The Blood of Angels: Divine Vampires by Selena Kitt Page A

at her. He doesn’t see me.
    That feeling again. My throat closing. Just seeing him touching her, his hand resting on her forehead, is enough to ignite that fire under my ribcage. There’s a tall man standing near, looking down at her, concerned. Maybe Muriel is partnered with him, I think. I hope. He’s handsome—sharp, angular features with shoulder-length hair, an unruly dark brown. He’s wearing a long overcoat.
    “Is she in there, Zeph?” Char asks, frowning.
    “Of course she is. Shhh.” Zeph’s eyes close, brow creased in concentration. Looking at him like this, when he doesn’t know I’m watching, is like discovering a secret. He’s far more handsome than his friend, and already I know those hands, that mouth, probably better than I know my own.
    “What do you see?” Char looks more than concerned now. He looks a little scared.
    “Shh!” Zeph shakes his head but doesn’t open his eyes. I don’t like the way his hand moves from the woman’s forehead to her cheek, stroking lightly with his fingertips.
    “She’s been through a lot. I think—”
    “Char, if you don’t shut the fuck up, I’m going to pull your fangs out.”
    I cover my mouth with my hand to keep from laughing at the dark look on Char’s face. So he’s a vampire. I should have guessed. His hands curl into fists and for a minute I think he’s going to haul off and hit Zeph. I’m about to call out, but what Zeph does next stops him.
    It stops us both.
    Zeph cups Muriel’s face in his hands, leaning in close, like he’s going to kiss her.
    My breath catches in my throat as Zeph’s mouth touches the woman’s. I’ve felt his kisses again and again, I know exactly what it feels like, the soft press of his lips, the smell of him, like some exotic copper spice, those skilled, firm-but-gentle hands. Whatever small jealousy I’ve felt before is nothing compared to this. I have a volcano in my belly and it’s about to erupt.
    “What the fuck?” Char grabs the back of Zeph’s neck, yanking him backwards, and the men tussle. I can only stare at them, wide-eyed, shrinking back into the shadows. They’re yelling at each other and I’m sure they’re going to start punching each other. Neither of them notice that the woman on the couch has opened her eyes, and they’re blood red. Not just the irises, but the whites too. And she’s sitting up. Looking straight at me.
    A chill passes through me as I realize what she is—and what she wants. She’s looking at me like she could eat me alive, and my hands go reflexively to my throat.
    “Muriel!” Char’s voice rings out loudly as he pushes Zeph away from him. He’s noticed his charge, who licks her lips and looks at me like she’s a starving woman and I’m a fat, juicy steak. And I suppose I am. I feel my pulse thrumming under my fingers. “Muriel, no!”
    I open my mouth to cry out, to call to Zeph, but she moves so fast, so very fast.
    But Zeph is faster. He has her by the hair first, then he wraps an arm around her waist from behind, turning her around to face Char. It’s the first time she’s noticed him and it stops her cold. Her whole body trembles when she see him and she cries out, falling to her knees. The tears that fall down her cheeks are as red as her eyes.
    “Muriel.” Char goes to his knees too, gathering the woman into his arms. “Oh sweet Muriel.”
    Char rocks her and the relief in the man’s eyes as he looks up at Zeph is palpable. He mouths a “thank you,” but Zeph isn’t paying any attention. Zeph stalks toward me, grabbing me to him and running his hands over my body through the robe as if he’s checking for broken bones, or cracks and crevices where they shouldn’t be.
    “I told you to stay put.” Zeph frowns before pulling me into a tight, breath-quashing hug.
    “Sorry,” I squeak, and I can’t help but watch over his shoulder as Char cradles the sobbing Muriel in his arms.
    “Go back to the bedroom,” Zeph instructs, kissing me hard on