Blessed Fury: An Urban Fantasy Romance (Angels of Fate Book 1)

by C. S. Wilde

  “There’s no such thing as soulmates,” Ava said quietly from behind the vampire.

  The woman rolled her eyes. “Believe what you will, angel girl. Your faith does not change simple facts.”

  “Who are you?” Liam demanded, wiping spit from his mouth with the back of his jacket.

  “Her name is Lilith,” Ava said.

  The vampire chuckled. “Thank you for the introduction, princess.”

  Ava pressed her blade deeper into Lilith’s neck, drawing thin droplets of blood. “Don’t call me that.”

  “I apologize.” The vampire raised her hands. “Truce?”

  Ava didn’t move.

  “This position is highly uncomfortable for me, dear.” The vampire swiveled quickly, opening a gash on her own throat as she faced Ava.

  Liam spotted his sword on the ground behind him and quickly snatched it. He had the tip of the blade at the back of the vampire’s neck in no time. “Touch her and I swear—”

  “If I wanted your love dead, she already would be, Selfless,” Lilith said, her attention solely on Ava.

  His partner glared at Lilith, her head held high, silently defying the vampire. Ava’s hardened expression went beyond simple rebellion. It lacked the mercy and compassion so inherent to her.

  “Princess.” He stretched his free hand toward her, hoping it would catch her attention.

  Ava blinked, as if drawn from a trance. She nodded, the Valkyrie gone and replaced by the meek Guardian. She walked to Liam and took his hand.

  Lilith turned to them. The gash on her neck had already begun to heal. Flesh mended, weaving over itself, and then Lilith’s cut disappeared without leaving a scar, though her full cleavage remained drenched in her own blood.

  Ava gripped her blood-tainted dagger so hard that her knuckles became milky white. “I-I shouldn’t have …” Her hands began to tremble, shock finally hitting her.

  “Why not?” Lilith asked, rubbing her neck. “You’re remarkably good at slashing flesh. A poor little Guardian. Who would’ve thought?”

  “I didn’t mean, I …” Ava bit her lip. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. “No, I did mean it. I wanted you dead.” Her voice faltered. “How could I?”

  “It’s okay,” Liam muttered softly, wishing his words would appease her. “You’ll get used to it. You did good, Ava.”

  “Hardly a sin to wish a vampire dead, isn’t it?” Lilith fisted both hands on her waist and nodded to him. “You and your partner still have a long way to go. He must teach you.”

  “Who’s he?” Ava asked through trembling lips.

  A giggle twittered in Lilith’s throat. “In time.”

  “Enough of this nonsense.” Liam pressed the tip of his sword on her collarbone, drawing droplets of blood. “If I was Michael, then I was forced to become human. Why?”

  “Your frail human shell can’t withstand the rest of your memories. I can’t see them either.” She watched the blade that drew her blood and scoffed. “I’m bored now.”

  Her eyes glimmered ruby red before everything darkened, and a freezing cold pierced through him.

  “My children are suffering, and we’re impatient.” Lilith’s words were a faint whisper echoing around them. “Stay away from the Order. You’re both precious to him.”

  The fading light of sunset blinked back, filling the warehouse in twilight. And Lilith was gone.

  18

  Ava

  Ava watched steam rise from her coffee cup. The events from the warehouse replayed in her mind nonstop, keeping her awake through the night.

  She cringed at the memory of Liam and the vampire kissing, at Lilith’s body snaking around his, and then his mouth taking hers with the thirst of a man lost in the desert. Just the recollection of their passionate exchange made bile swirl in Ava’s stomach, and her throat tightened.

  She had watched. All of it, and she couldn’t lift a finger. Literally, thanks to Lilith’s glamour.

  Ava had cried Liam’s name until her throat felt like shredded paper, but he didn’t listen. Just when she had given up, her eyes stinging with tears, she felt the pulse of her sword. That familiar warmth spread through her, and the rift of light and heat opened inside her essence. Molten gold burst from her core, covering her entirely. The shield. It could break the glamour. Ava didn’t know this, but the rift inside her somehow did.

