Page 142 of Angel Of Darkness

“A vamp, especially one so new, is no match for a shifter.” Az sounded so detached.

“Nicole!”

She swiped out with her own claws and managed to catch Carlos in the side. He grunted at the pain and promised, “I’ll kill you, then I’ll take your lover’s blood.”

“The sunlight will speed up her death.” Az smiled and told Keenan, “Don’t worry, she won’t suffer long.”

Fucking crazy bastard.

“No,” Keenan agreed, “she won’t.” And the rage poured from him and erupted in a ball of red-hot flame that blasted into Az.

This time, Az was the one who screamed. A loud, pain-filled cry as he flew back. Az hit the ground and rolled over and over as he tried to put out the fire that ripped over his body.

“That fire didn’t come from man, asshole.” From me. “I conjured it and I damn well can control it.” Not you. So it would burn the flesh right off Az. Az would heal, eventually, but first, he’d hurt like hell.

“I’ll take his blood and he’ll be my weapon!” The shifter’s taunt.

He spun and saw Carlos still circling Nicole.

“I’m no one’s weapon!” Keenan roared. “Not anymore.” Then he grabbed Carlos.

The shifter died before he could scream.

Carlos’s body fell and thudded into the pavement. Nicole’s shoulders slumped.

“It’s okay.” Fury cracked Keenan’s voice. “It’s over now.”

Her gaze darted over his shoulder. Pain and fear flickered in her gaze. “No,” she said very definitely. “It’s not.”

She grabbed his arm and tried to yank him to the side.

Too late.

Fire slammed into his back.

Chapter Eighteen

Keenan had covered her with his body. When the fire hit, he’d launched at Nicole and protected her.

He’s always protecting me.

Now he was on the ground, rolling and trying to put out the fire that had burned his flesh.

She glanced up and had to shove the hair out of her eyes. Az was on his feet. The angel’s body was covered in blisters and burns just like Keenan’s, and Az was advancing on them.

“I didn’t want it to end this way, Keenan. I wanted you to come back.”

Keenan pushed to his knees.

But Az flew toward him and slammed his feet into Keenan’s injured back, driving Keenan into the ground. Then the angel rose up, probably to better prepare for another hit.

Nicole reached for Keenan and wrapped her arms carefully around his body. “Keenan?”

He was so weak. She could feel the weakness pushing at her. He’d given her his blood and put himself at a disadvantage so that she’d live.

Her right hand touched her chest. The stake had come close to her heart, but, lucky for her, the psycho bitch had a really crappy aim. Blood had soaked her clothes. Her blood. His.

Sirens wailed in the distance. Finally, someone had noticed all the hell breaking loose in that alley and thought to call for help. Finally.

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