me at her mercy and made no move to harm me. She urged me to save myself. These are not the actions of a true demon.”
“You see what you want to see.”
“And you are blind to what you do not wish to be true.” With a frustrated sigh, Evan sank into the chair. “If you truly hate her so, why are you helping me? Surely this goes beyond simple gratitude for watching over your human.”
Ren crossed the room to perch on the ottoman by Evan’s feet. “We are much alike,” he said quietly. “Neither of us really fit in, did we? Despite our private natures, I have ever considered you a friend, someone I could rely on when others may forget me, and someone who would stand by me when others turned their backs. My affection for you far outweighs any displeasure I feel toward a demon.”
Evan didn’t know what to say to that. No one had ever expressed any deep love for him before. He was the awkward one, the one others avoided. To know Ren considered him so worthy left him beyond words.
He pulled a wing forward and began running his fingertips over a disheveled flight feather. He didn’t say anything until he had it smooth and orderly once more.
“Have you consulted with Gabriel?” he finally asked.
“Not yet. I wanted to have some tidbit of information to present him first.”
“Please, take him what you have. The archangels have expressed concern. I would like to give them some reassurance that I am attempting to determine law and not operating in willful ignorance.”
Ren’s breath rushed out. “All three of them? Evan, you must take care. If the archangels have approached you, then you are in danger of going too far with this. Step away from Meela and let their worries die down. We are infinite creatures. We have, quite literally, all of time to do this.”
Evan shook his head. Meela might exist forever, but this moment in her existence was fleeting. “That is where you are wrong. Meela is ready to come home now, and if we miss this opportunity, I believe she will be lost forever.”
She was fragile. If she didn’t get help now, when she needed it the most, she’d never trust him or any angel to help her again.
Before Ren could answer, the rumbling noise of the garage door opening filled the room. In an instant, Ren’s worry vanished, wiped away by the sheer joy of Adam arriving home.
“Evan, will you join us for our meal?” Ren rose and began walking toward the door connecting the house to the garage.
“I will.”
The door opened and Ren met Adam with a kiss so full of pure love it made Evan’s heart ache. Would he ever have a chance to experience love and contentment like theirs?
He sent up a quick prayer that he and Meela would someday share a love like this, and stepped forward to greet Adam.
Chapter Five
Meela crouched in the corner of the abandoned house, using precious power to remain unseen while she watched her prey. The human was hurting, desperate, and anything Meela did was guaranteed to make it worse. Desperation drove her here, but reluctance kept her from taking the power she’d so neatly cornered.
Her stomach lurched at the idea of feeding from the girl, but there was no other way to stave off the pain of hunger.
“I thought we had agreed you wouldn’t do this again.”
Meela’s heart lurched in her chest as he appeared in the doorway. His fists were clenched at his sides and he was stiff with anger. The hard line of his body radiated tension and a raw masculinity, making her hyperaware of him as a seraph. His maleness called to her on a primal level, unsettling her.
He wasn’t wearing Earthly garb today. Instead he was clothed in the white robes worn in Heaven. His mahogany hair and feathers stood out against the snowy fabric.
As did his flushed cheeks.
His eyes were dark with hurt and betrayal, and an unwelcome sense of shame assailed her. He’d entrusted her with power, had such faith that she would not violate that trust by preying on any of his human
“You see what you want to see.”
“And you are blind to what you do not wish to be true.” With a frustrated sigh, Evan sank into the chair. “If you truly hate her so, why are you helping me? Surely this goes beyond simple gratitude for watching over your human.”
Ren crossed the room to perch on the ottoman by Evan’s feet. “We are much alike,” he said quietly. “Neither of us really fit in, did we? Despite our private natures, I have ever considered you a friend, someone I could rely on when others may forget me, and someone who would stand by me when others turned their backs. My affection for you far outweighs any displeasure I feel toward a demon.”
Evan didn’t know what to say to that. No one had ever expressed any deep love for him before. He was the awkward one, the one others avoided. To know Ren considered him so worthy left him beyond words.
He pulled a wing forward and began running his fingertips over a disheveled flight feather. He didn’t say anything until he had it smooth and orderly once more.
“Have you consulted with Gabriel?” he finally asked.
“Not yet. I wanted to have some tidbit of information to present him first.”
“Please, take him what you have. The archangels have expressed concern. I would like to give them some reassurance that I am attempting to determine law and not operating in willful ignorance.”
Ren’s breath rushed out. “All three of them? Evan, you must take care. If the archangels have approached you, then you are in danger of going too far with this. Step away from Meela and let their worries die down. We are infinite creatures. We have, quite literally, all of time to do this.”
Evan shook his head. Meela might exist forever, but this moment in her existence was fleeting. “That is where you are wrong. Meela is ready to come home now, and if we miss this opportunity, I believe she will be lost forever.”
She was fragile. If she didn’t get help now, when she needed it the most, she’d never trust him or any angel to help her again.
Before Ren could answer, the rumbling noise of the garage door opening filled the room. In an instant, Ren’s worry vanished, wiped away by the sheer joy of Adam arriving home.
“Evan, will you join us for our meal?” Ren rose and began walking toward the door connecting the house to the garage.
“I will.”
The door opened and Ren met Adam with a kiss so full of pure love it made Evan’s heart ache. Would he ever have a chance to experience love and contentment like theirs?
He sent up a quick prayer that he and Meela would someday share a love like this, and stepped forward to greet Adam.
Chapter Five
Meela crouched in the corner of the abandoned house, using precious power to remain unseen while she watched her prey. The human was hurting, desperate, and anything Meela did was guaranteed to make it worse. Desperation drove her here, but reluctance kept her from taking the power she’d so neatly cornered.
Her stomach lurched at the idea of feeding from the girl, but there was no other way to stave off the pain of hunger.
“I thought we had agreed you wouldn’t do this again.”
Meela’s heart lurched in her chest as he appeared in the doorway. His fists were clenched at his sides and he was stiff with anger. The hard line of his body radiated tension and a raw masculinity, making her hyperaware of him as a seraph. His maleness called to her on a primal level, unsettling her.
He wasn’t wearing Earthly garb today. Instead he was clothed in the white robes worn in Heaven. His mahogany hair and feathers stood out against the snowy fabric.
As did his flushed cheeks.
His eyes were dark with hurt and betrayal, and an unwelcome sense of shame assailed her. He’d entrusted her with power, had such faith that she would not violate that trust by preying on any of his human
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