I whimpered. “I hate this. I hate it so much.”
“Yeah, me, too.” He didn’t sound happy. Then he grabbed hold of my arms and pulled me against his chest. “Oh, hell. This worked before, so maybe it’ll work again.”
The next moment, his mouth was on mine.
Chapter 14
Don’t ask me how it worked, but it did. Something about kissing the demon, going through the motions of feeding from him, managed to fool my inner monster. Made it believe it was getting what it wanted.
Kraven’s grip twisted into the front of my coat to hold me still. My arms were slack at my sides. He had to hunch over to make up for the difference in our heights.
I kissed him back as if I had no choice. I didn’t. This wasn’t a conscious decision, it was one of necessity. And slowly, slowly my mind began to clear.
His hands slid around to the small of my back and he pulled me up tighter against him. My eyes were squeezed shut, but I couldn’t even try to pretend that I was kissing anyone else. Kraven’s scent was unique to him—a pleasant spicy musk with undertones of smoke, like he’d been hanging out near a campfire for a few hours. He was the same height as Bishop, the same build, but they were so very different, so very—
Snap!
I was scanning the streets, looking for something.
No, wait. This wasn’t me. It was Bishop. I was seeing through his eyes, but it wasn’t a memory this time. It was now, and all I could do was observe, not feel what he was feeling. He flicked a glance at Connor, who was crouched on the sidewalk nearby.
“That was close,” Connor said, turning his copper-colored eyes in Bishop’s direction.
“Too close. Damn Hollow isn’t working right anymore.” Bishop looked down at the dagger he held. It chilled me to see that the blade was coated in blood. He’d just killed something. A gray that was no longer around; the Hollow must have opened up and taken it already.
Connor rose to his feet, scrubbing a hand over his shaved head. “Either it works to snatch them away, nearly taking us, too, or it doesn’t open up at all. Why?”
“Don’t know. Wish I did.” Suddenly, Bishop’s breath caught. “Go find Zach.”
Connor looked at him with alarm. “What is it?”
“I sense her. She must be close.”
“Who? Are you talking about Samantha?”
Bishop nodded. “She needs me.”
“I didn’t think that location link between you worked anymore.”
“Sometimes it does. Like now.”
Connor’s gaze grew wary. “You know what Cassandra said. You should stay away from Samantha.”
“I don’t care what Cassandra said. Go. I’ll catch up later.” He didn’t stay to argue. He took off at a run, scanning the streets, looking for something.
Looking for me.
He had this...ability...to find me—from the first moment we touched. The others didn’t. It was a trait unique to Bishop. I wondered if it had to do with his particular job in Heaven. That made sense. An assassin needed to be able to track his prey.
I knew it didn’t work so well all the time, especially when he got confused. When things got in the way of his concentration. When I was too far away.
But sometimes...it worked perfectly.
He was closer than I thought. Only around the corner from the house with the iron gate. He breezed past it, not looking twice in its direction.
Two more blocks up the street and Bishop staggered to an abrupt stop.
He saw me. And I saw myself through his eyes—it was a jarring sight. I was up against a side wall of the Italian restaurant, my arms tightly around the demon’s shoulders, clinging to him as he kissed me.
I didn’t remember grabbing hold of Kraven like that. But I guess I had.
Keeping his attention on us, Bishop quickly closed the distance, reaching forward to grab—
Snap!
Kraven staggered back from me and spun around to face the wrath of his brother. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and braced myself against the wall of the restaurant. I was dizzy and weak, barely able to stay on my feet. Barely able to process what just happened.
“What the hell are you doing?” Bishop’s words held deadly malice. His narrowed eyes glowed bright blue. But he finally shoved the dagger in his grip into the sheath on his back.
For a second there—based on the murderous look he’d given Kraven—I’d been positive he’d completely lost his mind and was about to slice it through his brother’s chest.
When I inhaled again, my hunger returned—and it was totally focused on the angel this time. I felt his warmth from where I stood, propped up against the wall. I fisted my hands at my sides to keep from automatically reaching for him. Kraven’s kiss was enough to take the edge off, but the desire was still there.
I needed more time to get my head together. I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to calm myself.
“Um, what am I doing?” Kraven began, more maddeningly amused than concerned by the angel of death glaring at him. “My job, of course. Why? Whatever did it look like?”
“Your job, huh?” Poison dripped from the words. But when Bishop turned to face me, the anger slipped from his expression. “Are you all right?”
“What?” I blinked at him, stunned. It was the last thing I expected him to say after his furious arrival.