“Easy, Billie.” He held his hands up.

  The goat sprinted forward and rammed her head into Azazel's stomach. Luckily for him, there were no horns. She reared back and hunched, tried to make herself bigger and intimating.

  “Hey, Sybil sent me to let you out. Come on.” He inched around the room. “Come on.”

  The goat eyed him, and then slowly started following him. Azazel found the back door and opened it. Billie went bounding out, instantly climbing the stacks of obstacles and running around. He shut the door and turned back to the house.

  He hadn't needed to turn on the light because his sight was sharper than a human's, but now he flicked on the kitchen light and looked around. He probably shouldn't have been looking around. He should just let the goat out to do its thing and return home, but he wanted to know more about Sybil.

  On the white counter was a selection of teacups, displayed nicely, all a different pastel color. He smiled at the contrast that they made against the dark gray wall.

  Turning to the fridge, he found pictures held up with magnets covering the stainless steel. One of an older couple, he assumed, her parents. Some of Billie. And one of a group of women at the occult shop.

  Each one that had Sybil, she looked happy, except one. The photographer had caught her off guard, not looking at the camera, gazing off into the distance. The photographer might not have realized it, but there was fear in Sybil's eyes. What was she looking at?

  He touched the photo as if it could give him more information, but there was nothing to gain from a simple image. He heard the bleating of a goat and looked to find Billie standing patiently at the back door.

  The goat came bounding in the moment Azazel opened it. He gave Billie a pat on the head. “She'll be back tomorrow. Be a good girl.”

  Billie bleated at him and then walked into the living room and laid down on a dog bed. Azazel laughed, turned the lights off, and locked the house up as he left.

  He paused in the yard as a woman in a black cloak paused in front of the house. She glanced up under her hood and gave him a smirk before disappearing.

  He had no idea who she was, but something about her gave him a bad feeling. He needed to get back to Sybil.

  He walked out of the yard and took himself back to the underworld.

  Sybil was where he'd left her, still tucked into the blanket. Good. She needed the rest, and he needed to figure out why Morrah was after her. He went to the living room and laid down. Morrah was a problem for tomorrow. When Sybil woke, he wanted to feel rested and ready to handle what he was sure was a spitfire of a woman.

  Sybil sat up in the same bed she'd fallen asleep in. Which was probably a good thing, but she wasn't any less confused than she was the night before. She'd asked Azazel to let Billie out and then fallen back to sleep. She'd willingly given Azazel a key to the house to get him past her barrier. That might have proven to be a stupid move. Hopefully, he did nothing weird.

  She tried to think of anything she might have left lying around, but nothing came to mind. Good, nothing to be embarrassed about. Except for letting a strange man into her house.

  Her head dropped into her hands as she let out a groan. How could she have been so stupid? The angel, Morrah, Azazel had called him, had been stalking her for a while. Just when she thought it was safe to go somewhere other than home and the shop, he was there waiting. How did one kill an angel? Especially a powerful angel. There was a soft knock on the door, and she looked up.

  “Um, come in?” It was his house. Why would he be knocking? Why did a fallen angel have a house? Where did a fallen angel have a house? Wait, was she in hell?

  The door cracked open, and Azazel walked in, a pair of sweatpants hanging low on his hips. His chest was bare, pale, and oh so perfectly lickable.

  She stopped at that thought. She shouldn't be entertaining sexual ideas right now. She was in an unknown place with a man she had just met the night before.

  “Good morning. How do you feel?” His voice was smooth and seemed to calm all of her worries.

  She shook her head. “You know, I'm not entirely sure how to answer that question.” She tossed the blanket off and stood. Physically, she felt fine, not exhausted like she had when she'd fallen back to sleep. “I need to go get ready for work though.” She hesitated. “Thank you. I'm not exactly sure what you did, but thank you.”

  He grinned. “I scared your angel off. Come on, I'll get you back to the surface.”

  She stared at him. “So I am in hell. Am I dead?”

  “No.” He laughed. “This is where I live, just like the goodie-two-shoes live in their own realm. This is where those who have fallen live.”

  “Okay, then yes please, I need to go home. Billie is probably starving, and I need to get the shop opened.” She stretched and then looked at him. “Azazel, maybe we should consider a first date. You saved my life, after all.”

  He grinned and took a step closer. “I'd like that. I'll see you tonight after work.”

  He left no room for argument, but she didn't think she wanted to argue. The slight demand in his words turned her on. “I get off at five.”

  “Perfect. Now, let's go.” He held his hand out to her.

  She placed her palm on his, and he wrapped his fingers around her hand. The world around her shifted, and a moment later, she stood outside her white picket fence.

  He nodded to the house. “Damn good spell you have on it.”

  “Thanks, took some work, but it's a great spell. Keeps me safe.” She grinned. “Would you like to come and see Billie again?”

  He hesitated. “I'm not sure if your goat likes me. Besides, you have to get ready for work.”

  But she wanted him to come in. Something in her wanted to show him the house and how she lived. She shook off the thought. He was right. She needed to get ready for work. “Thank you again.”

  “I'll see you this evening.” He gave a little bow before disappearing.

