Wicked Edge

by Nina Bangs

  Edge managed to catch Zane’s attention and nodded at him. The sorcerer left the three hanging in the air while he headed down to ward Dacian’s door.

  Sounds of battle reached him from other parts of the castle, but he’d stay here because Bourne was here. It was his job to help keep the Big Boss alive.

  Bourne stood on the raised platform that normally held the long banquet table. He didn’t wave his arms, didn’t yell or chant, didn’t do anything but stand there. And still things happened. Edge hated to admit it, but his leader had always been there for his people even when said people were busy cursing him out. Once again, Bourne had their backs.

  A hellhound that had managed to sneak up on Holgarth as the wizard was busy knocking an angel over the head with his staff—there were times when magic wasn’t nearly as much fun as an old-fashioned beat down—suddenly exploded in a shower of blood, fur, and other unidentifiable bits.

  Four angels that thought they had the numbers in their favor as they leaped on Dacian ended up bouncing off the wall at the opposite end of the hall. Meanwhile, Bourne stood staring into space—silent and untouched.

  Ganymede, who’d chosen to fight in human form, was near the courtyard door. He was pulverizing five angels at once with bursts of energy that flashed and boomed. Looked like he was having a blast.

  Near Ganymede, Sparkle fought in her own way. An angel, who’d evidently fallen to her special brand of magic, sprawled on the floor at her feet. He looked up at her from sex-glazed eyes while he clasped her ankle in a desperate grip. Edge snorted when the guy licked her ankle.

  Sparkle was into multitasking. Ignoring the man at her feet, she was pummeling another angel with the stiletto she’d slipped from one foot. Primitive but effective.

  Bain was methodically destroying the hellhounds one by one. Edge had always suspected that Bain logged lots of frequent-flier miles to and from hell. So who better to kick demon butt?

  Edge continued to scan the hall even as he fought his way toward Bourne. Where the hell was Ted?

  A man standing in a corner, one shoulder braced against the wall, caught Edge’s attention. Murmur. The demon was smiling. This was entertainment to him. Bastard.

  Edge punctuated the opinion by flattening an angel who tried to tackle him. The guy was lucky he wasn’t warmed up. Edge hadn’t even drawn his sword yet. He stepped over his enemy. Bourne had said not to kill them, but Edge was making sure they’d stay down for a long time.

  The enemy who challenged Edge next wasn’t as easy to dismiss. He didn’t fling energy blasts or shout challenges as he swung a big-ass sword. He stood in front of Edge with no weapon. Creepy. But a hostile was still a hostile, and Edge got ready to take him out of the battle.

  Then Edge felt it. Love. An almost physical ache. It flowed over him, around him, coating every part of his body and soul. Not sexual. It was the feeling you had for a parent—not that he’d ever had one. The man was big, like all the cosmic troublemakers, and Edge knew they’d make an unbeatable fighting team. This guy would always have his back. The angel smiled, promising that they could be buddies forever if Edge would just fight at his side tonight.

  Edge almost did it. But something stopped him at the last minute. He wasn’t one of the most powerful troublemakers for nothing. He grabbed on to the thought fighting to surface, the warning to wake up and smell the trap. He backed away.

  The angel’s smile died. “How did you know?”

  Edge didn’t answer, but asked his own question. “What are you? Not an angel, but there’s something about you…”

  The angel tensed. “My power is love. I can make anyone love me.” His expression turned sly. “Or someone else.” He shook his head. “Except you, evidently.” He drew his sword. “I guess I go to Plan B now. It’s called tough love. But first, tell me who you are.”

  Edge knew his smile was slow and evil. “I’m Death.” Then he slapped the guy’s sword away and punched him so hard that he hit the floor and lay still. “See, love doesn’t conquer all.”

  Something bothered Edge as he continued to battle his way across the hall. These phony angels all seemed to fight just like the cosmic troublemakers. They were big, tough, and seemed to have lots of different skills. Why was that knowledge important?

