Then he came at Keenan again. Az grabbed him and yanked him right out of Nicole’s arms. Az tossed Keenan onto the other side of the alley. Keenan flew into the bricks, and a thick crack appeared to run the length of the wall.
“Stop!” She ran after Az with her claws out. “Damn you, stop!”
Az spun toward her. And smiled. “Ready to choose?” he whispered.
She stumbled to a halt.
“I told you before … it’s all so easy. Your life … or his.” His wings eased down. “We can make this right. Your soul should have been taken. Order has to come back.”
She glanced at Keenan. He was struggling to rise. If he could just get to his feet …
“You don’t care enough about him to die, do you?” Az laughed at that. “Keenan loves you, but this time, you’ll be the one who stands there and watches death come.”
“No.” She wouldn’t have much time. She’d have to be fast. Fast …
“You won’t give your life for him!”
Keenan was on his feet. His eyes were wide and desperate as he lunged at Az’s back.
“I’ll do better than that,” she said softly, and it was her turn to smile and show her fangs. “I’ll kill for him.”
Az blinked. “Wh—”
She leapt forward and grabbed him. Nicole’s teeth sank into his throat and her claws ripped into his chest even as Az’s hands closed tightly around her.
One touch … just one …
Cold spread from his hands and sank into her flesh. Death.
But Az was trembling against her and his blood was in her mouth. The angel wasn’t getting away unscathed this time. Actually, he wasn’t getting away at all.
Time to kill … and time to die. For both of them.
Right there, in that damn forsaken alley. Right there.
Az had been right. Six months ago, she’d gone to the cathedral to pray. To ask God for strength, but his house had been closed to her.
Then the devil had come into the alley.
But she hadn’t turned away from her faith. Az had been wrong about that. She’d prayed and she’d hoped and she’d gotten her angel.
I’ll kill for him. I’ll die for him.
Because Keenan had given her a reason to live. Hope. Love.
“No!” Az shoved her back, a shove that sent her flying ten feet and thudding into a window. Glass crunched around her.
And Az hit the ground. Or rather, he hit when Keenan crashed into him and drove the guy down. Then Keenan started ramming his fist into Az’s face, again and again. The brutal thuds filled the air and almost drowned out the approaching sirens.
Nicole pushed to her feet. She took a step and staggered.
Strong, hard hands caught her. “You okay?”
Sam.
She blinked and realized that blood was dripping into her eyes. She could hardly see him—
Sam lifted his hand and pulled a chunk out of glass out of her brow. “Easy …”
Now wasn’t the time for easy. Two angels were trying to kill each other, and one of those angels—I love.
Wind whispered against her body as she fought against Sam’s hold. “We have to help Keenan!”
“I don’t think Keenan’s the one who needs help,” Sam muttered. “Where’s the coyote? We need to stop him. If he gets his hand on any angel blood …”
She broke Sam’s hold. “He’s dead.” She hurried for Keenan as she tossed that bit out.
Az didn’t seem to be fighting anymore. The angel just lay there, taking the hits, as he stared up at Keenan with swollen, confused eyes.
Then his gaze drifted to her. “You …” He licked busted lips. “Should be … dead.”
Keenan yanked him up. “No, you’re the one who’s dying.”
“T-touched her …” Az shook his head and managed to stand up on his own. “She should die.”
Yes, he had touched her and she was sure he’d touched with the intent to kill.
But she was still breathing. How about that?
“Maybe it’s not her time to die,” Sam drawled as he stalked closer.
Az weaved on his feet. The blisters and burns on his body weren’t healing. Keenan already seemed fine once again. Powerful and strong, with not a mark on him, but Az …
“She was on the list.” Az shook his head and tried to straighten. Two fallen angels surrounded him on either side and Nicole saw the fear in his gaze. “I saw her death. Here. Tonight.”
“Really?” Sam didn’t sound convinced. “If you were so sure she was gonna die, then why team up with the coyote?”