  She let herself into the yard and walked into the house. Billie stood there bleating at her as if nagging.

  “Yeah, yeah, I know”,” she muttered and waved a hand at the goat. “Let's get you outside so you can eat.” Billie bounded to the back door and Sybil opened it. Billie bucked around and bleated as she went to find the best spot to eat.

  Sybil went to her bedroom to grab a shower. Maybe it'd wake her mind up, and maybe she could get Azazel out of her mind. She laughed. Who was she kidding? There was no getting that fallen angel out of her mind.

  The hot water washed over her, getting rid of the grime from the night before. Except the memories were still there. In back of her mind. The bright light, the splitting pain.

  She put her palm to her forehead.

  “Don't think about it,” she whispered. “The more you think about it, the more it'll hurt.” Just like before.

  Taking a few breaths, she forced herself to focus on her motions. She just needed to get through it, forget the night, and move on. A grin broke out on her face when she thought about her date with Azazel. That was a good place to start.

  The night of chaos had turned into one good thing, her first date in the last couple of years, and with a fallen angel no less. At least he wouldn't run if things got weird.

  Yeah, because they were probably going to get weird.

  “You're awfully distracted today.”

  Azazel looked at his secretary. “Sorry, I was just thinking about tonight.”

  She raised a brow. “Tonight?”

  “Yes, I have a date, if you must know,” he muttered and took the files from her.

  She smirked, her blood red lip quirking up just enough. “Male or female?”

  “Female.”

  “Human or other?”

  He rolled his eyes. “Witch.”

  “I thought you didn't date witches.” She tugged on the lapels of her suit jacket. “Something about a conflict of interest?”

  It was typically his rule, but there was something different about Sybil. Again, that voice inside him screamed 'mine.' He rubbed his chest. “It's complicated.”

  She rolled her eyes. “It's complicated”,” she mocked. “Any more complicated than me being with a human female?” She shook her head. “No, I don't think so.” She disappeared in a puff of smoke, and he pinched his nose. That damn imp was going to be the death of him. Too bad she was damn good at paperwork and accounting.

  He turned to the files that she had handed him and started flipping through them. Most were accounts he'd gone over last night and had dropped on her desk to double check them.

  Mind Over Magic popped up and he hoped Sybil was doing okay after last night. Damnit, he should have gone to work with her or something.

  No. That behavior is creepy, stalker-ish, especially since humans didn't seem to have that same instant connection as supernatural creatures. No, he needed to give her space.

  But Morrah was out there, waiting for her. Azazel should have strangled the angel when he first saw him.

  That stupid angel caused all sorts of problems. He was the one who ratted Azazel out about giving the humans magic, causing conflict when the whole concept one of 'one higher power' came to the humans.

  Apparently, the powers-that-be frowned upon giving humans gifts without permission, but he refused to leave the humans completely weak. Some embraced the magic, and some shunned it. The modern-day witches were born from those who embraced his gift.

  Sybil.

  He could feel the power pulsing through her. She was strong, smart, beautiful, and had an angel chasing her.

  Why that one witch?

  “Dey!” he called out, and his imp appeared in front of him in a flash of smoke.

  “You summoned?” She crossed her arms. “I was in the middle of something.”

  He nodded. “Sorry, once you're done with your paperwork for today, can you look into something for me?”

  “Hm. Does this have to do with stalking the woman?”

  “No, it doesn't. It has to do with finding out why she might be in trouble. Morrah is hunting her. I want to know why. Can you dig into the human legends about witchcraft and magic? See if there's any hint of like a chosen one?”

  She laughed enough that she showed pointed teeth. “You've been reading too many fantasy novels, but I'll see what I can find.” She disappeared again, and he leaned back in his chair.

  There had to be a reason Morrah was after Sybil, but there had been no other reports of strange attacks on witches.

  Or, Morrah was just being an asshole and targeted Sybil.

  Dey appeared a moment later. “Have you gotten the alert?”

  “No.” He grabbed his phone. “Nothing, why?”

  “There's a fire at one of your shops.” She sounded frantic and shoved her own phone in his face.

  “That's the shop Sybil works at.” He jumped from his chair. “Come on, Dey.” He grabbed her arm and took them to the surface.

  Sybil shoved the tray into the register after she finished counting it down. The shop was quiet this morning, but it was Monday. Most people were at work. It wouldn't pick up until the afternoon.

  As she unlocked the door, she reminded herself that her boss had put a protection spell around the building. There would be no one getting in that wanted to cause harm to the employees.

  The locked clicked as she turned the deadbolt. She waited a moment, feeling something crawl over her. Not magic, but a different type of power. She rushed to get out, but hit an invisible barrier.

  Her heart pounded. She needed out and now. She dashed to the back exit, yanking the door open, but the moment she tried to step out, again she hit something.

  Spinning, she turned, looking for something in the back room she could use to bust open a window. She grabbed a crowbar they used for opening crates and headed to the front. She slammed it into the glass, but it didn't shatter. The crowbar hit something, and the pain of the blow moved up her arms, but it wasn't the window.

  She pulled her phone out to call her boss. Something was obviously wrong.

