Angel Kin

by Tricia Skinner

  “Must…leave.” His throat moved like he’d swallowed razor wire. “Cops…called. Have to stop him.”

  Katie fumbled to loop her arms under him. She tugged and would have wrenched her back if he hadn’t shifted most of his weight. Carefully, Cain made his legs hold him and he stood, wavering but upright. With his equilibrium playing hide and seek, he stumbled from the hospital with Katie clasped to his side.

  They reached the SUV and he slid into the passenger seat. “C-cabin. Go.”

  He closed his eyes and tried to hold down the motion sickness inching up his throat. The silence in the truck closed over him. Abel hadn’t fought him. Why?

  The vehicle stopped. Cain squinted, forcing his eyes open, and a motel sign caught his gaze.

  “What are we doing here?” he asked.

  Katie cut the engine and faced him. “I can’t leave. Not with Jon in the hospital.”

  Goddamn it. “You can’t stay. Stay and you put the rest of your family at risk. Is that what you want?”

  Harsh, but he needed her miles away from Abel and Dravyn.

  “Wait here. I’ll get us a room.” She disappeared and he swiveled his head to follow her approach to the motel office, fighting to keep his eyes open as the Act lingered in his system.

  Moments later, Katie stepped to his side of the car, and helped him out. She didn’t say anything but led the way to their room. He stumbled inside and crashed on the bed.

  “Can I do anything?” she asked.

  “How’s Jon?”

  “He was sleeping. The doctor said he has some broken bones and third-degree burns.”

  Cain stared up at her. Bad injuries. He prayed the fireman survived. He pushed himself upright and felt sick. If Abel had attacked Katie directly, he wasn’t sure he could have saved her. Abel was his physical equal, but his twin’s Grace packed a kick. He remembered each energy pulse and frowned.

  During the attack, Abel hadn’t shown signs of weakening. How could his brother be so fucking strong? The Act should have…

  “God of All.” Cain choked on the truth spiraling through him. “Abel isn’t bound.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  “What?” Katie crouched until she was level with Cain. She eyed him up close and felt her heart pounding. “What about him?”

  “I fought Abel. His power was immense. It took more Grace than I’d ever before needed to undo his commands.”

  “What does that mean? He’s stronger than you?”

  Jesus, she didn’t want that to be true. If his brother could kick his ass, she didn’t want to imagine her chances against the Nephilim bad boy.

  “The Bound Ones are so named because our Grace—our angelic soul—is chained. We can use our powers, but it’s not limitless.”

  Her palms felt clammy. “You have angel powers with conditions?”

  “The Act of Contrition is our penance for tapping those powers. There’s no rhyme or reason to the fucking thing. It strikes, but especially after some unnatural use, like for a prolonged period.”

  “You looked wiped out when I found you.”

  “Yeah, I was, but Abel wasn’t.” His eyes closed. “He’s not bound because he wasn’t one of the four Nephilim the Directorate allowed to live. They never knew he survived. No penance kicks him in the balls.”

  Her mouth was suddenly dry. The Bound were crippled.

  “When I face him again, I…might lose.”

  Cain sounded utterly defeated. Katie could only stare at him. Her hands stilled against his thighs.

  “What if all of you fought Abel? Joined powers or something?” Katie shoved aside images of him lying motionless on the ground. She didn’t care how desperate she came across. Abel deserved to pay for what he’d done to Jon and the others. Cain had to beat him.

  “I won’t bring them in on this,” he said, shaking his head. “I can’t.”

  Katie didn’t need him to clarify. Cain versus Abel. Their father may not have cared that those names brought to mind the ultimate sibling rivalry. Now, the choice was prophetic, except in the real-life death match, Abel might rewrite history.

  Hell no. Katie wouldn’t let Abel win. He couldn’t tear lives apart, hurt her brother, and sashay away when the sun set. She hadn’t planned on getting involved any deeper, but that’s when she’d believed Abel wasn’t her problem.

  She gently cupped Cain’s face, smoothing the furrows on his brow, and wanted to scream at the unfairness. Hadn’t he lost enough? Hadn’t he suffered?

