Run Angel Run: A Steamy Dark Fantasy Romance (The Angels of David's Town Book 1)

by Karen Van Der Poll

  Maybeth appeared in the waiting area behind the Oracle, “Reba is ready to leave Your Sacredness.”

  “Thank you Maybeth,” Theodora said. “Please escort the Commander to her, and Elijah.” She held up her hand stopping him when he would have followed Danjal. “A word please, I think we should give them a little time together, don’t you think?”

  Danjal felt the heat suffuse his face at her suggestion.

  “Of course your Sacredness,” Elijah smiled knowingly at Danjal who gave an awkward bow, and hurried after Maybeth.

  “She wanted to sit at the fountain, and watch the dawn break,” Maybeth indicated that he should follow her. “Please know there will be a seesawing of her emotions, presently she is tearful but that will change in an instant. Being in the presence of The Angel has that effect.” Maybeth handed him a small vial, “Ensure she receives this elixir over the next three days, it will make her drowsy but that is part of the healing process following the possession.”

  “Thank you,” he took the bottle, and slipped it into his pants pocket.

  “I have administered the first dose already, so get her home, and put her to bed. The sooner she sleeps the sooner she will recover.”

  When they reached the doors, Maybeth swung them open. Reba stood beside the fountain wall. The sun was just peeping over the horizon. Danjal paused on the last step, and shielded his eyes from the glare of the rising sun.

  Reba sat on the fountain wall, and the suns warm fingers seemed to stroke her tangled mane of hair, highlighting the crimson streaks among her thick black curls. She was beautiful in a wild exotic way, and it stirred a warm around his heart, which had grown in intensity over the past few weeks of being around her. The tears on her bronzed skin glittered like diamonds as the dawn kissed her cheeks.

  “Stunning, isn’t she?” Maybeth remarked, “All Fire Elementals are blessed with that golden type of beauty. She needs the sun to sustain her life force, so never deprive her of sunlight Commander, for like a flower she will wilt, and die.”

  “Thank you Maybeth,” he whispered, “You saved her life before, and I will be eternally in debt for everything you did last night.”

  Maybeth clasped her hands before her, and dipped her head into a bow, “As a Temple maiden these sorts of things are my duty. We are all born of angel warriors, and therefore we are family. Now go to her, she needs you now, more than ever.”

  Reba looked up as Danjal approached her, she smiled wanly when he sat beside her, and allowed him to pull her into his arms. She was icy cold, and shaking like a leaf. He held her fast until her body softened, and she sank against him, burying her face into the crook of his neck. Her hands fisted the collar of his shirt as she clung to him as sobs wracked her body. Danjal buried his nose in her hair, and inhaled her cinnamon scent. His demons purred, and a peace he’d not known settled around his heart.

  “I promise he will never possess you, Reba,” he vowed softly, “I’ll kill him before he harms another hair on your head.”

  In the moments which followed Danjal realized that nothing between them would ever be the same again. He felt it, and as she shifted restlessly in his arms, he knew she felt it too.

  “Shall we go home?” he whispered against her ear, and when she nodded, he stood.

  “I can walk,” She murmured against his neck when he scooped her off her feet.

  “I’d like to carry you,” he tightened his arms around her, and strode across the grass heading toward the awaiting helicopter.

  “Thank you,” she whispered.

  He heard the tremor in her voice, and looked down, their eyes locked, “You’re not afraid to fly, are you?”

  “Not with you,” she murmured demurely, and dropped her gaze.

  “Christ Reba, look at me,” he caught her jaw between a thumb, and forefinger, “Don’t say shit you don’t mean.”

  “You’re my protector Danjal,” her voice was husky as she dipped her head, and pressed her lips against his thumb, “I know now you will never harm me.”

  Her emotions would seesaw, he’d been warned, and he knew this was the high following the low. He pulled open the cabin door, and lowered her into her seat, sitting on the floor at her feet, he proceeded to buckle her into the safety harness. He saw the pulse on her neck fluttering beneath her skin. Then he felt the wash of her warm breath on his cheek as he leaned in straightening the straps, and locking the catches. He should have gotten the hell out of that tiny space, and put this bird in the air. Instead, he grasped a fist full of curls at the base of her neck, and covered her mouth with his.

