Fallen Angels 03 - Envy Read Online Free PDF Page A
Author: J.R. Ward
If I help you any further, I chance forfeiture of not just a round, but the entire contest. And that is unacceptable.”
“You know who the soul is, though. And so does Devina.”
“Yes.”
“And that doesn’t strike you as seriously uneven? She’s going to go after them herself—probably already has.”
“By the established and agreed-upon rules, she’s not al owed to interact with the souls. She, as with myself, is supposed to influence you to influence them. Direct contact is not al owed.”
“So why haven’t you stopped it?”
“’Tis not my purview.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Nigel, grow a set—”
“I assure you, his bal s are just fine.”
At the dry interjection, both Nigel and the savior turned to the draped archway that led into the bath. Colin hadn’t bothered with a robe, but was standing there unapologetical y nude.
And now that he had everyone’s attention, the archangel tacked on, “I’l also ask you to watch your language, mate.”
Heron’s brows shot up, and there was a moment of tennis matching, whereupon his head went back and forth between the two of them.
Nigel cursed under his breath. So much for decorum. And privacy. “Ice wine, Colin?” he said gruffly. “And mayhap some robing?”
“I’m fine.”
“True enough. But your lack of modesty offers you no better cover than the temperate air in this tent. And I have a guest.”
A grunt was al that came in manner of reply. Which was Colin’s way of proclaiming that there was no reason to be a stuffy old tart.
Lovely.
Nigel turned back to the savior. “I am sorry that I cannot grant you what you seek. Believe that.”
“You helped me with the first.”
“I was permitted that license.”
“And look at how number two turned out.”
Nigel hid his agreeing concern behind a sip of his glass. “Your passion is laudable. And I wil tel you that your return to Caldwel is wel -served.”
“Thanks for the tip. There are two mil ion people in that goddamn town. Hardly narrows it down.”
“Nothing is arbitrary, and there are no coincidences, Jim. In fact, there is another who shal seek what you do, and as the separate quests unite, you wil find the next soul.”
“No offense, but that doesn’t mean shit.” Heron glanced at Colin. “And I’m not going to apologize to the talk police for that. Sorry.”
Colin crossed his arms over his bare chest. “Suit yourself, lad. And I’l do the same.”
Read: Maybe I’l pop you now. Or maybe later.
The last thing Nigel needed was a fistfight in his quarters as undoubtedly that would bring the other archangels, as wel as Tarquin at a ful gal op. Hardly the intermission one looked for.
“Colin,” he said, “do go soak your head.”
“I’m wet enough, thank you.”
“That is a matter of opinion,” Nigel muttered before addressing Jim again. “Go forth and have faith that you wil be where you should d do what you must.”
“I don’t believe in fate, Nigel. That’s like picking up an unloaded gun and thinking it’l shoot something. You’ve got to put the bul ets in the chamber yourself.”
“And I am tel ing you there are greater things at work than your efforts.”
“Okay, wonderful, so put that on a Christmas card. But don’t try to feed that bul shit to me.”
Staring into the hard face of the savior, Nigel knew a flash of fear. With this attitude, there was yet one more thing stacked against the angels prevailing.
And yet what could he do? Heron had no patience or faith, but that did naught to change the rules of the game or the likelihood that the Creator would inevitably redress Devina’s liberties.
At least the latter worked in their favor.
“I believe we are through,” Nigel said. “Nothing favorable shal come from our continued conversing.”
There was a dark, rather evil moment during which Heron regarded him with a kind of fury.
“Fine,” the savior said. “But I don’t give up this easy.”
“And I am the mountain that wil
“You know who the soul is, though. And so does Devina.”
“Yes.”
“And that doesn’t strike you as seriously uneven? She’s going to go after them herself—probably already has.”
“By the established and agreed-upon rules, she’s not al owed to interact with the souls. She, as with myself, is supposed to influence you to influence them. Direct contact is not al owed.”
“So why haven’t you stopped it?”
“’Tis not my purview.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Nigel, grow a set—”
“I assure you, his bal s are just fine.”
At the dry interjection, both Nigel and the savior turned to the draped archway that led into the bath. Colin hadn’t bothered with a robe, but was standing there unapologetical y nude.
And now that he had everyone’s attention, the archangel tacked on, “I’l also ask you to watch your language, mate.”
Heron’s brows shot up, and there was a moment of tennis matching, whereupon his head went back and forth between the two of them.
Nigel cursed under his breath. So much for decorum. And privacy. “Ice wine, Colin?” he said gruffly. “And mayhap some robing?”
“I’m fine.”
“True enough. But your lack of modesty offers you no better cover than the temperate air in this tent. And I have a guest.”
A grunt was al that came in manner of reply. Which was Colin’s way of proclaiming that there was no reason to be a stuffy old tart.
Lovely.
Nigel turned back to the savior. “I am sorry that I cannot grant you what you seek. Believe that.”
“You helped me with the first.”
“I was permitted that license.”
“And look at how number two turned out.”
Nigel hid his agreeing concern behind a sip of his glass. “Your passion is laudable. And I wil tel you that your return to Caldwel is wel -served.”
“Thanks for the tip. There are two mil ion people in that goddamn town. Hardly narrows it down.”
“Nothing is arbitrary, and there are no coincidences, Jim. In fact, there is another who shal seek what you do, and as the separate quests unite, you wil find the next soul.”
“No offense, but that doesn’t mean shit.” Heron glanced at Colin. “And I’m not going to apologize to the talk police for that. Sorry.”
Colin crossed his arms over his bare chest. “Suit yourself, lad. And I’l do the same.”
Read: Maybe I’l pop you now. Or maybe later.
The last thing Nigel needed was a fistfight in his quarters as undoubtedly that would bring the other archangels, as wel as Tarquin at a ful gal op. Hardly the intermission one looked for.
“Colin,” he said, “do go soak your head.”
“I’m wet enough, thank you.”
“That is a matter of opinion,” Nigel muttered before addressing Jim again. “Go forth and have faith that you wil be where you should d do what you must.”
“I don’t believe in fate, Nigel. That’s like picking up an unloaded gun and thinking it’l shoot something. You’ve got to put the bul ets in the chamber yourself.”
“And I am tel ing you there are greater things at work than your efforts.”
“Okay, wonderful, so put that on a Christmas card. But don’t try to feed that bul shit to me.”
Staring into the hard face of the savior, Nigel knew a flash of fear. With this attitude, there was yet one more thing stacked against the angels prevailing.
And yet what could he do? Heron had no patience or faith, but that did naught to change the rules of the game or the likelihood that the Creator would inevitably redress Devina’s liberties.
At least the latter worked in their favor.
“I believe we are through,” Nigel said. “Nothing favorable shal come from our continued conversing.”
There was a dark, rather evil moment during which Heron regarded him with a kind of fury.
“Fine,” the savior said. “But I don’t give up this easy.”
“And I am the mountain that wil