I had vowed to never touch her again, but as soon as she walked into the hall, my cock thickened. This time, Fiammetta brought her plain self, no icy frost forming in her fingers and no darkness rolling behind her.

She was no less glamorous.

I couldn’t tear my eyes off her.

The others in the room wanted to gaze upon her as well, but they were too scared to look at the icy sun for fear of burning. She must have terrorized them. I knew from personal experience that if I weren’t a powerful Archangel, she’d have killed me off several times. Her ice magic and darkness had incited pure agony within me. I could only imagine what kind of tormenting effect it had on a lesser being.

The Wickedest Witch had neither sympathy nor conscience. I’d never met any female who had threatened to toss me off a twelve-story tower right after I’d given her memorable orgasms.

While Fiammetta listened to her subjects’ reports attentively, my cock grew harder for her. I suspected that as long as I was around her, I would always be turned on like a beacon.

I didn’t even like her.

But her presence punched my soul. Her touch, her voice, her scent, and the very thought of her aroused me.

Other than the icy glance she’d trained on me when she’d first entered the hall, she treated me no differently than any others. I wanted to lunge at her, yank her from her fake throne, and toss it out of the window, but I remained where I was and clenched my fists.

There would be a time and place to get revenge, but it wasn’t now.

When the tedious briefing was finally over, Fiammetta declared she would oversee the training. Kaara’s face morphed into an expression of astonishment, as did everyone else’s. The room teemed with nerves, but I wasn’t affected by it. 

After breakfast, everyone, except the patrol team, gathered at the clearing surrounded by broken black trees.

Everyone carried their own weapons, and Boar dropped spare ones on the ground.

This was the most ill-equipped training field I’d ever seen. 

The guards picked their partners for sparring. Some of them preferred their claws instead of blades. Two males of different species displayed their thick scales. I flashed them a smile. My skin was harder than their scales and swords.

Only Kaara and I were in possession of weapons that could harm me.

Kaara was no match for me. She wouldn’t be able to keep up with me even after an eon on the battlefield, and the mortal’s life was like a drop in the ocean.

No one requested to spar with me. In fact, they all tried to avoid me. The cowards didn’t dare make eye contact with me.

Kaara stepped toward me, carrying two half-moon daggers instead of her angelblade. “I’ve never seen anyone fight as well as you, Gabriel,” she said. “Spar with me?”

She knew clearly I could end her with one blow, but she didn’t seem threatened by me. She was a fine swordswoman, but not at my level.

“Use your angelblade.”

“No,” she said. “I’m not your enemy.”

“Suit yourself,” I said and sheathed my blade behind my back. My fucking wings still hurt like a bitch.

She eyed Rocky, and her second-in-command rushed to the collection of weapons, picking the smallest, bluntest sharpener and handing it to me.

I shook my head. “My bare hands against your daggers. Ladies first.”

Kaara charged and I ducked, showing her my evasive moves.

When she had an opening, I lunged in, but halted before I slammed into her chest or punched her in the head. I liked her. She’d been straight with me and showed me courtesy right from the beginning. She was a thousand times nicer than the witch.

I had no intention of undermining the girl. But if I were parrying with Fiammetta, the witch would suffer my full wrath and angelic power. 

“Do all Angels fight like you do?” Kaara asked, appreciation in her eyes.

Even though she was at a disadvantage, she anticipated my every move, which was rare. I also noticed she could sense everyone’s mood.

“We’re the conquerors of the universe,” I said. “And I am one of the best among my kind. My High Prince could only beat me when he cheated with his black lightning.”

My pace slowed at the thought of the High Prince. ThunderSong should have informed Seth of my being missing by now. I knew he would come for me. But even he, with his Sky Power, couldn’t find me here, unless he used the Forbidden Glory to tear the fabric of time apart. And he’d vowed never to do that again. The consequences and ripple effects were devastating.

If my crew disobeyed my orders in their desperation to find me, they would land on Pandemonium in a different time period. They would see a totally different landscape, and then they’d be trapped forever.

And all of us, in the past, present, and future, would blow up when the planet could no longer sustain the meteor hits.

I’d learned the truth of this planet in two short days.

I had two options: the first was fixing my shuttle, returning to the vortex, and taking a chance with it. If I failed at the first choice, then my only hope would lie with Fiammetta.

