“Why do you want Keenan?” If he knew Keenan was an angel, then Carlos had to realize that he didn’t want to tangle with her lover.
“The angel has something I need.” He gave a quick laugh. “Something you need, too.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“When I’m done with him …” Carlos laughed. “Dust will be all that’s left.”
Angel’s Dust. Fear shoved into her gut as she understood. She needed Keenan’s blood to live. Hell, his blood was probably why she’d healed so quickly. An angel’s blood. And that vamp in the feeding room, he’d said demons could be killed by Angel’s Dust. But to make the Dust …
“Guess you’ve already learned how powerful the new lover is, huh, vamp?”
She didn’t speak.
“I’ll have to drain him dry to get enough for the mix.” He lifted a brow. “Is he a bleeder? How long do you think it will take for him to—”
“Screw you!”
His gaze raked her. “Maybe. Later.” His claws tapped against his chin. “You know, I just thought you were another walking parasite, and then I learned you were strolling around with one very precious gift.”
Keenan.
“Do you know how many demons I’ll be able to kill with his blood? Do you know how many Other will f**king bow to me?”
The chains dug deeper into her flesh. “The stories … they’re wrong.” Can’t let him get Keenan. “Demons came from the Fallen, so Keenan’s blood won’t do anything to them!”
“His blood will kill them.” Absolute certainty in his voice. “What creates—can destroy. You should know by now that’s the way of the Other world.”
She swallowed back that rising fear. “He’ll kill you.”
He tucked the stake back into his boot and sauntered toward the door. “I don’t think he will. He’ll be too worried about saving you.”
“You won’t be able to hurt him! You won’t—”
Carlos’s claws lifted, and they were wicked sharp. “Did you know that angels can’t be injured by most weapons?” He nodded, not waiting for her to respond. “Si, they’re like the ancient demons that way. But now I know your Keenan’s weaknesses.” He turned away from her. “Both of them.”
Then he yanked open the door, that echoing groan filled the tomb, and after he stalked out, she was left with silence.
She pulled at the chains. Nothing. “What did he mean?” She whispered to the shadows. Shadows that were too dark near the left wall, right where the floral scent was strongest.
Silence.
She pulled harder. The thick metal dug deeper into her wrists and blood began to drip onto the floor. “What did he mean?” She shouted. “Dammit, I know you’re there!”
The air shifted around her, as if a fan had been turned on. Or as if wings had flapped.
“Answer me!”
“He knows what can hurt Keenan,” came the dark, cold voice. Az. Like she’d ever forget the sound of his voice.
“The gunshots didn’t hurt him.” Was the chain starting to give? She tugged harder, rising to her knees and straining as she stretched forward. “There weren’t any bullet wounds, no—”
“Weapons forged by man can’t hurt him.” He’d moved. She couldn’t see him. She just had the impression of dark shadows shifting. “And he controls fire,” Az said, “fire can burn his flesh, but it can never kill him.”
Fire’s kiss could sure kill her. “Then what is it? What makes him—”
“You make him bleed easily enough.”
She swallowed. “Yes.” She did. Biting him was as easy as biting a human. A slice right through the flesh.
“Because your weapon wasn’t forged by mortal hands.”
Her weapon was her teeth.
Carlos’s weapons would be his very, very big claws—and his teeth. Teeth that were sharper than hers. Not weapons forged by man. Shit.
“Get me out of here!” The chains wouldn’t break. “Get me out!”
“I can’t.” Said flatly.
“You’re just going to stand there?” Her eyes narrowed as she strained to see. Az seemed to be a shadow.
“I’m going to wait,” he said. “My job is to wait and then to take.”
Her soul.
“Do you fear death?” He asked her, and she could have sworn the guy sounded curious. Great.
“What I fear is what is going to happen to Keenan!” If Carlos got to him, he could take Keenan’s head with a swipe of his razor-sharp claws.