Читать книгу Death Sword - Pamela Turner - Страница 9

4

“What happened?” Karla asked after Xariel exited Samael’s office.

“Never mind. Let’s get out of here.” Xariel stalked down the hall, hands balled into fists. If he never saw Samael again, it’d be too soon. Damn annoying bastard, playing with him like that.

She ran after him. “What is this floor?”

“Offices for the angels of death.”

“You mean we have to come back?”

“No.” Xariel didn’t break stride. “Metatron emails our orders. It’s rare to be summoned here.”

They rounded a corner, a tall young man approaching them. His white t-shirt, stretched tight over a muscular chest, contrasted with tanned skin. Jeans accentuated powerful thighs and combat boots only added to his commanding presence. But where a buzz military cut might have been, the newcomer’s brown hair fell in waves to broad shoulders.

Xariel sighed. Great. Gabriel. Another angel he didn’t want to see. Two for one today. How lucky.

Gabriel’s viridian eyes narrowed and his mouth twitched in what Xariel assumed to be a sardonic smile as he and Xariel locked stares. The angel of death waited for a wise-ass remark, but Gabriel merely nodded at him and Karla. If her presence surprised him, he gave no indication. “Xariel.”

“Gabriel.”

Xariel kept walking. He turned to see Karla looking back at Gabriel then at him.

“The Gabriel?”

They reached the elevators. Xariel pushed the up arrow. “The archangel? Yes.”

“One you wanted me to work with?” A pause. “Don’t you get along?”

“Not really.” They stepped inside an open car. “He’s still upset with me.”

“Why?” The elevator rattled and clanked its way heavenward.

“We used to work together. There was a misunderstanding and he’s never forgiven me for it.”

“I see.”

Xariel glanced at her, but Karla watched the rapidly changing floor numbers. He sensed she wanted to ask what had happened but didn’t want to pry. He appreciated her restraint. He needed these few minutes to decompress, shake off Samael’s insinuations. Not that he believed Samael was serious. The other angel knew their relationship was over. Then again, Samael seemed to suffer a case of selective amnesia where Xariel was concerned. Nevertheless, Xariel had no intention of again standing before the Seraphim and facing judgment. Once had been enough.

They had almost reached their floor when Karla broke into his thoughts.

“What did Samael say about me?”

“Not much.”

“I don’t think he likes me.”

They reached Metatron’s office. Xariel knocked. “If it makes you feel better, he hates everybody.”

The door unlocked and they entered. Metatron looked up from his paperwork. “How’d it go?”

“He hates the idea but didn’t say no.”

Metatron grinned. “Course not. He might not like it, but he has to do what I say.”

“He suggested Karla and I work as partners.” Xariel hoped Metatron disagreed.

“Good idea.”

“You didn’t mention this when you gave me the assignment,” Xariel contended, frustration overriding decorum and protocol. “You just said bring her here.”

Metatron sighed. “I’m not obliged to tell you everything.”

“I prefer working alone.”

“A partner would be good for you.”

Hell. Didn’t Metatron remember Samael’s curse? If he slept with a woman, she’d die. Not that he planned to have sex with Karla this soon, but he couldn’t deny he felt even a little attraction toward her. Either Metatron had forgotten Samael’s curse or he believed Xariel to have massive amounts of willpower. Self-restraint had nothing to do with it. Whether Xariel liked it or not, his sexuality was tied in with the full and new moons. And it was possible Karla might become a victim of his curse. Did he want to risk her life for his sexual needs?

“You’ll be fine,” Metatron assured him. “Now, if there’s nothing else, I need to finish these reports.”

He shooed them out with a dismissive wave of his hand. Xariel shook his head and opened the door for Karla. No point in arguing now. Metatron’s mind was made up and nothing he said would change it.

They stood in the corridor, leaning against the wall. Karla gave him a questioning look.

“Welcome to my world,” Xariel said, unsure of what had just happened himself.

Karla shrugged. “It’s not too bad. Promise you won’t leave me alone with Samael. He scares me.”

He should. Xariel didn’t voice his thought aloud.