He shook his head. What he needed was to wipe all this from Sybil’s mind, but that wasn’t an option.

  Sybil didn’t move from where she’d buried her head against Azazel’s chest, and he just held her while she tried to process.

  After a few minutes, she pulled back. “Morrah... Morrah... saw me kill my sister the second time he attacked. He kept reminding me that her blood was on my hands, too. That if I had learned control, if I had gone with him when he first approached us, then she would still be alive. I have no control over this ability. No one in my family showed any signs of it, but Morrah insisted it was in my bloodline and that it was from you.” She glanced up at him.

  He didn’t miss the anger and hurt in her eyes. “When I was an angel, I only wanted to serve the creator.” He met her gaze. “When you’re an angel, that’s all you want. If you’re doing something in the creator’s name, it can’t be bad... or so the angels think.”

  Sybil pulled the blanket over her and snuggled into his side. He played with the ends of her braid idly as he spoke.

  “I had doubt in my heart when I gave humans magic. So I created a fail-safe, one man that could take the magic away. It wasn’t just a fail-safe for if I upset the creator, but if humans misused the magic.”

  She cringed. “So you created me?”

  “There’s more,” he muttered, not sure what to think of the bitterness in her voice. “When the creator found out that I’d given humans magic, he wasn’t pleased. Much like when Prometheus gave humans fire... but, instead of me getting chained to a rock for eternity, he cast me down to hell. Because I refused to pull the magic away from the humans. I saw the good they could do with it, and that many did with it.” He shook his head.

  “So, the ability stayed, and it was passed down?” She gripped the blanket. “So you never thought that someone would come after the family who had the ability?”

  He sighed. “Honestly? It never occurred to me it survived. Witches turned on the bloodline when they found about the abilities. One witch called out to me to save them, and I did. He called me by name, and that was the last survivor of the bloodline. I didn’t know it until recently.”

  “So I shouldn’t have existed,” she muttered.

  He shook his head and tilted her chin up so she looked at him. “No. Fates have their reasons for everything,” he promised. “Your fate is to be by my side.” He kissed her gently. “Remember that.”

  She nodded slightly. “Fate is cruel.”

  “Sometimes.” He kissed the top of her head. He reached for the television remote and turned on the screen. “We’ll watch some TV while we wait for Dey to get back.”

  “How did you find me?”

  He hesitated. “My sister helped me.”

  “I thought your sister was dead.”

  “Different sister. I haven’t really seen her since she became a mercenary.”

  She gave a short laugh. “You have a mercenary for a sister?”

  “He makes it sound so much cooler that it is.” A light flashed in the room, and Rae appeared. “But really, I’m just a glorified errand runner right now.”

  Sybil stared at the woman that stood in front of her. Her long blonde hair was braided down her back. Her wings were black and white as if she never finished transforming into a fallen. She had the same deep blue eyes as Azazel and the same smile. His sister.

  “Um. Thank you,” Sybil said meekly.

  Rae laughed. “Oh honey, you're welcome, but Azazel knows I do nothing without a price. I'm here to discuss that price and see if you have any more need of my service.”

  She glanced at Azazel. “What kind of price?”

  “Depends on Rae's mood. Could be underworld money, could be credits, or human money. Or... sometimes it's a favor. So which is it today, sis?”

  She sat down on chair by the desk. “Well, underworld money is always good. I can spend it here, or the Den of Sins, or several other places. But I have something I need your witch to do.”

  Sybil raised a brow. “I'm not out for hire.”

  “I got my brother in to rescue you,” Rae shot back. “If it weren’t for me, then you'd still be under Morrah's care, pulling magic from innocent witches, which is against what they created you for.”

  Sybil cringed a little. “How do you know what they created me for?”

  “I was there when my brother left the creator. Your bloodline was supposed to keep the witches in their place, but no one person or family should be responsible for that many witches. But occasionally there is one that's so bad that they deserve what you can do.”

