Crushed Seraphim by Debra Anastasia Read Free Book Online Page B

him?
    There was no response from Emma.
    “Jason Parish. Look at you! Are you chivalrous or were you just looking to get laid?” Everett’s expanded his wings even further, showing like a peacock.
    “Step back from us. How are you here?”
    Jason needed time. He needed to restore her hope, get her advice.
    “That’s the reason your pretty angel slut collapsed. She knows I’m in charge now. Which is pretty hilarious, because God is in Hell. And the Devil? He’s hanging on to God for a bit.” Everett ended his tirade with a victorious chuckle.
    “Emma?” he continued. Everett leaned to his left so he could look at her.
    Jason didn’t dare take his eyes off the thing in front of him.
    “Sweetheart? Come with me now. You can sit at my right hand. I’ll give you whatever you want. Sam back by your side? Done. World peace? Done. You naked with me? Done.”
    Jason punched Everett so viciously in the face that his red wings rippled with the force. Jason didn’t wait for relief that he could touch the angel to set in, he just jumped on Everett like he was prey. The white rose tumbled from Everett’s hand and was lost in the snow. Jason used his speed and ridiculous strength to land several punches, but he knew he was outmatched.
    Darting away, Everett flapped his massive wings and rubbed his mouth. Jason backed up to reassess. Everett hovered just above the height to which Jason could jump.
    “You pack a wallop, parasite. I hope you enjoyed those hits, because you’ll never get another,” Everett growled.
    Jason had to fight the urge to run as Everett powered up. Energy pulsated around him. His wings and hands crackled with lightning and dominance.
    Stand still , he told himself. For every second he fights me, she’s safe.
    Jason risked a look at her, wanting her beautiful form to be the last thing he knew in his mind.
    Emma was gone.
    Oh God, please, no! She’s already gone?
    He turned. The jet-engine noise emanating from Everett demanded cowering, but Jason stood proud. Suddenly Emma hovered in front of him, arms thrown wide, using herself to protect him. She was hit instantly — a river of hot blue current lighting her like the electric angel on top of a Christmas tree.
    Though she deflected the current Jason still felt like he was being electrocuted; he was powerless to move at all. Then it stopped, and the silence was as loud as the cracking sound the deadly angel had produced.
    Emma collapsed at his feet. Jason moved as soon as he could, knelt and pulled her head into his lap. Everett flew angrily above their heads, the beat of his massive wings causing Emma’s hair to blow away from her face. Her gray eyes opened slowly, painfully.
    “I wake up to your face a lot lately.” Her voice sounded strong.
    Are you okay? What the hell just happened?
    She shook her head, as if to say “not now.” Instead she said, “Heads up.”
    Everett was lower now, reeling and angry. “You stupid, stupid girl! Well, guess what? That won’t work either. You protect him? That thing? It’s like a tick, a gnat, a sponger.”
    Emma lifted her hand to give Everett the finger. Jason leaned over and gave her insulting gesture a light kiss. She switched her focus from the outrage above her to Jason’s face. Emma let her other fingers join the middle one and laid them on his cheek.
    As she spoke, her eyes filled with the same gold-colored sheen that had been in her tears. “Don’t listen to him. You’re a miracle. If nothing else, I’m so very glad we’ve met.”
    Fire began to rain down, with little flames in place of water drops. Jason covered her body from the onslaught.
    “My half-breed umbrella, it’s okay. He’s already done the worst he can do.”
    Jason tried to reassure himself with her permanence, her solidness in his arms.
    Everett hollered with rage, the ground shaking from the verbal onslaught. “You think so, Emma? I offer you everything and you think the worst I can do is send your soul to Hell?” Everett