  Then it happened.

  A loud noise nearly split her head open, and something exploded in the back. The blast threw her body forward through the window. Glass shattered around her, but the biting of the glass was nothing compared to the heat that had hit her.

  She swore she skidded across the parking lot. Sitting up slowly, the world around her spun. She took inventory of herself. She wasn't on fire, but flames engulfed the shop.

  Her ears rang from the noise of the explosion. She tried to stand, but she couldn't put the pressure on her legs and stumbled down, face first in the asphalt.

  Sirens came from nearby and she hoped Morrah wasn't anywhere near, but that Azazel would come to keep her safe. Again.

  She swore she heard his voice as the darkness took her and the pain faded.

  CHAPTER 3

  “Sybil.” Azazel ran to her. He hesitated for a moment, seeing her face down. Her chest was rising and falling, but blood coated her head and her arm. Her clothing looked torn and scorched.

  Ambulances came flying into the parking lot, proving that the alarm system he required each shop to have had done its job of notifying the authorities. A moment later, two fire trucks came in.

  “Sir, move away please.” A voice came from behind him.

  He glanced to see an EMT standing there. “Of... of course.” Except he didn't trust the human to take care of Sybil. He wanted to be by her side.

  Dey put a hand on his arm. “Come on, let them work.”

  He nodded and walked a few steps away with her. “The shop is gone.”

  “Insurance is going to be a bitch unless it was arson.” Dey shook her head. “Wonder if your manager didn't do the protection spell properly.”

  He watched as the fire crews pulled out hoses and planned the best method of attack. Turning, he saw the EMT loading Sybil into the ambulance and walked toward them.

  “Where will you take her?”

  “Closest hospital. Do you know her?”

  “She's an employee here. I'm the owner, but the manager will have more information for you.” He pulled up the manager's phone number. “Here.” He showed it to the EMT, who wrote it down. “She'll know Sybil's next of kin.”

  “Thank you.” He got in the ambulance and drove off with the sirens blaring again.

  Dey put a hand on his arm again. “I'll disguise myself and go check on her if you want.”

  “Let's see what her manager has to say first. If Sybil has family, it's best we let them take care of her.” He couldn't take his eyes away from where the ambulance drove off. “But...”

  “You're worried, boss. Don't worry, I got it.” She disappeared, and he looked around to see if any of the humans noticed. Nothing. Good.

  A car drove up, and the screech of a distraught woman echoed over the noises of the firefighters. “My shop!”

  Ah, there was the manager. He turned to see the woman he interviewed when the store first opened but hadn't seen since he handed the keys to her. He liked his people to run the store their way, and as long as they weren’t breaking any laws that would get them shut down and the numbers were performing, he didn't interfere.

  “Chrissy,” he greeted. “An ambulance just took your employee to the hospital.”

  “Sybil?” She sounded worried. “Oh, goddess of mercy, is she alright?”

  He paused for a moment. “I don't know. They took her to the closest hospital. The EMT should call you soon to see if you have her next of kin's information.”

  “Um... Sybil hasn't mentioned any. I know she has a goat.”

  Ah, someone would need to take care of Billie. He made a mental note of that. “No mention of siblings?”

  She shook her head. “No, nor parents. She's not a very open person. She's good at the shop, but she works, she goes home. We used to get her to go out, but then something spooked her, and she doesn't like to go anymore. We're friends, but like I said, she doesn't talk about family.”

  He had a feeling it was Morrah that spooked her. “Okay. I'll have Dey take care of the insurance and make sure that you and your employees are taken care of while they investigate the fire.” He turned to leave.

  “Thank you, Zel.”

  “I take care of my employees, Chrissy. This wasn't your fault. You did what you could to protect it.”

  She swallowed. “Obviously not enough if someone could destroy it.”

  He didn't answer. He needed to make sure Sybil was okay and figure out who her family was so he could tell them what happened. And take care of her and her goat during her recovery.

  Once he was out of view of the humans, he disappeared. He took himself to the hospital and walked to the desk.

  “There was a woman brought in, first name Sybil. She came from a shop that caught fire.”

  The woman checked her notes. “And you are?”

  “Zel Margo. I own the shop. The manager told me that Sybil never mentioned family to her. I'm hoping I can see Sybil when she's ready, so she can tell me who to call.”

  The woman shook her head. “The woman is currently in surgery. She'll be in the ICU for recovery.”

  “Surgery?” His heart skipped a beat.

  “That's all I can tell you. If you'd like to leave your number, I can have someone call later when she's able to receive visitors.”

  He didn't want to leave. He wanted to be by her side. Fuck.

  Beeping machines surrounded Sybil. She opened her eyes and squinted at the brightness. Had it not been for the annoying sounds, she'd have thought she died.

  As the pain settled into her, she realized that no, she was far from death, because death wasn't supposed to hurt that much. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes all the way.

  White room?

  Check.

  IV?

  Check.

  Wires everywhere?

  Check.

  Yep, she was in the hospital.

  The explosion. It'd thrown her out a window and to the ground. She cringed as she moved her right arm. Okay, dominate arm was still working. Sore as hell, but still movable.