Toxic

Chapter Thirteen

They barged into my bedroom, a half-dozen giant hunks with billowy, white wings. I admit, I should have probably done more than gape at them, but dressed in loin cloths that left the rest of their impressive physique bare, I’m ashamed to say their rippled muscles had a hypnotic effect.

“Can I help you?” I asked in my best regal tone while trying to ignore the fact I stood stark naked beside my lover who also happened to be an angel. A quick glance sideways at Rafe confused me, for his expression didn’t appear surprised. On the contrary, he looked resigned. Don’t tell me he was expecting them?

The tallest of them stepped forward, a dark haired giant who, while attractive, didn’t draw me like Rafe did. He spoke in a low baritone. “We’ve come for Raphael.”

I frowned. “How did you get in here?” In other words, why had the guards let them by? And whose ass would I be chewing out later for allowing them to disturb me?

They ignored me, which really pissed me off; however, my anger quickly turned into confusion as Rafe walked toward them, his back straight with his arms held out in front of him. It took me a moment to comprehend what was happening, the handcuffs the tall dark one pulled out of nowhere, though, cleared things up quickly. They snapped around Rafe’s wrists with a snick that made my stomach sink.

“What are you doing?” I demanded.

Rafe turned to face me with sad eyes. “They’ve come to arrest me and bring me back to stand trial.”

“Trial for what?”

The tall dark haired one snorted. “Consorting with evil, for starters.”

Rafe shot the angel a dirty look. “She is not evil. You have no idea what you’re talking about, Michael.”

My heart swelled even if the expression on my face remained neutral.

“What about killing to defend her?” The giant named Michael crossed his arms over his wide chest and looked at Rafe coolly.

“Daemons,” Rafe spat. “Remember them, the truly evil ones?”

Michael’s lips tightened but he didn’t reply.

I didn’t like the undercurrents in the room. “Rafe, what are they going to do to you?”

My lover faced me and his gaze softened. “I’m sorry, Ellie. I thought we might have longer.”

“You mean you knew they’d come for you?”

He nodded his head.

“But they’re taking you back to Heaven, right?” Heaven equaled safety for Rafe in my mind. I would have preferred a little more time with him before the separation, but at least this way, I wouldn’t have to break his heart by pushing him away.

“He’s going home to face his punishment,” Michael said with a dark glee I recognized all too well.

My heart froze as I imagined all kinds of horrible punishments-with my history, some of the things I pictured were quite gruesome. And I mentally chastised myself for overreacting. His kind didn’t believe in death or violence. Except… I didn’t like the resigned look on Rafe’s face.

I asked again, “Rafe, what are they going to do to you?”

Rafe ducked his head and Michael chuckled. “What’s wrong? Afraid your whore will burst into tears when she finds out you’re slated for death?”

Over my dead fucking body. Naked as the day I was born, but furious, I stalked toward the bastard who thought to kill my love. If death lay in Rafe’s future, then by damn, I’d keep him by my side to face the coming hordes instead of sending him to a senseless one meted out by cowards.

“No.” Rafe’s head lifted and his eyes met mine, stopping me in my tracks.

“But they’re going to kill you.” I really hated that my voice cracked with emotion, displaying my weakness to the group of angels I longed to tear apart with my bare hands.

“And if you try and stop them, they’ll hurt you. I knew this would happen when I decided to help you. But I love you, Ellie, and even knowing my fate, I’d do it again.”

“Stay with me. I can call the guards and we’ll take care of these bastards.”

Rafe shook his head, his expression sad. “They’d just send more. I’m sorry, Ellie. I love you.”

I read the good-bye in his eyes and I ran towards him, but the angels clumped together around him, and a warm breeze smelling of sunshine and flowers swept into the room along with a bright light that made me shut my eyes. When I blinked them open, they were gone.

“No!” I screamed and railed, dropping to my knees on the cold stone floor. Forget the pain of my dying, this was so much worse.

Lily arrived and exclaimed, “What happened?”

“He’s gone,” I sobbed.

“Who’s gone? Rafe? Where did he go?”

“They took him. The fucking angels took him and they said they’re going to kill him for being with me.” I raised my tear streaked face to her and saw the sorrow in her eyes.

“I’m sorry, Ellie.”

“Don’t be sorry,” I said, pushing myself back up to my feet. “Help me save him.”

Lily shook her head. “I wish I could, but Heaven is a place hidden from me. And even if I could find it, I need you here, fighting the daemons, or we’ll all die.”

I wanted to scream at her that I didn’t fucking care about anyone else, but it would have been blatantly untrue. Much as I loved Rafe, I couldn’t forsake my kind to go haring off to save him. My tears ran anew at the knowledge he would die and I couldn’t do anything to stop it.

I fell back to my knees, the pain too much to bear, and even Lily’s comforting arms and magic could do nothing to heal the wound where my heart used to reside.

But vengeance and violence would.

Heaven should have thought twice before waging war with me because once I was done kicking Hell’s ass, I would be coming for them, and I would show them no mercy. The Blood Countess would avenge her lover by feasting on the blood of his condemners.

And I would enjoy it.