, Seline didn’t think all vamps were evil.

And that poor girl that Rogziel had “contained” had barely looked twenty. H-help me…

Only the girl had been past the point of help. Seline had only been able to hold her hand as death came.

“So now you know,” Seline told Sam as she forced her chin to rise. “I’m the daughter of an incubus, made for sin, and the child of an angel who fell for her addiction.” She stepped back. “I’m not controlling a hellhound. I’m not betraying you. All I want, all I’ve ever wanted, was to just get away from Rogziel and my past.”

Why was that so much to ask?

She stared into his eyes. “Our partnership”—was that what it had been?—“is over. You think I’m betraying you? That I’m setting you up? Then when I leave, I guess you won’t have to worry about that any longer, will you?” Her lips twisted in a smile that she knew wasn’t pretty. “Wish I could say it’s been fun, but really, I guess it’s just been hell.”

Then she turned on her heel and walked for the door. The vampire’s gaze met hers. Would she have to fight her way out? It would be hard, especially with the memory of another vampire weakening her.

But Nicole’s head inclined slightly toward her, and the vampire pushed the one called Keenan aside to clear Seline’s path.

She left, and didn’t look back, not even when she heard Sam whisper her name.

Yeah, it’s been hell, but for a moment there, I was hoping for heaven.

She should have known better. Demon half-breeds didn’t get to glimpse heaven. They spent too much time tasting hell on earth.

Chapter Twelve

Sam lunged forward, only to find Keenan moving to stand in his damn way. He leveled a glare at the Fallen. Old ties would only bind so long. “You don’t want to come between me and Seline.”

“She wants to get away from you.”

“We don’t always get what we want.”

The black shadow of Keenan’s wings stretched out behind him.

Sam fought for patience, something he’d never really had. “If she goes out there alone, she’s just a target. Rogziel will find her, or Az will go after her. Seline needs me.”

“Bull,” said the pretty little vamp who had a possessive hold on Keenan. “I think you’re the one who needs her. She’s your addiction, isn’t that what you said?”

He almost winced. “Bad fucking word choice, all right?”

“If she controls a hound…” Keenan rolled right over his snarl. “Then I don’t think she needs a Fallen watching her back.”

The front door slammed. Seline was gone.

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