her resentment was justified. If only she had known. If she had guessed what awaited in the human realm…
Life as she knew it had ended that day. Her purpose for existence, her closest friends had all been forfeited to her rebellion.
A warm hand brushed her hair, tender lips kissed her brow. She opened her eyes and looked into Sariel’s gold-speckled gaze. Compassion and concern shone as brightly as the miniature constellations. She released her breath in a ragged sob. Pressing her hand against his cheek, she absorbed the comfort of his presence. She wasn’t alone. Sariel was here, holding her, protecting her.
Sariel? What was Sariel doing in her bed? Was she still dreaming?
The dreaded mists swirled, threatening to reclaim the ground she’d gained. “I must speak of what I saw,” she whispered, her voice raspy. “I don’t want to forget.”
“You won’t forget unless you lie about what took place. Each memory you’ve lost has been the result of a lie you told.”
Easing back without leaving the security of his embrace, Alyssa studied his shadowed face. They lay on their sides, one of his legs pressed between her thighs. Even their intimate position couldn’t distract her from the past. She desperately wanted to feel whole again, competent—sane.
“How do you know that?” A strand of tawny hair streamed in front of his face. She combed her fingers through his hair, pushing the thick mass over his shoulder. “Did you have something to do with my dream?”
“It was not a dream, it was a memory.”
She licked her lips, his evasive tone made her uncomfortable. “Did you somehow induce the memory?” He brushed his fingers along her side then rested his hand on her hip. Tingling heat followed his touch. Was he trying to distract her with desire? Her body hummed, anticipating a more intimate distraction, appreciating his strategy. “How did you do it? If you can’t ‘indulge your carnal nature’, why are you here?”
He traced her lips with his fingertip. “The conflict within your mind troubles me. I wanted to help ease your confusion. All I did was light the way. I hadn’t intended to join you here, but the memory was more upsetting than I anticipated.”
“You can see into my mind? Share my memories? These are not ordinary angelic gifts.”
“I’m not an ordinary angel.”
His smile sent heat curling deep into her belly. He was so beautiful when he smiled. She longed to drag his mouth to hers and abandon herself completely to the passion sizzling between them. She had no doubt he desired her, but something more powerful than their attraction held him back.
He had come to comfort her, to help her battle her confusion. She couldn’t compromise the purity of that goal. Scooting away from his warm body, she sat and took a slow, deep breath.
“Do you know what happened to the others?” he asked.
She glanced over her shoulder. He sat as well, his body now on top of the bedding. Odd, she hadn’t felt the bed shift as he moved. “Some of them. Michael dispatched us to different locations, scattered throughout time. When I first encountered Lailah, she had just arrived while I had been trapped in the human realm for nearly a hundred years.”
“Did you seek her out or did your paths simply cross?”
The subtle suspicion in his expression made her smile. “We were not specifically forbidden to interact with each other.”
“Michael said he was dispersing your group permanently and then he scattered you to the four winds. That seemed pretty clear to me.”
“Don’t you dare defend him to me! ” She scowled fiercely. “Do you approve of his actions?”
He raised his hands toward her, palms out, and shook his head. “I’m not your judge, Alyssa. This is between you, Michael and God.” She didn’t reply and his posture gradually relaxed. “What became of Gideon? I know Rosalind descended from him. How did that come about?”
She drew her knees to her chest under her nightgown
Life as she knew it had ended that day. Her purpose for existence, her closest friends had all been forfeited to her rebellion.
A warm hand brushed her hair, tender lips kissed her brow. She opened her eyes and looked into Sariel’s gold-speckled gaze. Compassion and concern shone as brightly as the miniature constellations. She released her breath in a ragged sob. Pressing her hand against his cheek, she absorbed the comfort of his presence. She wasn’t alone. Sariel was here, holding her, protecting her.
Sariel? What was Sariel doing in her bed? Was she still dreaming?
The dreaded mists swirled, threatening to reclaim the ground she’d gained. “I must speak of what I saw,” she whispered, her voice raspy. “I don’t want to forget.”
“You won’t forget unless you lie about what took place. Each memory you’ve lost has been the result of a lie you told.”
Easing back without leaving the security of his embrace, Alyssa studied his shadowed face. They lay on their sides, one of his legs pressed between her thighs. Even their intimate position couldn’t distract her from the past. She desperately wanted to feel whole again, competent—sane.
“How do you know that?” A strand of tawny hair streamed in front of his face. She combed her fingers through his hair, pushing the thick mass over his shoulder. “Did you have something to do with my dream?”
“It was not a dream, it was a memory.”
She licked her lips, his evasive tone made her uncomfortable. “Did you somehow induce the memory?” He brushed his fingers along her side then rested his hand on her hip. Tingling heat followed his touch. Was he trying to distract her with desire? Her body hummed, anticipating a more intimate distraction, appreciating his strategy. “How did you do it? If you can’t ‘indulge your carnal nature’, why are you here?”
He traced her lips with his fingertip. “The conflict within your mind troubles me. I wanted to help ease your confusion. All I did was light the way. I hadn’t intended to join you here, but the memory was more upsetting than I anticipated.”
“You can see into my mind? Share my memories? These are not ordinary angelic gifts.”
“I’m not an ordinary angel.”
His smile sent heat curling deep into her belly. He was so beautiful when he smiled. She longed to drag his mouth to hers and abandon herself completely to the passion sizzling between them. She had no doubt he desired her, but something more powerful than their attraction held him back.
He had come to comfort her, to help her battle her confusion. She couldn’t compromise the purity of that goal. Scooting away from his warm body, she sat and took a slow, deep breath.
“Do you know what happened to the others?” he asked.
She glanced over her shoulder. He sat as well, his body now on top of the bedding. Odd, she hadn’t felt the bed shift as he moved. “Some of them. Michael dispatched us to different locations, scattered throughout time. When I first encountered Lailah, she had just arrived while I had been trapped in the human realm for nearly a hundred years.”
“Did you seek her out or did your paths simply cross?”
The subtle suspicion in his expression made her smile. “We were not specifically forbidden to interact with each other.”
“Michael said he was dispersing your group permanently and then he scattered you to the four winds. That seemed pretty clear to me.”
“Don’t you dare defend him to me! ” She scowled fiercely. “Do you approve of his actions?”
He raised his hands toward her, palms out, and shook his head. “I’m not your judge, Alyssa. This is between you, Michael and God.” She didn’t reply and his posture gradually relaxed. “What became of Gideon? I know Rosalind descended from him. How did that come about?”
She drew her knees to her chest under her nightgown
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