Read The Kiss of Angels (Divine Vampires Book 2) for Free Online Page B

glanced around to see who might be listening.  The rest of the cherubim were busy shooting, taking turns at the rows of targets.  She didn’t think anyone had overheard.  And why would it matter? It wasn’t a secret, was it? But the truth was, she wasn’t entirely sure about the rules, or if there were any rules at all. 
     
    If there were, the seraphim knew them—he wouldn’t be doing anything The Maker didn’t want him to.  Would he?
     
    “But you’ll be back.” Jari didn’t wait for Muriel to draw before letting another arrow fly.  “Soon, I mean.”
     
    “I’m sure we won’t be long.” Muriel wasn’t sure of anything, but she wasn’t about to add any more heat to the fire.  Jari was already far too suspicious about the whole thing.  It was true, it was out of the ordinary.  That made Jari inherently suspicious.  As much as Muriel liked Char, for some inexplicable reason, Jari seemed to dislike him—under equally questionable logic. 
     
    “Don’t turn around.” The voice came from behind her and Muriel froze, bow in hand, aiming at the target.  She knew it was Char.  That same feeling came over her in his presence.  She wondered if everyone felt that way around him.  Maybe seraphim had that affect? “Don’t say anything.  No one else can see me.”
     
    She wanted to turn around, but she didn’t.  Instead, she steadied her bow, trying to focus. 
     
    “Hey sharp shooter, can you make that shot with your eyes closed?” Barbiel called over Jari’s head. 
     
    Barbie had been one of the cherubs who had given Muriel the hardest time about Jari’s, albeit exaggerated, tale of the black soul.  To be fair, Barbie was one of the best shooters they had.  She and her partner, Amitiel, had nearly beat them at the annual cupid tournament last year, but Jari and Muriel had managed to squeak out a win by the narrowest of margins, much to Jari’s delight.  They held it every year on—of course—Valentine’s Day.  They were all practicing hard, preparing for this year’s competition in just one short week.
     
    “She doesn’t have to prove anything to you.” Jari drew herself up to her full height, turning to face the other angel.  “Go away.”
     
    “Come on, I wanna see you do it.” Ami stood beside her partner, bow in hand.  She’d just made quite the bullseye shot.  “Unless, you know, you can’t…”
     
    Ami let her words fall off, a smirk on her face.  Muriel lowered her bow and met the other angel’s insolent gaze but didn’t say anything.  She honestly didn’t know if she could do it again.  Something about that moment had felt… magical.  It was a stupid thing to think, but that’s what felt true. 
     
    “She can’t do it.” Barbie turned, raising her own bow and quickly drawing an arrow.  She let off a quick shot, hitting the center of the target again, just like her partner had.  “These two think they’re all that and a choir of seraphim.  Please.  You can’t scare us with stories about black souls and hitting targets with your eyes closed.”
     
    “She did too hit it with her eyes closed!” Jari snapped. 
     
    Muriel felt that simmering heading toward boil and took her partner’s arm. 
     
    “Jari, forget it,” she murmured, trying to lead her away, but Jari wasn’t having it. 
     
    “I will not forget it!” Jari whirled, shaking Muriel’s hand loose.  “I saw her do it with my own eyes.  Ask The Maker if you don’t believe me.”
     
    “We’re not going to bother The Maker with questions about you and your lies.” Ami laughed. 
     
    “Why not?” Jari challenged, hands on hips.  “You two afraid you’re going to lose your halos?”
     
    It was a horribly sarcastic insult—angels hated it when anyone intimated that they wore halos and played harps, almost as much as they detested the “every time a bell rings an angel gets its wings” misnomer—and it had its intended affect.  Both Barbie and Ami took the