  Edge noticed a lot of blood, but only two dead bodies. They were both troublemakers he didn’t recognize, and it looked as though the hellhounds had gotten them. Not that there weren’t a bunch of bodies littering the room, but none of them were dead. Okay, so Ted must’ve told his guys to disable but not to kill. Made sense. Ted wouldn’t be much of a Big Boss if he didn’t have anyone to boss. He wouldn’t be happy about the kills, but Ted couldn’t control demons the way he had his…His what? The fake angels were powerful, but they didn’t seem to have any real battle experience.

  All thought vanished as he saw a massive black body hurtling toward him from the corner of his eye. At the same time, a voice spoke in his mind.

  “Look into my eyes, Death. We are the same, you and I. We kill, and we enjoy it. Look at me and see the truth.”

  “Don’t think I’ll do the eye-staring thing.” As Edge pivoted to face the hellhound, his sword was already raised. “And wrong, dickhead. I don’t enjoy it. But, hey, I might enjoy this.” His swing completed its deadly arc and took the hound’s head with it. At the same time, Edge loosed a flare of power that incinerated the remains. “I’d forgotten how much fun a good decapitation was.”

  The fighting had reached a ferocious peak. Edge tried to keep from slipping in the blood or tripping over unconscious bodies. The three guys that Zane had left flailing in midair were still there. Where was Zane? A prickle of unease tried to surface.

  This would be over soon anyway. Sure, there were lots more of the bad guys. But except for the hellhounds, the rest just didn’t seem to have the savagery, the killer instinct that the troublemakers had. Bad for them, good for us.

  Edge didn’t have long to savor thoughts of victory, though. He’d kept an eye on the stairs leading down to Dacian’s apartment throughout the fight. No matter how much he tried to tell himself that Passion was safe, he still worried.

  So he saw the exact moment when Ted appeared at the top of the stairs with Cinn and Passion. He knew it was Ted because power rolled off him in waves. Both women had the same frozen look that Passion had worn when he’d found her in the bathroom. Only this time Ted was allowing them enough movement to walk.

  Fear clawed at his gut. He’d left Passion in a safe place, only it hadn’t been safe from Ted. Where was Zane? Edge could see Holgarth fighting his way toward the stairs. He was worried about his son too.

  “Stop.” Once again, Bourne silenced everyone with one word.

  Ted grinned. “You’re good. I usually have to shout a few times before everyone shuts up.”

  Fury pushed aside fear. Edge clenched his hands into fists. This was the asshole who’d hurt Passion. Now he was standing there with a grin on his face like he’d won the battle because he held two women hostage. And one of those women belonged to Edge.

  Something moved in Edge, something he thought he’d left behind thousands of years ago. Bloodlust. Blind, merciless, hungry.

  “So while the rest of your people were fighting, you were looking for someone to hide behind.” Contempt dripped from Bourne’s words. “Looks as though you found two of them. I suppose a big man like you needs two women to shield him.”

  Ted’s expression turned ugly. “You don’t deserve to be boss. Here’s what I’ll offer. Tell your people to stand down while you and I battle it out. Because in the end, it isn’t about them. It’s only about who is strong enough to lead.”

  Bourne shrugged. “Fine. They won’t interfere.” Anticipation gleamed in his eyes.

  Ted looked almost gleeful. “I’m Fallen. Have you ever battled one of us?”

  “No, I haven’t.” Bourne looked unimpressed. “But then, you haven’t fought anyone like me either.”

  “How do you know
?” Ted’s belligerence was leaking through.

  “Because there is no one like me.”

  “What the hell are you, anyway?” Ted waved that away. “Never mind. It doesn’t matter. Let’s do it.”

  Everyone else except for probably Dacian and Edge were watching Bourne and Ted. Edge was staring at Passion. She stared back at him, and something in her eyes made him narrow his. She kept rolling her eyes toward the ceiling of the great hall. Over and over. What the…

  He looked up. Just in time to see five angels suddenly appear in midair. They floated just below the ceiling. Too late, Edge realized what had happened. Ted had held back his most powerful angels. This wasn’t going to be a fair fight.

  But he reacted a second too late. All five angels loosed energy at Bourne in deadly waves. Edge could hear what sounded like a sonic boom as each blast hit him. Bourne staggered as he looked up, trying to fight back, but that was the moment Ted had been waiting for. Power poured from him, coalescing into a shimmering ball of killing force that he launched at Bourne.

