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"Two shockers in one day," Thane said "First, concern foract as his protector Are you ashalare

She shrugged, not sorry in the least

"Well, now that we know Zacharel is so well guarded," the rainbow-eyed warrior said in a sneering tone, "we have business to attend to" Any lingering aht you’d like to know that the demons that attacked your cloud were sent by Burden andhave his location"

Zacharel reached back and clasped Annabelle’s hand, as if he needed to assure himself she was there and she ell

The one with red eyes perused Annabelle up and down before dis her "He’s at the Black Veil We tracked hiht him He let us know that he has Jamila, then he demanded ‘the weak and vulnerable Annabelle’ in trade--and don’t try to gainsayher way "You are"

"Arumbled She so hen compared to these creatures

To Zacharel, he continued with a clenched jaw, "He also said that if you go with an angel escort, he will behead Jao, he will behead Jamila"

Annabelle translated: in essence, Zacharel was screwed

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

THE BLACK VEIL WAS A HUMAN nightclub located in the pulsing heart of Savannah, Georgia Zacharel had hunted ht streets, and wasn’t surprised Burden had made a home there, or that he’d possessed the body of the human ned the club, just to feed off the turmoil of the patrons

Intensely hot this time of year, Savannah’s huel skin Had it not been for Annabelle, Zacharel would have asked the Deity for the return of the snow

He was not in his customary robe, but wore a black mesh tank, black leather pants and scuffed combat boots To add to the look, he’d spiked his hair down the center--a Mohawk, the humans called the style--and rimmed his eyelids with kohl Tattoos now sleeved both of his ars were hidden froarner the aid of the only men who could slip inside such a club and act as his backup without Burden’s knowledge, he’d had to vow to dress like this and let the whole world see him It was utterly ridiculous If there’d been any other way, he would have hurt the ine for even daring to suggest such a thing

Annabelle alternately e in hiave hi walls to widen the distance between the "Can I just say what a bad boy you are right now?"

"Of course you can You just did"

"No, I mean-- Oh, never mind, you spoiled it" Her lips dipped into a pout

A pout he wanted to kiss away He ht look all "bad boy," but she looked…edible Her hair curled down her back in wanton blue-black ringlets He’d dressed her in a tight black-and-white-checkered goith bows at the top and ruffles at the bottom, so that no one would question their association The hes and strappy red heels She looked like a Goth seventies housewife, ready to await her husband with a spiked drink

Besides, the more innocent she appeared, the more Burden would underesti under the assuht, despite the fact that Zacharel would have given up all of his li the same air

Above all, he wanted her safe Was desperate to keep her safe

For afor centuries, Zacharel suddenly felt as if he was drowning in emotion, and not just the desperation He felt worry for Annabelle’s safety He felt an intense desire to at last experience everything she had to give before it was too late He felt concern for Jauilt over the way he’d treated her And as irrational as it was, he felt anger that she had allowed herself to be captured

She had been under Burden’s control for days A lot could be done to an angel, a female, in that amount of time

Earlier, he’d attempted to project his voice into her mind, but she’d never responded His Deity, however, had

I ae, your responsibility You will handle this

He would But…he should have left Annabelle behind, he thought He still could It wasn’t too late

But if he did, she would hate him Hadn’t she told him she would rather die than be locked away? And to leave her behind, he would have to lock her away He couldn’t do that to her Not even he was that cold

Besides, what if that hat Burden wanted? To have Annabelle left alone, unprotected, so that he could snag her? But no, that couldn’t be right The high lord couldn’t knohat the hu interaction was business as usual, that Zacharel would care el than the human Therefore, if Zacharel arrived without her, he would be proclai to one and all that she eance and his aret than she already was Then again, they would find out anyway