Darkness flickered in front of my eyes, threatening to draw me back under the blanket of unconsciousness. I gripped the chair harder and tried to stay awake. Gods, I was tired. Was I even awake? Maybe I was dreaming—or dead.

It felt real enough when the ship touched down on the ground. I took another step toward the window to get a closer look, but my legs collapsed out from under me. Someone caught my fall. I turned slowly around, expecting to find the pilot. Instead, I found Nero.

“You should still be sleeping,” I said groggily.

He swept me off my feet, holding me protectively to him. Well, I was going to call it protective at least. That sounded better than ‘reprimanding’ or ‘furious’. I set my head on his bare shoulder, happy in my little delusion.

“You foolish woman,” he said as he carried me into the captain’s office. “What did you do to yourself?”

“Healed you with my blood.” Everything was spinning all around me, so I closed my eyes. I felt him lower me onto the sofa.

“It was more of a rhetorical question.” He sighed. “I specifically ordered you not to give me your blood.”

“And I specifically didn’t listen.” I opened my eyes and shot him a saucy grin. “Because you were being pigheaded.”

“That is rich coming from you.”

“I’m not pigheaded. I’m just strong-willed. I’m sure you appreciate the difference.”

He traced his hand down my arm, his touch feather-soft. “What am I going to do with you?”

“You could try thanking me for saving your life.” I shivered as a warm tingle melted into my skin, burning hotter the deeper it penetrated. A feverish sweat broke out all across my body. “Stop that,” I hissed at him. “Turn off that…whatever magic you’re using on me. You can’t take advantage of me while I’m too weak to stop you.”

Nero chuckled. “I’m trying to heal you, not seduce you. Now be quiet and let me concentrate.”

I sealed my lips and waited, trying not to think about how good his magic felt. Or about how much that feeling reminded me of drinking from him, of the way his blood had pulsed through me. I coughed, swallowing the moan humming inside my throat.

“All finished,” he said after what felt like an eternity of agonizing ecstasy.

I very nearly cried when he withdrew his hand from my arm. He’d healed my wounds, but as the last echoes of his magic left me, I felt even worse than before. I felt empty. Like a hollow shell.

“Wait,” I said, taking hold of his hand before I could think better of it.

Nero waited, his face unreadable.

“I…” I cleared my throat. “I’m glad you didn’t die.”

“Your blood healed me, but it nearly killed you. You are reckless. And foolish.”

My heart plunging in my chest, I drew my hand away, but he caught it. His fingers spread, intertwining with mine as he dipped his head to mine.

“I’m glad you didn’t die too,” he whispered against my lips.

Then, his mouth swooped down on mine. He kissed me with a hunger that shattered his marble facade, leaving only the savagely sensual beast within, the part of him that I’d caught only a taste of before. I grasped at his naked back, pulling him closer with a desperate desire that was as dark as his own.

Suddenly, Nero froze. He pulled away, jumping up to his feet. I jumped up after him, more than ready to pull him back down with me. Until I saw her. Nyx was standing in the doorway, one hand leaning casually against the frame, the other propped up on her hip.

“Don’t let me stop you from this joyful celebration of your triumph over death,” she said, amusement shining in her icy blue eyes.

Nero stood beside me, as still as a statue. The inevitable wave of self-consciousness hit me, and I took a step away from him. Though my body was perfectly alert—overly alert even—my head was still a bit foggy. I miscalculated, and my shoulder brushed against the wall.

“Take a few minutes to rest,” Nyx said. “You two just saved the hundred people abroad this airship from being blown to bits.”

“Just doing our job,” I told her.

Her dark red lips lifted into a smile. “Yes, you really did.”

24

Life and Death

After a few minutes, my head cleared enough for me to try walking again. I made it down the corridor—all the way to the big hole in the ship at the end—without tripping or bumping into anything. Nero closed up beside me. I hadn’t seen him since he’d left the captain’s office with Nyx earlier.

Outside the airship, the Legion was there in full force, loading the witches into the Legion vans so they could be taken back to the city for proper care. The soldiers gave me and Nero curious looks as we passed them on our way to Nyx. The First Angel was directing the whole scene with natural grace, like she’d been made for nothing else. She was the most powerful angel on Earth. She commanded armies and wielded great magic. She could save crashing airships and read our minds from hundreds of miles away. That must have been how she ended up here at the right place and the right time.

“Not exactly,” Nero said. “I messaged her when we came aboard the airship.”

“When did you have time to do that?” I asked. “And stop reading my thoughts.”

“I can multitask,” he replied to my first question. “And it’s hard to block you out when you want me to hear your thoughts.”