5

It was warmer in New York. The weather lay on the precipice of spring, just waiting to take the plunge. Dirty black slush was thick in the streets, and freezing rain fell from the sky, pecking at my face like cold needles. It was considerably less romantic than the fat snowflakes and winter wonderland back in the Wilds. But at least there weren’t any monsters here in the city, just crowds. Unlike the monsters, the people split out of my way at the sight of my Legion uniform.

As soon as we’d gotten back to the Legion office, Captain Somerset had run off in search of a hot shower. I would do the same shortly, but first I had a stop to make.

A brick building lay before me, a warehouse that had been converted into an apartment building at some point. I chuckled as I passed the fat naked cherub statutes outside the entrance. Nero owned this building. There was just something too funny about an angel owning a building with cherub statues. The chubby cute angels of mythology had nothing to do with the real thing.

I passed under the entrance arch and followed the rotating door inside. A grandiose lobby spread out before me. With its majestic water fountain, magically-tinted windows, and gold handrails, the room resembled a cathedral more than the entrance hall of an apartment building. All that was missing were the walls painted with angels and the armies of supernatural soldiers bowing before them, sappy looks of utter devotion pasted on their faces.

As I walked past the bar, I paused for a moment to glance at the rows of colorful alcohol bottles laid out in perfect lines behind a glass closet. The illustration on one of the labels caught my eye: a picture of a witch in a corset, her pale hair tucked around a tiny top hat. I couldn’t help but think back to Marina Kane, the witch who’d joined the Legion to save her family’s honor. A distant airship floated over the witch’s left shoulder. The text bubble coming out of her mouth promised that the drink within the bottle was like a trip up into the heavens.

“No, thanks. I prefer Nectar,” I told the fictitious witch.

“I never should have left. You’re so lonely that you’re talking to yourself.”

A smile crept up my lips, threatening to consume my whole body. I turned around to face Nero, and the sight of him took my breath away. His wings were out, spread out behind him in a vibrant tapestry of luminous blue, green, and black feathers that rivaled the most beautiful paintings on Earth. He sure liked to make an entrance.

“Nah,” I said with a nonchalant shrug.

Do not stare. Do not stare. Nero knew he was gorgeous, and he used that fact to his advantage.

“I’ve always talked to myself,” I told him.

“That does not befit a soldier of the Legion,” he replied, his lower lip turning downward in disapproval.

I wanted to taste his mouth. I settled for allowing him to taste my sarcasm.

“No.” I smirked at him. “It really doesn’t.”

He watched me for a few silent moments, his eyes burning right through me. Suddenly, he rushed forward, swallowing me in his arms. My heart lifting in joy, I squeezed him to me. I’d missed him so much. I hadn’t truly understood that until now. Though we’d seen each other just a few hours ago in the Wilds, that hadn’t been the same at all. That had been all business. This was different. It was just the two of us and no one else. Finally.

“What’s that smell?” Nero asked, inhaling the scent of my hair.

“My shampoo. It’s cherry blossoms.”

His mouth dipped to my neck. He kissed me softly. His hands tensed on my shoulders, and he pulled away.

“It’s Colonel Fireswift.” Nero’s voice dropped to a savage whisper. “His scent is all over you.”

“We trained with him yesterday evening,” I said. “He’s made it his newest mission in life to kill me.”

“You grappled.”

“Technically, he grabbed me and threw me against the wall and broke my arm. It hurt.”

Nero’s hand traced down my arm. “You should not train with him,” he said in a dangerously soft voice.

“I don’t have much of a choice.”

“He’s dangerous.”

I arched my eyebrows. “As opposed to the nonthreatening angel before me?”

“I will always keep you safe.”

“I can handle Colonel Fireswift. He’s mistaken if he thinks he can kill me off so easily.”

Nero pressed lightly against the big, black bruise on my arm, and I winced in pain. How did he even know where the bruise was? It was hidden beneath my clothes.

“Apparently you’re not handling him so well,” he commented.

“How do you know that’s not from my adventure this morning in the Wilds.”

Nero gave me a hard look. He knew. It was impossible to lie to him. Every move I made, every glance, every blink, every shift of my body was a dead giveaway. That, plus he could read my mind.

“Ok, fine,” I admitted. “It was from my fight with Colonel Fireswift.”

“And his son.”

“Yes, Jace was there too. The Colonel likes to pit us against each other.” I frowned. “Jace isn’t all bad, though. We train just fine together when his father isn’t around.”

“You should find another training partner.”

“Well, there was this one guy. Strong, powerful, lethal as all hell, easy on the eyes too. Nice wings.” I brushed my fingers against the tip of his wings. “But then he got himself tied up in angel business. I’m lonely, you see. I need someone to keep me warm during these cold winter nights.” I was trying hard to keep my face serious, but a smirk was pulling on my lips.

Nero leaned over and took my lower lip between his teeth, drawing it out slowly. “You shouldn’t provoke me, Pandora.”

My heart thumped against my chest. “Oh, but it’s so much fun. Your reaction always makes it worth my while.”

“I’m going to make you forget all about your jokes. And about your friend.”

His look was dark, his voice ruthlessly sensual. He was so close—and yet so far away. He took my hand and flipped it over. His thumb massaged slow, deep circles into the inside of my wrist. He was hardly touching me, and my heart was threatening to explode out of my chest. I was so doomed.

Nero dipped his head, his mouth stopping only inches from mine. “There won’t be a single word on your lips but my name.”

I snorted. “Confident, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

His mouth swooped down on mine and he drew me into a deep, all-consuming kiss that overrode all logical thought. There was nothing but the two of us—and that kiss. My hands clawed at his back, trying to pull him in closer. He didn’t budge. His hands didn’t even touch me. His lips trailed my jaw, dipping to my neck. Nero took my hand in his and kissed the top with gentlemanly grace. Then he flipped it over and kissed the underside of my wrist. Each touch of his lips was a burning brand in my skin, devouring me. It was the most sensual kiss I’d ever experienced, and I wanted more.

His fangs brushed against my neck, so lightly that they didn’t break the skin. My blood surged beneath the surface. Why wasn’t he biting me?

My lips parted, a soft moan escaping them. “Nero.”

He looked up, hitting me with a deliciously dark smile. “There it is.”

He grabbed my hips roughly, turning me around. My palms slammed down on the countertop. His chest was hard against my back, his breath hot against my neck. He exhaled slowly, then his fangs sank into me. Liquid fire pierced my skin, cascading through my veins, drowning me in a firestorm of pleasure.

I moaned in protest when his mouth lifted from my neck.

“Leda.” His eyes were wide, dilated.

I turned around, clawing at him in sheer desperation, drawing him closer, a silent demand for him to continue drinking from me.

“I have to stop now, or I won’t be able to,” he whispered against my lips.

His voice rumbled, a sign that he was at the verge of losing control. Like standing at the edge of civilization, just one more step would send him tumbling into the wilderness. I wanted him to tumble. I wanted him to lose all control. And to take me with him.

He kissed me, his tongue sliding across my extended fangs. “Drink from me.”

I dipped my mouth to his neck, kissing the skin softly once before sinking in. His blood flooded into my mouth, as sweet as the gods’ Nectar—and just as addictive. I pulled him hard against me, drinking deeper. He groaned in approval.

I can hear you two making out down there, an amused voice chimed inside my head. Damiel.

I pulled away from Nero, dizzily plopping onto one of the barstools.

“I am going to kill him,” Nero growled.

I touched his face. “You don’t mean that.”

“I do.” And he looked serious.

“Come on,” I said, sliding off the stool. “Let’s go check on your dad.”