Page 110 of Angel Of Darkness

Carlos was on his ass now, and his eyes glittered at her. His claws scraped across the cement because, yes, she was sitting on hard cement, in some kind of locked room.

No, wait. Her gaze darted to the left. That window—it was stained glass. Her nostrils twitched. She could smell the shifter now—won’t ever forget what that woodsy smell means again—but she could also smell death.

He laughed. “Figured it out, did you? Well, hell, I thought, what better place to store you?”

Than a cemetery.

She was in a mausoleum. One that had been altered to include her chains. At least he’d taken out the dead body. But she suspected he had plans to leave another body—hers—in its place. “Why am I still breathing?”

“Because I need you to be.” He rose and brushed off his hands. “When you stop being useful, I’ll drive a stake into your heart.”

She didn’t see a stake on him. She pulled at her chains—no give.

“Your friend. The man who was with you in Mexico.”

She stared at him, not letting her expression alter.

“He’s your lover,” Carlos added.

She didn’t speak.

His nostrils flared. “I can smell him all over you! I know he’s been fucking you.”

“If you know, then why’d you ask?” Bastard.

“Because I’m still surprised an angel would fuck something like you.”

He knew about Keenan. Oh, that couldn’t be good. I’m in chains—how can anything about this be good? “Something like me?” Nicole questioned carefully. “What, you mean compared to an animal like you? At least I don’t grow fur and piss on the ground all the time.”

Ah, now the stake was out. He’d had it tucked in his boot. His right hand gripped the stake as he bared his fangs at her. “Maybe your dead body would be just as useful to me.”

The scent of flowers wafted to her nose.

She tilted her chin up. “Maybe.”

He shook his head. “You’re trying to push me, but that’s not going to work.” He backed up a step. “You’ll get death, but only when I’m ready to give it.”

So why was he waiting?

“He’ll come for you.” His twisted lips mocked her. “As soon as he figures out where you are, anyway. If it takes too long, I’ll just have to make sure he gets a tip.”

“Why do you want Keenan?” If he knew Keenan was an angel, then Carlos had to realize that he didn’t want to tangle with her lover.

“The angel has something I need.” He gave a quick laugh. “Something you need, too.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“When I’m done with him,” Carlos smirked, “dust will be all that’s left.”

Angel’s Dust. Fear shoved into her gut as she understood. She needed Keenan’s blood to live. Hell, his blood was probably why she’d healed so quickly. An angel’s blood. And that vamp in the feeding room, he’d said demons could be killed by Angel’s Dust.

“Guess you’ve already learned how powerful the new lover is, huh, vamp?”

She didn’t speak.

“Since I didn’t see wings on him, I’ll have to drain him dry to get enough for the mix. Guess I’ll finally found out if angel’s blood is as powerful as their feathers.” He lifted a brow. “Is he a bleeder? How long do you think it will take for him to die for me?”

“Screw you!”

---