Rebel (29 page)

There was a murmur of distinct unease from the crowd, but Raziel was unmoved. “So you’re telling us we’re impervious to fire, even though all evidence has been to the contrary. Has the sea lost its efficacy?”

“The sea still heals you.”

“And we must still be blood-eaters?”

“Yes. But you can drink the blood of anyone you choose. The myth of bonded mates is just that, a myth. You can drink from one woman at night and another the next day and suffer no ill effects. In sex, you’re no longer constrained by archaic rules. There are no bonded mates. You can screw who you want, bleed who you want.”

I could feel myself growing numb, unable to turn away.

“And I suppose you want me to sacrifice my people to prove that’s true,” Raziel said. “A problem if, as you say, Uriel’s arrival is imminent. I would lose two warriors if I tested your claims about fire and blood.”

“I drank from Martha last night. I’ll take someone new today and be fine. More than fine, I’d be stronger than ever. We all know that blood gives us power, but there’s a limit to how much we can take without hurting the donor.”

Donor,
I thought frozen. Not mate. What an idiot I’d been.

“This way you can take from several woman without hurting them, and become more powerful than Uriel would even suspect.”

“I don’t believe a word you’re saying,” Raziel said flatly. “Prove it.”

Cain looked around the room. His eyes caught mine for a moment, and then moved on, as if I were nothing more than a . . . a donor. “Anyone want to volunteer?” His voice was wry, mocking. Clearly he didn’t expect anyone to offer.

Tory pushed past me. “I do, you bastard,” she snarled. Michael was close behind her, and she grabbed the knife he always carried, slashing it across her wrist.

She held it out to Cain, bleeding, furious challenge in her eyes, when all I wanted to do was slink away. I believed him. I believed every word he said.

But I was frozen, particularly with Michael’s body behind me, practically vibrating with tension, and I realized he was in trouble as well. Watching your mate feed another would be enough to drive one of the Fallen to the brink of madness. Even Raziel hadn’t quite got used to it.

Cain looked at her for a long, assessing moment. And then he caught her arm in both hands, holding her steady, and put his mouth against the bleeding gash, sucking.

The room was completely silent as he took from her, pulling at her in an almost sexual act. And then he looked up, his eyes meeting mine over Tory’s narrow wrist, and he didn’t slow down, didn’t back off with a polite lick. He watched me as he drank from another woman, and I couldn’t move, encased in ice and sorrow. And a sudden, unexpected, entirely healthy rage.

I could feel the tension running through Michael as he stood behind me, and I realized I should just let him go. He’d crush Cain like a bug, and I’d cheer him on.

A moment later Cain dropped Tory’s arm, looking at Raziel with eyes glittering in triumph. “Nothing,” he said. “Except,” he added, looking at Tory, “you’re delicious.”

That was enough for Michael, who shoved me aside, heading for Cain with a murderous roar, and I wouldn’t have stopped him, really I wouldn’t, except my skin was suddenly covered with a thousand tingles, the pain hit my head and stomach at the same time, and I collapsed on the floor in a dead faint.

I
WAS OUT FOR A ONLY MOMENT.
W
HEN
my eyes opened, Tory was on her knees beside me, holding me, the entire place was in an uproar, and out of the corner of my eye I saw Cain. Michael was holding him, and it almost looked as if he was holding him back, keeping him from coming to me, but I knew that was a lie. Everything about him was a lie.

I tried to pull my stupid brain together. The vision had come in shards, like a shattered mirror, and for a moment I wasn’t sure what went where. And then it coalesced.

“They’re coming,” I said hoarsely.

No one made the mistake of asking what I meant. Raziel surveyed Cain with unbridled contempt. “It appears we’re going to have a chance to prove your word sooner than we thought. Everyone who is able,
go to the armory and prepare. Tory, help Martha to her room—”

I struggled to my feet. For once no doubt troubled me; the vision now was clear and terrifying. “I’m fine. I can fight. But they’re coming with . . . fire.” Unwillingly I glanced at Cain, expecting a look of triumph on his face.

There was nothing but calm acceptance. He’d gotten what he wanted. There would be no more lies—at least, not right now.

He was the least of my worries. I turned and looked out over the quickly dispersing Fallen, and my eyes caught Rachel’s. “It’s time,” I said quietly.

