“Flex them once, then glide. The more you flap, the faster you’ll go. The key is finding the rightbalance.”
I moved my wings up and down. When my body lurched forward, I flung my arms out, trying to balance on the breeze. Somehow, Imanaged.
“That’s it,” Asher saidencouragingly.
My speed slowed, so I pumped my wings again, and although I bobbed a little, I managed to make my way across the sky without falling. Other angels flitted around us, keeping their distance as though not wanting to disrupt mylesson.
“Should I land beside theChannel?”
Asherfrowned.
“I imagined that’s where you’ll burn my wings?” Could I still travel through the Channel wingless? “Unless you have to do it back onEarth?”
His confusion turned to fury. “You hardly flew atall!”
The wind twisted my hair, tossed it into my eyes. “Have you ever been in love,Seraph?”
“No, and I hope I’ll neverbe.”
“Why do you saythat?”
He flicked his hand toward me. “Look at what it did toyou.”
I blinked but then sighed as I realized he was lashing out because he didn’t understand what it was to share a heart and soul with another person. “Look what it did to Jarod,” Icountered.
His jaw sharpened. “Another reason you shouldn’t give them up. Imagine how many human souls you’ll be able to touch with your patience andlove.”
I smiledsadly.
“Sacrificing your life for a few years on Earth”—he shook his head—“it’s not worthit.”
“Change the law and allow his soul to ascend, or allow me to return to Earth with my wings intactnow.”
He wrenched his hair off his face. “You don’t understand what you’re asking! I can’t just snap my fingers and amend laws that were established to keep our kindsafe.”
“I think you’re capable of a lot more than you give yourself credit for,Seraph.”
“If I take you back to Earth, I’ll lose my place on the Council, not to mention the other archangels will probably char my wings right off myback.”
“Better mine than yours,then.”
“Leigh,” he growled, slapping theair.
“I’m sorry if my decision angers you, Seraph, but I don’t want to live in a world ruled by laws I find outdated andsenseless.”
“You think the human world is so muchgreater?”
“No. But the human world hasJarod.”
He fixed me with his turquoise eyes. “Marry me and change thelaws.”
A wave of sadness lapped against my ribs. “I’m sorry, Seraph, but I can’t. I’d be a terrible partner, because I’d never be able to give you myheart.”
“I don’t need your heart, just yourvoice.”
“You’d want to spend an eternity with a person who lovesanother?”
“It’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make to save yourlife.”
