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    His Own Angel Book Five
    His Own Angel Book Five
    His Own Angel Book Five
    Ebook274 pages4 hours

    His Own Angel Book Five

    By Odette C. Bell

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    About this ebook

    Esmerelda is back, and things will never be the same again. Benson might have just kissed Elizabeth, but it quickly becomes apparent where his heart lies.
    As her life unravels, so too does her destiny. As promised, the Shadow comes to Elizabeth in her dreams. She has to use every trick she knows to fight him off. It won’t be enough, however, to keep Hope City safe. For soon a new enemy strikes.
    Alone, fighting the shadows in the dark, can Elizabeth solve a new string of murders before it’s too late? Can she save herself? Or will she finally fall into the Shadow’s arms forevermore?
    ....
    His Own Angel follows a magical private eye and her charming vampire handler fighting to save their city from the darkest side of power. If you love your urban fantasies with action, heart, and a splash of romance, grab His Own Angel Book Five today and soar free with an Odette C. Bell series.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherOdette C. Bell
    Release dateOct 1, 2016
    ISBN9781370106516
    His Own Angel Book Five

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      His Own Angel Book Five - Odette C. Bell

      Chapter 1

      It started to rain. Heavy. Every droplet was like a fist as they struck my back, cheeks, and upturned face.

      So this was it. Benson might have just kissed me, but it wouldn’t account for anything.

      Not now his true angel was back.

      I felt totally numb. My hands and arms were like sticks of ice at my sides. But that was nothing compared to my heart. It simply wasn’t there anymore. It was like someone had gouged it out and thrown it away.

      I watched Benson take a step forward. I watched his hands drop to his sides, watched his chest shunt out as he took a rattling breath. Esmerelda.

      Cortez was standing a few meters away, a concerned look in his eyes as he surveyed the usually unflappable Benson. What the hell is going on? What happened here? His gaze jerked from Benson and locked on the roof.

      The mayor’s house was steaming. The remnant power from the spell was discharging into the night, zapping and crackling like a live wire thrown into the ocean.

      Esmerelda, Benson said again, voice a harsh rasp. You… you can’t… this can’t be real.

      Cortez took a step towards Benson just as Benson lost his footing and lurched forward.

      Whoa. Cortez caught Benson before he could fall face-first into the steaming, rain-soaked grass at his feet. Cortez jerked his gaze over to me, concern obvious as it stretched the skin around his cheeks and crumpled his brow. What the hell is wrong with Benson?

      I didn’t respond. Why? It would be obvious soon enough. The whole city would know who Esmerelda was soon enough.

      I took a step back and closed my arms around myself, turning to glance at the house.

      As the rain continued to drive down around me, soaking my body through, I stared at Mayor Ryan’s mansion.

      And that’s when I remembered he was still on the roof.

      I was in my angel form, and with a gasp, I took flight.

      I didn’t get far.

      Despite the cold, pounding rain, despite his injuries, despite Esmerelda – despite everything – he reached for me. Showing the true reflexes of a vampire, Benson twisted his arm around, and without even turning to me, grabbed my wrist, holding me in place.

      I could have broken his grip. I could have taken flight and pulled him into the air.

      I didn’t. I let him stop me in place, my head twisting around as I stared at him, as the wind caught my wings and hair and dress and sent them fluttering around me.

      Slowly Benson turned on his foot, his once-polished shoes grinding through the mud-covered grass as he turned to stare at me.

      The look he shot me – the confusion, determination, and sheer shock – it would stay with me for life.

      Don’t go anywhere, he said, voice barely audible, just a breath under the harsh drumbeat of the rain and my heart.

      But the mayor, he’s still up on the roof. I cut his hand off; he needs medical attention, I protested, still not moving a centimeter as I floated there in front of him.

      The wind caught my hair in a sudden gust and blew it against Benson’s upturned face. He didn’t even move to push it out of the way, just kept staring at me.

      Wait, what? You cut the mayor’s hand off?! Cortez spluttered.

      I’d forgotten he was there.

      What the hell is going on? Cortez demanded once more.

      I need to go and help Ryan, I began.

      Benson continued to stare up into my face, and he never once released his grip on my wrist. What’s going on is you can’t go up there, Elizabeth. You can’t go anywhere near that house. Ryan might be down, but we have no idea where that Old One is. You can’t go back until we know it’s safe.

      Wait, seriously, what’s going on? Are you actually telling me Elizabeth cut off the mayor’s hand? Cortez’s confused voice dipped up and down like a kazoo.

