Archangel's Fire Read online

  Lukas snatched the crossbow from Cade’s back and shoved him to me. “Get her out of here!”

  Before I could say a word, something slammed into me. My legs gave out, and I was suddenly in the air.

  Cade’s jaw was tense as he propelled upward. His torn robe fluttered to the ground. His wings moved so fast they were a blur as we flew higher.

  A dozen arrows zoomed past us. I howled in pain as one of them skimmed the top of my head.

  “Put your head down. Now!”

  Cade shoved my head into his chest. There was a loud crash as we hit the ceiling hard, glass shattering and raining all around us as he broke through.

  25

  Searing heat hit against us as Cade soared through the air. Shattered glass nicked my forehead, making warm blood roll down my cheeks.

  I glanced down, searching for Big John and Lukas. All I could see was a wave of red swarming to the center of the arena.

  “We have to go back,” I cried over the rushing wind.

  “We can’t. They’ll kill you.” I yelped as he jolted to the right. An arrow zipped by, barely missing his wing.

  There was shouting from the streets below. Scavengers yelled out to the hunters and the fallen, directing them to us. Blue and red robes flapped against the desert heat as they ran after us.

  “I don’t care.” Even as another swarm of arrows shot into the air, barely missing us, I wanted to go back. I had to. Big John, Lukas, and maybe even Sylas were fighting for their lives, and it was my fault. I gave us away. “Please, Cade.”

  “Don’t be a fool, Senna. They—” He looked at me for a moment. He wanted to go back, too. I could see it in his eyes. He was torn between what he wanted to do and what he had to do. “They’ll find a way out. Big John’s a strong fighter.”

  He was lying. Whether it was to me, himself, or both of us, he was desperately holding on to it. It was probably the only thing that was making him fly farther away from the coliseum.

  “We can’t leave them,” I argued, not ready to give up.

  “I didn’t plan to.”

  He circled around quickly. Arrow after arrow rained through the sky. It was getting harder to maneuver.

  The shouting below grew even louder. The already crowded streets below were now a solid line of red and blue. It seemed like everyone in the city was following us. “There’s nowhere for us to hide.”

  Cade let out a frustrated growl. Anywhere he landed there was sure to be hunters waiting for us.

  I gazed out into the clear sky, wishing for the big puffy clouds that always dotted the Sanctuary, anything to break the sunlight that beamed directly on our backs, marking us for everyone to see.

  “Damn it!” Cade jerked to the left to dodge the pair of arrows headed right to us. He was too late. I wailed as one of the arrows skimmed over my arm, ripping the material and burning my skin.

  Cade’s wings stopped flapping, and we were suddenly in freefall. His arm tightened against my back like an iron claw as he arched and let out a feral growl.

  “Cade!” I shrieked. The ground closed in on us fast.

  Cade grunted, his face turning red as one wing slowly moved. When he tried to flap his right wing, he let out a tortured howl. An arrow was lodged in his wing. An angry purple dotted the downy white where the arrow pierced. His face twisted as he flew us up, inch by excruciating inch, keeping us a safe distance from the ground.

  “I don’t think I can keep flying much longer,” Cade said through gritted teeth. His left wing flapped hard, making up for his injured one.

  “I’ll take it out.” I reached over his shoulder.

  “Don’t!” He yelped when I touched his wing. His face paled. His eyes rolled back and his eyelids fluttered as if he was about to pass out.

  “Cade!” The angry purple grew larger. It was going to kill him. We needed cover. Now.

  A familiar sensation pressed against my chest. This time I knew what to do. I focused on the force within me, harnessed it until it expelled out. It was visible. Each electron of energy swirled around me faster and faster until a hard wind blew out of nowhere, decelerating our fall. As we glided, the hot air turned cold, making me shiver.

  There was a rumble, and I looked out into the distance in shock. Dark clouds rolled fast across the sky. Lightning flashed and the smell of rain filled the air.

  The city darkened and came to a standstill as the sun surrendered to the clouds. From below, everyone stared up in awe at the darkening sky.