  Lilith’s glamour shattered, but the vampire was so busy making out with Liam that she didn’t notice Ava approaching until it was too late.

  At first, Ava had wanted, needed, to kill Lilith. Something primeval inside her said Liam was hers and no one else’s. Instead of ending the bloodsucker, though, Ava swallowed her fury, and a rush of guilt swam across her. She had never wished to end someone’s life before.

  Once they returned to Liam’s apartment, she prayed tirelessly during the night, begging the Gods for forgiveness. Hate was something new to her, something alien and wrong. She hoped praying would redeem her.

  Ava took a sip of her lukewarm coffee, feeling like she was at a crossroads: one path leading to her salvation, the other to her doom.

  Liam sat across from her, and by his frown and the dark circles under his eyes, he had barely slept during the night. Like her, he also stared at his coffee.

  “We should tell the Captain,” Ava said quietly, breaking the silence, “and then report to Ezra.”

  Liam snorted. “You trust your boyfriend blindly.” He sipped his coffee, then shook his head. “We tell the Cap and Kev. Not a word to Ezraphael or any other angel.”

  “Not even Justine?”

  Liam shrugged. “I guess Kev would tell her either way.”

  Ava narrowed her eyes at him. “Ezra could help us, Liam.”

  “How can you be certain of that, princess?”

  This time, he’d used her nickname to spite her. Ava knew the difference in his tone by now, but starting another argument wasn’t smart. So she brushed it off. “I’ve known Ezra since I became an angel. I trust him as much as I trust Justine.”

  “Really?” Liam took another sip. “You don’t tell him half of what you tell her.”

  Ava crossed her arms. “It’s a hierarchy issue. If he knew I was disobeying his orders, he’d have to assign me to another charge. And punish me, of course.”

  “He paired us together, Ava.” Liam’s words hung dry in the air like the single beat of a drum.

  If Ava and Liam were indeed of the same fabric, as Lilith had said, then it was a remarkable coincidence that they had been paired together.

  Could Ezra have done this on purpose?

  Ava snorted to herself. Impossible. Ezra wanted Ava to be his mate, not Liam’s. It made no sense to pair her with a supposed soulmate.

  And what were soulmates, after all? Folklore, nothing more.

  Eternity was a long time, which was why most angels had several mates. Only a handful spent their lives with one partner, and even so, they didn’t share the soulmate bond.

  Because it wasn’t real.

  Some Virtues said that the ancient scriptures had been mistranslated; that the Erudites who wrote them meant mates as in kin souls instead of soulmates—one soul.

  It made sense. In all the branches of the Order, in the entire world, there was no record of soulmate bonds backdating to thousands of years. Not to mention that the concept of half-souls existing and completing each other seemed ludicrous. Each essence had its own worth, its own purpose.

  She cleared her throat. “We both know better than to believe the words of a vampire.”

  “Yeah.” He gave her a weak smile. “But that Warrior killed Drake to silence him. So no word to the Messenger, not until we know who’s behind this. Agreed?”

  She let out an exasperated sigh but knew there wasn’t much she could do to convince him. “Fine.”

  This wasn’t wise, but it wasn’t imprudent. If they wanted Ezra’s help, they would need a strong case. Right now, they juggled smoke and mirrors. They needed concrete evidence.

/>   Liam watched her from across the kitchen counter, his expression revealing nothing. Finally, he said, “I saw a memory of the Archangel who helped us. Gabriel. I can’t explain why, but I think it might have something to do with Archie’s death.” He glanced at his own arms like they were a piece of clothing. “And with me.”

  Ava nodded. “Then we go to Gabriel for answers.”

  “We will.” He smiled sadly at her. “But first, I want to train some more with you.”

  She shifted on her seat. “You think Gabriel would attack us?”

  “No, but if shit goes down—and it always does when you least expect it—I want you ready, or at least as ready as you can be.”

  Nothing in the world could prepare Ava to face off with an Archangel. If he hurt her charge, though, she would pierce her sword’s blade into Gabriel’s gut and slash his flesh until his blood rained upon her, and … Ava cringed at her own thoughts, skipping a breath.

  Heavens, she’d have to pray tonight, something she’d been doing all too often since becoming Liam’s partner.

