Angels marked by despair always had black wings. Death angels. Punishers. The most powerful of the angels, they were the ones that humans should fear.

The ones that could make even paranormals shudder.

The vampire stared up at the angel. Since the moment of his final death was at hand, he’d be able to see those broad, dark wings now. And he’d see the hard, carved features of the angel that she knew as—

Bastion?

Her breath froze in her lungs. It was him. Tall, strong, one of the few angels gifted with golden eyes—eyes the same color as the burnished gold that adorned the home in heaven she’d never see again.

She hadn’t seen Bastion in weeks. After she’d lost her wings, he’d tried to help her at first.

Then vanished when he realized there wasn’t any help to give.

He bent his dark head and gazed down at the vampire. Bastion hadn’t said anything to her. Hadn’t even looked her way.

It hurt. He knew she was there. Because of what she was, he also knew she’d be able to see him.

And he didn’t look at her. In heaven, he’d been her closest confidant. Now he couldn’t stand the sight of her?

“How the hell did you do that?” Tanner demanded as he reached for her. His arms caught her shoulders and he spun her around to face him. He’d shifted back to human form, and her gaze darted down the muscled expanse of his chest to—

She yanked her eyes right back up. Clothes. The guy seriously needed clothes.

And with just that thought, they appeared. A black T-shirt. Jeans. Even boots. A complete outfit to cover him.

Tanner’s eyes widened. “Nice trick.”

Angels were always able to conjure clothes. Since they had wings sprouting from their backs, they had to be able to use their powers to make articles that would fit around them. Except she hadn’t been able to use that particular talent since she’d fallen.

Until now.

First the fire, now conjuring. It looked like her powers were flooding back. Finally. No more weakness.

Marna glanced over her shoulder. Bastion was still there. With both Azrael and Sammael walking the earth, he’d be the ruler of the death angels now, but once, he’d been her only friend. “Bastion.”

His head lifted.

There was no emotion in his eyes or on the face that appeared to have been carved from stone. He looked at her as if he didn’t even know her. Why? Didn’t he understand?

“I miss you,” she said.

Did he flinch?

“Who the hell are you talking to?” Tanner pulled her closer to him.

Bastion bent and placed his hand over the vampire’s chest. Just that simply, another soul was taken.

The air seemed to chill, and goose bumps rose on Marna’s flesh. Tanner swore, and then he scooped her into his arms. “Screw this.”

Holding her tightly, he rushed toward the alley entrance. Her arms wrapped around him, but she said, “Tanner, no, I can—”

Bastion was in front of them. Staring at her with eyes that seemed to blaze.

“Stop,” she told Tanner.

He froze.

He wouldn’t see the angel. Couldn’t. Fallen angels could always see their winged brethren, but most others couldn’t. Not unless he had the blood of celestial beings in him. Since demons were descended from the Fallen, some of them could see the angels who walked among the humans—as long as their bloodline was strong enough.

But vampires? Shifters? No, they wouldn’t see angels even though they sometimes strolled right beside them.

“I’m . . . sorry,” Bastion told her, voice stilted.

Her arms were around Tanner’s neck. She could feel the tension coursing through him. Tanner stared at the alley, glanced at her, stared again at the alley’s entrance. “All right, who the f**k is there?”

She licked her lips. “An angel.”

“I know that. Which winged ass am I dealing with?”

A muscle jerked in Bastion’s jaw. His gaze dropped, then hardened when he saw the way Tanner’s hands held her so tightly. “Be careful with him,” Bastion warned her. “He’s not someone you can trust.”

Her stare turned back to Tanner. Right then, he was the only one she could trust.

“Who is it?” Tanner gritted.

“Bastion.” She sighed the name. “He’s—”

Tanner ran right at the angel. In a flash, Bastion vanished.

“No!” Marna leapt from his arms and almost fell flat on her face. She managed to stumble and barely stay upright. “I need to ask him—”