The Book of Azrael (Gods & Monsters 1)

FLAMES DANCED AROUND OUR FEET AND BLACK SMOKE CLUNG TO OUR BODIES AS I PORTALED US TO THE FRONT OF THE GRAND ESTATE ITSELF. From the garbled description Logan had given me. The building looked like an actual castle. Dark stone formed the walls, and multiple towers with small window slits rose at the corners of the massive beast. Lights lined the cobblestone driveway and shone from the building. Gardens graced the grounds, meandering pathways cutting through the beautiful array of plants. There were so many vehicles parked out front that it made even me nervous.

I shifted, supporting Logan as he leaned more heavily against me. ‘Logan, where would they most likely be?’

‘Third floor,’ he grunted. So the third floor was where I went.

Multiple gasps and screams filled the room as our forms solidified. The smoke dissipated, bits of the mahogany floorboards chipping away beneath my feet. Somewhere in the room, glasses hit the floor and shattered. The people near the long white tables filled with food stopped and turned toward Logan and me. I recognized some of those here from my little interrogation stint. They all cleaned up well, wearing dresses and tuxedos instead of the tactical gear I was accustomed to seeing them in.

‘Sorry, did I interrupt a party?’

There were mortals mixed into the crowd, but the energy in the room told me there were more celestials in attendance than I was comfortable with. Their eyes lit and turned toward me when I spoke. Guns were pulled, and the safeties clicked off as the barrels were pointed in my direction. Whispers and mummers filled the room as they took in my bloody clothes and the even bloodier figure at my side. It took them a moment to realize he was one of their own.

Without those damn cuffs on me, my senses were back to a hundred percent, and I turned toward the one person I was looking for. I felt him coming long before I saw him, the energy vibrating off of him like a live wire. The Hand fell in behind him, and together there was so much power it was sickening.

‘I have lived for several millennia,’ his deep voice echoed from the back of the crowd, ‘and surprising me is hard to do. But you continue to surprise me.’

‘Hello, lover. I missed you, too,’ I purred as the crowd parted and Liam appeared. I held Logan up by his torn collar. ‘I have something for you.’

A look passed over Liam’s face almost too fast for me to catch. Fear? Relief? Or curiosity?

A shrill voice burst through the crowd, drawing everyone’s attention. ‘Logan!’ Neverra cried out as she ran past the mortals. Liam’s hand darted out, stopping her headlong rush, the silver dress she wore swinging around her ankles. I yanked Logan closer to me, causing him to grunt in pain.

I held him with one arm and shook my head. ‘Not so fast. Put the blades and guns away. I saved him, and I can end him just as fast.’

‘You wouldn’t,’ the one I remembered as Vincent said, stepping forward with an ablaze weapon in hand. ‘You’d be swarmed in seconds.’

I smiled, making sure my canines showed. ‘Wanna bet?’ My grip tightened on Logan, and he grunted in pain again.

‘Please, please don’t.’ Neverra’s voice came out on a quiet sob.

‘What is it you want?’ Everyone fell silent, his tone powerful and commanding.

I shrugged. ‘Simple. I want a truce.’

Vincent laughed, but no one else did.

Liam’s jaw clenched as if the thought disgusted him. ‘You have no power over me, and I do not have to make any deals with you. I could kill you right here and now and think nothing of it.’

‘You really are a cocky, arrogant son –of –a –bitch, aren’t you? That strong, and yet your world still fell?’

‘Watch your tongue.’ His words came out as a threat, one I knew he could deliver on.

I shrugged and gripped Logan’s arms, pulling him in front of me as a shield. ‘Fine, don’t make a deal. Your boy is bleeding out, anyway. Why don’t I make it quicker?’ I yanked his head back by his hair, exposing his throat. I brushed my fangs against his neck and heard Neverra gasp.

‘No! Stop!’

I watched them, my lips hovering over Logan’s pulse. Liam took a small step forward, Neverra clutching his arm in a near death grip. She didn’t look at him as if she was afraid to take her eyes off Logan and me. ‘Samkiel— Liam, please. Please,’ she begged. Neverra took a deep breath, holding back tears as she whispered, ‘I cannot exist without him.’

I watched as Liam’s eyes filled with fury, and a muscle clenched in his jaw. I grinned and slid my tongue over Logan’s neck before lifting my head. My fangs retracted, knowing I had won this round. Their union was all binding, and if he refused, he wouldn’t just lose Logan. He would lose Neverra, too. She would never forgive him if she lost her soulmate.

Liam’s face didn’t change as he stared at me. ‘Let me guess. You would like protection?’

I nodded, and Vincent sighed audibly.

‘But not for me,’ I said.

Liam regarded me intently as he folded those powerful arms across his chest. ‘For who?’

‘My sister.’

The crowd started murmuring again, every eye in the room on the tableau. Even Neverra looked at me for a moment, taking her eyes off Logan.

‘Why would an Ig’Morruthen need protection?’

Vincent cut in before I could respond. He looked at Liam, pointing at me with his sword. ‘You can’t be considering this—’

‘She is not an Ig’Morruthen like me,’ I snapped, interrupting Vincent. Liam’s head swung back toward me as I continued. ‘I will help you find what they are looking for, help you kill him. Then, after, you can do whatever you want to me. I’m yours. You can kill me or lock me up for eternity. I don’t care. But for her, I ask for immunity. She is innocent in this. She always has been.’