  Sybil shook her head. “No one deserves to die or almost die to me pulling their magic out.”

  “This man has been sacrificing children.”

  Sybil raised her eyes. “Really?”

  “I have no reason to lie about this. We decided that death was too good for him. We want to strip him of his magic and let some of the victims' families deal with him.”

  She frowned. “You want me to leave him defenseless so they can torture him?”

  “What the victims' families do with him isn't my concern. They hired me to find someone who could take his magic.” She jerked her head toward Sybil. “That's where you come in.”

  “That's a steep price for just bringing Azazel to find me. You disappeared the moment he told you to.” Sybil straightened up. She wasn't going to be pressured into anything. She was safe. Azazel was by her side. “I'll do it if you help us face Morrah.”

  Rae laughed. “I'm not a fighter. That's why Azazel sent me away. But, as a counteroffer, I'll lure Morrah out for you. And then you and Azazel can take him out.”

  “How do you expect us to 'take him out'?”

  “You can kill him. Azazel is capable of it for sure. But let me tell you this... Morrah is an angel who was blessed, not created. Magic is a blessing as well, Sybil. Put the dots together.”

  Sybil thought about it and then cursed herself. She had the ability the whole time. “Okay, who's the witch?”

  “I'll let you know. I need to go report to my client that you've agreed. Once it's done, then we'll handle Morrah. Deal?”

  Sybil nodded. “Deal.”

  She disappeared in a flash of light, and Azazel shook his head. “You didn't have to agree with her. We could have found another price.”

  “Yes, but if she can help us with Morrah, it'll be worth it.” She stood slowly. “Then we can just be. We can live together, I can get another goat, and we can forget this. All of this. No more Morrah, no more negotiating with mercenaries or worrying about my friends getting killed. I've already striped a hundred witches. What's one more?”

  “And an angel,” Azazel muttered. “I'm not sure if I want you to do that.”

  She sighed. “Might be easier than fighting him?”

  “No, I can fight him. I'm stronger. The question is, what tricks does he have up his sleeves?”

  CHAPTER 9

  Two days later.

  * * *

  “Good, now block,” Dey yelled and brought her sword down.

  Sybil blocked it without missing a beat. Azazel stood there and watched the two women fight with swords in the Chalice's courtyard. No one here was going to question it.

  Just two friends, trying to kill each other with swords. He chuckled as Sybil swept Dey's feet out from under her. His mate had stepped up the training and was putting everything she had into it. She'd improved just over the last couple of days.

  Dey jumped back up, but Sybil disarmed her with a quick move and had her sword pointed at Dey's neck.

  “Good job. You're getting quicker,” Dey mentioned and then stepped back. “Let's take a quick break?”

  Sybil nodded and walked back to Azazel. He handed her a water bottle.

  “Don't exhaust yourself too much. We don't know when Rae will call on you to take care of the witch.”

  Sybil sat down on the grass and shrugged. “This helps keep Morrah's influence out of me.”

  “Influence? Can you still feel him?” Azazel sat next to her, trying to keep the panic out of his voice. He'd hoped that being in hell and at the hotel would have severed the connection, at least temporarily.

  “He calls to me. I think he strengthened the connection while I was there.” She rubbed her eyes. “I should have fought him harder.”

  He kissed her head. “You did what you could. The important thing is, we found you alive.”

  She glanced at Dey, who was going through different motions with the sword. Determination crossed Sybil's face, and Azazel smiled. “You look good out there with a sword.”

  She blushed. “Thank you. I'm enjoying it.”

  “Dey enjoys teaching you. Honestly, I think she enjoys having another woman around.”

  She nodded. “Me too.”

  A bright light flashed, and Rae stood in front of them. “It's time, Sybil.”

  Sybil cringed and seemed to snuggle into Azazel. “I thought I'd still have a few more days.”

  “Sorry, there's no more time to wait. It needs to be today. My client wants it done now.”

  Sybil stood. “And our deal about Morrah?”