Kaara had said the Wickedest Witch was the only one who could find the portal out of this planet and that she’d need my help. I wouldn’t have believed the violet-haired girl if the First Seer of the Death Valley hadn’t backed her up.

No matter how much I resented Fiammetta, I didn’t want to piss her off.

Kaara found an opening while I was distracted with my thoughts. She swung her daggers, one at my leg and the other at my waist. I leaped high, my wings spreading, and landed behind her. I couldn’t fly now, but my wings weren’t completely useless.

Kaara wheeled around to face me. “How are your wings?”

“Healing slowly,” I said. “This fucking planet is hindering my recovery.”

Kaara gave me a weird look, but I wasn’t paying too much attention to her. I felt Fiammetta’s gaze boring into me.

She stood beside a broken tree.

Ignoring the sharp pain, I spread my wings to their full expanse for her benefit before I slowly tucked them back. My magnificent wings were my best weapon in seduction.

Fiammetta flicked her gray eyes away from me. A dry breeze sent her perfume toward me and I inhaled the sultry scent. I wanted to bury my face in her lustrous, glossy hair and take her scent into my blood.

Everyone, except Kaara and me, parried fiercely at their mistress’ look of assessment. Fiammetta surveyed the area and the parrying pairs with her usual iciness, but excluded me.

“Great Lady Fiammetta,” I called. “Nice of you to watch our training. Care to show us some moves?”

The sounds of crossing steel paused abruptly before hastily resuming, and Kaara sent me a warning look.

Fiammetta strode toward me.

She wore a tight black top, white pants, and knee-high boots. Her attire highlighted her gorgeous shape, and I wanted to tear the clothing off her and have her bare in front of me.

I’d vowed to myself I would never touch her again, not after the way she treated me with such disdain, but I didn’t need to touch her. I would just watch her strip before me.

“Archangel Gabriel,” Fiammetta drawled. “I heard you fought well yesterday.”

She spoke as if she had no idea how I’d fought. She’d been with me when we had fled the jungle. She’d seen my fighting skills.

A mocking smile floated to my lips. “You heard?”

“I guess you haven’t had enough if you’re still so perky,” Fiammetta said. “I can whet your appetite.”

She had been so wet for me last night. I let my unfiltered, hot gaze roam over her.

Her face colored to a pinkish hue, and with that, something powerful tightened its hold around my heart.

I hadn’t expected the Wickedest Witch to be capable of blushing.

My primal male need roared for me to take her.

Her eyes flashed at the smirk I sent her and clouded over with anger.

The Wickedest Witch was embarrassed. 

I grinned at her. “Bring your darkness.”

Kaara squeezed my forearm, annoyed and worried. “What are you doing, Gabriel? Stop!”

“Lady Fiammetta will be a sight for all to watch,” I said.

If Fiammetta had even one-tenth of Kaara’s courteous manners, we would have been fire and fuel. But unfortunately, she was the Wickedest Witch and I was a formidable Archangel. We were oil and water—we would never mix.

I wouldn’t put up with her bullshit—she acted as if she’d never met me before.

Forcing her to get dirty and sweaty with me in the open field would remind her of how we had been tangled up in her bed last night.

Like a flash of lightning, Fiammetta was in front of me.

My pulse spiked. My Angel instinct demanded I fuck her, not fight her. Seth had once said that when we met the right female, our wild Angel beast would come alive and roar. I felt mine stirring and trying to claw to the surface at the sight and scent of Fiammetta.

I’d heard its roar when the witch had blushed.

But I denied it.

My will was the strongest thing in the universe, and my strength would not fail me.

Seth’s Earth Fey mate hadn’t put a lust spell on him, but Fiammetta had hexed me.

Anyone could be the right woman for me, except the Wickedest Witch in the universe.

I fought my raging need to pull her into my arms and have her.

Her pure alpha and feminine scent overwhelmed me. She was so close to me.

Fiammetta arched an eyebrow in mockery. “Do you have any rules, Angel?”

“Only one, if you don’t mind,” I said, extracting my angelblade and burying it in a rock.

The guards gasped. No weapon could cut into a rock, but mine wasn’t any ordinary weapon. And with my blade in a stone, no one would be able to drag it out while I sparred with the witch.

I shrugged off my trench coat and the clean shirt Kaara had provided for me, and stalked to Fiammetta. She tilted her head to look up at me.

“No weapons,” I said.

I wouldn’t take any chance to hurt her, despite my wanting to punish her. A blade had no eyes, no matter how careful and skilled I was. 