Liam didn’t say anything, and he didn’t move. For a second, I was terrified he would refuse after I’d revealed so much.

I grabbed Logan a little harder, causing him to hiss. ‘Do we have a deal?’

‘If I agree, there will be no freedom for you afterward. You will pay for the crimes you have committed. Do you understand that? Regardless of the help you provide.’

I knew what that meant, but I didn’t care. I’d die afterward anyway, but Gabby would be safe here, and maybe she’d finally have the life she’d always wanted. They could keep her safe, and if Kaden was dead, she would be free.

There was no point in saving me if I can’t even live. Gabby’s words played verbatim in my head.

I nodded in agreement. ‘I accept, but I’ll need more than your word.’

His gaze narrowed as if he couldn’t believe someone would question him. ‘My word is law. No one would disagree.’

‘Sorry, Charlie. I have trust issues. I’ll need something a little more permanent and from my world.’ My smile grew slowly. ‘Sign it in blood, my blood and yours, sealed and unbroken. Right now.’

Vincent interrupted again. ‘Liam. No.’

‘Silence,’ Liam commanded without turning his gaze from me. Vincent stood down as if he’d suddenly remembered who was in charge.

I rolled my eyes at the male display of dominance before reminding them who I had in my hands. ‘Your boy is fading fast. I only cauterized the wounds, not healed.’

Neverra came to Liam’s side, not releasing her grip on his arm. ‘Liam, please, I beg you.’

‘You can’t!’ Vincent said again, causing Neverra to shoot him a death glare that made me reassess her power.

‘Tick tock!’ I shouted, reminding them who was still bleeding. ‘I feel his heart slowing.’

Liam took a deep breath before squaring his shoulders. ‘Very well.’

He flexed his fist, his rings glowing as he summoned an iridescent silver blade. He gently pulled away from Neverra before slicing a cut across his palm. Vincent let out a disgruntled groan as the crowd around us whispered. Neverra held her hands to her mouth, waiting for the opportunity to save Logan. Liam stepped closer, a small pool of silver –colored blood in his palm.

‘So, he does bleed.’

Liam didn’t respond as he stopped in front of Logan and me. His features were like stone, but they softened as he looked at his friend.

I didn’t look away but shifted Logan, so he stood more upright. Mostly because he was slipping, but also as a shield should Liam change his mind and try to kill me. I willed my double canines down and raised my hand to my mouth, biting deep into my palm.

I stretched my hand out, blood dripping to the floor. ‘Repeat after me. Blood of my blood, my life is sealed with yours until the deal is made complete. I grant you my maker’s life in exchange for my sister’s life. She shall remain free, unharmed, and alive, or the deal is broken. My life is yours after, to do with what you must.’

He took a deep breath, and I held mine. I was afraid he would pull back, but he reached out. His thick, calloused hand encompassed mine, and I felt the power surge through me in a shot of white –hot electricity. It didn’t burn like before but sent my entire nervous system into overdrive.

That was the moment I knew I’d made a huge, horrible mistake. Images, quick and deadly, flashed through my mind as I stared into Liam’s eyes. He didn’t know my power, didn’t know what I saw, but oh, did I see.

He’d been covered from head to toe in that silver battle armor, only this time I could see it so much clearer. A three –headed lion crest took up the center of the chest plate. No matter the muscles that wrapped his massive frame, he moved with the stealth of a predator. From the blood and viscera covering his armor, he was every bit the feared warrior king of legends.

He has many names, and they all mean destruction. Kaden’s words echoed in my mind, and I knew he had been right.

The battlefield was littered with the small, thick bodies of creatures I didn’t recognize. It was a massacre, but there were no armies, no one but Liam and the corpse of a massive serrated-toothed beast. He stood upon its scaled body, the armored skin shredded and its powerful jaws slightly ajar. I watched as he walked atop the head before jumping off. He jerked the double ablaze swords toward the ground, slinging the thick ooze from them. He stopped, his head whipping toward me as if he saw me, and I flinched.

The real world came rushing back as the lights in the room flickered, struggling to stay on. The air felt condensed, but neither of us turned from the other. I heard Vincent yell from the corner, begging Liam to think about what he was doing. The crowd shuffled backward, some grabbing the sleeves of others as the lights dimmed. Liam glanced at Logan, his jaw clenching as he looked back to stare daggers into me.

‘Blood of my blood, my life is sealed with yours until the deal is made complete. I grant you your sister’s life free, unharmed, and alive for your maker’s life, or the deal is broken. In return, your life is mine,’ he paused, his next words making me wish I had other options, ‘to do with what I must.’

My palm burned as if it had been branded, but Liam showed not an ounce of discomfort. As soon as the words left his lips, the lights turned back on, burning a little brighter than before. As Neverra rushed forward, I released Logan. She caught him before he touched the ground, gathering his torn and brutalized torso to her, his blood staining her silk dress. He didn’t make a sound as he somehow found the strength to wrap his arms around her and hold her tight. Several celestials joined her to help support him.

‘We need to get him to a healer,’ Neverra said, cradling him.

A celestial pushed through the crowd, this one not armed. He went to Neverra’s side, kneeling next to her. ‘Follow me. We will get a room set up.’

Neverra’s eyes raked over me as if she didn’t know whether to thank me or slaughter me. It didn’t matter either way. I said nothing and turned away, only to find Liam’s gaze focused on me.

My palm continued to burn, even as I felt it heal, and I wondered if I’d traded one monster for another.