  The Selfless bit his lips and shook his head, as if he were dismissing something that had come to mind.

  “What is it?” She reached out and laid a hand over his.

  He stared at her fingers, his thumb brushing her skin. “You shouldn’t become Ezraphael’s mate.”

  “It’s my duty,” she said, a knot clogging her throat. “We’re not soulmates just because a vampire told us we are. Soulmates aren’t real.”

  “I know, but it felt …” He frowned, then turned her hand softly, laying his palm over hers. His skin was wonderfully warm, and she couldn’t help but relax under his touch.

  “It doesn’t matter.” He pulled away and crossed his arms. “Besides, we’re partners, and we shouldn’t jeopardize that. Right?”

  She nodded. “Right.”

  That inviting pull between them told Ava to crawl on the counter and drown Liam in violent kisses, to vouch her eternal devotion to him.

  Instead, she closed her eyes and inhaled, assuring herself that this wasn’t because of some ridiculous connection.

  Soulmates? No, this was simple attraction.

  A familiar voice at the back of her head, her own voice, whispered, “Fool.”

  As soon as they entered the Order’s hall, Ava found Justine, who had just come out of the elevator. Her friend’s eyes widened in surprise when they met Ava’s.

  Justine’s dark brown hair was fixed in a bun, and she wore Ava’s golden dress—the one she had used during last year’s ball. Her earrings were made of tiny rubies hanging down like a curtain, and a grim feeling pierced Ava’s gut. Images of dripping blood, red as those shiny stones, flashed before her eyes.

  She shook her head, and the images were gone. If Ava believed in silly things such as bad omens, she’d be worried.

  “What a lovely coincidence!” Justine said, hugging Ava with strength. She turned to Liam and slammed both hands on her waist. “Give me back my friend. You train her way too hard, Mr. Hunky.”

  Liam lifted one charming eyebrow. “First, it’s just training, nothing else. Second,” he turned to Ava and frowned, “is that what you two call me behind my back?”

  Ava gulped. “Sometimes.”

  Liam rolled his eyes, but his half-manly, half-boyish grin made Ava smile too. He nodded to Justine. “Going out with Kev?”

  “We’re going to the opera.” She beamed with excitement. “How fancy is that?”

  Liam cocked his head to the left. “Tell Kev he better be on time tomorrow.”

  “Sweetie, if tonight goes as well as I hope it will, he’ll have to be a little late.” She tapped the bridge of her nose knowingly.

  Ava wished she could tell Justine all that had happened to them, all the things that had kept her awake at night.

  “You okay?” Justine asked as she laid a hand atop Ava’s shoulder.

  She observed her friend, who had been shining with happiness before noticing Ava’s torment. “I didn’t sleep well, that’s all.”

  Justine gave Liam a naughty grin. “Oh, really?”

  He bit his lip and looked away, his mouth twitching bitterly.

  Justine cringed and turned to Ava, a breath hissing through her teeth. “Oh, did I hit a nerve?”

  “It’s fine.” Ava smiled. “Go enjoy your date. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

  Justine narrowed her eyes. “I could force your mental barriers and see all that’s going on in there.” She pointed to Ava’s forehead. “But lucky for you my date is waiting. Tomorrow, then. Promise?”

  “Yes. We’ll tell you and Kevin everything. Go enjoy yourselves.”

  Justine kissed Ava goodbye, then tapped Liam’s shoulder. “You play nice, Mr. Cranky.”

  “I thought it was Mr. Hunky?”

  She winked at him. “It depends on your mood.”

  With that, Justine waved goodbye and left.

  Ava and Liam went up to Gabriel’s office, the air in the elevator heavy with silence, a brick wall between them. Ava wished to break it, but she didn’t know how.

  The elevator opened to a beige carpeted corridor. They stopped before a door with a golden plate that read 42—according to the help desk, this was Gabriel’s office, the one he occupied on the lower floors of the Order, the floors third-tier angels like Ava could access.

  Since Gabriel supervised quite a few Warriors, his presence in the lower levels was often a requirement. They had been lucky, really. If Gabriel had been in his usual office, in the upper levels of the Order, he’d be close to unreachable.

