I knew the instant we arrived that this was another dimension. I could feel it in my bones, and it sent me into a panic.

“Get your hands off me, you-you jerk!” I ordered, kicking up my feet and trying to reach the knife I had hidden in my boot. I felt my fingers brush the hilt but was unable to get a grip on it. I wanted to scream in frustration.

“Wings, what the fuck?” I froze at the powerful feminine voice that rang out, the authority in it urging me to obey.

The devil cursed under his breath. Then, he turned, his grip on my arm never faltering, though judging by the wrinkle to his nose he enjoyed it about as much as I did.

“Kitten-”

“Don’t you ‘Kitten’ me, Lucifer! Release that poor girl!” The woman commanded. “I’m sure she’s enjoying being kidnapped about as much as I did.” She leveled a hard glare at the devil, and I winced, prepared to watch her meet a painful death. What was she thinking, speaking to the devil like that? Did she have no sense of self-preservation?

But, to my complete and utter astonishment, she did not immediately crumble into ash. Muttering under his breath once more, the devil reluctantly did as she ordered. Instantly, the knife that I had in my boot was drawn as I backed away from my kidnapper.

The devil immediately placed himself between me and the woman, sending her a look that seemed to say now look what you’ve done. She remained surprisingly unaffected.

“I like her already,” she said, snorting.

Who in the heck is this lady?

Everything about her was imposing. She was tall, her body broad-shouldered, lightly curvy and filled out with wiry muscle, like a warrior. Her hair was long and curly, shining brilliant, fiery red. Green eyes glimmered mischievously at me, and I got the distinct sense that she was always plotting to do something she really shouldn’t.

“Nephilim, put that down.” The devil ordered, drawing my attention from the woman.

“I’ll ‘put it down’,” I replied, crouching slightly into my knife fighting stance. “In your hand if you try to touch me again.”

Being trapped in a different realm had brought out my fight-or-flight instincts, in which only fight was an option. Devil or not, I’d determined that the time for bargaining and diplomacy was over. I was now in a battle for my life.

The woman grinned brilliantly at me like I’d passed some sort of test. I decided that I hoped she didn’t try to attack me. I didn’t want to hurt her. She seemed like a good person, if somewhat mischievous.

“I really like her, Wings.”

The devil grunted, seemingly in exasperation. “She’s Michael’s favorite Nephilim, Kitten. Don’t forget that.”

Is that what they thought? I suppose it was true, in a way. He’d favored me, but the devil said it like it was an asset, like it had benefitted me. Nothing could be further from the truth.

“Favorite” implied he’d somehow cared for me. He’d only cared about how he could use me to his advantage.

“Right now, all I care about is that she’s terrified. Marc will go ballistic.”

“Good instincts, Amirykal,” I froze at the familiar, low, heated rumble of a voice that came from directly behind me. “You nailed it. I am pissed.”

The devil grimaced, not really looking sorry, but still somehow apologetic. “Marc, I had to be sure-”

“I VOUCHED FOR HER!” Suddenly, the stranger, or Marcus, materialized in front of the devil, only inches away. He was obviously furious; breathing hard, his broad chest shuddering with every inhale, his fists clenched at his sides. “You had no right-”

“This is my realm, Marcus. I have every right.” The devil replied evenly, though I thought I could see a spark of irritation in his eyes.

Marcus scoffed, “And the millennia of service I’ve given you amounts to nothing? I gave you my word, she would not harm a soul here. I swore I’d prevent it!”

“And how would a mere daemon propose to do that? You’re not strong enough anymore.” The devil replied coldly, and at this, even the woman-Amirykal-gasped, her eyes widening.

Marcus flinched as if the devil had slapped him, and a flash of righteous fury filled me. Which made no sense, of course. I didn’t give a hoot what Marcus felt or thought. I didn’t care about his feelings.

Or, I shouldn’t.

Marcus recovered from the verbal barb quickly and responded violently. With a speed that surprised even me, he swiped at the devil, bone-white claws glinting in the light of the chamber. The devil didn’t move, his eyes widening in shock, as if he couldn’t believe the other male would do such a thing. Golden blood dripped from several cuts across his cheek, and Amirykal made a sound that wasn’t dissimilar from the snarling of a feral animal at the sight. A beat passed, and nothing happened.

Then, everything happened at once. The devil roared, sending a monstrous fist towards the other male. Marcus dodged, attempting to swipe at him yet again. Amirykal rolled her eyes and muttered something extremely unflattering under her breath before running straight into the fray. I expected her to get ripped apart…right up until she transformed into a Clydesdale-sized red wolf. She landed in between them, turning to bare her impressive teeth at Marcus.

“Stay out of this, Amirykal,” Lucifer warned. Then, giant black wings appeared to sprout from his back as he vaulted over her to attack Marcus again.

Father’s wing wrapped around me, holding me close. It was meant to be comforting, but all it felt was suffocating. So many feathers…they bound me to him.

“Do you not want to please me, daughter?”

“They opposed me. They do not deserve to live. You are doing Heaven a service by ending their pitiful existence.”

“Enough sniveling. No weakness.”

“No! Not again!” I managed from a suddenly tight throat, “not another angel-no no no no no no-”

I barely registered when Amirykal returned to her two-legged form. She rushed to the trunk in the corner, pulling out a long tunic that covered her to mid-thigh. Before I knew it, her arms were around me, whispering soothing things in my ear. I shook violently in her embrace, my body not mine anymore. The fear had fully possessed it. My breathing was spinning out of control, my chest too tight to breathe. I squeezed my eyes shut and struggled to regain control. I’d already shown so much weakness.

“Marcus! Marcus!” I flinched at her booming shout, and she hurried to calm me. “Your mate needs you, you oaf!”

As was his habit, Marcus materialized in front of us, a dark bruise forming on his jaw. His dark, almost black eyes glowed as they took me in, though I wished he wouldn’t. Wished no one could see me like this. The last time someone had…

No. Don’t think about it. It’ll only make it worse.

Wordlessly, Amirykal released her hold on me, though I didn’t want her to. I liked the touch of someone who cared, someone who didn’t terrify me, though by all means she certainly should. I supposed that after living with my siblings for so long, a woman who could turn into a wolf wasn’t really concerning. And I liked her. She was safe.

The male who took her place, wrapping muscular arms under my back and legs to lift me was the opposite of safe. I didn’t know his motivations, his intentions…his character. Amirykal wore herself on her sleeve. She hid nothing.

I might know his name now, but Marcus was still an absolute stranger. He held many secrets in his heart. I could sense them, hiding beneath the surface, whispering and dark. He was haunted by them, and people haunted by secrets had a way of getting others hurt.

“Marcus, what the fuck? She can’t be a Nephilim; she’s scared of angels-”

“Goodbye, Ammi,” Marcus snapped, before he gathered me back up and we disappeared again.