It would humiliate her when I pinned her down to the ground, trapping her under my weight. She’d learn to respect me as a male and an Archangel. 

Fiammetta stared at my chest, her eyes tracing every ridge and muscle.

I flexed my pecs and biceps, displaying my male significance. My message was clear: if you want a lover, stop making me a fighter.

Last night, she’d focused only on her own pleasure and had simply used me and discarded me like a toy without caring about my satisfaction. Now, I would give her the chance to see me for the glorious male being I was.

“Anything wrong?” I asked with a mocking smile.

She narrowed her eyes. “You should put on your shirt.”

“Why? I don’t want it to get dirty. And you know water is limited in the City of Nine.”

She hissed, “Whatever. Make your move.”

I thought for a second. It would be safer for me to put on my trench coat—it would hide my erection. I sauntered to my clothing, picked up the coat, shoved it on, and buttoned it up.

“Ladies first,” I said.

“Like you have any respect for women,” she snorted. 

“I do, if she’s a lady,” I said.

The guards gasped.

Her eyes turned gunmetal gray, dark danger burning in them. She wasn’t used to being confronted in such a way. She was used to people surrendering to her will and being terrified of her.

Fiammetta flicked her wrist.

Darkness rolled from her and hammered at me, the force gripping and clawing at me. I staggered back half a foot. Fiammetta’s eyes widened in surprise, and I knew I wasn’t doing too badly.

The training field was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

She hadn’t expected me to still be standing after her attack. It was a great achievement to throw an Archangel back even an inch.

Fiammetta narrowed her eyes to silver slits.

She was a pure predator, just like me. And now she was determined to take me down.

The beast within me roared, happy it had found a match.

Somehow, deep inside, I knew she could bring any Archangel down to his knees with her terrible magic—except for the Dark Lord, the High Commander of Fallen Angels, and High Prince Seth—but her magic didn’t consider me an antagonist. I’d been on the receiving end of her ice and darkness a handful of times, but it’d never meant to maim or destroy me, but to test, warn, and play with me.

“What else do you have, sweetheart?” I asked.

Her darkness hissed.

Kaara had warned me not to cross the line.

“I take it back, Lady Fiammetta,” I said. “But you should not use your magic against a harmless non-magical being. It isn’t fair to hurt me like that.”

Undermining the witch’s authority in front of her army would make me her enemy. Kaara had said the Wickedest Witch was extremely vindictive. 

“Now you beg me not to use my magic, creature?” Fiammetta snickered. “You said one rule only.”

I was back to being a creature.

“I made a mistake,” I said.

She frowned as she considered my words. “Fine. I don’t need my magic to bring you down, Angel.”

“I look forward to it.”

Kaara glared at me.

“Bring it, creature,” the witch growled.

I lunged at her, driving a fist toward her jaw.

I wasn’t planning on hitting her. I expected her to slide aside so I could seize her. It was all about grabbing her and locking her in my arms. Once I trapped her, she wouldn’t be able to escape.

Fiammetta wheeled away, faster than I’d thought she could.

It was rare for any species to move as fast as Angels.

She hadn’t moved this fast before.

I pushed toward her, my fists and feet sending a whirlwind through the air, aiming to herd her into my arms.

To counter me, she became an icy storm herself.

Her soldiers had abandoned their parrying and gathered around us, giving us a wide berth. The only sound in the training field was the speedy whooshes caused by our duel.

At one point, she almost landed in my arms, but she slid teasingly down my legs, and then she was out of my reach again.

The combat became a dance, two magnets trying to pull away from each other but always coming together. The air heated, and I was sure Fiammetta’s subjects could feel the sparks flying between us. They probably thought it was magic, but both Fiammetta and I knew it was chemistry.

A seductive smile settled on my lips as I looked at Fiammetta, my attention not on our duel anymore but on every delicate feature on her face, and she hammered a sharp punch into my ribs.

“Ouch,” I called, my smile growing. “Good girl. I bet you’re great at giving a massage.”

Her tiny teeth could bleed me, but her fists couldn’t do much harm.

Angels had formidable strength. I thought she’d have learned that by now.

Fiammetta’s face flushed.

How endearing.

Her ice climbed over my skin, but it didn’t get into my veins. She wasn’t using her full force on me, though she proved to be a vicious fighter. 

