Even if you hated an angel with every cell in your body, they could make you slick with a need that could drive you mad.
I reached up, gripping his hair. I couldn’t look at his face again, that divine face I was never meant to see. I just wanted him to kiss me.
And when he pressed his mouth against mine, my need grew hungrier. He kissed me deeply, tongue sliding against mine. The next thing I knew, he was lifting me up from behind, hands under my arse as he pinned me against the mirror. My legs wrapped around him, and one strap of my camisole fell down.
He let out a low snarl as he tugged down the side of my camisole, exposing my breasts.
But when he lifted his face to me, my heart went still.
There it was—his true face. Perfect, divine, and terrifying. Metallic swirls gleamed on one half, and hellfire burned in his eyes. His eyelashes were black as night against the flames, and the fire cast warm light over his high, sharp cheekbones. Flaming chains snaked around his body, his arms. So beautiful, but not meant for me …
I felt as if my mind was fracturing. He was divine, and I was mortal.
I would die. It would all end, wouldn’t it? I’d die someday, and nothing meant anything. This was all temporary, the entire span of my life like the heartbeat of a hummingbird, and then just—gone.
I couldn’t breathe. There wasn’t enough air in here. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to run away from him, or wanted him to save me, but—I was going to die, wasn’t I? Maybe not today, but it felt like it could happen at any moment.
My mind went completely blank, but no longer with pleasure.
Samael’s grip on me loosened, and I slid down his body. I was shaking now, my teeth chattering like I was freezing. I closed my eyes, but I still saw it there, a divine face sent to earth to deliver death from above.
“You’re terrifying,” I whispered.
He was Death, reaper of souls.
Trembling, I found myself slipping out of the secret room, running up the stairs, and disappearing into the darkness of the night.
32
Lila
Shivering, I stood on the riverwalk. Sailor pubs loomed up behind me, and narrow alleyways jutted off.
I was lucky in one regard: no one had seen me run off the boat. I didn’t even see Sourial anywhere.
On the other hand, I was still wearing nothing but the camisole and knickers.
I knew a courtesan who lived nearby, a friend from the music hall. She’d get me something to cover myself while I steeled up the nerve to return to Castle Hades.
My mind was whirling. In the realm of the angels, I was trespassing somewhere I didn’t belong.
This was a terrifying, awe-inspiring world not meant for me. The golden tattoos, the eyes like infernos. The chains writhing around him, sparking with flames.
Bollocks. I’d lost the ability to think clearly.
Out here in the cool air, my breathing was starting to slow down, so I could at least think clearly again. I didn’t suppose what just happened constituted enough of a seduction that I’d made him vulnerable.
The sound of footfalls made my heart race faster, and when I turned, I saw Sourial sauntering closer, a faint smile on his lips. “Looks like your evening has taken a bit of a turn.”
I hugged myself. “There was a cop there. I saw him in Leather Apron Alley today. I thought he might recognize me as someone who spent time with you lot.”
One of his curly locks fell in front of his eyes. “So you just ran off the boat?”
At this point, it seemed stupid to keep the charade up. “I saw Samael’s true face, with the gold and the fiery chains.”
His smile fell. “Oh. And you haven’t lost your mind completely?”
It returned again, the image of his face. And with it, the fluttering of my heart, the fear and awe crackling up my spine. “Not completely.”
“Do you remember what he looked like when his face changed?”
“I will never forget it as long as I live.”
He frowned. “Strange. Most mortals forget. They have to, or their minds break. Were you close to him when you saw his face?”
“Quite.” I nodded at him. “Can I have your cloak?”
“Right. Of course.” He pulled off his cloak and handed it to me. As I wrapped it around me, he drew his sword and started stalking toward the walkway.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“If Samael’s true face emerged, then death is on the horizon. I don’t want to miss out.” His sword glinted in the moonlight. “I want to help cut them down.”
My stomach sank.
And before Sourial even got to the cabin deck, the door slammed open. Out ran the women, two of them spattered in blood. They were naked, barefoot, screaming in terror.
And they really wouldn’t make it long in this part of the city unless I helped them.
“Ginger!” I shouted.
Her screaming was incoherent, and she was not paying attention to me.
“Ladies!” I shouted. “Stop running. There’s as much danger in these streets as there was on that boat.”
The blonde woman was sobbing, but they stopped running, and started hugging themselves.
I pointed up at a rickety stairwell that led to the top floor of a brick apartment building. “You see the light on the top floor? Climb the stairs. My friend Daisy lives there. Tell her that Lila sent you.”
“Lila.” Ginger sniffled. “I knew that was your name.”
I put a finger to my lips. “Tell her I said you need some clothes.”
Ginger wiped the tears off her cheeks, and she looked confused. “I can’t remember what I was so scared of now.”
“It was the …” the blonde started. “Was there a man? I remember a man, and we had to get away from him.”
I pulled the cloak tight around me. “You did have to get away, and you can’t go back in there, understand? Now get up that stairwell before a bunch of unruly sailors spot us.”
I watched as they headed for the stairwell, sniffling. Thanking me. Then, the sound of masculine screaming rang out from the boat.
I whirled back to it, just in time to see the chinless blond twins running onto the deck. And behind them, Samael ran, his sword gleaming with blood. Fire burned in his eyes as he carved the sword through one man’s neck. He swung his blade the other direction, cutting down the second.
They fell dead on the deck.
My thoughts had gone numb, and I closed my eyes. Samael and Sourial were natural warriors, hellbent on crushing their enemies into dust. And that was exactly what they were doing now.
I’d keep to my task; I’d do my bit as well as I could. Make Samael vulnerable, learn the secrets of the angels so we could fight back.
From the rocking ship, screams filled the air, and nausea climbed up my gut. When I saw Samael’s face, I’d known death was near. It just turned out it wasn’t my own.
After a few more minutes, Sourial stalked off the boat again, his sword dripping with gore. He sheathed it, smiling at me. “Turned out to be a good night after all.”
I swallowed hard. “What made it so good?”
“We delivered death to those who deserved it.”
Samael followed close behind him, not meeting my gaze. His features had returned to normal—the gold had blended away, and the fire had left his eyes.