The panther rolled away, bleeding, breath heaving. Tanner tossed another panther a good ten feet then turned to drive his claws into the back of his next attacker.
A vicious fighter. She liked that. It would help—
Brandt’s laughter froze her. A dead man shouldn’t be laughing. She glanced over her shoulder. Brandt stood over Az . . . why was Az kneeling on the ground?
Brandt’s fingers dripped blood.
She started running then. Jade barely felt the sting of claws as they raked down her back. “Az!” Her scream.
He turned his head slowly to look at her. His eyes were puzzled, and she could see the pain on his face.
“Know your enemy, fool,” Brandt taunted him. “And know when you’re up against someone who doesn’t give a shit about your Death Touch.”
His claws shoved into Az’s chest. “I know who the f**k you are, Azrael,” Brandt taunted. “And I’m not scared of you.”
“Stop!” A few more feet. She just had to get—
“You can’t kill me,” Brandt said as he yanked out his claws. Blood dripped from Az’s lips and poured from the giant hole in his chest. “But I can slice you apart while she watches.”
Not going to watch. Az had tried to help her. When he’d needed her, she’d turned away. Raced to fight others.
I shouldn’t have left him. Shouldn’t have—
Jade threw her body against Brandt. Using all of her strength, she drove the silver knife into his side. Then she jerked it as hard as she could to the left. His bellow hurt her ears even as . . . as the scent of flowers drifted in the air around them.
Flowers? In hell?
Brandt caught her arms and yanked her closer against him. “You fight for that bastard?”
“He’s not the bastard.” Brandt never seemed to realize just how screwed up he truly was. “You are.”
He shook her, sending her head whipping back. “After all I’ve done for you, after I—”
Her slick hands found the handle of the knife. The weapon was still embedded in his side. She caught it and twisted.
And he kissed her. His lips crushed down on hers, and she could taste his rage and lust.
“No!” She shoved against Brandt even as she was ripped from his arms.
Az. Holding her tightly. On his feet again. Bleeding, but strong.
“So like me,” Brandt whispered. His gaze found hers. “Dark and dangerous . . . killer instinct, it’s right there.”
“I’m nothing like you!” She didn’t want to be like him.
Az pushed her behind him. “What are you?” He threw the words at Brandt.
Brandt yanked the knife from his side and tossed it to the ground. “I’m the man who’s gonna kill you, angel.”
Jade eased to the left and saw Brandt lift his claws. “So get ready for an ass kicking.”
The two men lunged at each other. Fire crackled in the air around them. Thick, hot flames that forced Jade back. Brandt cut with his claws while Az pounded the shifter with powerful fists. Over and over. The crunch of bones and the thud of flesh filled the air.
Jade rushed forward, but the fire pushed her back. The flames circled around the men. Caging them, and keeping all others away.
Az. Damn him. He’d put up the fire. To keep her out. To protect her.
But he was bleeding. Stumbling.
Her gaze darted around the area. Tanner was fighting the last two panthers. Heather—Heather was trying to rise to her feet. Jade ran to her side. “We have to help him!”
Blood dripped down the side of Heather’s face. She stared at the line of fire. At the two men locked in brutal combat.
Heather nodded quickly. “We have to . . . we have to distract him,” Heather whispered as she yanked a knife from a sheath on her thigh.
A hidden weapon. Huh. Maybe they were more alike than Jade had thought. But . . . “We’re going to need a lot more than silver to stop Brandt.”
But just then Brandt let out a long, screaming cry of agony. Jade’s gaze flew to the men. Az had broken Brandt’s wrist and just plunged the shifter’s own claws into Brandt’s chest. Brutal.
Smart.
But Brandt head-butted Az and sent her angel sliding back.
“Az has lost too much blood . . . the panther weakens him . . .” Heather’s voice pulled her attention back to the witch. Jade saw the woman’s fingers tighten around the knife. “Brandt is . . . more than a beast. I should have seen it before.”
Screw this. “Send out some magic! Help Az!”
“We need to weaken Brandt . . .” Heather’s voice was so soft. She weaved a bit as she stepped forward. “Have to take his heart . . .”