Because she was so good at selling people out.
“They’ll believe I’m there for the bounty on your head. They’ll let me in, and they’ll take us both right to Brandt,” Heather finished with a little smirk.
“No,” Jade said immediately, and that smirk slipped a bit. “This isn’t going to work, it—”
“Seems you pissed off the pack alpha.” Tanner rubbed his jaw as he studied Az. “And he wants you brought in alive.”
“Only so he can take his time cutting Az apart.” Jade shook her head. “No way. We’re done here. Your plan is crap. If we follow it, we’ll all die.”
Not all.
“Can’t you kill him?” Heather asked Az, crossing her arms. “I mean, you’re the Angel of Death. All you need to do is touch him, right?”
He saw Jade’s jaw drop. “Angel of Death? As in the—”
“Not anymore.” His growl. He would have told her that part, eventually.
“But you can do it,” Tanner snapped. “You’re the only one who can. Brandt is stronger than most paranormals. He’s got magic on his side, and he’s not afraid to use it. If we want him taken out, we need your help.”
Jade’s lips trembled as she stared into Az’s eyes. “I already told you, this isn’t your—”
“You want to use me as bait.” Az wanted to be clear on the rules. “The witch takes me in—”
“And collects the bounty,” Heather added quickly.
“Of course.” Figured she’d take her cut. Not like she’d do this out of the goodness of her heart. From what he’d seen, the witch didn’t have a heart. “Then I get my turn to eliminate Brandt.” And to save Jade. To start his journey back upstairs.
Jade’s body practically vibrated with fury. “This is stupid—”
“I’ll be there for backup.” Tanner rocked forward on the balls of his feet. “Together, we’ll take out that whole pack.”
Az didn’t really need his help. But if the shifter wanted some revenge of his own . . .
“You can’t do this.” Jade gripped both of his hands now and shook him. “This is crazy. You don’t want to just walk right up to Brandt.”
“No?” Now Tanner’s anger had broken past his control. “What’s your big plan then? You want to keep running from him? Hiding? While others die?”
She flinched. “I’ll go to him. I’ll end this myself.”
“You don’t have that power.” Tanner was certain.
So was Az.
Her gaze held his.
“Please,” she whispered. “I don’t want you to get hurt because of me.”
And the choice was made. A life for a life. Sacrifice. He pointed at the witch. “Betray me again, and I’ll make certain you feel the full fury of hell.”
“Been there,” she muttered.
“And you will be again.” A promise.
She swallowed and glanced away from him, and he knew she understood the consequences. Fair enough.
Angels never lied.
The deal had been set.
Angels were idiots. They had to be. As Jade followed Az through the winding hallway located at the back of a voodoo shop, she wondered what the hell she was doing.
Trusting her life to a shifter cop and a witch? Oh, no, not a good idea.
They were the two she should probably trust the least except. . .
Except Tanner had helped her get out of that swamp. He could have turned her in to the authorities or handed her over to Brandt then.
“Trust me,” Az’s words. Az’s hand around hers. And she did trust him. How could you not trust an angel? That was probably some kind of rule someplace. Must trust angels.
Everything she’d ever heard about them said they were the good guys, if anyone was ever really good. They protected humans, just as Az was trying to protect her.
Now the deep scars on his shoulders made sense. Wings. His wings must have burned away when he fell.
But why had Az fallen?
“I’ll arrange the meeting,” Heather said as she opened another door. The thick scent of incense filled the air. This room was filled with old books, glass vials, and some stuff that Jade didn’t want to stare at for too long. A heavy mirror sat on the table to the left. And, yes, it looked like blood stained its surface.
She guessed that answered the question of good witch/ bad witch.
Jade didn’t have tons of experience with witches, but she’d heard whispered stories. Some witches could scry with mirrors to see the future. But whenever they looked into that future, they had to use the darker magic.