Lover's Wrath: A Paranormal Reverse Harem Romance (An Angel and Her Demons Book 3) by Lacey Andersen (best classic literature TXT) 📗

Nightmares came back to her, of Caine standing over her bed, of him pressing pain into her mind.

She wanted his words to be a lie, but they felt true.

Metal touched her throat. Her thoughts died away as she realized that a soul-blade threatened her. The angel behind her spoke in a low voice. “You shouldn’t have come here.”

A woman angel, then. Sometimes they were the most vicious. Surcy kept still and waited. She waited to lose her head, to be killed and returned to Caine with the knowledge that she’d failed these children, but nothing happened.

The woman’s voice came again, louder this time. “All of you rebels are the same, so certain you can defeat Caine and all his angels. I seriously don’t understand where you get your reckless faith.” She paused for a second. The voice lowered, just for Surcy. “Listen, I still don’t know what I believe, but I don’t believe in Caine. I won’t directly help you. I won’t put my own life at risk. But I can distract them.”

Her heart raced, filling her ears. She wanted to ask the angel why. Why would she help their cause?

But then, the blade was gone.

A second later, an angel stood in front of the ranks of soldiers. Her blonde hair fell down her back, and she wore a pale dress. “I saw them. The demons and farmer are trying to sneak through the back woods.”

Frink’s blade slipped slightly further from the children’s throats. “Alright, here’s the plan—“

Surcy called her soul-blade into her hand and teleported. Appearing just behind Frink, she sliced off his head, for what felt like the millionth time. Her arms wrapped around the children as his body fell between them, and she teleported away, erasing their path behind her.

When they reached just outside of the sanctuary, she sent her blade away.

The children turned to her, tears in their eyes.

“Where’s mom and dad?” the girl asked.

Her heart lurched. “Your mom is in a hospital. Your dad is helping to defeat the bad men.”

Tears tracked down their cheeks, and the boy touched his raw-looking throat. “What do we do now?”

She nibbled her lip. “Through these woods is a sanctuary of magic. Protected so that the angels can’t reach it. There are people like your father and you there. You’ll be safe. I could take you, but I think your dad and my demons need me.”

They stared at her for a long minute, and then took each other’s hands in a movement she knew gave them comfort.

“Just tell us which way to go,” the girl said.

The boy nodded. “My plants will help me find the way.”

Surcy hesitated only a moment and then pointed, praying that she was doing the right thing. The children gave her one last look, then turned and walked in the right direction. With each step, the plants bent to the side, making an easy path.

Please, please stay safe.

Taking a deep breath, she teleported away.

8

Daniel squared off with the farmer, his fists clenched in rage. “You’re going to do what we say or—“

“I won’t do a damned thing without my wife and children!” Clarence shouted, advancing on him.

Fuck this. As much as I want to punch him, there’s an easier way.

His fists unclenched. “They’re safe,” he whispered. Demon magic flowed through the words, and the effect of them was almost instant.

The anger drained from the farmer’s face. “Where?”

That’s right. Believe me. Do as I ask.

“Surcy has gone back for them. She’ll put them somewhere no one can hurt them.”

It took everything inside of Daniel to use his natural demon-ability to convince the farmer, because the truth was he was on the verge of something terrible. Surcy had dropped them on this fucking building and gone back to face unimaginable danger. And why? For a couple kids they didn’t know.

In his mind, he pictured the little boy and girl, and his stomach clenched. The angels would have no use for them as anything but pawns in their games. If no one came back for them…

He shuddered, imagining them lying bloodied and dead on the ground.

But still… either they all should have gone back or none of them. Tristan and Surcy might value the Immortals more than themselves, but if they lost Surcy, did he even care about Caine?

Maybe. A little.

“I want to see them,” the farmer said, and a little anger returned to his eyes.

Tristan took a step closer. “There is no more time for this. Clarence, did you see those creatures? Those angels who attacked us?”

The farmer nodded.

“Those creatures were disguising themselves as your farmhands to be close to you. They were waiting for a signal from a being known as Caine, The Judge of all living beings. And once they were given the signal, they were instructed to kill you and your family.”

His eyes widened. “Why?”

Tristan titled his head, in a very gargoyle-like way. “Because you are one of only ten beings powerful enough to stop Caine and his angels.”

Clarence began to shake his head. “I’m not—“

“You are. And if we don’t move quickly enough, Caine will win this war, and you and your family will never be safe again.”

The farmer studied him. “Do I have your word that my family is safe?”

Fuck. The damn gargoyle won’t lie.

“Yes,” Daniel rushed out. “They’re safe. We just need to hurry and find the rest of your kind, so we can stop that murderous bastard.”

The man exhaled loudly, and his hand shook as he ran fingers through his hair. “If I wasn’t just attacked by fucking angels… if I wasn’t here talking to a gargoyle and whatever the hell you are… I’d think you were both nuts. But, if my family is safe, and this stops them from being hurt again, I’ll go with you.”

Daniel hadn’t realized how worried he’d been that the guy would just keep refusing to help them until that moment. And while the farmer’s acceptance eased some of his fears, nothing would calm