Blood of Dragons by Bonnie Lamer Page B

have.”
     
    I wonder if Angels hit each other because she looks like she’s about to punch me in the face.  Or the groin.  Oh, I didn’t think about how certain physical pain may increase while I’m in Raziel’s body.  My hand automatically covers my most vulnerable area.  There’s really no inconspicuous way to do that so I probably look stupid at the moment.  “Did you ever think that maybe I already know that this ends poorly?”  Good one on my part.
     
    She narrows her eyes.  “You have said before that you have no knowledge of a binding between us.  That was your excuse.  If you do not know about it then it cannot happen.” 
     
    I try not to snort.  Obviously he didn’t know about this switching souls thing so there might be more that he doesn’t know.  I don’t think it involves hooking up with this Angel, though.  What else can I say to get her to go away?  I know.  “Are you as tired of this conversation as I am?  Will you please get a clue that I am not even one iota interested in you?  I do not even find you physically attractive so why would I want to be with you in any type of intimate way?”
     
    I’m thinking that Angels are usually not that rude to each other.  The fact that she’s dumbstruck and has her mouth hanging open is a pretty good indication.  Okay, not dumbstruck anymore.  I think I’ll start holding seminars to teach others how to totally piss people off because I’m really good at it.
     
    Her jaw snaps back together with an audible click.  That could not have been good for her teeth.  “I am the embodiment of beauty and I am the inspiration for creativity, Raziel.  I will not have you disparage me this way.”  There’s a threat in her voice but I don’t know what it means.  It dawns on me that I’m in an Archangel’s body which I am pretty sure is built to last.  What can she do to me? 
     
    I’m so stupid.  Really I am.  Archangel or not, it still hurts when she slaps my face.  She’s really strong.  My cheek bone might be broken.  I wince in pain as I say, “Ow.  What did you do that for?”
     
    She shifts back and forth between anger and dumbstruck really fast.  After a moment she says, “You insult my whole reason for being and you dare ask me that?”
     
    I can’t help the eye roll.  “Okay, I am sorry.  You are very pretty.”
     
    Her eyes narrow again and her jaw is set like stone.  “You are not yourself today, Raziel.  First an insult and then a lukewarm apology.  Neither is consistent with your station.”
     
    My station?  Oh, she must mean as an Archangel.  I shrug.  “Like I said before, I guess I am having a bad day.”
     
    “Quite,” she says.  Her eyes are pretty beady at the moment.  Like a beautiful rat.
     
    “Maybe I should go home and lie down.”
     
    I close my eyes and think about home.  Unfortunately, I think of the wrong home.  I think I may have just blinded Kegan.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 18 – Raziel
     
    “Have you come up with a way to reverse the situation?” Kallen asks as we follow behind Zu who moves at the approximate pace of a slug.
     
    “As I am still here, I must admit that I have not.”
     
    Kallen gives me a dirty look.  I understand his frustration but dirty looks will not help me figure this out any faster.  What he should really be concentrating on is the fact that there are Dragons watching us as we move through the Lairs of the Lost.  Each cave we pass has at least one pair of eyes trained on us.  Zu may be our ally, but the other Lost Dragons see us only as intruders.
     
    A flash of fire has Garren slamming Isla onto the ground, the tips of his hair getting singed in the process.  Kallen and I come to an abrupt halt, just barely missing the flames.  Another Dragon, much younger than Zu, prepares to