Chapter One

Living in hell sucked.

Azrael, once the most powerful angel of death to grace the golden floors of heaven, hunched his shoulders against the sharp wind that blew off the Mississippi River and funneled into the twisting streets of New Orleans.

He’d fallen nearly a year ago—fallen and burned—and he still hadn’t gotten used to the stench that could fill the alleyways. Especially during Mardi Gras.

Why did humans worry so about dying and facing the devil in hell? This mortal realm was hell to him. With the voices always crying out, the bodies, always too much, the sins⁠—

Everywhere. No matter how hard he tried, there was no escape from the mortal sins that surrounded him.

Certainly more than enough sin to tempt an angel whose wings had burned away when he fell.

“Help me!”

The scream broke through the night, so very close, and Az’s head whipped to the left. Over the odor of rotten garbage, stale cigarettes, and old booze, he caught the scent of fear.

And animal. Not just one beast, either.

“Stay away from me!” The voice again, a woman’s, and now he could hear the fear mixing with rage in her screamed words.

Even as hard, biting laughter floated to his ears, Az found himself heading toward the mouth of another alley. Heading toward the sound of her screams.

As he rounded the tight corner, Az saw the men first. Three of them. Big, hulking guys who’d closed in on their prey. Az couldn’t even see the woman, but he knew she had to be in the middle of the half-circle of men. A brick wall stretched behind the woman, trapping her. There was no place for her to flee.

Az entered the alley and waited.

The cold whisper of death hadn’t come to this place. Not yet. If it had, Az would have felt the presence of another death angel. He always could sense his own kind, even if he wasn’t ruling the cold bastards anymore.

But Death wasn’t there. So the woman wasn’t about to die, at least not yet.

Just then, the woman shoved through her attackers, and he saw her face. Wide, desperate green eyes, silken skin, dark red lips and⁠—

“Help me!” she yelled the words at him.

Az didn’t move. For thousands of years, his job had been to watch those who were dying. To wait until the last moment—and only then had he been allowed to touch. As a death angel, his touch killed. It took the soul straight from the body, and he carried that precious burden to the realm that waited beyond this world.

His job…

No longer.

He’d watched innocents die. Seen them slaughtered in times of war and peace. Seen murderers walk the earth, killing over and over, and he⁠—

“Asshole, help me!” she snarled at Az, and he blinked. “Don’t just stand there staring,” the woman snapped. “Help⁠—”

A guy with black hair and a leather jacket grabbed her around the stomach and hauled her back against him. “He knows better than to go getting involved, Jade.” A heavy drawl coated his words. “Knows that if he tries playing white knight…” He looked up with a crooked grin that flashed too-sharp teeth. “The would-be hero will get himself killed.”

That was when Az noticed the claws that had risen to wrap around the woman’s throat. Not normal human fingernails. Instead, two-inch long, razor sharp claws sprang from the man’s hand.

So not just regular mortal jerks. “Shifters,” Az muttered as he rolled his shoulders. Interesting. Perhaps the night had just picked up for him.

All three males were sporting claws and toothy grins. But the woman—no, no sign of claws or fangs from her, and she smelled like strawberries.

He frowned. He’d recently developed a taste for the sweet fruit, and even ten feet away, he could catch the female’s heady fragrance.

His body tensed.

Another man snarled, “Back away!” This one had a dark, tribal tattoo that snaked up his arm and the side of his neck. “Back away or start bleeding.”

Az didn’t back away. He kept his hands at his sides. Finally, a challenge. And here he’d been bored for days. “Let the woman go.” His voice rang out, calm but strong.

The tattooed shifter laughed, then he charged right at Az. Az held onto his control—careful, careful—and when the shifter swiped out with his claws, Az tossed a ball of fire right at the fool.

The jerk howled in pain and dropped to the ground, rolling as he tried to put out the flames.

Fried shifter.

The woman stared at Az with eyes gone even wider as her lips parted in stunned surprise. He almost smiled. Poor little human. The humans never realized just how dangerous their mortal world was.

They truly were lambs out walking blindly with wolves. Or shifters.