“Time for what?” Tory demanded, but Rachel was already pushing her way toward us. Toward the front of the room, where Allie sat frozen in sudden terror.

“No,” she whispered, but I could hear her, hear her fear.

I broke away from Tory and went to her, catching her trembling hands in mine. Allie, the Source, who was afraid of nothing. “It’s going to be all right,” I said firmly.

Raziel was across the room, conferring with Michael, and Cain had disappeared entirely. I shielded Allie from view as best I could, and Rachel joined me. “We need to tell Raziel,” she said.

“Don’t you dare,” Allie said. “We’re under attack. He needs to focus on saving the Fallen, and I can’t have him distracted.”

“Allie, the baby is coming,” Rachel said quietly. “Don’t you want him there?”

“I’d rather have Sheol still standing once the baby arrives,” she said somewhat breathlessly, as another contraction hit her. “I need help getting back upstairs.”

“You can’t possibly make it up all those stairs in active labor,” Rachel protested.

“Hate those stairs,” Allie gasped. “But I can do it.”

“Hold on.” Rachel disappeared.

Allie looked up at me, her eyes filled with sadness. “I’m so sorry, Martha,” she said. “He’s a heartless bastard.”

“Don’t worry about me.” I brushed it off. “I’ve been through worse.” I couldn’t remember when at that particular moment, but I was sure it would come to me. “Concentrate on the baby. It’s coming, and it’s going to be fine. I promise you.”

She squeezed my hands, some of her panic leaving her. “Since you know so much, why don’t you tell me what sex it is?”

I laughed. “You’ll find out in a few hours,” I said. “Be patient.”

Rachel was back, with Tamlel by her side. Calm, trustworthy Tam, who simply scooped Allie up in his arms and strode toward the open door. Rachel started after her, but I stayed where I was, knowing what I had to do. She turned and looked back at me, a question in her eyes.

“I have to fight,” I said. “You know you can bring this baby into the world without me, and I’m going to be needed.”

She nodded, accepting. Strange, how everyone suddenly believed me after all the years of doubt.

“If you get the chance to accidentally gut Cain, please do so in my honor,” she called back over her shoulder.

I laughed. It surprised me. I wouldn’t have thought I could ever laugh again. At least the thought of Cain’s demise was enough to cheer me. “I’ll keep it in mind,” I said.

There was a moment’s concern on Rachel’s face. She knew me too well. “You’re going to survive,” she said. “Aren’t you?”

“The battle, or Cain?” I shrugged. “Haven’t you noticed that my visions are entirely worthless when it comes to my own life? I have no idea what’s going to happen. I just know I need to be out there.”

She couldn’t hesitate any longer, but she crossed the room and pulled me into a fierce hug. “Don’t die,” she ordered. “We’re going to get our revenge on Cain.”

“I’ll do my best.”

And I was alone, the assembly room deserted. I sank into the seat Allie had vacated. That lovely, refreshing fury had died, leaving sorrow in its place, and I leaned back, blinking. I couldn’t afford to
cry—and besides, he wasn’t worth crying over. When I did cry, and it would happen sooner or later, I’d be crying over my own stupidity, my willingness to believe the impossible. I had looked into his eyes and known he loved me. And what hurt most was that I had deluded myself. He’d never said anything. And for this I had betrayed the memory of Thomas on every level.

They were drawing closer. I could feel them, the Armies of Heaven, ruthless and cruel, and this time Uriel himself was leading them, the boogey monster of Sheol, the most hated and feared despot. We were going to face him, and I didn’t know if we were going to win or lose.

I rose. I needed to get out of this stupid dress, the one I’d thought would dazzle my newly bonded mate. I headed straight for my room and ripped the damned thing off, tearing it down the middle with more strength than I knew I had. I dressed in my usual loose white clothes. They would show the blood, but I could move freely in them, and right now I was in the mood for blood.

I needed to see Cain once more before this started. Not to talk to him—God knew I had nothing to say. I just needed to look and congratulate myself on coming to my senses. In love with him? That was ridiculous. I barely knew him. And he’d been playing mind games with me the entire time, intent on using me in the worst possible way.

One look at him and I’d be primed to kill.