  “As soon as she does this, we'll work on Morrah. I won't go back on my word,” she promised and held her hand out. “Come on.”

  Azazel stood, and Rae shook her head. “No, brother. You stay here. Only Sybil can go.”

  Sybil glanced at him, and he saw the nervousness in her eyes. “It's okay Sybil. I trust her to keep you safe. She wouldn't betray me like that.”

  She laughed. “If the price was right, I might. But don't worry, there's not a price on your head. Or Sybil's.”

  Sybil took a deep breath and took Rae's hand.

  Azazel watched as they disappeared, and Dey stepped up next to him. “You think she'll be okay?”

  He nodded. “I think so. I hope so. Rae will keep her safe from Morrah and whatever is happening with the witch they've captured.”

  “I'm not talking about just that. I'm talking about what happened with Morrah.”

  He swallowed. “With time, she will be. I want to talk to Sybil's family and see if I can get more details about what happened to her sister. She seems to keep equating this with that.”

  “Her family isn't in contact with her.”

  “I know that, but it doesn't mean they don't know her past. Do you think you can make that happen for me?”

  Dey laughed. “I can make almost anything happen for you.” She grinned and disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

  Azazel walked back into the hotel and headed to one of the bars. He needed a drink to keep his mind off what his mate was about to do. His nature was dark, pulling magic from someone, killing them for their crimes, sacrifices... he could handle them all, but Sybil was getting a crash course on the darker side of her nature, and it could break her.

  Sybil appeared in a large, round room with Rae at her side. Women and men with their arms crossed lined the walls of the room, and all eyes were on her. In the middle of the room was a man chained to the floor.

  He looked up at Sybil and laughed. “This is who you brought to punish me? A mere child?”

  Sybil laughed. She couldn’t help herself. “Child? Don’t insult me.” She stepped forward, almost as if her body were moving on its own. “I hear that you’ve been killing innocent children.”

  He met her gaze. “If you kill me, you’re no better than me.”

  “I’m not here to kill you. I’m here to take away your magic.” She could hear the sadness in her voice. “These people testify you stole their babies and sacrificed them.”

  “To Azazel! To the one who gave us the magic!”

  She gave a short laugh and stared at him. “Azazel prefers goats.”

  “You do not know what he prefers.”

  Sybil bent down, so she was eye to eye with the man. “Azazel sent me.”

  The man paled a little, and Sybil gave him a wicked smile. “That’s right. Azazel doesn’t approve of your sacrifices. Next time, get a goat.” She put her hands on his head and took a deep breath.

  She could control this, she just needed to focus. She found the magic in him, the flame calling out to create chaos and evil. Nothing like she felt from the witches that Morrah had her strip. No, this man truly was evil.

  Calling on her own magic, she envisioned wrapping it around the man’s and pulling it from him.

  He jerked and screamed, trying to get away from her, but it was too late. She already had a firm grasp on his magic and was pulling it out. She cringed as her mind fought to lose control, to take the man’s life with his magic, but she refused. There would be no more killing that way. Even if the bastard deserved it.

  Finally, his magic broke, and she stumbled away from him. Her body and magic trying to process and disperse the power she pulled into her.

  Closing her eyes, she tried to stop the spinning of the room. Rae put a hand on her shoulder. “Easy.”

  Sybil opened her eyes. “I’m ready to go home.”

  “Of course.” Rae took her back to the hotel room.

  Azazel shot up off the bed and ran to her. “Are you okay?”

  Sybil nodded. “The man was so evil. He was sacrificing children in you name.”

  “I don’t receive sacrifices much anymore, and certainly I don’t take children.” He brushed his hand over her cheek. “But you remember it?”

  She nodded. “I do. I kept my control.”

  “And she claimed she was a messenger from you. I think you’ve found yourself a new delivery girl,” Rae stated. “She’s scary when she’s about to do her thing.”