“Duncan, fuck!” The shifter still holding the woman stared in shock at his burning friend and then glared at Az. “You just asked for death.”

Az didn’t stop his smile from spreading this time. “No, you did.”

The shifter threw the woman against the nearby wall, and Az heard the sickening thud as her head hit the bricks. Then the leader and his backup dog both charged at Az. Az thought about playing with more fire, but he opted to get his hands dirty this time. He punched out, striking so fast he knew the shifters wouldn’t even be able to see the movements of his hands and body. In seconds, they were on the ground, bleeding and broken.

He dusted off his hands. Hmmm. He hadn’t even gotten blood on his knuckles. Perhaps he was getting better at this business of physical fighting.

When he was sure they weren’t about to rise, he stepped over their prone bodies and stalked toward the woman.

He hadn’t just watched this time. The knowledge sank into him as he approached her. An innocent hadn’t died while he looked on. Az reached for her. A faint line of blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. Gently, because he could show gentleness, he wiped the blood away and gazed down at her.

Humans were too weak. They could be broken and killed far too easily. He knew. He’d killed thousands of them in his time.

He lifted her into his arms and her head rolled back against his shoulder. The scent of strawberries was stronger, and a strange ache burned in his chest even as a rough tightness filled his body.

Her lashes cast dark shadows on her cheeks, and the flickering glow of a streetlight fell through the alley and hit the black curtain of her hair.

Holding her carefully, he turned toward the alley’s entrance. Police sirens screamed in the distance, and, though it was already nearing dawn, he could still hear the drunken laughter that floated on the breeze.

During Mardi Gras, no one ever slept in this city.

“D-dumb...bastard...” It was the shifter who’d held the woman moments before. He spat blood on the ground and tried to rise. Failed. Since Az had broken both of his legs, the male would need to shift in order to heal. Az figured he had a few more moments before the man had enough strength to shift.

Before any of them did.

And he and his human would be long gone by then. Tightening his arms around her, he stepped over the broken bodies once more and ignored the growled curses that filled the air.

As he left the alley, he tossed one last stare back at the shifters. “Come after me, and you’ll only find death.” He felt it was only fair to warn them. If they chose to ignore his helpful warning, then they could, indeed, meet death.

The rage in their already glowing eyes had another smile lifting his lips. You’ll come for me. So be it. He turned and stalked into the waning night with his human.

She was soft in his arms. A light weight. Did she know how lucky she’d been? Probably not. In his experience, most humans were completely oblivious to the dangers that surrounded them.

The majority of humans roaming the earth didn’t even know about the existence of the Other, all of the paranormal creatures that often walked right beside mortals. Demons, vampires, djinn—all of the so-called monsters were real.

Humans just didn’t realize that fact.

The woman he held was a human who’d survived a pack shifter attack. He figured the odds of that survival were usually about a million to one.

Of course, those odds changed considerably when a Fallen became involved. Few creatures on this earth were stronger than he was.

He snaked through the streets, turning left, right, and no one he passed so much as blinked in surprise at the sight of an unconscious and bloody woman in his arms.

Mardi Gras.

He’d just climbed the steps of his apartment in the Quarter when an animal’s roar reached him. The loud, ferocious cry of a big cat.

Az stilled. The men had shifted faster than he expected.

He hurried inside his apartment and kicked the door closed behind him. Then he carried her to the couch. The woman’s eyes were still closed when he placed her on the cushions, and a faint moan slipped from her lips as he eased her out of his arms.

Az stepped back and stared down at her. Pretty, he supposed. She had delicate, almost innocent features that were belied by the plump fullness of her mouth. His gaze tracked down her body. Humans were obsessed with sex. He’d always known that, so he supposed human males would be pleased with the woman’s curving body and long, long legs. He was⁠—

Pleased as well.

Az blinked. What the⁠—

Her eyes opened. No innocence. Big, dark green and so deep Az took one look into her eyes and thought of tangled sheets, naked skin, and the pleasures that humans took in the dark.

I want pleasure.

Her brow furrowed as she stared up at him. Then he saw understanding come flooding back to her in an instant. She jumped up and let out an ear-splitting shriek.

