He lifted his agonized gaze to hers. “I thought I’d lostyou.”
“I heard you,” she whispered. “After the immense agony, I was finally in this place of calm and peace with radiant white lights. And a melodious whisper in my mind saying I would always be at peace there… I never wanted to leave. But, then I heard your voice and it tugged at my soul, I knew I couldn’tstay…”
She stroked his left pecs as if to ease his grief. “I tried to reach for you, but you were so far away. The voice continued to tempt me to stay, but my heart wanted you. I fought to break free; it was like trying to fight through quicksand…I don’t recall anything after that. Just immense white light surroundingme.”
She’d heard him, and she cameback.
He grasped her hands from his chest and pressed them to his lips. Emotions choked him. It took a moment, maybe several before he could speak again. “You became an orb of light and rose into the air. It swirled and started to reform. When you took shape again, those wings grew out of you…” Dagan shook his head, still awed at her rebirth. Then he grasped her wrist and turned it over while Shae warily eyed her wings in the mirroragain.
The fucking mating mark was stillthere.
“They feel odd…heavy,” she said, tentatively reaching behind her to touch the downy feathers. “How on earth am I to walk withoutfalling?”
“Practice.”
“Dagan—” Wild-eyed, she stared at him in the mirror. “How can I leave the castle with these things inview?”
“You’ll have to learn to conceal them. Angels who come to Earth do it all the time. Draw them close to your body,” heencouraged.
After several grunts, she managed to fold them against herback.
“That’s good.” He stroked the arches of her wings, and she stiffened, a low moan escaping her. Her pale cheeks took on a deep flush, and her pupils dilated. He went motionless. “It turns you on when I stroke youhere?”
She bit her lip and nodded. “Like you have yourfingers…”
“Where?” he teased. “Here?” He stroked the archesagain.
“Between my thighs,” she growled, her voice huskier thannormal.
And just as fast, he lost his smile, a thought kicking him in the gut. He cursed under his breath. “No one must touch your wings there. It’s essential you learn to concealthem.”
Her shoulders heaving in a huge sigh, she nodded. “I know. Or you’ll probably kill themall.”
He frowned. Even though she’d been in a healing sleep, she looked paler than normal. “I’m an idiot, dumping this on you when you’ve just awakened. We can wait a day orso.”
“No. I don’t want anyone making me feel this way—ugh.” She grimaced. “What must Ido?”
He stroked her upper arms and considered his options. “Remember how you shielded your powers? Let’s try the same way here. It should work. If not, Michael will have to teachyou.”
Shae shut her eyes, a shimmer, and her wings vanished. Her eyelids snapped open, shining with wonder. “They’re gone, I don’t feel them anymore. I’m normalagain.”
“Normal?” A smile tugged his lips in wry amusement. “Hardly.” He grasped her hand, drew her back into the bedroom and stopped in front of the fireplace. “I don’t want you to hurt yourself. The dressing room wouldn’t take your open wings easily. Goahead.”
Dagan stepped to her front. She inhaled deeply, and in a swoosh of feathers, her wings emerged. She stumbled back at the added weight, her hands grabbing his shirt for purchase, and she grinned up at him. “I didit!”
At her happiness, he pulled her close and kissed her, dying to touch her, to make love to her after all that had occurred over the past few days, but he still had a damn Fallen toannihilate.
He didn’t want to worry her about that just yet. He would find the bastard soonenough.
“Can I flynow?”
He struggled to contain his smile as she stood there, hands on her hips, her wings held close to her body before they vanished. It must be an inherent angel thing at how easily she learned to hidethem.
“Well?”
“So impatient.” He laughed. “Probably. However,thatI can’t teach you. Michael will have to get one of the angels to showyou.”
Suddenly, her gaze widened, her wish to fly seemingly wiped from her mind. “Dagan!” She rushed behind him. “Your beautifulhair!”