  Sybil shrugged. “I could feel how evil he was. It didn’t feel wrong or forced like with Morrah and the witches he brought me.”

  Azazel smiled and kissed her. “Good. That’s very good. We can continue to develop it if you want. You could be my messenger.”

  She shrugged. “One thing at a time. We get rid of Morrah first.”

  “Speaking of, I’m off to arrange that meeting.” Rae disappeared and Azazel pulled Sybil into his arms.

  “I don’t want you to think I’d be using you like Morrah. Everything is your choice with me. I won’t force you into it.”

  Sybil nodded. “I just need time to think about it. Especially with everything that has happened. But with the witch just now... It almost felt like I was doing some good with this ability. Taking care of something evil and not just using the ability senselessly.”

  “Take all the time you need to think about it, but I’m glad you’re not wallowing in regret right now.” He kissed her temple.

  She just needed time to think about his offer. She felt a strange sense of peace and hope. She wanted to cling to that hope. Hope meant that she could heal from everything, even if it took time.

  “He was so evil, Azazel. And the fact that he did things in your name is wrong. There’s no excuse for killing children.”

  Azazel nodded. “I’m glad he was truly evil though, because I don’t think you could have gone through with it otherwise.”

  “Yeah, probably not.” Her phone buzzed, and she picked it up to see a text message. Her heart fell instantly. “Chrissy’s service is tomorrow.”

  “We’ll go. You need the closure, and frankly, so do I.” He pressed his lips together.

  She leaned up and kissed him. “It wasn’t your fault.”

  “Nor was it yours, but we’re both carrying guilt in this situation.” He pressed his forehead against hers.

  Closing her eyes, she sighed. “Part of the grieving process.”

  “Mm, very true.”

  The next day, Azazel pulled up to Chrissy’s service, with Sybil by his side. Dey was already there, wandering the crowd and making sure there were no unfriendly parties.

  He parked and helped Sybil out of the car. She smiled at him and adjusted his tie. “We're not staying long,” she said, but he wasn't sure if she was speaking to him or more telling herself that.

  “We stay as long as you want and need to,” he promised and kissed her cheek. “Then we go back to the hotel and hope that Rae has a plan for us for Morrah.”

  She nodded. “One day at a time.”

  He wrapped his fingers around hers, trying to calm the nervousness he could feel coming off her. “Her parents don't know what happened. They won't know that you were involved.”

  Sybil started shaking. “They don't know, but I do. I keep seeing her last moments in my mind.”

  He turned to face her. She'd given him the details last night about what happened. “She said her words, and Morrah is the one who killed her. Not you,” he whispered and put his hands on her cheek. “Remember that.”

  Sybil took a deep breath, and he saw her rebuild her confidence and then nod. “Okay, let's go in.”

  He kissed her head, and they walked into the building. The crowd was bigger than he had expected, and Sybil stepped closer to him. His eyes swept the area. He saw Dey talking to a couple of women, and she gave him a little wave.

  Nothing to fear here. The room was clear. He swore he sensed a few other fallen angels around, but they weren't hostile. They were probably just there to pay their respects as well.

  Sybil forced a smile as a woman stepped up to them.

  “You must be Sybil, Chrissy's co-worker.” She offered a hand. “I'm Chrissy's mom, Annabeth.”

  “Nice to meet you. I'm sorry it's under such horrid circumstances.” Sybil glanced down at the ground and Azazel felt her unease.

  “Chrissy was a wonderful woman,” he said gently. “And a great shop owner.”

  “You must be Mr. Margo?” Annabeth guessed.

  Azazel nodded. “Yes. I'm so sorry about your daughter.”

  “The police don't know much, but they are hoping they can find who is responsible.” She glanced at Sybil. “I worried the building blowing up would have killed her, but no, some psycho with a sword did.”

  Sybil swallowed. “Horrible. Hopefully, they find who did it.”

  Annabeth nodded and then wandered through the crowd. Sybil looked at Azazel. “The human police will never find him.”