When she went to run by him, Az just stepped out of her way. If she wanted to race right back to the pack...“It will just be your funeral,” he said, shrugging. He’d done his good deed for the century.

His bored tone stopped her. She glanced back over her shoulder at him and blinked.

“They’re probably hunting you now.” He walked away from her and headed toward the window that looked out over the street. “Hunting us,” he added quietly and realized he was anticipating the fight. When had he come to crave the fury? When had the bloodlust grown so within him?

She stood as still as a statue before his door. Her hand was up, hovering above the doorknob, and he could almost feel the fear rolling off her in waves.

But then she took a deep breath, and he saw her small shoulders straighten. She shoved back the heavy tangle of her hair and turned to face him. “How did you get us away from them?”

Az shrugged once more.

She took a step toward him. “You...you know what they are, right?”

Amusement flared in him. “I did notice the claws.” Rather hard to miss those.

She blinked, and her eyes narrowed as she studied him. He’d never seen quite that shade of green before. She crept closer, bringing the light scent of strawberries to him. When she stopped, she was less than a foot away from him. It would be so easy to touch her.

Though he knew well just how dangerous a touch could be.

Yet she stood close enough to kiss. But angels weren’t supposed to kiss mortals...

You’re not an angel anymore. The whisper came from deep inside of him. The same tempting whisper that he’d been fighting since his fall.

You’re not an angel. Do what you want.

You’re not an angel. Take what you want.

He was discovering that he could want many things.

The top of the woman’s head barely reached his shoulders. She tilted her head and stared up at him. Then her gaze swept down his body.

Az stiffened even before she whispered, “What are you?”

Rather insulting question. “I’m the man who saved your life.” Did she need to know more? He didn’t think so.

Her hand lifted and pressed against her mouth. A small trace of blood still rested near her lips. “There were three of them, and, you’re big and all, but there’s still only one of you.”

She might just be one of the most ungrateful humans he’d ever encountered. Stifling a sigh, Az inclined his head. “You’re welcome.”

She stared in surprise for a moment. Then she laughed. A soft, strangely lyrical sound spilled from her lips, and her wide smile lit up her face.

Not just pretty.

Az tensed as the wave of need hit him. Not lust for blood or death. This time, the lust was simply for her.

You’re not an angel anymore. Take what you want.

“Yeah,” she said, as her laughter faded but the smile still lingered on her lips. “Thanks for saving my ass.” Then she held out her hand to him. “My name’s Jade. Jade Pierce.”

He stared at her hand. She wiggled her fingers at him. Slowly, Az lifted his own hand and caught those wiggling fingers. Soft. “I am Azrael.” He dropped her hand. “Most just call me Az.”

“Well, Az, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Her gaze slid over his body again. “But I’m gonna have to ask, once more, just what are⁠—”

The door crashed in behind her. She didn’t scream this time, but maybe Az just didn’t give her a chance to scream.

Because as the three black panthers—fully shifted panthers—leapt into the room, jumping over the broken door, Az grabbed Jade and threw her toward the couch.

Then he ran right for the snarling beasts.

He should have known better than to let down his guard. Shifters and their damn acute senses. They’d caught his scent, her scent, and followed them right through the Quarter.

“I warned you,” Az snapped and leapt at the nearest panther. He caught the beast’s front paws and shoved the giant cat back. “You should have listened.” There would be no more warnings now. Only death.

With a twist of his hands, Az broke both paws and tossed the cat back through the broken door.

Ruined my door. That panther had⁠—

Claws dug into his back, driving deep into muscle and scraping bone. Hissing against the pain, Az snapped his teeth together and whirled around in a blur. He reached out as fury slammed through him and Jade’s horrified yell rang in his ears.

Attack. Destroy. Kill.

He touched the panther, and the animal stiffened beneath his fingers. The beast’s blazing gold eyes locked on him. Az’s breath heaved as he demanded, “Ready for hell?”

The scent of flowers swept into the room, blowing in on the breeze from outside. It came right into his home and seemed to surround the shifter.