  The rain came down in droplets at first. The scavengers stood in the middle of the street, arms open, faces up, as the rain plopped onto the ground. Children huddled close to their parents, scared at what they were seeing, fearing the water falling from the sky. I could hear their cries.

  “Rain! It’s raining!”

  “Quick, Marion. Get the water jugs.”

  “Mommy, I wanna go inside.”

  “It’s only rain, dear heart. It’s water.”

  Streaks of lightning lined the dark sky. There was a clap of thunder followed by sheets of rain. It was so thick I could barely see the tower looming in the distance.

  Rain drenched Cade’s beautiful feathers, making them heavy. Half-conscious, he managed to keep his heavy wings moving as we headed for the ground. We finally landed with a hard thump on a green patch of grass. I quickly rolled away. Cade fell forward on his hands and knees. His arms shook as he tried to hold himself up.

  “You have to…pull it…out,” he panted, his entire body shaking. “Hurry, before I—” His arms gave out, and he flat onto the ground.

  “Cade!” I touched his injured wing. He let out a soft moan, so I snatched my hand away. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  Heat radiated from his body. I pressed my head against his neck careful not to touch his wing. He was burning up and his pulse was getting slower. Purple streaked his entire left wing and was spreading onto his smooth back. The poison was killing him.

  My head snapped up when I heard heavy boots slapping against the pavement. They were coming. The footsteps were getting closer. We were running out of time, and I had to find us somewhere to hide.

  “I’m so sorry.” With trembling hands, I reached for the arrow and prayed for strength. In one swift motion, I yanked it out.

  Cade’s shout pierced the air and I immediately slapped my hand against his mouth. Pools of blue looked up at me in torment as he continued to scream into my hand.

  “I’m sorry. They’ll hear you,” I sobbed, pressing down harder, wishing I had the magic to take away his pain.

  Please heal fast. Please heal fast.

  Warm tears mixed with cool rain streamed down my cheeks as he twisted in pain. Somehow, I found the strength to keep my hand over his mouth until he let out a final muffled howl and passed out.

  The hunters’ yells were closer. I scanned the area, looking for a hiding place. We had landed in a small courtyard filled with rosebushes and other plants and flowers. Nearby was a shovel and wheelbarrow leaning against a tool shed. A few yards away there was a small white building with a steeple. A pair of glass-arched doors with a sign over them that read “Chapel of The Flowers” led into the building. It seemed oddly out of place from the city’s towering buildings.

  Gently, I rolled Cade over. He moaned, furrowing his brow in pain.

  “Cade. We need to go inside.” I patted his cheeks. His bristles were dark against his startling pale face.

  In the distance, someone shouted, “Over there!”

  My heart stopped as my eyes flashed from Cade to the arched doors, the tool shed, and back to him again. He wouldn’t wake up. The tool shed was too small. And I didn’t have the strength to carry him to the chapel.

  As the angry rumbling of hunters grew closer, I did the only thing I could.

  I ran.

  26

  Daring a peek out the window from my hiding place, I inched open the silk cream curtain. Bright light blinded me for a moment before my eyes adjusted and the looming Str
atosphere Tower came into view.

  Everything looked the same from the last time I’d checked. The chapel’s parking lot was still empty. There was no one in sight. Letting out a breath of relief, I closed the curtain and walked down the aisle of wooden pews toward the back of the chapel.

  I paused, checking on the wet clothes I’d draped over one of the pews. They were still damp.

  I couldn’t believe I did it. I actually escaped.

  We escaped.

  Sinking down to the marble floor, I checked on Cade’s wing. The purple was almost all gone except for a few spots near where the arrow pierced it. Satisfied he seemed to be healing nicely, I pulled the blanket back up, covering his chest.

  Gently, I lifted Cade’s head onto my lap. I brushed my fingers over his damp hair, pushing it off his forehead. The color on his face was back and his breathing was more even. Even the nasty bump and cut from when I shoved the wobbly wheelbarrow through the doorway and accidentally smacked his head against a pillar was finally gone.

  The worse was over. He was going to be all right. Leaning the back of my head against the wall, I closed my eyes, exhausted.

