Blood Debts (The Temple Chronicles Book 2) Read Online Free Page B

out for my drink. I took a sip as I considered my next words. Why not poke the bear a bit more , the insane Id of mine whispered. I very stupidly listened. “I’m sure you know what it’s like to lose a father figure without explanation.” I managed to smile before I was suddenly slammed up against the bar. Although the man hadn’t moved, he was fairly tingling with blue power, and his shoulders were quivering as if threatening to bust out of his trench coat. Was he sporting a pair of wings under there?
    Hemmingway sputtered out his drink, but the hulk of a man dropped me immediately, holding up his hands, placating… to Hemmingway.
    Huh.
    “Peace!” The man commanded. Still, his tone was nothing but threatening. “Be careful to whom you blaspheme. My Brothers are not so tolerant. And my sons have no compunctions against violence in His name. That is their purpose, after all.” His smile was ice. You’ve been warned. Consider yourself lucky.”
    I let out a nervous breath. “And you’ve been given your answer as to my next move, pigeon.” I was playing a wild card, assuming by his words that he was an Angel, but the drinks had me feeling courageous. And I was pissed that he had slammed me into the bar without even a reaction on my part. A heavy hitter for sure. I would need to be on my A game if I wanted to tussle against him and his brothers. I was sure that Angels couldn’t simply ‘off’ someone. Which was why he had immediately backed off when Hemmingway reacted. Hemmingway knew what he was, and knew that he had crossed a line. Apparently, there were rules. There were always rules. There had to be rules…
    I hoped there were rules…
    “Out of respect for what you are going through, I will let this minor annoyance slide, with a warning. If you ever strike a Knight of Heaven again, you won’t even have time to apologize. We will smite you out of existence. If our nephews and nieces, the Nephilim here, don’t find you first. They have less scrutiny about their daily duties than us Angels.” With that, he turned on a proud heel, nodded to his gang of warriors, and they all left the bar. His shoulders fluttered anxiously underneath his coat as if alive. Then he was gone, ducking slightly through the broken door.
    I sat down, breathing heavily.
    I had suckerpunched an Angel, and I was still kicking.
    I noticed that a man down the bar was appraising me thoughtfully. Somehow, he also hadn’t been affected by the Angel’s manipulation of time. He didn’t look impressed at my bravery.
    Or maybe stupidity.
    Time jolted, and everyone in the bar seemed suddenly surprised at his or her abrupt locomotion, as if wondering whether or not anything odd had happened. Even Freaks hadn’t sensed the Angel’s ability to stop time. I heard the bartender begin shouting about the broken door. His eyes quickly flicked towards me but I was still at the bar, obviously nowhere near the damage. His brow furrowed in thought, no doubt wondering how I had done it. Hemmingway finally belted out, “ Balls ! You’ve got a titanic pair of balls. Or you have a death wish.” He exclaimed between bouts of laughter.
    “Shut up and drink, Hemmingway.”
    Hemmingway smiled at my nickname, lifted his glass in salute, and downed his drink, shaking his head as he continued to mutter to himself.
    What had I gotten myself into?

Chapter 4

    I continued to stare at the broken doorway with a frown of concentration, noticing the chill air from outside sucking out a good chunk of the bar’s heat. Thanks to me. People began putting on their coats, but remained inside.
    I was too tired to connect the dots. I needed to clear my head. So, I stood and strolled outside, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Angel again. I entered the street, but saw no sign of him or his thugs. Just the typical Mardi Gras revelers.
    Curious.
    Apparently, someone sent from upstairs wanted me to stay out of my parents’ murder investigation. I just wanted justice.