Oh, wonderful. They had spoken, formed a committee, and decided her fate without her input.
Scowling, she called her boss. He answered on the first ring.
“Nia, are you okay? What happened? When you just vanished from the clinic, I was worried.”
She bit her lip, not wanting to lie to a man who’d been a good boss. “I’m so sorry, Gil. It-it’s…” With no other way to lessen the horror, the words rushed out, “Someone’s stalking me.”
“What?Why didn’t you say anything?” he demanded.
It’s a demon.But she didn’t think that would go down well, especially with a God-fearing man like Gil, who had no idea that demons lived on Earth. “I didn’t want to drag you into this. I’ll be away for a few days. I’m just so sorry.”
“It’s all right. Your safety’s more important. I’ll take care of your newborns.”
Nia ended the call. Cell back in her pocket, she crossed the courtyard toward the balustrade submerged in mist, boots crunching through the patches of snow. She stopped at the rambling stone barrier winding its way along the mismatched facade of the abbey.
With her forearms braced on the rail, she tried to peer down but couldn’t see what lay below the swirling vapors. The sheer isolation of this place settled into her bones.
Great. Trapped in a lonely abbey with an equally remote angel.
Dense fog wafted past her, leaving behind its icy, wet kiss on her skin, and she shivered. Her teeth clacked. Damn. If she didn’t get something warmer to wear, she was going to freeze to death.
Upside, the frigid air helped ease her sore head a little.
She swung to the angel under the tree, rubbing her chilled arms. “I’m g-going to need warmer c-clothes. Could we go back and get my things?”
“It’s not safe.”
No, she thought not. Though her financial situation was dire, she did have a tiny bit saved from the pittance Nan grudgingly gave her. It didn’t matter; she didn’t need much. Once all this was over, she’d get a job, and no one would hold her last name against her anymore?—
An ominous groan reverberated. Nia spun as the balustrade crumbled away, stone fragments disappearing into the mist below, leaving a gaping hole.
She stood there frozen, her heart wedged in her throat.Oh God, oh God!She could have fallen to her death.
“You are safe,” Lore said, appearing at her side.
“I don’t k-know about that a-anymore.” She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to steady her quivering body. More, she refused to let him see how rattled she was at the railing collapsing. “This p-place is freezing.”
With a wave of his hands, the balustrade reformed. He got out his cell from his pocket and scrolled.
Seriously? Were his messages more important than taking her to a place where she could buy warmer clothes?
Phone back in his pocket, he stepped closer and touched her arm.
“What are you doing—eeep!” She reared back as a soft glow rippled over her, transforming into a long, white fur coat. Nia’s jaw nearly hit her chest. “What is this?”
“You are cold?—”
“I meant a puffer jacket. A hoodie! Not fur!” She inhaled harshly, her entire being protesting the pelt covering her. Who knew where this came from—how many poor animals were slaughtered for this?—
“I can’t wear this!” She tried to free herself of the awful coat. “I’m training to become a vet. Do you even know what that means?” At his unchanging stare, she snapped, “I take care ofsick and wounded animals. I make them better, not wear their pelts!”
In a ripple, the coat vanished.
His brow furrowed, and he whipped out his cell again. Fingers sped over the display. He turned the device to her. The screen showed a range of women’s apparel. He hadn’t been looking at texts. He’d been researching clothes. For her. For some reason, one she didn’t want to examine too closely as her ire faded, warmth lit through her, and she almost smiled. A genuine one for the first time in days.
“Look, how about we just go to a clothing store? There must be a town, village, or something close by, right?”
His expression morphed to implacable. “It’s risky.”