  Every inch of me ached—my back, my legs, my arms, especially the puny muscles of my uppers arms. I was still in shock that they somehow managed to lift Cade onto the wheelbarrow.

  Well, only half lifted him.

  Shivering, I clutched my musty blanket tightly as cool air blew from several vents. Glass pieces from the chandelier made a musical tinkling sound as it moved. It was surprising that the chapel had electricity, and I wondered if that was the case for all the buildings in the city. Even though layers of dust covered the pews, curtains, and the two large ornate podiums at the front of the room, the floor gleamed. It was as if someone was attempting to make it look abandoned.

  The moment I had placed my hand on the chapel’s door handle, the rain stopped. I was able to get us inside before the hunters marched by the chapel, following a group of scavengers who claimed to have seen where we landed. Thankfully, they headed in the opposite direction of the tower.

  “Senna?”

  My eyes flicked open at the sound of Cade’s voice. “Hey, sleepyhead.”

  He lifted his hand and caressed my cheek. “You’re alive.”

  His eyes swirled with emotion as they drank in every inch of my face. I fought against the urge to turn my head and kiss his palm. Seeing Sylas again and how lost he looked without Hannah, I knew whatever feelings I had for Cade had to stop. Losing him would tear me apart.

  “I think I’m the one who’s supposed to say that.”

  “You keep saving me.” His voice was soft, drawing me to him.

  I plastered a grin on my face, trying to keep my voice light. “Yeah, well, it’s starting to become a real hassle.”

  He blinked, sensing the strain in my voice, and then dropped his hand. “Your hair’s wet.”

  “I made it rain.”

  “It was raining? I thought I was dreaming.” He sat up. His face twisted as he flexed his wings, checking on them.

  “How are the wings?”

  “Sore, but otherwise okay.” He carefully folded his wings into his body.

  “So what’s the plan now?” The blanket slipped when I stood. Cade’s eyes widen when he saw I was in a thin undershirt that barely came down to my thighs.

  Flustered, I wrapped the blanket around me. “My clothes are still wet.” I pointed to the pew where my clothes hung to dry.

  He turned away, stammering. “Uh, yes, well, the plan hasn’t changed. We still need to get the tower.”

  “What about Lukas and Big John? Maybe they’re still alive. Or maybe they got away.”

  The room stilled. He stood with his back turned to me, frozen as if carrying the weight of the world on his broad shoulders. Cade was strong. He was a warrior. Surely, he would come up with a plan to find them. But when his head slowly dropped to his chest, I bit back the tears that threatened to spill over.

  “It can happen, right? They could’ve escaped.”

  He remained silent. His head shook slightly as if not wanting to admit defeat even to himself.

  “No. You’re wrong. It’s possible. It is. They can’t be dead.” I repeated the phrase over and over again as I slid my back against the wall until I hit the floor. This was my fault. Why did I have to step into the arena? What had I been thinking? Folding my knees up to my chest, I dropped my head, hiding my shame.

  Cade’s bare feet slapped against the floor as he rushed to my side and knelt in front of me. “Senna, stay strong. Maybe they did get out. I’ve been wrong before.”

  “No, you’re right,” I said, finally giving up.

  “Look at me.” He placed a hand over my head, gently stroking my damp hair. “Senna?”

  Slowly, I lifted my eyes to him. He was so close I could see gold flecks in his eyes. He scanned my face as if searching. I wasn’t sure what he thought he was going to find. A weakling? A coward? I dipped my head, not wanting him to see what he probably thought of me all along.

  “I won’t let you do that to yourself.” He placed a finger beneath my chin, lifting it until our eyes met. “Don’t ever lose hope. Even when everyone around you says there’s no way out. Even if Tovahiel or I think there’s no way it will work, hold on to it. You’re stronger than this.”

  I shook my head. Hot tears rolled down my cheeks. How many more had to die because of me? I’d been too young to save Hannah. But Lukas and Big John? There was no excuse. “I can’t. Not anymore.”

  “You can. Don’t you see who you are?”

  “A coward?”

