“A beautiful memento,” I murmur, a bittersweet smile tugging at my lips. After all, I’ve lost those wings for good, haven’t I?
But Azrael shakes his head, his expression serious. “Not a memento, brother.” He pauses. “A promise.”
I look up sharply, hope and disbelief warring within me. “What do you mean?”
“You’ll get those wings back when your mortal lifetime is over,” Azrael explains, his voice gentle. “And don’t worry about your promise to the Horsemen. He’s dealt with them too… No one can make thatfinal callsave the Almighty.”
The implications of his words wash over me, leaving me breathless. It’s not a permanent separation from my celestial nature, but a sabbatical. A chance to truly live and love as a human, knowing that my angelic self awaits me on the other side.
I clutch the pin tightly, its warmth a reminder of all I’ve been and all I might yet be. “You know what I am, brother,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper. “More than an archangel. I am the scales upon which the fate of realities is weighed.”
Azrael nods solemnly, understanding etched in his timeless features. “Which is why this gift is so profound, Uri. You’re being offered a chance to experience the very balance you maintain.”
“I... I don’t know what to say,” I manage, my voice thick with emotion.
Azrael grins, clapping me on the shoulder. “A‘thank you’usually suffices. Though I expect the real gratitude will be in how you live this mortal life you’ve been given.”
I nod, clutching the pin tightly. “I intend to make the most of every moment.”
“Good man,” Azrael says, approval clear in his tone. “Well, I should be off. Souls to reap, waves to catch, you know how it is.”He pauses, his expression softening. “Until we meet again, Uri… Enjoy your life, Dr. Angelstone.”
With a wink and a rustle of invisible wings, he’s gone, leaving me alone with the weight of this new knowledge.
I turn the pin over in my hands, marveling at its delicate craftsmanship. It’s a tangible reminder of where I’ve come from, and a promise of where I’ll return. But for now, for this precious, fleeting human lifetime, my path lies elsewhere.
“Is everything alright, my love?”
Emilia’s voice, soft and sleep-roughened, breaks through my reverie. I turn to find her standing in the doorway, wrapped in a blanket, her hair tousled from sleep. The sight of her, bathed in the soft light of dawn, takes my breath away.
“Itwillbe,” I assure her, crossing the terrace in a few quick strides. I cup her face in my hands and kiss her, pouring all the love and gratitude I feel into the gesture. When we part, we’re both breathless.
“With body and soul,” I murmur, resting my forehead against hers, “I love you, Ms. Thornton.”
She chuckles softly, her breath warm against my skin. “You no longer need to call me that, you know.”
“You’re right,” I agree, a smile tugging at my lips. An idea forms, sudden and perfect. “How doesMrs.Angelstonesound to you?”
Emilia pulls back slightly, her eyes wide with surprise. “Are you... are you asking what I think you’re asking?”
I nod, suddenly nervous despite the certainty I feel in my heart. “Emilia Thornton, I may have given up eternity, but I want to spend every moment of this mortal life with you. Will you marry me?”
For a heartbeat, she’s silent, and I feel a flicker of doubt. But then her face breaks into a radiant smile, her eyes shimmering with emotion.
“Yes,” she breathes, her voice quavering with overwhelming joy. Tears of happiness roll down her cheeks as a radiant smile brightens her face. Overcome by the moment, she throws her arms around my neck, pulling me into a kiss that conveys more than words ever could. And as we stand there, wrapped in each other’s arms with the new day dawning around us, I feel a sense of peace settle over me.
This is where I belong. This is what I was meant for.
The golden pin rests in my pocket, a comforting weight. A reminder of where I’ve come from, and a promise of what awaits. But for now, for this beautiful, fleeting human lifetime, my future is here. With Emilia. With my love.
And really, what could be more divine than that?
