Angel in Chains (The Fallen #3)(31)
Author: Cynthia Eden

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 . . .”

Then she raised her knife and plunged it toward Jade’s chest.

Jade tried to jump away, but she didn’t move fast enough. The knife drove into her chest. A white-hot slice of pain cut through her and stole Jade’s breath. The blade sank to the hilt, and then Heather yanked the knife out.

“You’ll know what it feels like, Brandt!” Heather yelled and laughed and thrust the knife at Jade again. “You’ll know what it feels like to lose what you love!”

The witch was strong. But this time, Jade was ready for her. A roar filled the air behind her. Heather’s golden eyes burned so bright. Too bright. When that blade came at her again, Jade caught Heather’s hand and held the weapon away.

The witch shuddered, and her eyes just burned brighter. “I’m taking his heart,” Heather said, almost growling the words. “I have to make him weak.”

Jade’s blood soaked her shirt. She kicked out at the witch and caught the other woman in the knee. Jade heard something pop, and the sound filled her with vicious pleasure.

Heather fell back. Jade fell, too, even as her hand rose to her chest and tried to stop the blood. Crazy bitch . . .

A blur of black fur flew past her. A panther. Brandt. He’d shifted. Gotten out of the flames.

He went for Heather’s throat. The witch never even had time to scream. His teeth sank deep, killing her, nearly severing her head from her shoulders.

“Jade?” Az’s voice. Az’s hands on her as he turned her to face him. She felt cold right then, but her body shook as if she had a fever.

“Stay away from her,” Az ordered fiercely. “Stay away.” And she saw that he was staring over her shoulder. Wait, who was behind her? Not Brandt. He was busy a few feet away, killing Heather.

The panther’s snarl raised the hair on her neck.

“You’re not taking her,” Az said, still staring behind her. “So stand the f**k back.”

She tried to push up into his arms. She’d been stabbed, but she wasn’t out. She’d survive this but—

But Brandt, in full panther form, was charging at Az’s back. She saw him over Az’s shoulder, running fast with his mouth open, his teeth bloody from his recent kill. He rushed forward—

“No!” She screamed and shoved Az to the side.

Brandt’s claws struck out. He was too close. Too close.

His paws sank into her chest. The pain lanced her, tore through flesh, muscle, and bone.

Killed her.

Az leapt up and grabbed the panther. With a roar, he tossed Brandt back. Even as the panther flew through the air, the fur melted from his body. Bones began to snap and bend—

I’m dying.

Jade couldn’t look at her chest. She didn’t want to see what he’d done to her. She’d wanted to kill him, but instead, death was coming for her.

“No!” Az was the one shouting the denial. “You’re not taking her! I won’t let you!” His hands were on her, pulling her up, but her head wanted to sag and her eyes were trying to close.

He shook her. “Stay with me.” No plea. An order.

She wanted to stay. But . . . but it seemed like she . . .

“Stay.”

“Jade!” Brandt’s anguished bellow.

Everything was growing darker, but she saw Az’s head jerk in the panther’s direction. “You’re dead.” Az had never sounded so cold. So brutal.

Then a blast of fire shot from Az’s fingertips. One ball. Another. Another. The flames lit up the darkness around her as they popped like fireworks. The fire flew at Brandt. Melted his flesh.

Then the ground began to shake. Dips and turns. The earth cracked open. A long, wide crevice split and raced toward Brandt. He tried to jump out of the way, but that crevice just seemed to chase him.

Then it swallowed him. Screaming, Brandt sank into the hole. Az laughed and lightning flew from his fingertips. The powerful lightning bolts hit the ground and seared the air with sulfur. And the lightning . . . it sealed the earth, locking Brandt inside.

Then Az glanced back at her. His eyes glowed with a brightness that matched the lightning. His face was twisted and so dark. Enraged.

Her angel looked like the devil.

“You won’t die,” he vowed.

Even an angel couldn’t stop death. Jade tried to speak but couldn’t. The scent of flowers was so strong now that the fragrance drowned out the death and blood. And . . . there was a woman standing beside Az. Jade strained to see her better. A woman with long, blond hair. Pale blue eyes.

And—wings?

Az stiffened. His head jerked to the left. “Marna, don’t even think of touching her.”

But Marna’s hand was already out. Just inches away. Jade’s chest burned so much. She could feel her heart struggling to beat. So weak. So—

Az wrapped his arms around Jade and seemed to fly ten feet. It hurt to be held so tightly against him and a moan broke from Jade.

“Don’t touch her!” He yelled again. “Marna, I swear, if you come near her again . . .” More lightning lit the area. Lightning that seemed to come from Az. “I’ll fight you.”