“So what do we do?” Connor asked.

“We deal with this,” Bishop replied. “Then we go out and find a way to stop that angel.”

“And how do we do that if it doesn’t have a body to kill?”

“Simple,” Roth said. He was making an excellent attempt at not looking at Cassandra at all, even though she stood right next to him.

“Simple?” she said with disbelief. “How can you say anything about this is simple?”

His jaw tightened, but he still didn’t meet her eyes. “Sounds like the angel sometimes possesses a body before it feeds. That’s when it’ll be at its most vulnerable. We can kill it with Bishop’s dagger.” He finally glanced at her, giving her a half grin. “Not simple, but fairly brilliant. Don’t you think?”

She didn’t comment on Roth’s brilliance.

But I would. “That’s a terrible plan.”

Roth glanced at me, his eyes narrowing. “Why?”

“Because you’d have to kill a human—or whoever the angel is possessing. That’s called murder.”

He just stared at me. “Bishop, could you muzzle your pet, please? She’s getting all moral on us.”

I spun to face Bishop. “You can’t possibly think this is a good plan.”

His expression was grim. “It’s not a good plan. But it may be the only one we have that will work.”

I felt the color drain from my face. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I’m serious. That angel’s driven at least two dozen people to their deaths, including Zach. If it takes the sacrifice of one innocent in order to save an entire city, then that’s unfortunately what will have to happen.” His harsh expression softened just a little. “Try to understand.”

I wanted to argue, but I couldn’t find the words. It was a horrible plan, the worst ever, but I couldn’t think of another way to end this. And I didn’t want more people to die because of that angel’s hungers.

“This is so messed up,” Jordan blurted out. “Everything I hear is seriously blowing my mind. Are you all for real? You’re literally making Samantha look like the only sane or smart one in this room right now.”

Coming from Jordan, that nearly sounded like a compliment.

“Red’s mouthy,” Kraven said. “Could be a problem.”

“What are you going to do?” I challenged him. “Kill her, too?”

“Don’t give me any ideas, sweetness.”

Then Stephen grunted, low and weak. He was waking up. Everyone’s attention shot to the restrained super-gray. He raised his head with effort and blinked open his eyes. There was dried blood on his forehead from where he’d hit the wall twice.

He scanned the five of us, lingering on Jordan, before he ended with Bishop. “Change of scenery, I see?”

Bishop had already drawn the dagger out and I eyed its sharp edge with trepidation. “Time to talk, Stephen.”

“I like talking. When I feel like it.”

“Wait,” I said. “Stephen, are you better now?”

His forehead furrowed. “Better than what?”

“Before, you were so depressed. You wanted to die.” His confused look told me everything I needed to know. “You were right, Bishop, the effects of the angel’s touch fade if given enough time.”

“Good to know.” Bishop was silent for a moment. “You and Jordan need to wait outside now.”

I turned a dark look at him. “And let you do your thing?”

His blue-eyed gaze remained neutral. “That’s right.”

“Your way of dealing with problems kind of freaks me out, Bishop.”

“We’re going to have to agree to disagree on this subject. There’s no time to argue.”

Stephen snorted. “Are you defending me, Sam? That’s so nice of you.”

I spun to face him, anger heating my cheeks. “I should let him carve you up. You haven’t done a damn thing to earn my trust or respect. Everything you’ve done has been to hurt me. To hurt Jordan.”

His expression shadowed. “I never wanted to hurt her.”

“Are you serious?” Jordan sputtered. “You knocked me out, you kept me prisoner. You nearly had a hobbit feast on my soul. What do you call that? True love?”

He stared at her incredulously. “Yes, actually. I did all that so we could be together again.”

I stared at the two of them, realizing that Stephen really did this out of love for Jordan. This was one seriously twisted romance I was witnessing.

Jordan let out a frustrated shriek, spun around and stormed out of the room.

“Go with her,” Bishop advised.

His shoulders were tense as he clenched the dagger. His body language showed his stress more than his even expression did. He didn’t want me to see what he had to do to save my life.

How many times have you hurt someone to  get what you want? I thought. How many have you  killed on your missions for Heaven?

I couldn’t read his mind, but I knew the answer would probably scare me very deeply.

Still, I didn’t budge from my spot.

Bishop groaned. “Samantha, you have to be difficult, don’t you?”

“Don’t let him hurt me, Sam,” Stephen said tightly. “I did it all for love. You get that, don’t you?”

I believed he did. And I also believed he was manipulative enough to use my sympathy for that weakness against me.