“Maybe we can talk to Michael and see that you get yourwings.”
Cajlooked over at her withafrown on his face.“I can’t go before them, Mercy.”
“Why not?”His words puzzledher.
“I don’t want the humiliation of themsaying that my time isn’t up.Thatmy punishment must stand.”
“Caj, life, andeven our existence is a gamble.I want to be with you freely.Don’tyou want me too?”Tears came unbidden to her eyes, and she blinkedthem back.
“You should knowthe answer to that question, Mercy.”
“Should I, Caj?”She stood and walked to the edge, looking down where the cityslept.
Cajmovedup behind her, his handtouching her forearm as he turned her toward him.“Yes, you should.I’ve loved you from the moment I set eyes on you.”
She felt herselfmelting, and her tears finally fell.“Then fight forus.”
“Do you feel the same?”
Shecould hear the hope in hisvoice as she replied, “Yes, I love you.It is the same for me.Evenbefore I became an angel, I loved and wanted you.Why would thathave changed?”
He shookhis head and shrugged.“I letothers get into my head after my punishment.”
“Youwere punished long ago, Caj, because you tried to commit suicidewhen I died.Didn’t the Maker tell you how long that wouldbe?”
“I can’t trulysay.The pain of it blocked out anything else for years,and then I just got used to being a sin-eater.”
She tookhis hands in hers and turnedover his wrists.There the mark of his pain at her death wasevident.She kissed each mark from the slash of the razors he’dused and heard him take in a ragged breath.“You didn’t want to beapart from me then.You tried to end your life.The Maker, insteadof damning you, completely gave you a reprieve by helping thosewith sin to him.That should tell you that He had already forgivenyou.You need to forgive yourself.I died, yes.It was an accident.I’m here now, Caj, an angel, but I am an angel in love withyou.”
“And if theMakerdecides that I must stay as I am?”
“Then we will come to that bridge when ithappens.It’s not going tomake me change my mind about you.”
“Thiscould go on forever, Mercy.”
Shecupped his cheek and smiled.“That it could, but you’re worth it all.”
Caj turned his faceinto her hand and kissed her palm.
Mercysmiled as shehoped she wasgetting through to him and he’d be okay with talking to Michael.“You’ll do it?”
“Yes, I’ll talk toMichael.”
“Well, start talking right now,” a deep-timbered voice said from behindthem.
Mercyand Caj both turned atthesound of the other voice.
Thelarge imposing angel hadfolded his wings against his back.Long blond hair fell past hisshoulders, and he had brilliant blue eyes that pierced into one’ssoul.Most humans thought angels were soulless.Not the case, theyhad a soul and a choice, which made it hard when it came time to docertain things.
Mercy gripped Caj’shand and squeezed.For a breathless minute, she thought he mightshy away from talking to Michael.She released the breath she heldwhen he squeezed back.
Heletgo of her hand and movedforward to address Michael.
Mercystood off in thebackground.She couldn’t say anything unless it became necessary to doso.
Caj had to do thisalone as it was his punishment in question.
Chapter Four
