Free All That Bleeds by Kimberly Frost

choke me?” Merrick rasped dryly.

    The angel let go. “Not bewitched,” he said thoughtfully.

    “As I’ve told you before, magic doesn’t penetrate me.”

    “You’re half human,” the angel said dismissively. “You can’t know that all magic won’t. Hers smells especially good.” He turned toward Alissa and focused his arresting gaze on the marble object still clasped in her hand. “You should put it down. Wielding a weapon against me is dangerous.”

    Merrick walked to her and took the obelisk. “Her intent was to help me, not to attack you,” he said, setting the obelisk back on the small table behind them.

    “She wanted to rescue you,” the angel said and smiled. His face was radiant with it. She had been told endlessly how beautiful she was, but she knew she was nothing compared to him. Killer or not, the angel was simply the most compelling creature on earth.

    “Are you fearsome then?” he asked her. “Skilled enough to interrupt a fight between an arcanon and the ventala he trained to kill demons?”

    “No, not at all,” she said. “Trying to help Mr. Merrick was instinctive because he’s my friend.”

    The angel’s grin faded as he dipped his head in a nod. “Loyalty is good if it’s sincere.” Then he glanced sideways at Merrick. “You’re reckless. If she kills you in your sleep, don’t expect me to avenge you.”

    Merrick laughed softly. “If she kills me in my sleep, I’ll die happy. No avenging will be necessary.”

    “Tell me the favor.”

    “I want you to fly her home.”

    The angel’s brows drew together, making the thin forehead scars stretch. “Like a winged horse?”

    Merrick rolled his eyes.

    The angel shook his head at Merrick in exasperation. “You summoned
me
to help
you
with a
girl
. Apocalypse?”

    Merrick chuckled.

    “Seriously, you were wrong to summon me for this.”

    Merrick shrugged.

    “Some day we may have a disagreement that one of us doesn’t walk away from.”

    Merrick shook his head. “You can’t kill me. There’s that prophecy you want me to help you with.”

    “Yes, try and live long enough for that. I invested a lot of time training you,” the angel said.

    “Sure,” Merrick said with a smirk, “but you’ve got nothing but time.”

    Alissa studied them with frank curiosity. Were they friends? Not precisely, but they were something to each other. She wanted to ask questions. She wanted to sit down with them and untangle their mysteries. Exactly what did the angel know of the afterlife? Of the secrets of ancient times? There were some original legends buried among the memories contained in the Wreath, but they were reportedly fragmented and hazy. When she’d tried on the Wreath, she hadn’t seen them, though she would have liked to.

    The angel turned to her and touched his chest. “Lysander,” he said.

    “Alissa,” she returned.

    “Are you afraid of heights?”

    “Not usually.”

    “Then you’re welcome,” Lysander said. He walked out onto the balcony, and she heard the rush of air as his wings burst out of his back.

    She stared after the angel for a moment, then she turned to Merrick. “So an archangel. Why did he call himself an arcanon?”

    “Because he’s fallen.”

    “Didn’t all the fallen angels become demons?”

    “Apparently not.”

    She glanced at the balcony doors. “I suppose I shouldn’t keep him waiting.” She started to go, but then turned back. It might be the last time she saw Merrick. The thought saddened her. She crossed to him and kissed him on the cheek, then backed away quickly, feeling the way he tensed.

    “Obviously I don’t know the full extent of what it cost you to summon him, but I appreciate it. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me tonight.” She held up a hand as if to wave good-bye, but couldn’t quite bring herself to do it. “Even if I don’t see you again, I won’t ever forget.” She touched her fingertips to her lips and extended them in a