      Benson, his hand still on my wrist, turned to face Cortez. Where are the rest of the police? I thought I called in a full team?

      You did, sir, but we’re kind of busy dealing with the new angel.

      I felt Benson’s fingers twitch around my wrist. What? What’s wrong with her?

      Nothing, she’s just… light. Brightest thing I’ve ever seen. She lit up three city blocks before she got control of her power. She’s down at the station now, but she keeps demanding to see you. Keeps promising only you can make everything right again.

      I watched Benson pale.

      Only he could make everything right again, ha?

      I yanked back, trying to break Benson’s grip, sure he would have suddenly forgotten all about me.

      He hadn’t.

      He swiveled on his foot, the rain pounding on his face as he tipped it back and stared at me.

      I couldn’t look away.

      I want to say that a lot passed between our gazes. I want to say that he promised me something then and there with the meaningful look welling in his eyes. A promise that sat deep in his soulful stare, even if he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

      But even though I was an angel born of light, I couldn’t hold on to that hope. For no matter what Benson promised me, I knew one thing for sure – everything, everything was about to change.

      Chapter 2

      I lay on my bed in my angel form. It had been approximately two hours since I returned home. I could have changed into a clean set of pajamas, rustled up a snack, and wiped the mud off my face. I just lay there as if I was scared to move.

      My phone was clutched tightly in my hands, and every few seconds, I jerked it up as I nervously stared at the screen. Nothing.

      Don’t ask me what I was expecting. Right now my confused, addled mind told me that any second I would get a text from Benson telling me it was over. Sure, the kiss was nice, but Esmerelda was back in town, and Benson was strictly a one angel man.

      Of course, he didn’t send anything like that through. He didn’t contact me at all.

      I’d wanted to accompany him to the police station, out of a sick sense of curiosity more than anything else. My mind told me that if only I could see the adoration playing in Benson’s gaze when he looked upon Esmerelda, I could put my crush on him to rest.

      … Except it wasn’t a crush, was it?

      As soon as I thought that, I brought my hand up and pressed my trembling fingers over my lips.

      Don’t ask me why I was trembling – it wasn’t cold in here. But my whole body was still filled with a zipping sense of anticipation and magic, all brought on by the most passionate kiss I’d ever experienced. Heck, I wouldn’t be going out on a limb if I suggested that my kiss with Benson was probably one of the most passionate of all time.

      I tugged one of my tensed hands up from my phone and smacked it onto my head, not caring that it let out a ringing, echoing, stinging thump as it slammed into my noggin. Get a grip, girl, I hissed to myself. You can’t sit here all day waiting for him to call, waiting to find out what decision he’ll make, I added in a raspy breath that sounded as if I were on the edge of death.

      Whilst I could point that out to myself – that it was truly pathetic to lie here with my phone clutched in my hand as if it were a lifeline – what exactly could I do about it?

      Benson had given me strict orders not to leave Mr. Marvelous’s shop. They were under the impression that I was in danger. And, heck, I was. Just not from the Old One.

      A cold rush of dread spread through my chest, making me feel like I’d swallowed a gallon of ice.

      That man… the Shadow as I was calling him. Who… who was he? And, more importantly, what did he want?

      I’d sensed his power. Oh god had I sensed his power.

      Edgar Price and the general had been formidable foes, but the Shadow? He was on an entirely different level. And he was coming after me.

      I squeezed my eyes shut, now dropping my hand from my brow as I hid under it, crumpling the fingers in until they closed around my eyes like shutters.

      I’ll see you in your dreams – his eerie words echoed through my mind. And they really did sound like his words. It was almost as if I could feel his presence in my mind as that refrain repeated over and over again.

      Now, I wasn’t a newbie when it came to magic anymore. I had more than enough experience with the weird side of Hope City to write my own book about it. So I knew well enough that you should never give a monster more power than they already had. Me repeating the Shadow’s words over and over – letting his presence well in my mind with every syllable – that was giving him far, far more power than I should. Except I couldn’t stop.

      It was like… there was a door. A door that had opened up right in the middle of my mind, one that led straight back to Purgatory. Straight back to the handsome, angular face of the Shadow and his piercing, piercing gaze.

      I jolted, powering up as if someone had hit me in the small of my back. A perfect image of his hands slammed into my mind’s eye. It was as if he was in the room, reaching for me.