  Her gasp was lost beneath the onslaught of his lips as he plunged his tongue into the heat of her mouth. The kiss was deep, and slow as he took his time savoring her sweetness. She quivered against him, and wound her arms around his neck.

  When Danjal pulled his mouth from hers, she whimpered then groaned noisily, as he caught her bottom lip between his teeth, and nipped at their fullness. Her fingers threaded into his hair, and her nails clawed at his scalp. Danjal relented, and his tongue slid leisurely back and forth, between the swollen softness of her lips.

  His cock leaked from excitement in the confines of his pants as he thrust into the heat of her eager mouth, and gently withdrew. He did this until they were both breathless, and Reba rubbed her breasts restlessly against him. Their hard tips were like pinpoints of fire burning through the material of his shirt. He ran his hand over her rib cage, and spread his fingers below her breast.

  He pressed kisses along her jawline. When she arched her neck, he continued down the tendons of her throat, tasting her skin with tiny flicks of his tongue as he traveled down. Reba sucked in a deep breath when he cupped her breast, and kissed the exposed curve that spilled from the confines of her bra.

  “Oh, ah!” she cried when he brushed her jumpsuit aside, and sucked her nipple through the flimsy material of her bra. “Oh God Danjal,” she panted, writhing in the confines of her seat.

  Danjal chuckled softly, loving how the harness kept her his prisoner as he tortured her with his teeth, and mouth.

  “Angel one, do you copy?” the radio crackled loudly.

  Danjal pressed his face between Reba’s breasts, and groaned in frustration. “Shit!” he mumbled drawing in deep shuddering breaths, as he tried to refocus his sex addled thoughts.

  “Angel One, what is your ETA?” Shaiton’s voice called over the radio again.

  Danjal’s cock ached like a bitch, and he pressed a hand into his crotch, “Down boy.” He grimaced, and Reba laughed.

  “Perhaps you should get that,” she pulled his head from her chest. “Shaiton sounds agitated.”

  “Angel One, the General is chewing my arse because you aren’t answering your phone. The GPS puts you outside the temple. I’m not your fucking keeper, so please call your Daddy before he makes me deploy a search party!”

  Danjal snatched the handset from the docking station, “Christ!” he cursed, “I’m here. What’s the problem?”

  “Your father, is the fucking problem. He wants a report on Reba, ASAP. Call him, and please, get him off my arse. Elijah told him Reba, is some sort of Fire Elemental, and he wants the details of every bloody thing.”

  “I don’t have my phone on me, so he will just have to wait. Reba, has a fear of heights, and getting into the helicopter was a little daunting,” he winked at her.

  Shaiton sighed, “I’m glad she’s okay, you have clearance for take-off by the way. We have nothing in our airspace but birds, so please be careful up there.”

  Danjal replaced the handset and turned back to Reba. Her lips were swollen from his rough kisses, and her eyes were still dark with desire. He lightly touched the necklace at her throat, “where did you get this?” She’d been wearing it last night, and he couldn’t shake the feeling he’d seen it before.

  “I lost it at the Fenugreek coven years ago,” she yawned, and quickly covered her mouth. “Elijah gave it back to me last night.”

  Danjal ran his t
humb over the sunflower pendant. “He kept it for you all these years?” he searched her eyes, “He must have been a good friend,” he didn’t like the flare of jealousy, their past relationship evoked in him. He had no right being annoyed of her past liaisons, hell he’d been no saint himself.

  “He knew how much it meant to me,” she leaned back into her seat, and closed her eyes.

  Danjal pulled the headset over her ears, “let’s get you home then.”

  Reba

  In the days following her return from the temple, Reba spent a great deal of time asleep. She’d wake for the meals Kathleen brought her, and promptly fall back to sleep. Memories of her recent experience haunted her dreams, and she’d often wake choking as she clawed at the snake coiled around her throat. But Danjal, was always at her bedside, there to reassure her it was nothing, but a nightmare, and that she was safe. Cold cloths were pressed to her fevered brow, and sweet-tasting drops were placed beneath her tongue.