Az knew well what that scent meant. An angel of death was close. Despite what humans may have thought, Death didn’t smell like rot. Death was sweet. The better to tempt and lead away the souls.

Az lifted his hand. The panther fell to the ground. The fur melted away, and he stared down at the tattooed body of the man who’d chosen to seek Death. “I warned you.”

A whimper had Az’s head rising. The other panther crouched, and its head swung back and forth between Az and the body on the floor. Az lifted his hand, palm up, toward the beast. “Want to join him?”

The panther spun away and leapt through the window. Glass shattered, and Az bit back a snarl of his own. Something else to fix, dammit.

He rushed to the broken door. Both the surviving panthers were racing away. His brother Sammael would say they were hauling ass. Finally. They’d realized they should fear him. And it had only taken the little matter of death to drive that point home.

“OhmyGod!” The wild cry came from his elderly neighbor. He glanced over just in time to see Ms. Hattie McRae duck back inside her apartment. Great. A frantic call to the cops was probably being made.

Looked like he wouldn’t be repairing the place after all. Time to clear out. Again.

Whenever humans found a dead body, they tended to ask endless and useless questions. When they asked those long and boring questions, he’d discovered the cops didn’t like it when he told them to fuck off.

“You killed him.” Whispered from behind him.

Az straightened slowly. His back burned and his shirt stuck to the blood coating his flesh.

“How?” Jade asked. The floor creaked as she came closer to him.

His wounds would heal, but for the moment, the pain had his teeth grinding together. Now wasn’t really the time for explanations. Not that he felt like offering any to her.

With a wave of the hand that had killed, he motioned toward the busted doorway. “Flee while you can.” Another warning. Hopefully, she’d be smart enough to actually listen to him and get the hell out of there.

He’d do the same. Leave this place. Find another dwelling.

“Flee?” Jade repeated, voice rising a notch.

Sucking in a deep breath as he turned, Az nodded. “Yes, before the police arrive and find—” He gestured to the body. “Him.” Because it didn’t look like he’d killed a panther. No, now it looked like he’d just murdered a man. At the moment of death, shifters always returned to their human forms.

She knelt near the body. “There aren’t any wounds on him.”

No. He didn’t have to wound in order to kill.

Jade fell back onto her butt and stared up at him. “How’d you do it?”

With a touch. That was what the angel of death did. He touched, and he killed, and the rest of the world feared.

That was his life. Or, it had been.

Take anything you want.

She licked her lips and the eyes that made him think too much of pleasure and human sins met his.

Temptation.

It was staring right at him. Sometimes, the most dangerous temptations were the ones that were right in front of you.

Then he saw the fear that slipped over her face. “What are you?” Of course, she’d ask that annoying question again. It was the question he hated because the answer was—an abomination.

So Az didn’t respond. He’d saved her. Warned her to flee. That meant he’d more than done his part. What happened next would be up to her.

He turned from her and slipped into the rising light of dawn. He blurred his body, moving quickly, and he knew that, to her, it would look as if he vanished.

If only he could.

But just disappearing from the world would be far too easy, and Az knew he wasn’t meant for the easy path.

He was meant to suffer.

Her hero left her with a dead body. Jade stared down at the panther. “Austin, you jackass, I hope you’re somewhere really, really hot.” After the hell he’d put her through over the last few years, he deserved to burn.

The screech of sirens reached her ears. It figured the cops would be fast this one time, when she needed them to be slow. Jade jumped to her feet. “Az!”

She shoved through the broken door. The wood scraped her arm. Perfect. Of course, she’d leave DNA evidence behind at a murder scene. But, hopefully, once they examined the body, the wise folks at the NOPD would realize they weren’t dealing with a normal stiff, and they’d make this murder victim just vanish.

Other deaths had a way of disappearing in the Big Easy. Mostly because there were so many Other hiding in the city. When supernaturals looked to blend in with the human population, they flocked to the big cities. It was easier for them to hide in plain sight there. Of course, in New Orleans, the city made for voodoo and magic, hiding in plain sight took on a whole new meaning for the paranormals.