      Oh god, I choked through my words as I shot up and flew about a meter into the air.

      I heard a knocking on my door.

      Before I could tell Mr. Marvelous that I didn’t want to be disturbed, he bustled right in to find me floating above my bed, expression about as calm as the Baltic Sea.

      Marvelous shot me one of those looks – one of the looks that always reminded me that despite his eccentricities, he truly was one of the most powerful warlocks I’d ever met. He may be no sorcerer, and there may technically be other practitioners who were more powerful than him on paper, but Mr. Marvelous had a certain kind of force that wasn’t quantifiable. His direct gaze promised you that he’d been there and done that. That even the apocalypse wouldn’t faze him because he was the unflappable private eye of Hope City.

      Marvelous always took some pride and care in crossing his arms – making it the body-language equivalent of cocking one’s gun. Today the move was more pronounced than ever. I wouldn’t start worrying until you know exactly what you’re up against, he said.

      I jolted, a slice of fear shunting through my stomach as I forced my floating form to settle.

      He couldn’t know about the Shadow, could he?

      You need to wait around and figure out what this means. And hey, maybe that’ll take some time, but lying on your bed and waiting for him to call isn’t going to help. Just because there’s another angel in town doesn’t mean you’ll lose your edge, Elizabeth, Marvelous concluded.

      I… I don’t think she’s going to muscle in on my work as a private eye, I said honestly, proud that I hid the true emotion in my voice. Whilst maintaining the business was the most important thing to Mr. Marvelous, it was the furthest thing from my mind right now. Truth be told, Esmerelda could take away my job, she could take away my city, she could take it all – if only she left me Benson. But that… that wasn’t going to happen.

      Wringing my hands together, I took a nervous step towards Marvelous, giving in to my curiosity as I hissed, Have we heard anything from Benson yet? Has he called? I took stuttering, excited breaths through my words.

      At first Marvelous didn’t react – then he slowly shook his head, arms still crossed tightly around his middle. I received a text several hours ago from Benson telling me that I shouldn’t let you leave the shop. But I haven’t heard from him since. Looks like he’s worried about you. And though most of the time I would recommend ignoring that pompous idiot, today, I agree. Though if I were in your position right now, I’d distract myself with some much-needed work, I’m afraid you’re going to be housebound until investigations into that Old One can be completed, Mr. Marvelous’s voice suddenly dropped down low and achieved such a growling note, it made me jolt. It also made me remember something very important.

      I crumpled a hand over my mouth and wheezed through a wince. I’m sorry… about Ryan.

      I wasn’t entirely sure what I was apologizing for. That I hadn’t shared my suspicions about Ryan before? That I’d chopped the guy’s hand off? That, despite Mr. Marvelous’s affections for the warlock, the man had turned out to be a bad egg?

      Marvelous didn’t react – then he let out a tense breath. It’s still too early at this stage to figure out what happened. Ryan is in the hospital, and considering the power of that possession spell, he’ll probably be there for several weeks to come.

      I gave a shaky nod, one that came to a sudden and rather violent stop as I realized something.

      Perhaps Mr. Marvelous saw the realization spread across my face because he nodded at me gravely. Until we can figure out exactly what that Old One wanted from you and how he managed to get such a stranglehold over the Higher Council, we’re going to have to keep you safe, Elizabeth. And that means, Marvelous closed his eyes as if he were in considerable pain, that means I’m going to have to drastically reduce the amount of work I give you. No more flying off on your own to finish cases, no more single-handedly saving Hope City, either. For the next few weeks as this investigation progresses, I’m afraid we’re going to have to keep you mostly housebound.

      At first I didn’t react.

      At first my mind was still stuck on Esmerelda.

      Then, slowly, I started to frown.

      I gave a truly uncomfortable swallow that felt as if it were trying to tear a hole through my throat. Housebound? For weeks?

      Marvelous looked as if someone had tried to carve his heart out with a butter knife. He opened his arms in a wide, expressive move, and I wouldn’t have been surprised if tears started to touch his cheeks. I know, I know – it’s going to be terrible for business. I don’t mind telling you that a lot of our recent customers have come to us because of your extraordinary skills. Just think of all that money. Mr. Marvelous actually reached a hand up and wiped a tear from his eye. But it has to be done. Elizabeth, he leveled his gaze and looked right at me, you’re in danger. And as my employee, it’s my responsibility to keep you safe. Now lie back down and mope about Benson – I’ll keep the business running, the electricity on, and food in the fridge. He turned sharply on his foot, obviously thinking the conversation was over.

