Endor gently lifted Mercy into his arms, and I didn’t fight him.
But the emptiness I felt when she was gone was so much deeper than I’d expected.
I held myself, trying to keep the warmth her body provided me.
Endor offered me a soft smile.
“There is a train that leaves in about an hour and a half.It...it would be easier if we...used our wings.”He said the words carefully.
My wings snapped open of their own accord, ready for flight, and I braced myself for his.
But they did not even vibrate, and I realized that Endor was more affected than he let on.
A part of me thought that was a good thing.Perhaps I would not have to poison the demon, after all.Perhaps fate was already showing its cards.
I looked at Mercy, so small, so lifeless in Endor’s arms.She could have killed those wolves, easily, with all that soul energy radiating off of her.
But she chose to give those wolves something else other than anger and revenge.
She gave them forgiveness.She gave them peace.
Perhaps, if she was capable of giving such grace, I was, too.
I curled my wings around Endor, settling my hands on his hips.The motion brought me right up against Mercy’s body, against him.Her head rested on his shoulder, his face only inches away from mine in the tight confines.
His body warmed where I touched him, soothing like a comforting fire in the middle of winter.
I gazed down at Mercy between us, a sort of sadness blooming in my stomach, mixed with love and pride.
If we made it to Jasper Springs, Mercy would find what she was looking for.
I wanted to be selfish.To covet this sweet soul for Heaven, but also for myself.
Because I’d never known love likethis.
“Valory...”His voice was pained, pulling me from my treacherous thoughts.
“Yes?”I asked, fighting the tears that begged to be freed.
“Come on, we all need rest.”He said the words, but it felt like there was some other meaning hidden beneath them, something I wasn’t quite getting.
I nodded, forcing the thoughts from my brain.
“Of course,” I said, and then I carried us through time and space, focusing on the train station.On the beginning of the end.
The sun shone on us like a warm blanket as I carried us through the atmosphere, and within seconds, we were touching down on hard, smooth concrete.Before I could even begin to process what had happened, or feel the weariness in my wings, Endor let out a grunt and stepped away.I didn’t miss his stumble, and that is when I saw it.
His wing.
The blood.
He was hurt.Badly.
A strange sense of sadness formed in my chest and I moved to grab him, without thinking.Grace flooded me, as did the desire, theneedto heal.
To heal ademon.
“Your wing,” I said, my voice barely a whisper.Endor’s fiery gaze met mine, but he looked away almost as soon as he caught mine.