She glanced to the left, then to the right. Where the hell was her savior? Big, blond, and way too gorgeous had vanished on her.

Freaking literally vanished. Come on, she did not need this right now. Her savior should have stayed put, and well, done more saving.

You’re not getting away from me that easily.

Her gaze scanned the old sidewalk. Looking, looking...

Blood drops.

She locked onto those red drops and raced along the spattered trail. Austin had cut her hero too deeply. With that kind of wound, it was amazing that Az could walk at all. She’d been sure Austin had severed his spine—or come real close—but Az had acted like the wound had barely troubled him. An attack that brutal would have crippled her.

Az had killed with a touch. He’d been super strong. And he had amazing endurance.

Oh, yeah, he was the man she’d been dreaming of for years—the man who could finally help her.

Not. Getting. Away. When a woman had been waiting as long as she had for her hero to show up, she didn’t let the guy fly away.

Police cruisers whipped by her. Jade hunched her shoulders and rushed forward even faster. The blood trail twisted down an alley. Great. Another alley that reeked of piss. Why couldn’t just one ever smell like roses?

Her speed slowed way down as she entered the alley. Not rushing anymore, but more like creeping as she carefully followed the blood drops. As far as she could tell, there was no way out of this dead-end alley. Red bricks stared back at her and her throbbing forehead reminded her that she’d already gotten up close and personal with the hard edge of bricks once and⁠—

An arm snaked around her and hauled Jade up against a very big, very, very strong male body. There was no chance to scream—not that she’d been planning to scream—because a heavy hand covered her mouth.

“I told you to flee.” His low, rumbling voice.

But then, she’d known Az’s touch instantly. There was no mistaking that deadly strength.

“You should have listened to me.” His breath blew over her ear, and she felt the lightest touch of his lips against her lobe. Jade couldn’t help it, she shivered. Her ear had always been a weak spot.

Besides, if Az wasn’t the type of man to make a woman shiver, no one was. Tall, strong, with a face sculpted to perfection, he was walking, talking sex appeal. And danger.

Why, why did she always have to want the dangerous ones? She should have learned her lesson by now. Should have fallen for a quiet accountant somewhere.

But if she had, the quiet accountant would have ended up dead—thanks to me.

Better to stick to the ass-kicking type of man.

She opened her mouth to talk and realized, yep, his hand was still over her mouth. More sirens wailed in the distance. Jade tensed, hoping none of those cops felt the urge to search the area, or, oh, follow the trail of blood that led straight to them.

When Az eased his grip, she took a deep breath, and her tongue snaked out just a little and licked his palm.

Maybe that move hadn’t exactly been accidental on her part.

Seduce. Use. Betray.

Some days, it was just her motto. If she’d been a good girl, she would have been dead long ago. Jade had learned that the bad girls lived longer.

Az sucked in a sharp breath at the sensual touch, and Jade felt the unmistakable response of his body behind her. Now that was interesting⁠—

He spun her around—spun them around—and pinned her against the bricks. He glared at her, those sky blue eyes of his so bright in the growing dawn. Too bright.

“You don’t want to play with me.” His voice probably would have frightened small children.

Good thing she wasn’t a kid. And, um, who said she was playing? “Y-you saved me.” He had. So impressive. “And you were hurt.” She didn’t even have to fake the tremble in her voice. Running from the cops often made her voice all trembly. It was that wild fear/adrenaline combo.

He glared down at her. “I heal fast.”

Wonderful. Extra bonus for them. She licked her lips, and his gaze flickered down at the movement of her tongue. Even better. This dawn—minus the mild concussion and near dismemberment—was rocking for her. “Yeah, well, while you’re healing, you’re also leaving a trail of blood all over town.”

His brows pulled together as he tossed a glance at the blood that littered the ground near them.

“And cops are probably raiding your place right now,” she continued, talking too fast. But they needed to move. “So why don’t you let me take you someplace safe? You can finish healing and clean up the blood.”

His gaze searched hers. “You want to help me?”

Not exactly. “Yes.” She smiled at him. Jade hoped the smile looked innocent. She’d been told before that she could fake innocent pretty well. Okay, except for the eyes. Her eyes always screwed things up for her so she carefully lowered her gaze. “You saved me. Now let me return the favor.”

