He lifted his head. The ancient goddess held out an array of obsidian daggers.
What?His mind not processing, he glanced at the weapons, and his gaze settled on the one with tiny amber stones glinting in the black guard. He picked it up, but the blade slipped from his listless fingers.
“I got it,” Nia said.
Finally, he could lift his gaze to hers, and he found her staring at the glowing dagger.
She glanced at him, her eyes warm and teary, and a smile that squeezed his heart trembled on her lips. Stars, he wanted to kiss her.
“Before I take my leave,” Gaia murmured, “know that your powers will manifest soon. Different from what you knew as an angel, but no less potent.” Her spring-green eyes softened. “Rest and adjust to this new existence. You will need your strength when Michael deems you ready to take up your duties as Guardian. Your experience as an angel negates the usual training I require of my warriors.”
He didn’t know about all that. His gaze lowered to his once more solid hands.
Inhaling deeply, his first breath as a reborn, he met Gaia’s quiet stare again.
“I understand why you did what you did, and it is commendable,” she said. “But as an angel, you should know our souls anchor us to where we were born or created. Yours tethered you to the Heavens, Rania’s to Earth. Your soul-joined mate bond would have anchored you to her when you fell, saving you. Yes, it would have hurt her for a while, but it is a small price to pay for an eternity of happiness.”
He blinked at her.
“The higher-up angels do like guarding everything—especially information they deem inconvenient—closely.” Shesighed. “Fare thee well, Guardian.” With a little smile, she dissolved into golden light and was gone.
“Let’s go before trouble finds us,” Michael said, crossing to them.
Lore breathed in a harsh breath, still trying to process all that had happened as Michael helped him to his feet as if he were a babe.
“I can walk.” He pushed away and nearly stumbled at his weakness.
“I should have known.” Michael snorted. “You’ll fit in well with the others. But since you cannot call on any of your powers just yet, and until those appear, consider me your crutch.” He held Nia’s hand and drew her to his other side, and Lore frowned, wanting her with him. Then Michael grasped his arm, and the cave vanished as the archangel shifted them…
They reappeared in a gloomy room. Lore pushed away from him and dropped onto the bed, trying to get his bearings and orient himself to the changes within him.
“These are your quarters,” Michael said.
Lore looked up. He had quarters?
Nothing made sense, his mind a haze. Despite the immense agony easing to barely tolerable, exhaustion consumed him. Something he’d never felt before.
Michael’s focus cut to Nia, who clutched the black blade in her bloodied hands, then back to him. “The obsidian dagger and the sword inked on your arm are Gaian weapons, but I guess you’ll discover all about them soon enough,” he said, tone dry.
“You’ll find clothes in the dressing room. Anything else you need, Hedori will be at hand to help. You will, of course, receive quarterly remittances. Gaia is most generous, but this is a deadly job. Hedori handles all those things. The warriors are still out on patrol. They should be heading back in an hour or so. And you’ll need this?—”
He disappeared in a shimmer and reappeared a second later, setting an opaque bottle on the bedside table along with an ointment jar. “The potion is for pain and healing. The salve, use it on his wounds,” he told Nia.
Michael went motionless. His expression hardened, his eyes flickering upward.
And Lore knew. The seraphs were likely throwing a fit that he’d escaped death.
“I must go. I have to do damage control up there.” Michael stalked for the door. “I’ll be back.”
Lore’s attention settled on Nia. She appeared far too pale, and terror bled off her like another heartbeat.
“What is it?” he rasped, throat raw, hurting still.
She hurried over, her features slipping to calm. “It’s nothing.
His eyes narrowed. “Nia…” Another shaky inhale. “Your terror bleeds into me.”
She stopped a foot from him, opened her mouth to speak, then shook her head. “I can’t believe you’re here. Alive…”