  Before Liam could knock on the door, a kind voice came from inside. “Come in.”

  Gabriel’s office was different from Ezra’s. The walls were a soft silver, and the golden floor showed their reflection. A wide array of swords and weapons hung on the walls, and for a moment, Ava felt as if inside a shiny gunroom.

  Gabriel was lying on a white padded sofa near an open archway which showed the city beyond. Curtains fluttered gently with the soft wind that came through.

  He had a book in his hands, his blue-green wings hidden within his light. There and not really there. Ava remembered Jal’s words: Demons and angels only reveal their wings when they want to fly, fuck, fight, or show off.

  Apparently, Gabriel wanted none of those.

  He closed the book and smiled at them in a dreamlike manner. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

  Liam took one step forward. “You knew me.”

  Gabriel frowned, as if he thought Liam had lost his mind. “Of course. We met in the hall a few days ago, didn’t we?” He snorted to himself. “I believe I saved you from a terrible beating.”

  “No, I meant you knew me before this.” He pinched his own skin.

  Gabriel froze, his lips half open. He cleared his throat and stood, leaving the closed book on the sofa. He paced in circles, his hands behind his back.

  Liam walked to him. “What happened to me?”

  Gabriel stopped, sadness coating his expression. “You don’t want the truth, Michael.”

  So the vampire was right. Before Liam was a Selfless, he’d been the legendary Archangel Michael. And if Lilith was right about this, could she be right about them being soulmates?

  No, absolute nonsense.

  “I need to know what happened,” Liam said. “It’s part of an investigation.”

  “An investigation?” Gabriel knitted his brows. “Of what?”

  Liam looked back at Ava, silently asking for help.

  “We can’t disclose the case.” She stepped in. “By orders of the Messenger.”

  “Hmm.” Gabriel turned to him. “I assume it has nothing to do with your partner’s death?”

  “It doesn’t,” Liam said without hesitation.

  He could be a remarkable liar when needed.

  Gabriel narrowed his eyes at Liam, assessing him. Then he ran a hand through his curly hair and sighed. “I’m not certain if this is wise.”

  “I don’t care,” Lia
m replied through gritted teeth, fists clenched. “Why was I turned into a human, brother?”

  Gabriel recoiled slightly, as if Liam had hit him with a punch. It was a strange thing to witness, a mighty Archangel recoiling before a Selfless.

  “You don’t understand. I can’t—” His tone came out strangled, as if he were fighting a battle within himself.

  “Why?” Liam demanded.

  “You don’t want to know.”

  “Why!” he bellowed, his face turning red.

  “To forget!” The words burst from Gabriel’s throat, and he inhaled deeply. “You had to forget.”

  “Forget what?”

  Gabriel crossed his arms and looked out of his open window. “Betrayal. Pain. Oh, the things we’ve done, Michael ...”

  Liam opened his mouth to say something, but an alarm wailed throughout the Order, piercing Ava’s ears.

  Gabriel’s eyes widened, and his jaw dropped. “It can’t be.”

  “What happened?” she asked, her voice muffled by the alarm, the shrieking sound reverberating through the golden floor of Gabriel’s office.

  “The Order.” Gabriel swallowed. “It has been breached.”

  Air vaporized from Ava’s lungs, leaving a vacuum in its place.

  The Archangel hurried to the wall and picked up a holy gun and a sword. He tossed another holy gun at Liam, and her partner caught it midair. Liam strapped the weapon in the holster underneath his jacket, then unsheathed his sword.

  Gabriel glanced at the silver blade and grief oozed from his irises, but then he shot out of the room. Liam followed and so did Ava.

  Her heart beat inside her ears as she unsheathed her sword, blood pumping through her veins. Heavens, who could’ve breached the mighty headquarters of the Order, the trunk that held all other branches together?

  Who would be insane enough?

  Her hands shook and she gripped her sword tighter, trying to hide the fear that swirled inside her.

  They hurried to the open elevator and pressed the button to the hallway. Her skin was cold and clammy with sweat.

  As they descended, Liam cupped Ava’s cheek with his free hand. “Are you okay?”