Dead.
Jade wanted to turn away from that empty stare, but she couldn’t move. And why was she so cold?
“Jade!” Her name was a roar. But panthers roared, not angels, and that was Az’s voice, wasn’t it? “Don’t do this!”
Do what? She’d just fallen. She’d be fine in a few minutes. Brandt was dead. They’d all be fine now. Better than fine. She could live again.
“Do n’t!”
Strange. That word had been choked and so full of pain. She didn’t want Az in pain. Had he been hurt? Had Brandt managed to attack him before Az fired his gun?
She tried once more to turn her head and look at him, but couldn’t move. Everything was getting dark. Perhaps the moon had gone behind some rain clouds.
The light would come back soon. She’d figure out what was happening in a few moments.
Her heartbeat seemed so weak in her ears.
The light would come back soon.
But then the whole world vanished.
The bastard had broken Jade’s neck. One hard snap of his hands, and Brandt had taken her life away.
Brandt’s chest was full of brimstone, and he lay dead on the ground, but he’d taken her away.
Bones snapped and popped behind him. Tanner. Az didn’t glance at the shifter. He couldn’t.
He bent his head toward Jade’s. Her eyes were open. “Sweetheart, it’s going to be—”
Empty. Her eyes were empty.
Az grabbed her and yanked Jade up into his arms. He held her body against his chest. How could she already feel so cold? Jade should be warm. Her silken skin should singe him with a touch.
Not ice. Not her. She’d only been cold once before, when death had come too close to taking her.
Her head hung limply, and his heart stopped. “Jade, dammit, come back!” A desperate order. A painful plea.
She wasn’t moving.
He bit into his wrist. Forced his blood into her mouth. His blood had helped her once. It would help again. She’d be okay, she’d be—
“You know it doesn’t work like that.” Sam’s voice. Quiet. Sad. He didn’t even know how Sam had gotten there, and he didn’t care.
There was only one thing he cared about. One person. Her. “Tell me how to bring Jade back.” His hand smoothed over her dark hair. Had he ever told her how beautiful her hair was? Had he ever told her that she was beautiful?
You are, Jade. The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Better than even the golden streets in heaven.
“I . . . don’t know how to bring her back.”
“Then get me someone who f**king does!” Rage beat at him. A constant scream echoed in his head. She’d been looking at him when she fell. When that ass**le had snapped her neck, she’d been looking right at him and begging him to shoot.
He hadn’t. “I didn’t want to hurt her.” Az’s lips feathered over Jade’s cold cheek.
“I know.” Sam’s hand closed around his shoulder. “She’s not hurting anymore.”
Az stiffened. “Bring her back.” A demand. His control was splintering. He could feel it inside. A darkness opening up, yawning, swallowing everything.
Sam didn’t move his hand. “I can’t. I don’t have that kind of power.”
He couldn’t take his eyes off her. His Jade. Had he ever told her that he’d been . . . happy . . . when she was near? That he’d started to dream when he slept. He’d never dreamed before. Until her.
All of his dreams were of her.
His hands were shaking. “Seline came back to you. She died.” He knew. He’d been there. “You got her back.”
“Seline was half-angel.” Sam’s voice was soft, still with that sad, sympathetic edge that was tearing into Az. “Your Jade . . . she isn’t built to come back. Even with the blood you gave her, she’s human at heart.”
His blood had smeared on her cheek. “Summon Mateo.” The witch was close by. He wouldn’t have been able to flee this quickly.
Sam’s fingers tightened. “He can’t help you.”
“Someone had better.” He wasn’t letting her go. Az rose, holding her close in his arms. She was so still. “Fucking. Summon. Mateo!” He roared the words, and the tombs around him cracked. Skeletons fell onto the ground as the earth buckled beneath him. “Witch, get back here!”
He turned and found Tanner standing, weak, pale, but alive. Why was he alive, when Jade wasn’t? He hadn’t seen a Death Angel, would have fought the bastard if he had, but he’d seen no signs of dark wings.