  She inched closer, gauging his reaction, then pressed her mouth to his. The kiss was sweeter than any they’d previously shared. His lips melted against hers, causing a tear to slip from Katie’s eye. He wasn’t driven by lust, or drowning in arousal.

  The kiss said good-bye. The kiss said he couldn’t beat Abel. The kiss said he couldn’t back down.

  She refused to give up. She shoved, and Cain flattened against the mattress without resistance. Crawling on top, she stretched her body along the long, muscular length of him and ground her pelvis against his semierect cock once, twice.

  The kiss changed. Cain gripped the back of her head, drawing her tongue into his mouth with greedy licks. She continued grinding against him, heat building between her thighs. She wanted him, wanted to touch every part of his body. Tugging at his shirt, Katie slipped her fingers up his chest and found his nipple. She gave the nub a hard pinch.

  “Fuck,” he cried out, his head slamming against the mattress.

  Katie raked her nails down his side, then rubbed away the streak she’d left. She wanted him to feel, to remember what living meant. He could die in the far-distant future, but not, goddamn it, tonight or tomorrow or any other day. Not while she breathed.

  “I’m going to fuck you through the bed,” she said, her voice lust-blown.

  Whatever response he intended was cut off when she reclaimed his mouth. Katie felt powerful, sexy, dominant. She couldn’t fight Abel for him, but she would make Cain fight to survive.

  A growl snapped her attention to her lover, who clapped his arm around her waist and flipped her like a pancake. Now, trapped under the weight of his body, she felt her spirit soar.

  He grabbed her T-shirt and yanked the thing over her head. He lost his shirt next, dragged her pants off without slowing, and then discarded his own before she could track his rapid movements. He had left her panties for last, but she’d gone braless since their last sexcapade.

  “I know what you’re trying to do,” Cain said.

  Katie nodded at him, unable to hide her relief. Confidence once again filled his face—her bad-ass bodyguard was back.

  He sucked the tender skin at her neck, and her back arched. He stroked his hand down her side, pausing to squeeze her butt and removed her panties, before he moved his fingers to her throbbing clit. She was damp and accepted his fingers easily, more than prepared for him.

  Cain drew up, his muscles taut along his abdomen, and sank his thick length into her. Katie clamped her eyes shut and swallowed all the oxygen in the room, her body shaking as she adjusted around him. He didn’t move his hips, but tremors passed under his skin.

  “Now,” he said through clenched teeth, “let’s try that fucking-through-the-bed idea.”

  Strong hips thrust forward and she moaned through the first burst of pleasure. He moved slowly, but pushed deep, sending ribbons of ecstasy into every nerve ending. She grabbed his shoulders, her fingers claws on his skin.

  Cain increased the pace, his cock hammering her insides, battering her senses to mush. She loved the power he gave her, awakening her desires, giving them both hope. Katie would not lose Cain. She would fight off every angel, demon, dragon, or even fucking Freddie Kruger if it meant she’d have him in the end.

  “Katie.”

  Her name on his lips brought a sense of connection to her half-angel lover.

  “You go out there, beat the holy snot out of your twin, and lock him up somewhere. Then you get your gorgeous ass back to me. Are we clear?” />
  Shock made him speechless.

  Katie wrinkled her brow. “Do you have a last name?”

  “What?”

  “A last name. Mine’s Logan. Yours?”

  Now, he chuckled. God, nothing sounded better. “No.”

  “Okay, then, Cain Half-Angel, you need to win. Fight dirty, pray, use voodoo. I don’t care. Just promise me you won’t give up.”

  He captured her gaze on a torturously slow glide into her. Pleasure made her lids heavy, but she wouldn’t lose sight of him. He did it over and over, the friction unbearably erotic.

  “I, Cain Half-Angel, vow to return alive, Katie Logan.” His eyes gleamed. “I will use whatever weapons granted by the God of All, and those man-made, to bring this conflict to an end. Then, I will return for you.”