  The deadly ball exploded on impact with Bourne’s body. For moments that seemed to stretch on forever, blinding light enveloped Bourne. And when the light faded, he lay on the floor.

  Edge felt him die. The tearing of the bond that had connected him to the Big Boss since he first emerged from his primeval past almost brought Edge to his knees. Agony and an aching emptiness where the bond had rested made him gasp for breath. He’d never known, never realized that Bourne had filled so much of him, had meant so much to him.

  “All of you are now mine. I’m the strongest among you. None can challenge me.” Ted waited only a moment, secure in his belief that he was the most powerful in the hall. “Both forces combined under my leadership will shape this planet into something better.” His voice was filled with triumph.

  Self-important prick. Something better? Edge didn’t think so. He was only saying that to maintain the charade for the dumb angel wannabes who followed him. Ted was all about power for Ted.

  Hunger for vengeance was the lit match held to the primal fury boiling in Edge. His woman, no, his love, was frozen beside that bastard. His leader was dead because Ted had no honor, couldn’t beat Bourne in a fair fight. And it all would stop.

  Now.

  Edge glanced at Ganymede. The chaos bringer nodded, giving his okay for Edge to avenge Bourne. He understood that it was Edge’s right to punish the one who’d hurt Passion.

  “You cowardly son of a bitch, you only think you’re the most powerful here.” Edge stepped forward as he issued his challenge.

  Ted glanced at the ceiling, ready to order the hovering angels to strike Edge down, but another voice interrupted.

  “I love games as much as the next demon, but this cheating has to stop. Takes away from the fun. So I’ll just even the playing field a little.” Murmur sounded mildly annoyed.

  The demon pushed away from the wall long enough to focus on the five angels. “Come on down with the rest of us.”

  Edge wasn’t sure what happened next, but for a moment weird music seemed to fill the hall. Then it did what music shouldn’t be able to do. It almost sounded as though it compacted into a thin stream of screaming sound aimed at the five.

  They shrieked as they clamped their hands over their ears, and then they fell. Everyone scrambled to avoid being hit. When the angels landed, they lay still.

  Murmur shook his head. “See, no one appreciates good music nowadays.” He nodded at Edge. “Do what you have to do.”

  “Thanks.” Edge was starting to see the benefit of demonic connections.

  For a moment, there was silence. And then all hell broke loose. Fury at their leader’s death drove the cosmic troublemakers. They fought now with deadly intent, not much caring if they killed every one of Ted’s fake angels.

  “It’s just me and you now, Ted.” Edge started toward him.

  Fear tore at Passion, but she couldn’t move, couldn’t do anything to stop it. Ted would kill Edge. She could see Dacian fighting his way toward them, but he wouldn’t be any match for Ted either.

  Then she took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. How did she know Edge would lose? He was Death. She had to believe, to have faith, that he’d survive this. But God, she was sick of being helpless.

  She watched Edge draw closer, moving in confident, deliberate strides. Silent screams filled her mind as Ted drew his power around him. She wanted to close her eyes, but that would be the coward’s way. If Edge had the courage to fight Ted, then she had the guts to watch. And if Ted killed the man she loved, Passion would find a way to destroy him.

  Edge stopped a short distance from his enemy. Ted started to glow with the power he was drawing to himself.

  “Give it your best shot, because one shot is all you’ll get.” Edge seemed amused.

  “Surrender.” Ted nodded toward where Bourne’s body still lay on the platform. “He was the only one who might have matched me. If any of you were stronger, you would’ve overthrown him long ago.”

  “Maybe none of us were power-hungry bastards who cheated because they couldn’t win in a straight–up fight.”

  Ted laughed. “My motto? The end justifies the means. Always.”

  Suddenly, Dacian was beside Passion. She realized that while Edge and Ted had riveted her attention, the vampire had carried Cinn away. Now, Dacian scooped her up and moved her to where he’d deposited his wife. Ted didn’t notice.

  Zane was there. He looked a little beat up and a lot embarrassed. “Ted took me down before I could get the ward up. I’m sorry he got to both of you.”