  Roharn was there too, his cool fingers on her wrist, as they monitored her pulse. When she called for Danjal amid her nightmares, he was always there, murmuring words that made no sense, but they settled her restless writhing. She’d go back to her slumber, only to encounter yet another nightmare.

  The sound of the door closing woke Reba, opening her eyes, she sat up, to see Kathleen walking towards her bed.

  “Well good afternoon sleepyhead,” the housekeeper greeted her with a warm smile. “It’s lovely to see you’ve rejoined us once again.” She walked to the large French doors that lead to her private balcony, and pulled open the heavy drapes that covered the glass doors. Allowing the weak sunlight to stream in.

  “How long have I been ill?” Reba arched her back, stretching her aching muscles.

  “Three days,” Kathleen replied, “today is the fourth, but your fever broke last night, and Roharn, and Elijah were confident that you were on the mend.”

  “I feel great,” Reba threw off the covers, and swung her legs over the side of the bed. “Just stiff from being in bed I guess.”

  “I’ll run you a hot bath,” Kathleen offered, “that should deal with your aches and pain.”

  “That would be lovely Kathleen,” Reba murmured, and the housekeeper disappeared into her ensuite. She heard the taps open, and the water running. Dear God, she buried her face in her hands recalling her ordeal. This witch, this necromancer or whatever Elijah thought he was, had proved to her, that not even the angels, could keep her safe.

  “It’s ready love,” Kathleen emerged from the bathroom, “I’ll head on down, and tell the commander that you’re awake. He was concerned about you,” she cleared her throat, “as were we all, of course.”

  “Thank you,” Reba rubbed her arms, “I’m grateful for everything all of you did for me.”

  “Terrible bloody business this necromancer,” she clicked her tongue. “Well get in the bath then, I’ll set some clothes out for you.”

  Reba found the bath filled with hot water, and cardamom-and-ginger-scented bath oil. She tossed off her nightshirt, and sank into the waters welcoming heat. Her thoughts turned to Danjal, and she sighed happily. She would never have imagined this holiday of a lifetime she’d planned with Rupert, would take an unexpected turn, and become such a wild and crazy ride.

  There were so many things she needed to think about, and deal with, like being the daughter of an angel warrior. That, and she’d some freaky hex over her, put there by God only knew who. A psychopathic Necromancer, who would stop at nothing to possess her, and then there was Danjal, her beautiful brave warrior. She couldn’t help, but smile as thoughts of him made her body hotter than the bathwater. Closing her eyes, she submerged herself beneath the water,and blew bubbles to the surface. Life suddenly wasn’t so bad.

  Dressed in jeans, and a warm navy-blue sweater Reba padded barefoot along the passage to the head of the great staircase where she found Roharn at the foot of the stairs.

  “Hey, you,” he smiled warmly. “Kathleen told us you were up. I was just coming to check on you, to make sure everything is okay.”

  Smiling happily, Reba descended the stairs, her hand trailing on the wooden railing, “I feel great, to be honest,” she said.

  “That elixir, Maybeth gave Danjal for you, sped up your recovery. Anyway, I’m glad to see you are doing so well. I was just on my out to check on my patients.”

  “Is Blue….” she bit her lip. “Is Blue doing okay? I’ve been a little caught up in myself lately, and for that I’m sorry.”

  “Bludon is in a critical condition I’m afraid. The road to recovery for him will be extensive, if we cannot kill the infection, which has destroyed his immune system.”

  “I’d like to see him if that’s at all possible.”

  Roharn shook his head.

  “But he is my brother,” she insisted softening her voice when Roharn’s brows furrowed, and his lips tightened.

  “I’m sorry Reba, but no visitors,” Roharn said firmly. “He in on life support, and as a fellow medico, I am sure you can understand this.”

  “Of course,” Reba agreed, but she searched Roharn’s tight face, he’d always been so amicable with her, she found his rapid change at the mention of Blue, disconcerting.

  “Right,” he looked at his watch, “I’ll no doubt see you at dinner,” he turned from her, and headed for the doors.

  Reba stood for several moments watching as he walked away, before she headed to the kitchen. Her stomach rumbled noisily, as the aroma of freshly baked muffins wafted from the open kitchen doors. It joined the sound of Sophie singing along to the radio, playing softly in the background.

