That had his brows rising.

“Angel’s Dust. He wants to use your blood because he thinks getting it will make him the big badass in the Other world.”

If Carlos could take out the level-ten demons with the Dust, he would be the badass that the Others feared.

“I told you,” she murmured, “This time, it wasn’t all about people wanting to take out the evil vamp. The coyote wanted your blood, not mine.”

Carlos had been willing to sacrifice Nicole to get what he wanted. The coyote would pay. Want blood? I’ll make sure you bleed. He pushed back the fury. Tried to. “What did he do to your hands?”

A ghost of a smile tugged at her lips. “Nothing. That was all me.”

She’d done that?

“Vamps heal, you know. We heal from just about everything. Even the wounds that ass**le angels give us.” She opened the door and walked away.

Keenan knew she was right. She’d get over him. She’d get past the pain that he’d glimpsed in her eyes. She’d heal.

It was a pity he couldn’t say the same thing.

His nostrils twitched. He hadn’t just scented the river on that balcony. “Az, you bastard, I know you were watching… hope you’re happy now.” Because he’d lost the fight against temptation.

He’d lost everything.

Keenan stepped forward and slammed his fist into the glass of the open balcony door.

“You’re just going to walk away?”

The drawling voice stopped Nicole as she neared the bottom of the staircase. She looked up and saw Sam strolling toward her. Dressed all in black, again. Black T-shirt. Black pants and boots.

“He wants me gone,” Nicole said without flinching and kept her gaze up. “So it’s time for me to leave.” She’d survive. She’d made it for the last six months. She’d make it six more.

Screw the angels waiting.

She brushed by him and felt a little jolt of electricity zing her as her shoulder pressed against his.

“He was desperate to save you.”

Right. He’d looked desperate when she first saw him in that cemetery. Now he was just desperate to kick her butt out. Why?

Nicole forced her back to stay straight and tall as she walked. She wasn’t about to show weakness in front of Sam.

“Don’t you wonder … how he killed that shifter?”

Yes, she did. But Keenan hadn’t exactly been the chatting type with her upstairs. “I thought … she must have broken her neck, the angle she attacked—”

“She didn’t break her neck.”

She stopped walking.

“You didn’t think it through, did you? But then, I’m guessing you’re still so thirsty for blood that you can’t think very much at all right now, can you?”

She was thinking he was an ass. How was that for thinking?

Nicole took another step toward the door and freedom.

He was there, of course. Instantly blocking her path.

“How do you do that?” she asked, rubbing a tired hand over her neck. “Nobody is supposed to move like that.”

“Different angels have different strengths.” His gaze tracked down her body. “And different weaknesses.” He caught her right wrist. She expected pain, a rough touch, but his hold was light. Almost … gentle.

“The chains bit into you here.” His thumb slid over the dark red line that still marked her wrist. He caught her other hand and traced the similar mark. “And here.”

Nicole swallowed. “Yes.”

“He had you chained in one of those crypts. The juicy steak to bait the trap.”

At least someone seemed to understand what Carlos had planned. “Keenan won’t listen to me. He’s the one in danger right now, and—”

“And here,” he kept talking, seeming to roll right over her words. “This is where you made the first break in your wrist when you realized you had to get out … in order to save Keenan.”

She inclined her head toward him. “The first break is always the hardest, right?” She tried to sound flippant.

His lips hitched up a bit. “Bet you damn near shattered your bones to break loose. That’s why that college kid was sleeping near Laveau’s vault, eh? You needed a drink.” He still had her hands and didn’t seem to be showing signs of letting go. “I’m guessing you still need a drink. It takes a lot to overcome fire and broken bones.”

Yes, it did. “I’ll find a snack.”

“You sound so tough, but the words don’t really suit you, schoolteacher.”