“You had your underling suck the soul out of her mouth in a single kiss. Doesn’t sound like a caring aunt to me. It sounds like a self-involved demon who only wants to serve her own interests.”

“It was the only way for her to discover her true full potential. It was my gift to her.”

Bishop glared. “You are one cold, deluded bitch if you really think that.”

“Maybe I’m a cold bitch, but I’m not deluded.” Natalie’s amused expression had returned. She liked that she was able to push Bishop’s buttons and get a tangible reaction from him. “I made an exception for Samantha because we’re family. I gave Stephen very specific instructions when he took her soul—for him to take it all in one kiss. That isn’t easy. But my Stephen—” she cast an affectionate look at him over her shoulder “—he’s got a very talented mouth.”

Stephen remained silent, his brows drawn close together.

Bishop’s expression tightened. “What does that mean?”

“Samantha’s soul—” a smile curved her full lips “—it was taken all at once, not in pieces. That means it can be saved.”

My breath left me in a whoosh like I’d just been punched in the stomach. That was the last thing I expected her to say. “You mean it’s not gone forever?”

“He brought it to me when he was finished with you.” The demon’s smile held. “I have your soul, Samantha. And if you ever want it back, you need to do exactly what I tell you to do.”

Chapter 23

A wave of dizziness swept over me as I tried to process this. “Where is it?”

“Somewhere safe,” Natalie replied. “Not here. Only Stephen and I know where it is.”

“That’s why he ran away right after he kissed me, isn’t it?” I asked breathlessly.

“Stephen?” Natalie prompted, flicking a look at him.

Stephen’s throat jumped as he swallowed and he opened his mouth to speak. It seemed like a struggle for him for a moment. “That’s right.”

I met Bishop’s gaze. He looked as surprised as I felt, but there was cautious hope in his blue eyes.

“And what about Carly’s soul?” he demanded. “Did you hide that somewhere, too? That would be the perfect insurance to get Samantha to do as you wish.”

Carly watched us, her expression still glazed and uninterested. But she was paying close attention. I wasn’t sure I even wanted to know what was going through her mind. She liked how she was without her soul—her new confidence, the attention she got from boys at school and at Crave. She might not want it back even if that was an option. But I had to know the truth.

“Well?” I said, looking at Stephen instead of Natalie. “Did you or didn’t you?”

Stephen nodded. “I still have it.”

Relief and fear crashed over me. Maybe Carly could be returned to her former self. But at what cost?

Natalie crossed her arms and nodded at a couple of the grays behind me and Bishop. “Restrain him.”

Before Bishop could move, two male grays grabbed hold of his arms to hold him in place.

“My boys are extra strong,” Natalie said. “When I create the grays myself, they have that extra something special. They can hold your weakened angel in check quite easily.”

Panic shot though me. “Natalie, what are you doing?”

“I’m moving this along. I have places I need to be. Stephen?”

Stephen was at my side in an instant and he took tight hold of my arm.

“Her purse,” Natalie instructed.

Before I had a chance to struggle, or to even realize what was happening, he’d ripped my leather bag off my shoulder and pushed me back from him so hard that I stumbled to the floor and landed on my butt.

Bishop growled with rage and fought against the grays. “I should have killed you the other night when I had the chance, you son of a bitch.”

“But you didn’t,” Stephen replied. “Your mistake.”

He thrust my bag out to Natalie. She took it, unzipped it and then reached inside and drew out the dagger. The gold glinted under the pot lights in the ceiling above us.

Bishop’s eyes had widened. I’d surprised him. Too bad my plan hadn’t worked out—not that it had been that solid to start with. I’d waited too long, hoping for a chance to convince Natalie to change her mind. Hoping there was a way that everyone could survive this.

Now she had the dagger.

“I knew you were lying, Samantha,” Natalie said as she inspected the blade. “When you said you didn’t have this, the lie was clear in your eyes. You’re a very honest person. That weakness must come from your mother’s genes.”

I hated her. At that moment, I’d never hated anyone more.

“Interesting. This could be the very same dagger that killed Anna.” Natalie glanced at the restrained fallen angel before her. “How many of these are there?”

Bishop’s teeth were gritted. “I don’t know.”

“Even if you did know you wouldn’t tell me, right?”

“Good point.”

“Does it have a name? All of these fancy magical weapons usually have names.”

Bishop glared at her. “Yeah. I like to call it Goldie.”

“You’re funny for an angel.”

“Not really. I’m just inspired at the moment.” Bishop’s gaze flicked to the dagger. “You planning on killing me with that thing? Take revenge on me for the others who shoved you in the Hollow seventeen years ago and forgot you existed?”