  His cock sank deeper into her, the thrusts picked up pace, and through all of it, she held his gaze. His orgasm rode through him, and his eyes sparked like molten silver. Katie cried out, Cain’s name the only word her mind could conjure.

  Gasping and sweaty, Cain buried his head in her neck, his arms clutched around her waist as he pulled her snug to his heaving chest. Coming down from her blissful high, she wiggled until they were flush, chest to back, knee to shin. Drowsy and content, she nibbled her bottom lip and prayed this was not their last moment together.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Methodically, Cain stroked Katie’s arm. He concentrated on the fine hairs that tickled his fingers and prepared himself to do the right thing. Momentarily overwhelmed by facing Abel after so long, this woman had made him push through his desolation and reinvigorate all the reasons why he should fight his twin until the bitter end.

  He leaned down, placed a kiss on her shoulder, and then rose from the bed. As he moved, Cain briefly appraised their new lodgings. At least it wasn’t as shabby as the former location, but their time here would be brief. He picked up his phone from the floor. One calming breath later, he made the call he’d put off long enough.

  “Report.”

  “We’re going after Abel,” he told Tanis. “Have the team meet me at”— he searched the nightstand and found what he needed— “at the Calm Waters Motel on Bramell Avenue. Room five.”

  He disconnected the call. “Get dressed. When they arrive, I want you to drive to the cabin and wait there until you hear from one of us.”

  He didn’t say “from me.” If Abel was hiding out with Renegades, whoever survived the battle would have to retrieve Katie.

  She scooted off the bed and they dressed silently. As he checked his weapons, he stole glances as she covered her gorgeous body. He’d vowed to return and planned to stick to his word.

  “I told you, I’m not leaving town while Jon is in the ICU.”

  Cain rounded on her. “As much as you love your brother, staying here isn’t smart. The danger to your friends is gone, but you’re not as fortunate. Not yet.”

  “Why are you so sure my friends are all right?”

  “The Black Fangs are dead. I killed them.”

  Her hands covered her mouth. He let her process for a few seconds before he added, “I went to get information but found the vampires. They didn’t cooperate.”

  She stared at him, but gave him a quick nod.

  “The cabin is remote enough. We’ll contain Abel, but if that dark elf is hanging around, I’ll focus on taking him out at lot more easily knowing he can’t get to you.”

  “That’s why you called the team,” Katie said.

  “I called them because it’s our job to stop Abel.” Cain ran his hand over his head. “I let my past drive me. My brothers and Tanis would spare me this shit if they could, but I have to do what’s right.”

  Nearly a half hour ticked by, but neither he nor Katie spoke much. That was okay. Cain kept his mind busy analyzing his brother’s potential weaknesses. Unbound, Abel could outlast him in a head-to-head duel of Grace, but Cain was no slouch when it came to other skills.

  Two rapid knocks on the room’s door made him draw his guns. One more knock. He lowered his weapons. “It’s them.” He crossed the room and opened the door.

  Jarrid’s body filled the doorway. Behind him, Nesty looked grim-faced. Cain stepped aside so his adopted brothers could enter. Kas followed and he started to close the door, but another large hand reached out.

  “Tanis.” His eyes went wide at the sight of his father. The angel’s wings were wrapped in black leather bands that strapped the appendages to his back. Cain shook his surprise away. Every single member of The Bound Ones had arrived, dressed to level some pain.

  “We’ve been working on narrowing the target’s location,” Tanis said. “After the attack on the fire station, I had the team split the search by city quadrants.”

  “Any guesses?” Cain asked.

  “The police scanner told us of a possible sighting near downtown. We’ll start there.” His father glanced at Katie. “I am sorry about your brother and his people.”

  “Me, too,” she replied, hugging her sides.

  “Let’s get going.” Cain’s body flooded with adrenaline. It was time to find Abel and end the Renegades’ plans. The others murmured their agreement.

  Kas peeked out the window, and then swore. “What the…? Check this out.”

  Everyone rushed to a window and peered out. Swarming around the parking lot was a small army of black-clothed police officers with guns drawn. They moved like carpenter ants around the darkened perimeter, battering rams at the ready.