  “Just break the spell,” Dacian ordered.

  Nodding, Zane touched both Cinn’s and Passion’s hands. Like the last time, suddenly she could move and talk.

  “Ohmigod, we can’t let Edge fight Ted.” What could she do?

  Dacian shook his head. “He wouldn’t want anyone to interfere.” He offered her an intense glance. “He’s doing this for you as much as for Bourne.”

  Passion blinked. “Why?”

  “Ted hurt you.” The vampire seemed to think that said it all.

  She didn’t have time to sort through that statement now. Passion stood. If she couldn’t help Edge, then she’d help someone he cared about.

  Passion looked with despair at the mob she’d have to fight her way through. She’d never get to Bourne in time.

  “I think this has gone on long enough.”

  Startled, Passion turned to see Sparkle beside her. “What?”

  “This crap.” Sparkle waved at the men still fighting. “Look.” She held up one of her stilettos. “I broke the heel on the head of the last dumbass I fought.” She shook the offending shoe in front of Passion’s eyes and then narrowed her gaze. “You need to get to the Big Boss.”

  “Fast.”

  Sparkle faced the room and shouted. “Everyone fighting for Ted just got kicked in the nuts.”

  Shocked, Passion widened her eyes as every one of Ted’s men dropped to the floor clutching themselves and writhing in agony. Only Ted’s women remained standing. It didn’t take long for the troublemakers to overcome them.

  Passion stared at Sparkle. “You could’ve done that at any time? Why didn’t you?”

  Sparkle sighed. “I’ll explain about men and their egos at another time. Let’s get to Bourne.”

  A few seconds later, as Passion knelt beside Bourne with her hands on his chest, she watched the man she loved face Ted.

  “You assumed that no one but Bourne could destroy you. You were wrong.” Edge’s voice had changed, grown deeper as it filled the hall. “I am Death. And tonight I claim you.” The words had the ring of ancient ritual in them.

  Passion shuddered.

  For the first time, Ted looked a little unsure. He covered it with bluster. “I guess I’ll have to find a new Death now.”

  Edge said nothing. He stood there as Ted prepared to destroy him.

  Terror lived and breathed in Passion as she reached out
to Edge’s mind. “I love you. Don’t you dare die.”

  She watched his lips quirk up.

  “I love you too, angel. Should’ve admitted it before this. And if you have to write my epitaph, don’t forget to say what a great lover I was.”

  “That’s not funny.” She knew her smile was watery.

  He loved her. The knowing was a warm and joyful fulfillment. Tears filled her eyes. She would not lose him. Instinct told her he would be the only one to complete her life, no matter how long that life lasted.

  Then everything happened at once. Ted tried to reprise his glowing ball act. He watched with smug satisfaction as the ball exploded against Edge the same way it had with Bourne.

  Passion knew she screamed, but she couldn’t stop it. And when the glow died, she expected to see Edge lying on the floor.

  He wasn’t. Edge stood staring at Ted, a half smile on his lips. “Oops. It’s a little harder when you don’t have five of your people helping you.”

  Ted looked shocked. He narrowed his eyes and glared at Edge. Passion figured he was either trying to put the big freeze on him or control his thoughts like he’d done in Sparkle’s store.

  “Not working, Ted. I feel you tapping on my mind, but I’m not opening the door. You caught me by surprise the first time. But I’m not surprised anymore. Too bad for you.” Edge’s smile widened. “Now it’s my turn.”

  Passion could almost see Ted assessing his chances. He’d already expended a lot of energy, and his forces were beaten. She knew what his next step would be. Passion waited for him to dematerialize. He didn’t, and she could tell from his expression that he’d tried.

  “Oh, no, Ted. You’re not leaving until I’m ready.” Edge stepped into Ted’s space. And before Ted could react, he’d picked the other man up with one hand and held him suspended in the air. “You hurt the woman I love. You murdered Bourne. And for these crimes, you’re history.”

  Ted struggled in Edge’s grip, but he didn’t seem to have any strength left. Panic filled his eyes. “Let me go. I’ll leave and never come back. I’ll—”