Michael stared at the male he’d created, the one he considered his only child. Was he saying…?
“Fuck me running,” he mumbled, using that weird turn of phrase Eclipse had always been so fond of. He’d never understood what it meant, still didn’t, but it seemed fitting somehow.
Obsidian chuckled. “You want to hold her?”
Michael felt as though he should bow before her for some reason. He refrained and managed a nod instead.
When she was placed in his arms, Michael stared down at the most precious thing to have ever touched him. Perhaps she was not of his blood, but she was as much his as Obsidian was, and that … for him that was everything. They were all he had of his very own and he’d take it.
His eyes remained on her, scanning the tiny face, her little pink nose, the wisps of black hair peeking out from beneath that pink cap. He wondered what her fingers and toes looked like. Were they equally small?
There was a sound behind him—a door opening, footsteps, a lot of them, actually. Instinct had his wings closing around him, shielding the baby in his arms to ensure no one harmed her.
Obsidian chuckled. “They’ve been waiting their turn,” he said, his voice muffled from outside Michael’s feathered cocoon.
“Perhaps they could wait a few more minutes?” Michael asked, letting his wings pull back so he could look into the male’s face. “I’m not ready to leave her just yet.”
“If you’d still like to stay,” Obsidian said softly, “we’d be glad to have you.”
Michael’s eyes flipped up to Obsidian. “Truly?”
The male nodded. “Keep in mind, it might not be easy. But as far as I’m concerned, you’re welcome here.”
He swallowed past the knot forming in his throat, his attention returning to the tiny warm bundle in his arms. Oh, how he wanted to stay. It would mean everything to him. Of course, he understood Shadow and Piceous would likely get up in arms about it, but … well, he would deal with them when the time was right.
Unfortunately…
He glanced up at Obsidian. “I’d appreciate if you’d keep the offer open. I’ve got penance to pay after … recent events. But I’ll return as soon as I’m able.”
Obsidian’s dark brows lowered and there was concern there. “Is everything all right?”
Michael looked at Ari’el once more. He smiled, because how could he not? “It will be.”
It definitely will be.
Epilogue
When an archangel asked for a face-to-face, it wasn’t exactly appropriate to tell him to get fucked.
Kaj had learned that the hard way.
And now, here he was completely incapacitated while that fucking archangel stared at him with iridescent eyes that appeared to be transforming from their original dark brown to that familiar silver and a mischievous smirk on his oddly handsome face.
“Let me go,” Kaj grumbled. “For fuck’s sake.”
“Will you be good if I do?”
Like he was a recalcitrant five-year-old. Whatever.
Since he could move his eyeballs, Kaj rolled them. “Of course.”
The release on his muscles was instantaneous, causing him to stumble forward. He righted himself, squared his shoulders, and turned to face the male who’d not so muchaskedto have a sit-down but ratherdeclaredit to happen.
Apparently, that meant it was happening.
“What’s up, Michael?” His tone was reflective of more resignation than curiosity.
“I am here on a mission,” the archangel said, his voice deeper than usual, reflecting the sincerity of his visit.
