“The clerk was a charmer.”

She knew he wasn’t referring to the guy’s social skills. Charmers were Other who could psychically communicate with animals. Sort of like very amped-up snake charmers.

They could talk to gators, tigers, and heck, once she’d even met a guy who spent his nights talking to rats.

Of all the paranormals, charmers were usually her favorites. They didn’t sprout fangs and claws, so she considered that bonus points for them.

“Benny knows who I am,” Sam said, “so he’ll make sure only the right people realize I’m in town.”

Okay, well, the right people sounded better than the wrong ones. “So we don’t have to worry about folks gunning for you.”

His gaze hardened. “The Other in Mexico and along the border know better.”

She just bet they did. One touch, game over.

His lips tightened. “You know, I don’t always enjoy torture.” He strode toward her with slow, deliberate steps. “No matter what your boss may have told you.”

She wondered what had shown in her expression. She’d have to keep better guard of her emotions. “I don’t believe everything Rogziel told me.” Though he had told her some truths over the years. Her father had been a lying demon who’d murdered her mother. As for her mother, well, she’d been weak.

That’s what happens when you fall for the wrong man.

Seline knew she was staring up at a man who could be very, very wrong for her.

She cleared her throat. “Ah . . . what happens when your friend gets here?” she asked him as the air seemed to grow thicker between them.

He sighed softly. “You won’t like it.”

The kick in her gut told her this was gonna be bad. What else was new?

“Trust, that’s what I asked for, wasn’t it?”

She nodded, aware that her heart was racing too fast and that her palms had started to sweat.

“But you see, my people are dying. It’s not so easy to kill Fallen.”

“Az is—”

“Az isn’t a shifter.”

Uh, no.

“And Az isn’t the only one out there who’d like to punish the Fallen.”

As his words sank in, her jaw almost dropped. “Wait, hold on, you’re saying—”

“I’m saying your Rogziel could be doling out his punishment.”

“No, no, that last Fallen wasn’t even on his list!”

“Have you ever seen his list? This magic, mythical list that the punishers receive?”

No, she hadn’t. Seline shook her head.

“Before I take you to find more Fallen, before I let you get any closer to me . . .”

She was standing less than three inches from him. They’d had sex so intense she could still feel him inside her, and he was worried about her getting close now? Too late, buddy.

“. . . I’m afraid you’re going to have to pass a little test for me, Seline.”

She blinked and shook her head. “You’re bullshitting me.” It was one hell of a time for his warped sense of humor to show itself.

“No, I’m not.” His gaze held hers. “The clerk will have already summoned the man I need for this job. Benny knows that when I bring someone here with me, it’s because I want the test.”

More with the test. She’d always sucked at tests.

Sam rubbed the back of his neck. “Two days ago, you came to kill me.”

Okay, true, that had been her assignment, but . . .

His fingers slid down her cheek and eased over her neck. “You came into my dreams and you tried to take my power.”

Power he’d willingly given to her when his body took hers.

“Now Fallen are dying around us. You say that Rogziel is after you . . .”

“He is.” Like she’d lie about having a punishment angel on her trail.

“Then why did he let you drive away with me?”

Now she was lost. “What?”

“Rogziel arrived at the scene after the firefighters. He perched on the house across the street from Anthea’s place, and he just watched us.” His mouth tightened with distaste. “When we left, so did he. No attack, not yet . . . he just followed.”

That was fear eating at her heart. “He knows we’re here?”

“ No. ”

Her shoulders sagged. Aw, jeez, for a minute there . . .

“I let him follow at first, just to see what the bastard would do, but after we left New Orleans, I cloaked us.”

Uh, okay. She didn’t really know what he meant by cloaking, but she figured it was another little handy magic trait that he possessed—and just how many of those traits did the guy have? “I didn’t know you could do that.”