Zach’s gaze flicked toward me and his green eyes warmed a fraction. “Glad you’re okay, Samantha. I was worried about you.”
I let out a shaky laugh. “That makes two of us.”
“Move again,” Bishop warned Stephen, “and we’ll kill you.”
Stephen fixed him with a wry look. “But then you won’t get Samantha’s soul back. Are you willing to take that chance?”
Bishop’s expression only turned colder as he drew closer to the gray. “Where is it?”
Stephen snorted. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
Bishop slammed his fist into Stephen’s stomach.
I slapped my hand over my mouth, unprepared for the sudden show of violence.
Stephen barely flinched from the hit. “That kind of tickles.”
Jordan paced in short, frantic lines, wringing her hands. I swept my gaze over the building where Stephen had locked us up. It was an abandoned warehouse in an industrial section of town, and we now stood in an empty parking lot. I never came here, so I didn’t know precisely where we were. Beyond the warehouse, a half mile away, I could see the lights of the city.
“Hit him again,” Kraven suggested. “And don’t hold back this time.”
Bishop glared at Kraven over his shoulder. “I wasn’t.”
“If you say so.”
As Bishop was about to do just that, I found myself at his side, grabbing hold of his arm to stop him. He looked at me with surprise in his blue eyes.
“What are you doing?”
“I don’t want to sound like an after-school special here, but violence isn’t the answer.”
He looked down at my firm hold on his arm, his muscles tensing under my touch. “Let me do what I have to do.”
“He won’t talk until he’s ready, no matter what you do to him.”
“We disagree about that.”
I snorted softly. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”
Bishop gave me a wry look. “So what would you suggest? He’s gone through stasis. He’s different now, worse than before. And after what he did to you...” The madness sparked in his eyes again, despite my continued grip on him. “I want to tear him apart.”
“Samantha, you’re hurt,” Zach said, then looked at Kraven. “Cover me.”
Kraven switched places with the angel. Connor still held Stephen prone from behind, and Kraven now gripped the gray’s throat. “Don’t move. I’m not nearly as nice as the rest of these boys. And I haven’t ripped out any throats lately.”
I didn’t think he was bluffing.
Bishop’s brows had drawn together at Zach’s words. He scanned my face. “Is he right? Are you hurt?” He hadn’t noticed how I’d been favoring my right wrist, but now his attention dropped to it and his eyes glowed blue. “It’s broken. That bastard broke your wrist.”
The craziness growing in his gaze worried me. “Relax. That’s the worst of it.”
“I could try to heal you. I’m sure I could do it. I’m stronger than I was before, but I—I just need to concentrate.”
“No, Bishop,” Zach said sharply. “In your current state, healing would take every last ounce of life energy you’ve got left. And then some. I’ll do it.”
Every last ounce he had left? Not a good idea then.
I glanced over at the other angel. “My shoulder, too. And, uh, while you’re at it, I’m dealing with a bit of sprain in my left ankle.”
Zach glanced at Bishop warily before he shifted the golden dagger under his arm, and placed his hands on me, sending his momentarily painful healing energy through my injuries one by one to heal me up as good as new.
“Better?” he asked.
“Much. Thank you.” I was relieved the dull throbbing pain was finally gone.
Bishop fisted his hands at his sides and his gaze returned to Stephen. “I strongly suggest you help us out here.”
“Or what?”
Bishop sent a frustrated glare in my direction. “Being nice isn’t working.”
“That was nice?” I cleared my throat, half amused at his minor attempt at calm negotiation. “Believe me, I’m not suggesting we give him a free pass, but beating him into a pulp isn’t going to get my and Carly’s soul back. We need to learn more about stasis, too. I don’t think it turns a gray totally evil.”
“Could have fooled me,” Bishop replied.
“Yeah, well, Stephen’s still in love with Jordan.”
Jordan gasped. “He’s...what? How could he feel anything for me with the way he’s treated me?”
Zach had returned to grip Stephen’s shoulder and hold the dagger to the gray’s chest. Kraven moved back a few feet to give them space.
“I’m right, aren’t I?” I said, focused on Stephen now. “What you felt before, it’s stronger. But it’s more obsessive now. More crazed.” I swallowed hard. “Still, you’re not completely lost.”
He laughed, a dry sound. “You’re right. I’m just a friendly puppy. Have your friends let me go and we’ll talk it through over coffee. All is well.”
“Stubborn, though,” I said, glaring. “We can do this my way, Stephen. Or we can do this Bishop’s way. My way hurts less.”
The breeze picked up. And a strange crackling energy slid over my skin, making me shiver.