“This feels nice and soothing,” I said. “We Angels roam the sky. Ice storm is my favorite ride.”

Judging from her look, she was debating whether she should summon her ice spear to stab me, but we had agreed not to use weapons.

She’d pulled her spear out last night in her chamber, and instead of piercing me with it, her plan had backfired and I had fucked her senseless instead. The memory should be fresh in her mind, but there was no hint of it in her eyes.

Fine, I sighed. If she thought she could win with a weapon, I would shatter her illusions. The only way for her to win was to surrender.

“I don’t care if you use your spear, witch,” I said. “What’s the fun in rules?”

Fiammetta halted her attacking. “Are you sure?”

Heavens, she was so graceful when she held herself completely still.

I flashed her an amorous grin. “Positive.”

She peered up at me through her lush eyelashes. My heart pounded and my cock jerked forward. I’d been wise to put on my trench coat.

She glided toward me, her arms relaxed at her sides—a submissive gesture, but I knew the Wicked Witch wasn’t that docile. Her clear gray eyes were locked on mine and I was stunned to see they looked like the beautiful early morning sky over my home planet.

She slowly raised a hand, as if wanting to caress my face.

The queen of seduction knew how to play dirty.

I dipped my hot gaze toward her lips, wanting to ravish and bruise her mouth with mine. 

Just as I’d expected, she attacked.

Her ice spear appeared in her hand from the mist and she propelled it forward, but it stabbed only empty air.

I had sneaked behind her. 

I noticed she’d aimed her weapon at the spot beneath my shoulder, not at my heart. If I hadn’t dashed away like a flash, she would have bled me, but she wouldn’t have killed me.

It seemed she desired to teach me a lesson just as much as I intended to teach her one.

The ice spear vanished from her hand, but I didn’t let the opportunity pass by.

I grabbed her from behind, my arms caging her in as I tightened my grip on her. She tried to twist away, but I swept her feet off the ground with my foot, and she fell back against my chest. 

“Just a harmless test, Angel,” she mumbled.

“I bet, and I love every one of your harmless tests, witch.”

She expected me to release her, but I had no intention of doing that. I liked her soft flesh against me and enjoyed feeling the shape of her round, gorgeous ass pressed against my cock. I wanted to fuck her right here, like I had last night, with her hands spread against a wall to anchor her through her orgasm.

Fiammetta stiffened.

I wanted to shatter her callousness. I wanted her to acknowledge my existence and the chemistry between us. For the moment, I didn’t even care if it was her spell that had driven me out of my mind. She wasn’t immune to me either. 

She was playing with my Angel Flame, and it melted ice.

I pulled her tighter against me, more like a lover than a fighter.

Her ice storm crashed into me once again, but it only fueled my flame.

Fiammetta gasped.

Nothing could quench my lust for her.

I buried my face in her lustrous raven hair and inhaled. “Your magic won’t harm me anymore, Princess,” I whispered in her ear. “So give it up and everyone will be happy.”

She straightened, as if the word ‘princess’ triggered something in her.

Kaara stood close to us. She must have heard my whisper because she had the strangest look on her face. A blend of sorrow, loyalty, and hope flitted through her violet eyes as her gaze swept over Fiammetta and me.

My erection pricked against the witch’s back. She shifted, rubbing subtly against it. As the ice wind receded from her, her body grew warmer.

It purred, calling to me. 

My fire burned so hot. If I didn’t bury my cock in her within the next second, my own flame would scorch me.

But I was an Angel, not a wild beast.

And we had an audience gawking at us.

“Sure,” Fiammetta said. “I’m happy to oblige.”

She swung a leg up and split-kicked me, her boot hitting my forehead with a loud thwack.

Shocked by her stunt, my hold on her loosened, and Fiammetta twisted away from me.

She tilted her head and stared up at me, and I nearly shrank away from the ferocity marring her face, but instead, I laughed.

At my laughter, a smile, like the winter sun that rarely shone on this world, sparked in her eyes. I was mesmerized.

The grudge I was holding against her vanished. I would do anything for her. I would even give up my immortal life to be blessed with another smile like that.

Pokka, a guard with a monkey-like tail from Planet Saturn in Xi6 galaxy, rushed toward us and went down on one knee in front of Fiammetta.

“Lady Fiammetta,” he said. “The vampires are outside our territory. Dark Prince Desdemona has a message for you.”

Fiammetta’s face froze with ice.