Grateful, Uriel let out a relieved breath. "Thank you, Micha. I'll repay your kindness one day."
"Don't thank me, I never saw you."
"I understand, and I'm sorry. You're a nice guy, but I don't think I can love you the way you want. Be good to yourself."
"Leave before I change my mind," Micha said and turned his back to Uriel. “This is payback for saving my life before you became an angel.”
Uriel wasn’t sure what Micha was talking about. Not having anymore to say, Uriel left, taking Micha's advice and going through the garden to pick the healing herbs, grimacing at the raw bitter taste. Other than encountering Micha, he'd gotten out of the heavenly realm with a plan to find a safe place for his twins.
However, he only got halfway through his plans before Dio found him, protecting only one. At the time of their birth, he hadn’t even had time to name his twins before one was snatched from his arms and handed over to his adopted parents. It was good fortune that Uriel had hidden his firstborn child with a strong unicorn and hippocentaur blessing to keep him safe.
Uriel had nothing against the family who adopted and raised his second-born child. They named him Donald and gave him love and a wonderful home, but Uriel wanted it to behisjob. He had thought he needed money to raise his children, and because of how distressed his heart was, Uriel had forgotten he was a powerful being and could do anything he wanted. He had been under Dio’s command for so long, dependent on the man for everything.
By the time he remembered who and what he was, it was already too late and his family was taken from him. Uriel wasn't sure why the doctor hadn't told Dio that he’d given birth to twins, but he counted it as a fortune. He did not want to think about what would have happened to Kristoph if he'd been found.
“Dad, you’re back,” Kristoph, his ten-year-old son, said, walking down the stairs and meeting him in the foyer.
Kristoph threw himself into Uriel’s arms, and he grunted in pain but didn’t push his son away. He had forgotten to heal his injuries, yet getting hugs from his cherub was all the relief he needed. The kid was growing up, and eventually he wouldn't want to hug his old man.
Kristoph heard his grunt and raised his head, looking up at him. “Did you hurt yourself at work again?”
“Something like that,” Uriel answered, ruffling his silver-and-black hair, then kissing him on his forehead.
Other than the fight club, Uriel didn’t keep many secrets from his son. Kristoph knew about his father and his younger brother, who was now much older than him, and why their family was not together.
Donald was mated to the god Fenrir and had children, making Uriel a proud grandfather. Donald was also the deputy mayor of the other magical town, Vale Valley. Uriel had tried to explain things to him as he’d done with Kristoph, but Donald wanted nothing to do with him. So, out of respect, Uriel didn’t bother him and simply watched over Donald and his family whenever he had a moment to spare.
“Have you had dinner?” Uriel asked Kristoph.
“Yup,” he nodded. “Uncle Orion wasn’t sure if you’d be home tonight so we ate out.”
Uriel nodded, feeling a bit sour in his heart. He spent a lot of time working and often couldn’t come home for a couple of days, sometimes weeks. He was grateful that Orion, Kristoph’s godfather, was around to take care of him.
“What’d you guys do today?” Uriel asked.
They started walking up the stairs, heading to Uriel’s suite.
“Nothing much. I hung out with my friends for a bit then came home for lessons and had dinner with Uncle.”
Uriel nodded. “Where is your uncle?”
“In the shower.”
They got to Uriel’s bedroom, and he took off his jacket and threw it at the hamper, completely missing it.
“How are you so powerful but can’t even make a simple basket?” Kristoph chuckled.
“Blame it on my injuries.” Uriel smiled.
“Even when you’re not injured, you miss,” Kristoph teased.
“We can’t all be the school basketball champion like you,” Uriel grumbled.
Kristoph lightly pulled on his T-shirt and stuck out his chin proudly. “Well, what can I say? I’m the best at what I do.”
Grabbing a pillow off the bed, he playfully threw it at Kristoph who caught it easily. “So boastful.”
They both chuckled, and Uriel walked into his closet. "Are you trying out for the team at your new school this year?" He yelled back to the bedroom as he picked out something respectable to wear.