He didn’t speak.

She took his hand. Jade carefully laced her fingers with his. Az’s hand swallowed hers. His touch also made her heart beat way too fast.

“You shouldn’t touch me.” His words came out sounding gruff.

Now she forced herself to meet his eyes. “I’m not afraid of you. You saved me.” If it hadn’t been for him, she would have been on her way back to hell.

“You should fear me.” He tried to pull his hand away.

She tightened her grip. “And you should learn to trust other people.”

The wail of a siren drifted in the air. Jade tensed. The chitchat was fun, but...“We need to get out of here.”

His bright gaze raked her once more. But, after the briefest of hesitations, he nodded.

Yes.

“I’ve got a car waiting,” she told Az as she pulled him behind her. Good thing she’d stashed her ride, before the crazy shifter attack. She and Az could hop into the car and head out. Then he could just bleed in the vehicle and stop that dripping trail of blood. “In ten minutes, we’ll be safe.”

Well, as safe as they could be with one very angry pack of panther shifters after them.

Normally, panthers were a solitary breed. But if they got a strong alpha to lead them—a sick fuck who knew all about control—then they’d band together and make life hell for everyone else.

These particular panther shifters had been after her for years. Always hunting. Destroying everything and everyone in their path.

Some guys just had a real hard time letting go.

So you had to kill them in order for the message to sink in.

“Come on,” she urged. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

Before another hunt began.

“Austin’s dead.”

Brandt Dupre glanced up at the announcement. The swamp waited behind him, bloody with the fire of the rising sun. He cocked a brow as he studied the panther shifter before him. Ryan was practically vibrating with rage, probably because the blood and bruises on his body indicated the shifter had just gotten his ass seriously kicked.

“Jade?” Brandt asked softly. Oh, but even after all these years, she could still surprise him. Taking out one of his most trusted panther assassins. He’d have to punish her for that, of course, but he was still impressed.

“It wasn’t her.” Ryan spat on the ground. Blood dripped from his lips. “It was that big, blond bastard who⁠—”

Brandt lunged at the shifter. His claws burst from his fingertips as he grabbed Ryan by the throat. “A man was with Jade?” With his Jade?

Ryan nodded as Brandt’s claws sliced his throat. Ryan didn’t even flinch when the blood slid down his neck.

Rage burned in Brandt’s body. Jade should have learned by now. She should know better. This was their war. She didn’t get to bring others into their battle. She sure as hell didn’t get to fuck others.

How many dead bodies would he have to leave before she figured that fact out? Did she want him to keep killing those foolish enough to go to her aid?

She must.

He tossed Ryan back a few feet. The shifter fell onto the dark earth. Brandt turned to face the swamp as he fought to control his temper. “He’s dead.” An order. And what the alpha wanted, he got.

Why couldn’t Jade understand that?

“He may not be so easy to kill.”

Brandt stiffened at Ryan’s muttered words. Then he glanced over his shoulder.

Ryan had risen to his feet. The shifter ignored his bleeding neck but brushed off his hands. “The guy’s not human.” Ryan swallowed and his Adam’s apple bobbed. “I’m not even sure what the fuck he is.”

Interesting. “But you’re sure that he was with my Jade?” Mine. She belonged to him, body and soul.

“Damn white knight.” Ryan’s twisted sneer showed his growing canines. “The dude came rushing up out of nowhere, trying to save her.”

His words calmed the beast inside of Brandt. If the stranger had rushed up and joined the fight, then the fool could have just been a good Samaritan. And perhaps the bastard wasn’t fucking Jade.

But whoever he was, he’d still killed a shifter.

“Find him,” Brandt ordered. “Bring him to me.” He smiled. “Then I’ll rip him open.” He deserved his fun, and the panthers deserved their revenge.

After all, he’d rather liked Austin.

Perhaps he’d even let Jade watch while he slaughtered her knight. Another death. More blood. When her knight died, maybe then she’d finally realize there was no escape.

She belonged to him. Forever.