      I jolted forward, wings flapping so fast they flattened my hair against my chest. Wait, I can’t just stay in my room for the next several weeks. There has to be something I can do. Can’t I come out with you? I’ll go crazy if I’m stuck here, my words were strung together in a garbled, choked mess.

      Yet I didn’t say what I meant. While technically I would go mad if I was forced to stay in my room for the next several weeks, I’d go madder if I wasn’t allowed to go and see Benson.

      I had to see him, had to see Esmerelda, had to figure out what she meant to him once and for all.

      Marvelous shook his head gravely. Believe you me, angel, I’ve looked into all the possibilities. But both Benson and I think it’s far safer if you stay inside for now. But if you’re truly bored— A very specific kind of smile spread across his face. The kind of smile a sane person would run from. Run and never look back. There’s some work I could get you to do. More cold cases, he practically purred.

      My eyebrows descended in a jolt. If there was anything that could distract me from this situation, it was the specific expression now crumpling Marvelous’s usually smooth brow.

      More cold cases?

      He nodded firmly. Let’s face it. You did an amazing job with the Price case. Though I don’t have any cases nearly as big and important as that, there are boxes and boxes full of unsolved cases in the storeroom. Considering you’ll have nothing else to do but convalesce, I suggest – no, demand – that you look through them.

      In Mr. Marvelous’s head, I’d gone from being housebound because a psychotic Old One was after me, to convalescing as if I were on holiday.

      Now we’ve sorted that, I’ve got to go. Important cases to get to, after all. He turned around and bustled to the door. He opened it wide, then swiftly walked out. Before he slammed the door and rushed away, he paused, hand on the handle, head tilting my way so slowly I couldn’t help but stare at his straining neck muscles. I take it you aren’t going to do anything stupid? he challenged. I take it you’re going to listen to our advice and stay in? I take it that even if the Devil himself starts prancing around the streets of Hope City, you, Elizabeth Luck, are going to stay put?

      There it was again – that tone. The attitude. The power. The proof that Mr. Marvelous, despite his wild sense of humor, despite his sauce-stained top, and despite his ribald attitude, was still as powerful as they came.

      I managed to force my neck to comply long enough to nod agreement.

      Marvelous narrowed his eyes at me, assessed me for several seconds, then shrugged and walked out, leaving me alone. No, not just alone, but completely and utterly lonely, too. Not only was I struggling with Esmerelda and Benson and the Shadow, but now I would be housebound for weeks with several storerooms full of dusty old cold cases to search through.

      Though my first inclination was to fall into my hands and groan like I’d just been stabbed, I shook my head and pushed forward. At least the cold cases would be a distraction.

      I couldn’t appreciate at that moment just how distracting they would become.

      Chapter 3

      There was so much I had to discuss with Benson. It had been a whole day now, and the questions were mounting up quicker than I could write them down.

      Who was this Old One, and what exactly did they need me for?

      More to the point, what was the Higher Council going to do? Could they be disbanded and re-elected? Did it work a little like an ordinary municipal council? Or was I being an idiot? Would the revelation that an Old One had been amongst their ranks undermine the most important magical body in the land, leaving not just Hope City vulnerable, but the world?

      I was down on my hands and knees, angel dress proving fortunately immune to dust as great clouds of it wafted off the files around me.

      Yeah, I was still in my angel form.

      I hadn’t switched out of it all day.

      Why?

      Because… it felt right. No, it was more than that. It was because right now I needed to remind myself that I was an angel. Esmerelda may be prettier, and perhaps she was even more powerful, but underneath, I still held the same source of light that she did.

      I was much better at looking through cold cases these days. Mainly because I had a far better handle on detective work. Just as importantly, I could navigate Mr. Marvelous’s chaotic filing system. If you could call it that. It was such a unique system of disarray, it was more like the man had specifically filed things so no one would ever be able to find them again.

      Kind of like a maze.

      As soon as I thought of that seemingly innocent word, my back began to crawl. It crawled because of my dreams.

      Last night I’d eventually fallen asleep. Almost immediately, the dreams had begun.

      I couldn’t remember them in full now – just a lingering sense. The stifling, choking, ominous sense that had pervaded them as dark as a cloud blocking out the sun.

      Oh, and the hands.

      While the rest of my dreams were hazy, the hands weren’t. They were crystal, crystal clear.

      If I closed my eyes for

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