  “No, not that. You were never that. You stand up against powerful archangels. You were ready to chase down an army of hunters for a stranger. That is who you are. Don’t ever lose that quality. You fight for what is right. You fight for those you love even when the odds are against you. It’s why I—” His breath hitched, stopping words that shouldn’t be uttered. He seemed to be fighting within himself for a moment, then he shook his head slightly and looked deeper into my eyes. He swallowed thickly before he continued. “It’s what I admire most about you.”

  He was so close. I could feel a spark of electricity running through us. I inhaled. He smelled like summer rain. “I don’t want to let go.”

  Ever so slowly, he placed his hands over both sides of my face, cradling me as his thumbs gently brushed away my tears. His voice was low and melodic. “Then don’t. Hold on to hope, and I’ll help you find a way. Somehow.”

  I tilted my head up, inching closer to him. I couldn’t help myself. In his eyes, I saw a reflection of who I really was. Not a helpless little girl who needed shelter, not a weaker being, but a powerful warrior who saved archangels.

  “You will?” I whispered.

  “Yes.” He drifted closer, his breathing quickening as his lips parted.

  When I rested my hands on his bare chest, he shuddered.

  “Senna.” His hands flew to my upper arms. He clutched them tight, stopping me. “We…you shouldn’t.”

  “Shouldn’t what?” His arms trembled as I moved closer to him. He wanted me to fight, to hold onto hope. So I would. I was no longer going to fight against what my heart craved for. I was going to fight for it.

  He gave in easily, dropping his hands to his side. Dipping his head, he touched his forehead to mine. “This isn’t real. You don’t want me. You’re attracted to the angelic beauty, not me. You don’t know who I am.”

  My hands slid up his muscled arms and to his neck as I spoke. “You’re Archangel Cadriel. You love horses. You admit it when you’re wrong. You’ll do anything for your loved ones. You’ll even befriend a witch after you’ve been told that witches couldn’t be trusted.”

  Tilting my head back, I gazed into his eyes, making him face a truth that both of us had fought against since we met. “I know you, Cade.”

  Emotion flooded his face, and my breath caught at the beauty of what I saw. It was the same expression Sylas had whenever he w
as with Hannah.

  “Senna, you don’t—” He groaned as my lips touched his. His lips were soft, warm, strong. Lightning bolted through my veins, exploding every single cell in my body. The shock of it left me breathless. It left me wanting more. I needed more. I needed him.

  His body trembled, fighting against me, against himself. I kissed him again and again. Kissing him harder and deeper, feeding the hunger within me, until finally he groaned deep in his throat and surrendered.

  He circled his strong arms around me, crushing me to his chest. Our mouths met and he devoured me, his tongue pressing, swirling, hot and deep. He kissed me with a feverish need of a first kiss, a last kiss, an endless kiss.

  I weaved my fingers deep into his silky hair, my head falling back in pure ecstasy as his lips traveled down my neck, tasting, sucking, marking me. His chin’s stubble rasped over my delicate skin. I moaned, relishing the heated friction.

  I glided my hands over his back and broad shoulder, reveling in the wonders of his perfectly sculpted body, caressing every curve of his corded muscles. This wasn’t enough. I needed more.

  As if sensing my desperation, he pulled back, tugging at my wet shirt and his pants until I was finally with him again. Skin against skin. Bodies molding together. Two halves becoming one.

  “Cade,” I moaned, overwhelmed by the feel of him inside of me. Pools of blue held me, mesmerizing in their intensity as we moved together.

  Faster and faster, our bodies rocked, keeping in beat with our frantic heartbeats until he cried out my name and I shattered.

  As we laid spent in each other’s arms, I kept my head against his chest, listening to the sound of his heart beating, letting it lull me into a semi-sleep. I wasn’t sure how much time passed when he finally broke the silence.

  “Senna?” His chest rumbled.

  “Hmm?”

  “I’m sorry.”

  I flashed my eyes open and sat up. “For what?”

  He sat up, his eyes unable to meet mine. The blood drained my face. Oh, god. He didn’t feel the same way about me. I threw myself at him and now he regretted it.