When he closed his eyes, he could still see Omayo. The messenger angel had never hurt anyone. He hadn’t deserved to go out like that.

Sam pushed past the guards and hurried inside the club. The place was deserted, of course, that’s why he’d ordered Cole to bring Seline there. No one ever actually came to Sunrise when the sun was up. And he didn’t worry about any uninvited guests following him inside then. The demons at the front would keep the place secure. They were a whole lot stronger than they looked.

His gaze drifted around the bar. No sign of Seline. Or Cole.

He remembered the pale flash of Seline’s face. Her hands had trembled as she’d talked about the fire.

Damn Az. Though he’d tried to show no reaction, Sam knew just what his brother had done. Az had given Seline a taste of hell.

Soon you’ll be the one tasting hell, brother.

The faintest murmur of voices reached him. He glanced upstairs. He had a small apartment up there. Just a bedroom and a bath, a place to crash when the nights rolled together.

He headed for the metal stairs. He needed to find out exactly what Az had said to Seline because he already had a dark suspicion, one that didn’t bode well for the Fallen in the area.

A few weeks back, Az had tried to kill another Fallen, but Keenan had been too strong for his brother’s attack. Well, Keenan and the vampire lover who’d fought so fiercely at her man’s side.

If Az had already tried to kill one Fallen, and Omayo’s blood had been on his hands . . . still trying to play God, Az? Even after the Fall? You think you’re the one who should send souls to hell?

He threw open the door to his apartment, and it took the scene before him a bit too long to register.

Seline lounged on the bed, clad in an oversize white robe while Cole bent over her.

What. The. Fuck.

She’d been attacked, weak, so she would have needed power—

I didn’t give her enough.

So she’d turned to Cole? A snarl broke from Sam’s lips.

What. The. Fuck.

Sam lunged across the room and grabbed for Cole.

Seline saw him. She jumped up and knocked the demon back before Sam could touch him.

“Dammit, Seline, you didn’t have to—” Cole broke off when he got a look at Sam’s face. Then the demon’s eyes darted from Sam to Seline. “Guess you did.” A long sigh slipped from his lips. “I am so screwed,” he muttered.

Seline’s clothes were tossed onto the floor. “Yeah,” Sam said very definitely, “you are.”

But Seline stepped between them before Sam could make Cole wish for death. “Ease up, Sam. This isn’t what you think.”

Doubtful. “That so? I’m not staring at a succubus who decided to get a little power surge . . . and a horny-ass demon who is about to learn a whole new meaning to the word ‘hurt’?”

“Succubus?” Cole repeated, and gave a low sigh. “Yep, that would explain some things.”

Seline’s cheeks flushed. Sam wasn’t sure if that was from anger or embarrassment, and, why would a succubus feel either right then?

He hesitated.

“My clothes were covered in blood,” she snapped. “I was covered in blood. I showered, and I didn’t have anything else to wear. I was not putting those back on again.” She pointed to the bloodstained pile of clothing.

That bit he could buy, but why had Cole been close enough to take a bite out of her? Sam slanted a hard glance the demon’s way.

Cole had his hands up. “Easy. There was some blood on her cheek. I was just wiping it away.” There was a cloth in his right hand. Cole’s chin lifted. “Though I won’t say that I wasn’t tempted.”

Bastard.

As they glared at each other, Cole’s eyes narrowed and bled to black. “If you knew she was a succubus, then you knew what she’d need. Next time, you’d better take care of her.”

Or I will.

Sam clenched his teeth. He could see the message in Cole’s gaze. One of the reasons he liked the demon—Cole wasn’t the type to scare easily.

He also loved the ladies, too much.

“Don’t worry,” Sam managed. “I’ve got her.” And you stay the f**k away from now on. Sam knew his message would be crystal clear in his gaze, too.

“Uh, excuse me?” Seline interrupting, waving her hands near his face. “You don’t have anything.” She was still pale, but her body wasn’t trembling.

She still needed him.

“Get out, Cole,” Sam ordered bluntly.

Cole shrugged. He cast one more look at Seline, and then he headed for the door.