Rogziel’s face flushed dark red and his eyes shone black. “And I knew Tomas would bring you to me.”

“That why you had your pit bull waiting to rip him apart? Death was the guy’s finder’s fee?”

Sam slipped out the small vial Mateo had tossed to him and cradled it in the palm of his hand.

“Don’t worry . . .” Rogziel’s eyes closed for a moment as he inhaled a deep breath. “My pit bull is coming home. The hound will rip you apart, too.”

“Maybe next time.” Sam smiled. Azrael stood in the corner, watching, waiting. Same routine. Never acting. Always just watching. “This time, I think I’ll rip you apart.” He threw the vial at Rogziel’s feet. The glass shattered, and a thin layer of white smoke rose in the air. High, higher, wrapping around Rogziel.

“No!” the punishment angel screamed as he tried to lunge forward, but there was no place for him to go. He was trapped, in the cage that he’d first created. Rogziel’s fists slammed into a wall he couldn’t see, but it was one that Sam knew he could damn well feel. Sam smiled and pulled out his weapon. “Gotcha.” Time to carve up an—

“No.” Rogziel’s hands dropped. His lips twisted in a grin. “I’ve got you.”

“Sam . . .” Seline’s worried voice. “I hear—”

Growls. Snarls. The scratch of claws racing over the floor. The hellhound was coming back.

Sam spun around just as the hound lunged into the room. The beast jumped right at him, teeth bared for that deadly bite.

But Az drove his body into the hound’s. “Kill . . . him!” Az shouted as he fought to hold the beast. Teeth snapped at him. Claws ripped into his body. Blood gushed. “Kill . . . Rogziel!”

The scent of flowers filled the room. Flowers . . . angels. More angels were coming. No, not coming, one was already there. Sam looked to the left and saw Jeremian, his pale face stoic. He knew Jeremian. He’d worked with the Death Angel for centuries.

Jeremian’s gaze was on Seline.

“No!” Sam snarled. “You’re not taking her!” He stared at that thin line of white powder on the floor. Once he crossed that line, he wouldn’t be able to get out, not unless Mateo freed him. He’d be bound in there with Rogziel. Neither could get loose.

If he wanted to kill the punishment angel, there was only one way . . .

Sam leapt over the line. He lifted the claw and slashed the weapon down. Rogziel’s blood splattered on him as Rogziel fought back. Twisting, turning, shoving out blasts of power that just exploded in the small space.

Growls and screams surrounded them. The hellhound was fighting to break free of Az’s hold. The beast’s teeth were snapping, claws carving up the floor as it tried to get to Sam. Seline had clamped her arms around the beast as she tried to help Az hold back the hound.

Sam sliced the dragon shifter’s claw across Rogziel’s throat. Blood rained down from the wound. “You’re not getting out alive,” he promised.

“Seline,” Rogziel whispered, and the bastard was smiling.

“You’ll never touch her!” He drove the huge claw into Rogziel’s heart and felt the gush of blood cover his fingers. “And you’re not heading back to heaven.”

A long drop of blood slid down from the corner of Rogziel’s mouth. “Neither . . .” He choked out, “is she.”

Sam blinked.

Rogziel’s body sagged. “Didn’t . . . know? Some angels . . . no wings . . . ”

Gritting his teeth, Sam twisted the claw. Rogziel stopped talking. A desperate gurgle rose in his throat. Sam yanked back the claw.

Rogziel fell to the ground. His blood soaked his wings. His eyes were open, staring straight up, but fear had frozen his face.

The silence hit him then. Thick. Total. He spun around and felt like he’d just had his heart carved out.

The hound wasn’t at Azrael’s throat anymore. Az lay on the ground, not moving, his body torn and battered.

The beast crouched over Seline, and its teeth were at her throat. And behind them, with his hand outstretched, Jeremian waited.

“No!” Sam lunged forward but slammed into the invisible wall that had been created by the holding spell. “Fuck, no!” He blasted the wall. He let fire rip from his hands. He shoved every inch of his power—

“Seline!”

Her head was turned toward him. Her eyes met his. The hound hadn’t ripped into her throat, not yet. Maybe the beast wouldn’t. Maybe it would somehow recognize her, just as the other had.