But Marna’s hand was already out. Just inches away. Jade’s chest burned so much. She could feel her heart struggling to beat. So weak. So—

Az wrapped his arms around Jade and seemed to fly ten feet. It hurt to be held so tightly against him and a moan broke from Jade.

“Don’t touch her!” He yelled again. “Marna, I swear, if you come near her again . . .” More lightning lit the area. Lightning that seemed to come from Az. “I’ll fight you.”

Then Az was racing away, with her held in his arms. Moving so quickly that everything was a blur. When the world stopped spinning, Jade found herself in the backseat of the car they’d used just moments before.

“Drive!” Az ordered. Jade managed to turn her head, and she saw that Tanner was in the front seat. How had he gotten there? He’d been . . . fighting panthers.

Hadn’t he?

It was getting so hard to think now. Even harder to breathe.

Tanner spun the car around with a squeal of tires. Jade would have fallen onto the floorboard, but Az held her tight in hands that trembled.

“You took the blow for me.” He pressed his lips against her cheek. She tried to touch his face, but her hands wouldn’t lift.

She couldn’t take in a full breath. When she tried, she choked on her own blood.

Dead.

“A human isn’t supposed to save an angel,” Az said, voice rough. “We’re stronger. We protect. We—”

She couldn’t keep her eyes open any longer. Her last sight would be of Az and the fear and rage that twisted his perfect face. She wished she could talk to him, but she just hurt too much. Everything hurt. There was no way to say . . .

Good-bye.

Brandt burst from the earth with a scream on his lips that was Jade’s name. Dirt flew around him, spewing from his mouth and eyes. The f**king bastard had tried to bury him alive.

“I’ll rip you—”

The angel was gone. Jade was gone. All that remained where she’d been was a pool of blood.

I hurt her. The beast within clawed and roared. Jade. I . . . hurt . . . her.

But only because that angel had shoved Jade forward. Yes, yes, that was what the coward had done. He’d yanked Jade up and forced Brandt to hurt her.

Don’t be dead, baby. Please . . .

He needed her too much.

A moan had his head snapping to the left. The witch still lay near the moss-filled cypress tree. Blood had turned the ground red beneath her. She stared up—up at the woman who stood above her. A woman with long blond hair and black wings.

The woman wasn’t even glancing his way. She had to know he was there, but the winged woman just stared down at Heather. As he watched, she slowly lifted a hand to touch the bleeding witch.

I know what you are. Just like Azrael. Rage broke through him as Brandt rushed for the blonde. His claws swiped out and tore right through her wings.

She screamed, the sound high and keening, and the woman turned toward him in shock. Tears swam in her blue eyes.

He smiled at her. “Hello, angel.” He’d seen wings like hers before. Long, long ago.

She stumbled back, slipped over Heather’s prone body, and fell.

“You’re about to get those wings clipped.”

Her head shook frantically. “You can’t—you can’t see me!”

He sliced her arm open. “Oh, I see you just fine.” He pulled back and aimed to take another swipe at her.

She flew by him, a wild rush that tossed his hair and brushed across his skin. But his claws were out when she tried to race past, and he knew he caught her.

Her blood rained down on him even as the little angel tried desperately to make her way back to heaven.

But it would be hard to fly with broken wings.

A rasp rattled from Heather’s chest. Slowly, his gaze dropped back to her. Despite the gaping wound in her neck, she still lived.

Because the angel hadn’t touched her. Son of a bitch, all of those f**king stories had been true.

When his packmates had first come back to him with intel they’d gathered in New Orleans, he hadn’t really believed their news. Jade’s new watchdog was an angel? Bull.

But . . . but one of his panthers had bribed a demon who worked at a club called Sunrise. That demon had been ready to spill secrets, for a price.

According to the story, Azrael was a Fallen Angel who’d gotten his ass kicked out of heaven. And angels, well, they were hard SOBs to kill. In fact, no mortal weapon could kill them.

He glanced at his hands and the claws that still burst from his fingertips. Good thing he didn’t have to use any mortal weapon when he attacked.