Marna tilted her head back as she stared up at his face. His eyes had narrowed, and they drifted around the small clearing. Drifted, and seemed to stop directly on Bastion.
Because the angel was still there. Watching them with a gaze gone hard and cold. Not burning any longer.
Ice.
“We aren’t alone,” Tanner said with absolute certainty.
Yet he couldn’t see Bastion, she knew that.
His nostrils widened even as his head inclined to the left.
Shifters didn’t have to rely on just what they could see. Not when their other senses were in overdrive 24-7.
Tanner wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her against his side. “What does he want?”
He. Bastion. Tanner’s senses were definitely on target. “I’m not completely sure,” she said as she stared straight at Bastion. Truth, but . . .
Part of her was afraid that maybe, just maybe, Bastion wanted—
Me.
The whisper slid through her. An uncomfortable suspicion because, now that she’d been with Tanner, she could understand what she’d seen in Bastion’s stare.
Need. Desire.
Lust.
Angels don’t lust.
Or did they?
Bastion had retreated and she thought he would leave, but suddenly, he marched right toward them.
No. Marna shoved Tanner back. She put her body between his and Bastion’s. “Don’t even think about it.” Her voice came out as a low, furious order.
Bastion stilled.
“Think about what?” Tanner demanded from behind her.
Marna kept her eyes on Bastion. She wouldn’t look over the angel’s shoulder, at that burned ground that marked her change. She stared into his eyes, saw all that she’d lost, and knew that she wasn’t losing anything else. “You won’t touch him.”
Bastion’s eyes widened. “You’d protect the animal?”
Marna nodded. Tanner wasn’t an animal.
“What the hell is happening?” Tanner demanded. “I can smell him. I just can’t see the bastard.”
Most folks wouldn’t describe angels as bastards. Then again, Tanner wasn’t in that “most” category.
“I just want you to be safe,” Bastion said, and a muscle flexed along the length of his jaw. Another sign of emotion. Did he even realize how close he was to the edge?
“Don’t worry about me,” Marna told him. “Take care of yourself.” She wanted to touch him. To grab him and hold tight and shake him. This wasn’t the Bastion she’d known. “You have too much to lose.”
Bastion glared at Tanner. “I’ve already lost.”
Wind seemed to whip around them. Tanner swore. “If that ass**le wants to play . . .”
Tanner couldn’t play with a death angel. Not and come out still living. No one could win that particular game.
“I’m trying to help you,” Bastion snapped as the wind beat harder. He was losing control. Breaking apart right in front of her. His wings stretched. Flapped. “He’s nothing but a danger to you. If he’s not stopped, he’ll destroy you.”
Marna lifted her chin. Angels don’t lie. Yet she trusted Tanner. So where did that leave her? “You aren’t touching him.” Bastion was now the leader of the death angels. Refusing his order would be unheard of among their kind. Turning against him? An unforgiveable act.
But . . .
But she wasn’t in heaven anymore. And so far, only one person had been there for her since her fall. There to keep her safe. To fight for her.
Maybe it was time for her to start fighting for him.
“You can’t stop Death.” Bastion began to rise into the air. A faint smile twisted his lips. “You know that better than most.”
Damn him.
He vanished.
And Marna finally took a deep breath.
“He’s gone.” Tanner’s voice. Growling. Tense.
She managed a nod.
He turned her toward him. Glared down at her. “What the hell is going on?”
You’ve got a death angel who wants you cold in the ground. She couldn’t lie, but that didn’t mean that she had to tell the truth. “It was just a visit from an old friend.” A warning visit. “Someone who’s worried about me.”
His hands were on her arms. His warm fingers curled around her flesh. “An old friend makes you scream in fear?”
“Yes.” Truth. “When you have old friends like I do.” She should tell him more. “Tanner, I—”
His mouth took hers. His tongue slid past her lips and thrust into her mouth.