A fuckingangel!
Why the hell couldn’t he just be normal?
Ely moved to his side. “They’re beautiful,” she whispered.
Well, damn. If she liked them, and for her—for a life with her—he’d do anything, even endure the wings. Though he wasn’t sure exactly what this symbiont required in sustenance. His stomach twisted at the thought but he pushed it aside for the moment. Later, he would figure it out once this motley crew left.
But the archangel stared at him like he’d seen a ghost or something.
“Let’s cut to the chase. You want to know what I am?” he said, casting the males a flat stare. “I started life as a human, died and became a demon—after all, I do possess their blood…” More so because he still felt the connection to his sire, which started all those years ago when Aba first gave him plasma to save him. “But here I am, an anomaly once again with white wings this time,” he drawled. He glanced at his sire for confirmation. “It’s from an angelic symbiont, right?”
Frowning, his sire walked over and studied his appendages.
At Aba’s sudden, harsh inhale, Nate pivoted. Hell, it took some balancing not to fall on his ass with these weights attached to his back. “What?”
Aba appeared like he’d been walloped across the head.
“It’s been so long,” he whispered. “But I remember the male, our meeting unusual. I was on Earth for a time when our paths crossed. He slashed his chest, filled a vial with blood, and handed it to me, said it was for me alone to keep safe, and that I’d know when to use it…”
His brow furrowed, and then he paled, a sliver of pain crossing his face. “Forgive me for what you endured,cnati. When you lay dying in the alley, all I thought of was to save you. I’d forgotten about this blood and gave you the one I thought was a wyvern first. You were in so much pain, going through the metamorphosis so fast, I was terrified for you. It’s when I remembered the angel who’d given me the vial and hoped it would counter what was happening to you. I gave you that blood as well. It stopped the change and…and I think it’s what blocked the Black’s complete control of you,” he whispered.
Right. Nate pressed his lips to Ely’s dark hair, absorbing all his sire revealed. “It doesn’t matter any longer. I’m finally free of the Black.”
Not totally. He could still feel the darker blood sliding through his veins as if waiting. Waiting. But why mention it when the warriors’ eyes on him appeared not so murderous now?
“I had thought those symbionts dead until a few hours ago,” Aba admitted.
Ely’s grip tightened on his waist, and she leaned into him. He could feel her exhaustion like a lead blanket. And heat.
He frowned. She was too warm, but there was more, something else he should remember, but his mind was still fuzzy with all that had happened—
“Michael?” Ely’s voice distracted him.
The archangel blinked as if coming back from wherever his thoughts had been.
“Nate no longer possesses the deadly monster from the dark world,” she reiterated.
“I am aware.” He rubbed his forearms sporting five tiny smears of blood like someone dug their nails into his skin. “It was never about who you mated, Ely. But about how dangerous he would be living on this world and to the mortals here,” Michael told her. “Hedori mentioned he’d gifted this place to you. The choice is yours where you prefer to live. Here or the castle.”
“Thank you,” she said. “I think we’ll stay at the boathouse.”
Thank fuck for that. He preferred the privacy.
Nate met the archangel’s fragmented blue eyes with the flashing silvery fissures as if power oozed free. He had no idea what happened to the angel, but he’d never seen such deadly eyes. And he crossed paths and fists with some crazy motherfuckers down in the Dark Realm.
“Do you mind if we continue this conversation in the daylight hours?” he asked. He had to tend to Ely and find out what the hell was wrong with her. “My mate’s had a stressful few days and needs rest.”
“Very well.” Michael inclined his head. “We’ll convene tomorrow at the castle. Let’s get back on patrol.” He departed in a swirl of silvery sparks.
Blondie—hell,Týr, he had to let go of his rancor—cast him an unreadable stare, but he nodded, as did Nik.
Shadow and Kira smiled and gave them a quick wave, then they were all gone.
Reynner walked over, his navy blues settling on Ely.
“I am happy, Reyn,” she said softly. “Nate makes me happy.”
“I can see that.” He cast her a wry smile and nodded at Nate, in acceptance or what, he had no idea. Reynner frowned, picking up her black braid, a part of it hanging by mere strands. “It’s still strange to see you with hair this dark.”
