But the angel wasn’t backing down. “You’ve already failed every test. That’s why your wings burned to ash.”

Bastard. “And it’s why you’re about to have a heart full of brimstone.”

“I hope to God you’re really talking to someone,” Tanner snapped. “Because I just can’t deal with another crazy ass**le right now.”

Bastion’s eyes narrowed. “She dies now!”

No, she didn’t.

Az shot him. Not the heart. He didn’t want to kill Bastion. But the bullet thudded deep into the angel’s stomach.

Bastion doubled over and howled in agony.

“That’s pain,” Az told him. “It’s what it feels like when angels hurt.”

Bastion glanced up at him, eyes stunned.

“Get out of here,” Az told him. “And stay away from Jade.”

The angel’s fingers were stained with blood. “You . . . you’ll regret this . . .”

Az stared back at him. “You’ll need to dig the bullet out. The longer it stays in you, the more it will hurt and burn.”

Bastion’s wings began to flap as the angel rose. “I’ll . . . be back for her.”

But not right away. The angel would need to heal. That would buy them some time.

“You . . . you’ve just asked for a war.”

He’d asked for a life.

A muscle flexed along Bastion’s jaw. “The punishment angels will come for you.”

Like he was supposed to be afraid of them? Not likely. “Are you forgetting?” He asked. “I’ve already fought one punishment angel. And Rogziel was the one who wound up in hell, not me.” Enough of this. Jade needed him. “Want to join the bastard?”

Bastion’s eyes narrowed as he fought the pain. “Death always finds a way,” Bastion snapped. “You know that.” Air rushed against Az’s skin as Bastion took to the sky. Despite his injury, the Death Angel soared quickly, hurtling upward and vanishing almost instantly.

Gone. For now.

“The scent . . .” Tanner inhaled. “Okay, want to tell me what the hell is going on?”

Az shoved the gun into the back of his jeans. “Not now.” He hurried inside and left the shifter on the porch. The smell of blood was stronger, and when he entered the back room, he saw Cody bent over Jade’s prone form. Tubes ran from her arm. The doc held one piece of tubing and a big-ass needle in his hands.

“This isn’t the way we’re supposed to do this . . .” Cody began.

Az stalked forward. It was the way they’d have to do it.

“A transfusion like this is too risky.” Sweat covered the doctor’s forehead. “The risk of infection, disease—”

“I don’t have any disease.” The guy could knock that worry off the list.

The doc didn’t look reassured. “What if your blood type doesn’t match hers?”

“Consider me a universal donor.” He knew his smile was bitter as Az ripped open his own vein and got to work connecting the tubing. Angel blood was supposed to be all-powerful. And his blood was Jade’s only chance. He’d either save her or—

Or I will keep fighting death as long as I must.

Cody rushed around the table and began the work of adjusting the tubes and monitoring the beeping array of machinery that he’d set up. Blood flowed from Az, dark red, as it filled the tube and slid its way to Jade’s body.

Az realized he was barely breathing. Waiting. Watching. Fight, Jade. Fight.

The blood in the tube reached her. Fed into her body.

One second. Two. Az’s own heart had nearly stopped. Jade . . . stay with me.

Jade’s eyes flew open. Her eyes weren’t the dark green that reminded him of lush fields he’d once seen in Ireland. Instead, the green was brighter than he’d ever seen it before.

Relief had his shoulders sagging. She’d be alright. She’d be—

Jade screamed. Again and again. Her long, horrified screams filled the air. Her eyes were on him. Full of terror.

And her screams wouldn’t stop.

Marna didn’t return to heaven. Bastion paced the Great Hall, unease rippling through him. She should have flown back to their realm by now.

He wasn’t afraid. He couldn’t feel fear. But a tightness constricted his chest as he remembered Azrael. Az—a Fallen who’d been ready to kill to protect a human.

Marna had been the one sent to claim the woman’s soul. Had she faced Az’s fury as well? Except . . . perhaps Az hadn’t just threatened to kill her.