Page 63 of Angel Of Darkness

Az’s famous book. Once a scroll, now a Who’s Who List of the To-Be-Dead. The book included the names of both those deemed blessed and those deemed damned.

Once a name was in the book, there was no going back. So the stories said.

“How long does she have?” Keenan asked, voice rough. If her name had just come up, she’d have forty days. After forty days, the soul had to be taken from the charge’s body.

Only he hadn’t taken her soul before.

And it won’t be taken now.

“Ten days.”

What?

“Maybe less.” Az shrugged. “I truly thought it would take you longer to find her.”

“You mean you wanted her to already be dead before I found her.”

“She is dead.” Az raised his hand and pointed behind Keenan. “She’s already marked. Her fate was sealed. There’s no changing it.”

“Bullshit.”

Az’s brows rose.

No, he wouldn’t be used to one of his soldiers cursing. Too bad. “Fate changed before. It can change again.”

“Why?” Az showed the barest hint of an emotion. Curiosity. “Let her go. What does it matter if she lives or dies?”

Keenan wouldn’t take his gaze off the angel to look back at her. “It matters to me.” That was all Az needed to know.

Az sighed. “You’re wrong, you know.” His wings brushed against the pavement. “I didn’t want you to arrive and find her dead. That would have served no purpose for me.”

His gut clenched. “What is it that you want, Az?”

“She doesn’t matter to me. She’s just another charge. There are thousands, millions more just like her. They’ll die, just like her.”

Nicole’s soft gasp filled his ears.

Why would she gasp? Why would?—

“Angels shouldn’t fall,” Az continued, his voice coming faster. “Angels shouldn’t burn. Angels shouldn’t suffer.” Now he was the one to step closer. “We’re better than the humans. Stronger. So much more powerful.”

But the angels weren’t the favorites. No, the humans were the ones who’d been given the gifts. Hope. Love.

“Angels shouldn’t fall,” Az said again.

“I did.” And thanks for the heads-up, Az. That whole “I’ve heard it’s the fire that makes you scream the loudest” line really hadn’t helped.

“You fell, and you can rise.”

Those words seemed to cut through him. He’d never heard of an angel going back, not after a fall.

“It’s simple, Keenan. I know she’s your temptation. We all have our trials. Prove you are stronger. Finish your job. Do what you were meant to do.”

Kill her. No, he wouldn’t say it. Not with Nicole close enough to hear his words.

“Kill her and come home.” Az didn’t have a problem saying the words.

Keenan straightened his shoulders. “No.”

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