Noa could see the delight in Dinah’s gaze that she had been swayed to someone’s side, even if that look was also paired with exasperation at the underhanded way in which she’d done it.
Dinah was her closest friend. Despite Noa’s darkness, Dinah wanted her, above anything, to be happy.
Dinah stepped out of the Coven’s grouping. Jo and Candace shifted to stand on either side of Noa. “I may not want to fuck men,” Candace said quietly, “but even I can see how pretty your new boy is.” A huff of laughter spilled from Noa’s mouth.
“I second that,” Jo said, and Noa’s eyes searched for Diel among his brothers. As Noa was growing accustomed to, he was already watching her. Her blood spiked with heat at the sight of him. That paired with the fact she and her sisters were about to fight the Fallen, and she nearly incinerated on the spot.
“We’ll start with the basics,” Dinah said, pacing between the two groups. Most of the Fallen were bare chested and wearing sweats. All except Michael, who was dressed head to toe in black as usual. He wore a vial of blood around his neck, and Noa instantly wanted to know the story behind that.
“The basics?” Bara said, red eyebrow raised at Dinah. “Here’s the ‘basics’ for us. It’s guns and ropes and chains and knives.” Bara pointed to his chest. “And for me, the occasional flame thrower when I want to hear a symphony of screams. I think we have the basics covered, head witch.”
“And without the weapons?” she said.
“Like I said before,” Uriel said. “We’re born killers. We can handle ourselves.” Uriel’s body was more metal than flesh, his tattoos an intricate tapestry over his cut and built physique.
“Then let’s see it,” Noa said, and all eyes fell on her. “Us versus you. No weapons. Just bare hands and fists. And whatever moves you have in your arsenal.”
“We’ll kill you,” Sela said. Noa knew by his direct tone that it wasn’t a threat—he believed the Fallen would kill them. He surveyed the Coven as though he were looking at living, breathing art.
“We can take you,” Noa said, and Diel began rocking from one foot to the other, eyes fixed on her. She could practically see the eagerness pumping through his veins. He’d be coming for her first. It was their fucked-up form of foreplay, and the thought made her clit throb under her leathers. After the way they had fought in the folly, she could hardly wait.
“Diel?” Gabriel said, and Diel turned to him. “Can you handle this? Is it too soon?”
“I’m in control,” Diel rasped. He looked back at Noa. “I want to fight them.”
“If you feel yourself slipping, if you feel that control spiraling …”
“He won’t.” Noa shook out her arms and legs. Only one hundred percent confidence for Diel rested in her heart. “He’ll be able to pull back if it all gets to be too much. He can do it.” Noa lost a breath at the look that settled on Diel’s face when she said that. She wasn’t used to the racing of her heart, the pull in her gut toward him, like she was a ship and Diel the anchor that kept her from sailing away.
“So, what’s the plan?” Raphael said. Maria moved to the back of the gym, slight apprehension on her face as she backed away from where they would fight. Raphael cracked his knuckles, his golden eyes glowing with excitement. The string he always wrapped around his finger was firmly in place.
Dinah looked back at her sisters and nodded. Noa braced her body and smiled at Diel. “We’ll see what you’ve got.”
As Noa surveyed the Fallen’s faces, the only one who seemed apprehensive was Gabriel. Dinah tied her braids back into a low pony and then said, “Come at us.”
The Fallen seemed to be waiting for Gabriel. On a long sigh, Gabriel nodded, and the Fallen charged like beasts being freed from cages.
Noa smiled, pulse racing, as Diel flew from his spot to where she stood. Noa and her sisters were scattered. It was purposely done. Diel’s body slammed into Noa, and they went barreling to the floor. Noa rolled onto her knees and got to her feet. She swung her fists, but Diel blocked every single shot. He knocked her onto her back, climbing above her, but Noa kneed him in the gut. Diel grunted at the impact. His distraction earned her enough time to slip out from underneath him. She wrapped her arm around his neck and pulled tight.
A roar ripped from Diel’s mouth, and he flipped her onto her back. His heavy body smothered her, his hands pinning her wrists to the ground. Diel’s face hovered above hers, and strands of his dark hair brushed her cheek.
“I’ve got you,” he said. Noa could feel his hardness on her crotch as he lowered his legs to hers, pinning her even more strongly. The gym floor was rock solid beneath her back. Noa struggled against his hold, but he was granite. Diel pressed his forehead to hers, then flicked out his tongue, circling the perimeter of her lips. Noa was flooded with heat, with need, but then—