  “Oh, hello there love,” Sophie beamed, as Reba stood in the doorway, enjoying the cook’s song. “Great to see you’re awake at last.”

  “Thank you Sophie, is that a roast you just popped into the oven?”

  Sophie wiped her hands on a tea towel, “it is indeed sweetheart, roast lamb with veggies. Now, what can I get you, three days without a decent meal, you must be famished?”

  “Don’t worry about me,” Reba strolled to the fridge, and pulled out a bottle of milk. She was hungry, but her mind was in turmoil. What was Roharn not telling her about Bludon?

  “Coffee, and a muffin will be fine for now.”

  “Fair enough love, you let me know if you change your mind, you’ve eaten like a bird the past few days, but for what you’ve been through, you look pretty good,” she twirled her hand before her face, “there’s a kind of glow about you.”

  “Perhaps a little exorcism is good for clearing all the impurities from the soul,” Reba gave an ironic snort. “I wouldn’t recommend it as a beauty therapy though.”

  “Oh Commander,” Sophie looked to the doorway, that beautiful smile lighting up her chubby face. “What can I get you?”

  “No thank you Sophie, I was just looking for Reba,”

  “Hi,” Reba cleared her throat, and a swarm of butterflies flapped their wings in her stomach at the sight of him leaning against the kitchen door.

  “Glad I found you here,” he grinned. “I went to your room, and you weren’t there. I thought I might have to mobilize a search party.”

  The tight black stretch material of his shirt hugged his chest, and biceps, and she licked her dry lips. “I woke up hungry.” He looked more appealing than any food, Sophie could offer her now.

  Danjal folded his arms, and tipped his head to the side, “so I see,” he murmured, and his lip curled into a sexy half-smile. “Can you come to my study?”

  “Um,” Reba cleared her throat, “Yes of course,” she nodded, and tucked a curl behind her ear.

  “Well, I’ll see you soon then,” Danjal pulled away from the doorframe, and Reba could have sworn she saw a rose tint rise beneath his pale skin.

  “I’ll just finish…” she looked at the half-eaten muffin in her hand.

  Sophie turned back to her pots, but not before they saw the knowing smirk on her face.

  “Sure,” Danjal shrugged
, “no rush…” He backed away from the door, “I’ll just be in my study then.” He looked down the passage, and then back at her, and his lips pulled back into a slow seductive smile.

  “Okay…” Reba nodded, feeling a little breathless and lightheaded. That sexy smile was reminiscent of their past liaisons, and it gave her a euphoric rush just thinking about what it usually pre-empted.

  Danjal lingered a fraction longer, and she wondered if he wanted to say something else. Yet the silence between them grew, until Sophie banged a spoon against the pot she was stirring, and he hurried away.

  “Now if I was a young lass like you,” Sophie turned from her stove, and waved the dripping spoon at Reba, “I’d have been down that passage, and knocking on his door already.”

  “It’s not like that.” Reba’s face burned, and she pushed the muffin away.

  “How it is child, is no one’s business, but yours and his, and I know your father, no matter where his soul is, will give you his blessing, now get out of here.” Her face burning Reba pushed back her chair, and hurried out, the sound of Sophie’s chuckles followed her as she hurried down the passage.

  Standing outside the study door, Reba ran her damp palms down the sides of her jeans. Taking in a deep shaky breath, she raised her hand to knock, but the door swung open.

  “Oh shit!” she gasped, and flattened a hand against her chest. “Christ Danjal you scared me.”

  “Sorry,” he motioned with a quick sweep of his hand that she enter. Reba hesitated. She’d never had a pleasant experience in this austere room before. Swallowing down her apprehension, she stepped past him, and strolled into the room. The late afternoon’s sun’s rays poured through the great window behind his desk. It projected the image of the five-pointed pentacle of David onto the study’s wooden floor, and it felt as though the angel David himself welcomed her.

  The sound of the latch sliding into place, made the icy fingers of fear grip her heart. She swung about remembering the last time he’d locked her in here. Danjal leaned up against the door, his arms folded across his chest, he kept his gaze downcast, hiding his thoughts from her.