his touch."
"Oh, I didn't say I wasn't affected."
Layla smiled. "I hear ya. But you know what I mean. And the fact that you're not makes you unique. You're someone he can't Angel charm – someone he has to win all on his own."
"What makes you think he'd even want to win me?"
"Let's just say that I have insight."
"Oh that's right, you can get into people's heads. Gabriel told me."
Layla laughed. "No, I meant I've spent time with him and I understand how intriguing it is for people like him to meet someone who isn't affected. Think about it. If you were him, how would you ever know if a woman truly cared about you or if it was just your – your affect?"
Nevaeh had not considered that, but now she did. There might be something to what Layla said, but that didn't mean that Gabriel was interested in her for more than a weekend fling.
And she wasn't about to get her hopes set on more.
"Well, you might be right, but let's face it, he's … well, he is an Angel and I'm … I'm just a woman trying to keep juggling and hope I can keep all my balls in the air."
"How well I understand that. But I meant what I said. As soon as I get back to our suite I'm going to have Augustus make the arrangements to have the cost of your dad's care taken care of."
"I'm still in shock, Layla and I still want to do something to repay you. Please, there has to be something."
"If I think of something I'll let you know. Right now, I have to go. So you get some rest and just text me when you're functional again and we'll arrange to have the jet available to take you home."
"Thank you." They both rose, embraced and Layla hurried away.
Nevaeh watched her leave and then started for the pool house. Just as she did, she heard something. It sounded like a woman screaming. She whirled around and headed for the beach.
Sure enough, there was someone flailing around in the water. Nevaeh disregarded the fact she was in a formal dress that probably cost more than she made the entire year. She ran into the water and dove.
It took her only a minute to reach the woman who was beating at the water with her arms, coughing and screaming. Nevaeh tried to get behind the woman to get a hold on her but as soon as she did, the woman quit flailing, turned, and smiled.
"Well hello Nevaeh."
Nevaeh was shocked to see the woman from the ballroom, the one she and Augustus had tried to find. But not nearly as shocked as she was to see the woman's hand emerge from the water with a hypodermic needle. By the time she'd recovered from the surprise, the woman had stabbed the needle into the side of her neck.
Nevaeh kicked, trying to swim away but her body failed her. Her legs felt heavy and refused to move. A moment later, her peripheral vision went dark.
Then all light vanished.
Chapter Six
I will never figure out why we white-winged Angels are treated as if we're some pillar of morality. Even among The Seven, those among us whose wings are white are expected to "set an example" and be of such high moral fiber and honesty that we mimic the beings from the Christian tomes.
Not so for the black-winged Angels. That old tale of Lucifer still holds sway. Ironically, our leader Lucien, is black-winged and yet the most straight-laced, by-the-book, hold-you-to-a-canon-of-ethics Angel I've ever met. Seriously, I wonder if the man has ever let loose and had any fun.
But whatever, that's an old gripe and it serves little purpose to dwell on it. The Council meeting was long, with endless discussion on what happened last night. What was not said rang louder than what was. Everyone present knows that only two people had the means to pull off such a feat. Augustus or Asha.
No one is pointing a finger at Augustus. Physically or mentally. We all know him to be honorable. Of course, no fingers point at Asha, either. But that's primarily because we're all still just a bit scared of her.
Despite the combined power of the Council, no one wants to take on Asha. To say she's
"Oh, I didn't say I wasn't affected."
Layla smiled. "I hear ya. But you know what I mean. And the fact that you're not makes you unique. You're someone he can't Angel charm – someone he has to win all on his own."
"What makes you think he'd even want to win me?"
"Let's just say that I have insight."
"Oh that's right, you can get into people's heads. Gabriel told me."
Layla laughed. "No, I meant I've spent time with him and I understand how intriguing it is for people like him to meet someone who isn't affected. Think about it. If you were him, how would you ever know if a woman truly cared about you or if it was just your – your affect?"
Nevaeh had not considered that, but now she did. There might be something to what Layla said, but that didn't mean that Gabriel was interested in her for more than a weekend fling.
And she wasn't about to get her hopes set on more.
"Well, you might be right, but let's face it, he's … well, he is an Angel and I'm … I'm just a woman trying to keep juggling and hope I can keep all my balls in the air."
"How well I understand that. But I meant what I said. As soon as I get back to our suite I'm going to have Augustus make the arrangements to have the cost of your dad's care taken care of."
"I'm still in shock, Layla and I still want to do something to repay you. Please, there has to be something."
"If I think of something I'll let you know. Right now, I have to go. So you get some rest and just text me when you're functional again and we'll arrange to have the jet available to take you home."
"Thank you." They both rose, embraced and Layla hurried away.
Nevaeh watched her leave and then started for the pool house. Just as she did, she heard something. It sounded like a woman screaming. She whirled around and headed for the beach.
Sure enough, there was someone flailing around in the water. Nevaeh disregarded the fact she was in a formal dress that probably cost more than she made the entire year. She ran into the water and dove.
It took her only a minute to reach the woman who was beating at the water with her arms, coughing and screaming. Nevaeh tried to get behind the woman to get a hold on her but as soon as she did, the woman quit flailing, turned, and smiled.
"Well hello Nevaeh."
Nevaeh was shocked to see the woman from the ballroom, the one she and Augustus had tried to find. But not nearly as shocked as she was to see the woman's hand emerge from the water with a hypodermic needle. By the time she'd recovered from the surprise, the woman had stabbed the needle into the side of her neck.
Nevaeh kicked, trying to swim away but her body failed her. Her legs felt heavy and refused to move. A moment later, her peripheral vision went dark.
Then all light vanished.
Chapter Six
I will never figure out why we white-winged Angels are treated as if we're some pillar of morality. Even among The Seven, those among us whose wings are white are expected to "set an example" and be of such high moral fiber and honesty that we mimic the beings from the Christian tomes.
Not so for the black-winged Angels. That old tale of Lucifer still holds sway. Ironically, our leader Lucien, is black-winged and yet the most straight-laced, by-the-book, hold-you-to-a-canon-of-ethics Angel I've ever met. Seriously, I wonder if the man has ever let loose and had any fun.
But whatever, that's an old gripe and it serves little purpose to dwell on it. The Council meeting was long, with endless discussion on what happened last night. What was not said rang louder than what was. Everyone present knows that only two people had the means to pull off such a feat. Augustus or Asha.
No one is pointing a finger at Augustus. Physically or mentally. We all know him to be honorable. Of course, no fingers point at Asha, either. But that's primarily because we're all still just a bit scared of her.
Despite the combined power of the Council, no one wants to take on Asha. To say she's
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