There were only a few people left in the armory, but Tory was waiting for me. She looked at me warily. “You’re not mad at me, are you?”

For a moment I felt something sting my eyes, but I blinked it away. “Don’t be an idiot.”

She held out her arms, and I had to go into them or she’d think I was lying. She’d done what she had to do to prove what a lying bastard Cain was. She’d done it to protect me, and I loved her for it. But I didn’t want to be held.

I went anyway, hugging her tightly, trying to keep it together. And then I pushed her away with a shaky grin. “We’re both going to make it,” I said.

She grinned back at me. “You bet. Want me to spike Cain if I get a chance?”

I shook my head. “He’s not worth it. If the Armies of Heaven don’t get him, then someone else will. We’ve got more important things to think about. “

Tory nodded. “What do you want for a weapon?”

“I don’t need one.”

“Martha—” she began, but I shook my head.

“Trust me.”

“Wouldn’t you be better off in the infirmary with Rachel?” Tory’s voice was curious.

“Rachel’s not in the infirmary. She’s with Allie. The baby’s coming.”

“Shit.”

I nodded. “Yeah, shit. But you know they’ll do fine in the infirmary, even without Rachel. They don’t need me.”

Tory wasn’t looking happy. “So you’re going to walk out on the battlefield unarmed?”

“Trust me, my mood is dangerous enough.”

That coaxed a laugh out of her as she was strapping on the leather armor used by the front line. She was a warrior goddess, in her element. “Let’s go, then.”

The Fallen were lined up on the beach, armed, ready. It was a small army but a dangerous one, with the archangel Michael, the quintessential warrior, in the lead, with Raziel and Azazel beside him. Cain was there as well, though his face was turned away, and I started to head toward the back when Tory halted.

“I’m not leaving you,” she said flatly.

“You need to be with Michael,” I protested.

“Yes, I do. But I’m not leaving you.”

“You want me to go to the front lines where I’ll be a sitting duck?” It seemed like the perfect argument.

“I’ll protect you.”

We were wasting time arguing. The sky was growing dark with the approaching angels, and I was filled with a remembered dread. I had lost everything the last time I had faced combat, and I could still remember the screaming pain of the Nephilim’s
claws on my skin. But I knew Tory. She wouldn’t relent. “Okay.”

They were watching the sky, and only Michael noticed when Tory slipped in beside him, taking his hand and squeezing it. Cain was still turned away, talking to Raziel, and the sound of his voice made me freeze.
Just turn around,
I thought.
One look at your lying face and I’ll be able to let go of this stupid infatuation you manufactured. One look.

“They’re planning to use fire,” he was saying. “The only way you can possibly win is to believe the fire won’t hurt you.”

Raziel’s eyes narrowed as he saw me, and Cain turned. There was a moment of silence as he looked at me, his face unreadable; unbidden, the memory of last night came back, his face as he looked into mine, his unspoken words against my skin.
Love me
. And I did.

It was no delusion I could wash away in the face of his trickery. No infantile crush. For once my visions had been cruel and unyielding when it came to my own life, and I looked at him and knew with a certainty stronger than anything I’d ever felt in my life. Whether bonded mates existed or not, he was mine.

The heavens opened.

Fire rained down on the beach, and everyone fell back in sudden panic as flames erupted, higher than the house, higher than an angel could fly
without getting singed and poisoned, if the old laws were true. The first wave of angels came behind, landing on the beach with wings furled, out of reach of the water that had proven their downfall. We could see them through the flames—lined up and ready, cutting off any escape.

The noise and heat from the fire were overwhelming, but I could hear Cain’s voice. “The fire won’t hurt us. We have to go through it, bring the fight to them, or we’re all going to die.”

“He’s lying!” someone shouted. “We can move back, come at them from the side—”

“Don’t be an idiot,” Cain spat. “I’ll go first.” He drew his sword, and suddenly he looked very different. Like an ancient warrior angel of old, beautiful and lethal, fearless in the face of death.

“We already know you’re impervious to fire,” Raziel said coldly. The flames flickered against his skin, giving him an unearthly glow. “Gadrael is right—this could be a trap.”

Michael cursed suddenly, pulling away from them. “This is bullshit,” he said succinctly. He grabbed Tory and kissed her soundly, then turned and headed for the flames, sword drawn.