Page 26 of Reapers Don’t Ride

Chapter

Eight

When I got back to the small bar, I knocked on the back door until the fish guy, Rafe, opened up with a scowl.

“Were you followed? I’m not going to cover your tracks a second time.”

“Of course not.”

“At least you got rid of the dress.” He looked down at my black gear that I’d purchased at a werewolf thrift store. Everything had bits of fur on it, but it was black, warm, and not a ballgown.

I didn’t answer him, just headed for the stairs.

“He’s not there.”

I froze, every bit of my body tensed for action, listening, sensing for an attack. I was about to launch myself at him and rip him apart, but I heard Gavriel’s voice coming from the front bar area and walked stiffly in to see Gavriel sitting on a stool, looking quizzically at a drink in front of him.

“What are you doing out of bed?” I demanded, marching towards him, gripping the box too tight.

He looked at me and smiled. He was still slightly too pale, but so beautiful. “Did you get the blood?”

I scowled at him, but he tugged me close, so I bumped into his chest, or the box, anyway. “I did. Also a healing elixir. What are you doing out of bed?”

“That’s right, Gavvy,” a drawling voice began from my right. “How dare you leave your mistress’s bed?”

I turned and saw the angel from earlier, looking even more disreputable than before. If he was really the cupid, would he be trying to start something with my angel? He’d called him Gavvy in a mocking, annoying way. That meant he knew him. Then this was our angel. Perfect. We just had to capture him and torture the information we needed out of him.

He was lingering near the door, which meant that he could get to the door before we could get to him. We had to lure him closer.

Gavriel sighed heavily. “Lorien. I thought you would have gotten yourself killed by now.” He tightened his grasp on my waist, pulling me closer against him so I could feel his heart beating against my back, smell his delicious angel scent mixed with the fresh blood of his wounds. Healing, but there were still some raw places.

“Whatever,” I said, reaching for the box and opening it. I’d drunk a blood bag while I dressed, and seen the healing elixir The Scholar had slipped me. “Drink this. Insult old friends later.” I uncapped it and held it to his lips while he studied me with soft eyes that were slightly alarmed. The cupid was going to slip away. We had to lure him. Let him put down his guard, which meant making our love the focus, not capturing our prey.

Gavriel parted his lips and let me pour the elixir down his throat. He coughed and hacked a bit while I studied him anxiously. I must have poured it too fast. I pressed my face to his chest and shoulder, smelling to check the healing. I couldn’t tell if it was getting better or worse. I should take off his bandages and see.

He laughed, still coughing, and took my hands, clasping them in his while he stared into my eyes with a soft smile. “I’m fine.”

I scowled at him. “Lies. I can smell your wounds still seeping. Fresh blood does not mean that you are fine.”

“Does it tempt you too much?” the cupid asked, coming closer, but not close enough. Not in range. He was careful. Good for him. Bad for us.

I turned around to scowl at the angel. “My bloodlust is none of your concern, unless you’re offering. You can visit with my angel after he’s healed. Right now, find something better to do.”

He raised his golden brows and studied me. “You’re at our mercy.”

“I made a deal with Shane. Believe me. You are all at my mercy. Only this wounded angel is keeping me from murdering all of you in your beds.”

The angel flashed white teeth before he laughed, then focused on Gavriel. “Look at you. Gavriel the noble. Never proud, never corruptible, except... you seem to have a new weakness. She’s lovely if you like bloodthirsty and vicious.”

Gavriel wrapped his arms around me protectively. “She is honorable. She never kills by choice.”

I hissed and glared at him. What was he doing, letting people know my weakness?

Gavriel smiled at me and smoothed my hair. “I was worried about you, so I came down. I think you’re right. I do need to lie down before I fall down. Shall we go back to the room?”

“Do you need me to carry you?” I asked, eyeing his injuries with concern. He’d seen that the other angel, Lorien, wasn’t going to get in range. We’d have to surprise him, lure him, somehow.

Lorien snorted. “You make it sound like such a hardship.”