Sariel

Devin and Willow haven’t left his room once in the last two nights. He must’ve gotten the little gift I’d left him when I moved on. It had been my grace that helped his body … perform to its full potential. I couldn’t leave him with his soul mate, only to spend eternity without the ability to make love to her. Besides, I’ve already given up enough of my grace that I won’t be able to father children. What’s a little more to help the vampire who’d willingly taken me on?

As I rifle through the clothes in Devin’s spare room, I can’t help but shake my head. The man has more leather jackets than any one person could ever need. My gaze lands on the only non-leather item in the closet. It’s a navy-colored, three-piece suit. When would Devin ever wear something like this? Never. That’s when.

I spent five years in his body, and the man either walked around barely clothed, or covered head to toe in animal skin. Sure enough, after fishing around in the pockets, I find a dry cleaning receipt with Galen Turner scrawled across the bottom. A fleeting question of why Galen would keep a suit at Devin’s house runs through my mind, but I brush it off. I don’t really care.

I feel so different this time around, and as I change out of the borrowed sweats and T-shirt which are too short for my long legs, and too tight around my shoulders, I fight a roiling stomach and pounding head. It’s as though my new body can’t handle having me in control. Like it’s rebelling against me even without another being living inside.

I’ve avoided stepping out the door of Devin’s place, needing time to acclimate, and to make sure he was going to pull through. But now that those two are where they should be, it’s time for me to claim what’s mine. Selah is out there, and I’m not going to let her ride off into the sunset with anyone but me.

Another wave of nausea hits me as I button the suit jacket and step into the wingtip shoes. I need to feed. I know I won’t be able to take from a woman sexually, but perhaps I’ll put these fangs to good use.

Snagging Devin’s keys, I slip into the driver’s seat of his rarely used classic Aston Martin. Over the last few years, Devin watched a lot of James Bond, and I have to admit, I liked it.

The engine starts without trouble, and I’m headed down the street, with no particular destination in mind. Since I’m dressed rather dapperly, I figure the usual haunts in Pioneer Square are out. I’ve never done this on my own before, but it seems an upscale club would be best. The glowing red sign in front of me draws me in, making a smile spread over my lips. Of course. This is the same jazz club Reese had worked at when she’d first woken me. How fitting to come back here and start my own venture toward my soul mate.

Parking the car, I stroll confidently to the hostess. She looks me up and down, blinking a few times before swallowing.

“Um, I’m sorry, we’re at capacity.” Her voice is husky and soft. She’ll do just fine. I don’t even need to get into the club.

I put on a fake accent, knowing how much most women love a sexy British guy. “That’s all right, darling. I’m not terribly fond of jazz anyway. I’m really looking for someone to welcome me to the city. Think you’re up for the job?”

Her cheeks flush a deep crimson as she takes her bottom lip between her teeth. “I … I’m supposed to watch the door.”

Leaning in close, I take her hand and turn it over, pressing my nose to her wrist. Inhaling her perfume, I hum softly. “It is you who smells so delectable. God, that scent was driving me mad. I don’t think I can go another moment without knowing what your lips taste like.”

Her eyes are all starry and dreamy. This is too damn easy. Aren’t women supposed to respect themselves more than this?

“Okay, but just for a minute.”

Apparently not.

She takes my hand and pulls me to a back alley, where I can hear the filtered noise of a jazz combo playing their set. Her lips are on mine in a flash, and I fight the urge to push her off me. I just need to do something about this raging hunger, and that has nothing to do with sex. Grabbing her chin, I turn her face away from mine and slide my tongue over her neck. A shiver runs through her as she moans. Readying myself to bite, I wait for my fangs to make their appearance. But nothing happens. Damn. Am I doomed to starve until Selah lets me take her? I nibble the woman’s sensitive flesh and make her squirm. Still nothing.

“What are you doing, brother?” Gabriel’s voice booms from behind me, sending a wave of embarrassment and frustration through me.

Discarding the girl, I turn to face him. “I’m trying to sate this hunger.”

“How? By licking her to death?”

“What do you mean? You know exactly how this works.” I hear her annoyed huff and wave her away. “That’s quite enough from you, darling. Run along now, I’m sure you’ve got work to do.”

“If you’re hungry, why don’t you just eat?”

I roll my eyes to the sky. “That’s what I was trying to do.”

“Sariel, you’re not a vampire. You don’t need to feed on blood.”

My stomach turns to stone. “What?”

“I thought you knew. You’ve been granted your original form. You’re a mortal man … albeit with angelic powers and strength, but you are as you were before the Flood.”

“No. That’s not …” Possibilities rush through my brain as I think about what this could mean.

“You must come with me. It has been too long since you were at full strength. We need to ensure you recall how to best utilize your power. And … Michael has something to give you.”

“What does he have?”

Gabriel shakes his head. “That is not for me to share. Come on. We have a great deal of work to do before we can go up against Lucifer. Stopping Azazel was a big step, but this is far from over.”

My stomach sinks. “Selah.”

“Sariel, you must stay focused on the goal. Father has only promised her to you if you succeed. You can’t go after her until Lucifer has been stopped. If you do … if you claim her, everything will change.”

My heart lurches. She’s engaged to marry another man. I can’t let her go. Not now.

“Brother, trust that what I say is true. It’s for her safety that you need to do this. There will be no world for her to live in if Lucifer gets his way.”

Damn. He’s right.

“Fine. When do we start?”