  Prepared to lay siege to the motel.

  “They had a lookout at the Stronghold.” Tanis punched the wall. “Kas, find someone downtown to explain this.”

  His brother slipped a small black case from his shoulder. He propped it on a table and tapped on the computer inside.

  “Did the police chief give a sign he’d send an army after Cain?” Jarrid asked, his guns drawn.

  Tanis braced his shoulder against the wall. “No, but he would not act unless he had sufficient cause.”

  Cain suspected the top cop had found one. He studied the strike teams as they moved into positions around the motel. Pairs of cops knocked on rooms and extracted anyone they found.

  “I count” —Kas tapped more keys, then groaned— “at least fifty heat signatures.”

  Jarrid spat out a curse.

  Kas’s laugh drew everyone’s attention. “Phone’s dead.” He slammed the receiver down and reached for his earpiece. “Cops never heard of VoIP?”

  Voice over Internet Protocol only worked if they had electricity. Cain bet the box would be hit next.

  “We have maybe three minutes before they take down the power grid feeding the motel,” Tanis said, echoing his thoughts. “The police force is mixed species. Some may have a lycan’s sense of smell, a vampire’s night vision, or a twitchy human’s finger.”

  Cain’s mind began calculating scenarios that would end this without bloodshed. The Detroit Police Department wasn’t their enemy. If he gave himself up, the cops would have to back down, but that left the team to deal with Abel and Dravyn without him.

  “Patch me into the command frequency,” Tanis said.

  Kas’s fingers zipped across the keyboard. His father touched the earpiece at his ear.

  “This is Tanis, leader of The Bound. I will speak with the officer in charge.”

  Static flickered in Cain’s ear as he listened in.

  “This is Commander Gil Thompson of the Detroit Special Task Force.”

  Cain stared at Katie, who hadn’t made a noise since this started. He had to get her out of here.

  “Commander, your show of force requires an explanation,” Tanis said.

  “We’ve a warrant for Cain, a member of your team. Have him step outside and tell him to keep his arms away from his body and his hands open.”

  Tanis motioned to Kas to mute the line. “This is not a simple apprehension. If they believe Cain committed multiple murders, they may not give him time to explain.”

  “If I tell the
m I’ll give myself up—” Cain said.

  “No,” Katie interrupted. She ran over and wrapped her arms around him. “You can’t.”

  None of his brothers commented, but he saw their quizzical expressions. Startled by Katie’s open affection, Jarrid, Nesty, and Kas cast curious glances at them.

  “No chance in hell I’m getting arrested,” he said, running his thumb over her chin. “We tell them we’re sending you out first, then me. If you can, head to the car.” He placed the keys in her hand. “Get as far away from here as possible.”

  “And what happens to you?” she asked.

  Cain shot his father a look. “I resist arrest.”

  “No.” Tanis held his gaze for a moment before signaling to Kas. He tapped his earpiece. “Commander, pull your men back. I’ll leave with you, and we will talk to the chief.”

  “I didn’t come here to bargain,” Thompson said. “We want Cain, and we’re prepared to search the premises. Send him out, or let us in. Do neither and I’ll arrest you for aiding a known fugitive. Hand him over and I’ll insure his safety.”

  Tanis stiffened and his jaw muscles flexed. He reached over and tapped the disconnect key on the computer. “Kas, remain here and find the mayor. Get her to pull the plug before this turns ugly.” He faced Jarrid and Nesty. “We will draw them away to give Cain time to escape.”

  Cain arched his brow. “What’s wrong?”

  His father stared into his eyes. “The commander lied to me. He has no intention of taking you peacefully. Whether or not you give yourself up, you won’t face justice without injuries.”

  The room grew quiet. Each Nephilim glanced at the other. Katie buried her head against his chest, though his body had long since numbed.

  “We’ll keep them busy. Take her and go.” Tanis headed for the door.

  Cain blocked his path. “Where are you going?”

  His father tilted his head as if his actions were clear enough. “Three of us can provide a greater tactical advantage.”

  “Bad idea,” Nesty said, his voice carrying a hint of concern.