“Hey, is everything okay?” She sits up straighter, planting her full attention on me, brows drawn. This is new. Is she worried? Oh no, I’m worrying her because I still haven’t answered her damn question. What the—
She snaps her fingers impatiently.
Guess I lose my way when it comes to her.
“Sorry, got caught up in a train of thought and spiraled for a second. I’m good.” I nod hastily. “Just got ahead for tomorrow; started dusting off some extra books. Got through a couple of dozens.”
“Right… Wow. A couple of dozens? That’s a lot.”
Uh-oh.She’s right. That is a lot. I only did like ten extra books, but my desperate need to hide my secret project has me sweating. I make a mental note to show up to work extra early tomorrow toactuallyget ahead.
“Oh, don’t act so surprised.” I shake my head and cross my arms, leaning against a nearby bookshelf when a bright idea crosses my mind. “What are you up to right now?”
She raises her thick eyebrows. “Reading. Obviously.”
My mouth stretches into a mischievous grin as I reach over and hold out my hand. “Wrong answer. You’re going on a walk with me. C’mon, you’ve already closed your book and everything.”
She eyes me, then her book. “Fine,” she says, sighing tiredly and taking my hand.
I like the way her small, soft hand fits into mine. I pull her up from the nook and tug her out of the library, a wave of energy funneling through me.
She doesn’t know it yet, but she may or may not have just agreed to our first date.
We walk down a couple of different staircases all the way to the foyer. On our way down, several angels greet me friendlily and stare at Cleo hesitantly. For every angel who greets me, she gets twice the number of stares from men and women alike.
I don’t know if she has the slightest clue how beautiful she is. All other angels pale in comparison.
We exit the building and walk in comfortable silence for a couple of minutes, pausing on the bridge that connects the headquarters to our marketplace and living quarters. I lean against the bridge’s golden rails and overlook the shimmering clouds above and below us. They’re everywhere.
“I’ve gotta ask.” I break the silence, still gazing off into the clouds. “Do you ever visit the land below for leisure?”
She leans her back on the railing next to me, her wings resting just over the edge. Instead of facing the clouds surrounding us, she crosses her arms and locks her eyes on the pavement. “No.”
“Never would’ve guessed.” Surprised, but also not surprised by her answer, I push for more. “Why not? Don’t you ever miss it?”
“No one has ever asked me about this before,” she says, her voice trailing off. “I have my reasons for not visiting. I’ve been there several times to intervene when my Guardians were on the verge of breaking divine laws, but I never stayed longer than necessary. Why would I venture down there when I have everything I need up here?”
“But do you miss it?” I nudge her with my elbow.
She pauses, pressing her lips together in a tight smile. “Sure, I miss certain aspects… Like the feeling of rain on my skin and the smell of freshly baked cookies. But collectively? I don’t suppose I miss the land below.”
“What about your life?”
“You ask a lot of questions.” She pins me with intensity in her gaze.
“Sorry, runs in the family.” I click my tongue and grin. “It’s fine. I don’t want to pressure you to share more than you’re comfortable with. I just so happen to be an oversharer, so I’ll share a secret with you. Sometimes—more often than not—I wish I was still a mortal, living my simple life down there. I miss life. A lot.”
Her gaze softens. “I don’t think you’re the only one. I’m sure your wings and ascension would take some of the weight off your shoulders. The Archangels talk a big game, but your sentence won't last forever. I feel it. You’re a good being, Kai. Atrulygood being.”
For the first time since dying, I feel alive.
It’s been ages since I felt seen.
And to be seen by her is something I don’t take lightly.
“Thank you, angel,” I whisper, gazing into her eyes earnestly. “I needed that.”
“Of course,” she breathes, her throat bobbing.
