by Elicia Hyder
“Yeah. Heard her while I was on the island yesterday. She said my name.”
“I wouldn’t put it past her. She’s so smart.”
“How was her birthday?”
“It was a blast. That kid loves cake almost as much as I do.”
“I find that hard to believe,” Fury said.
“It’s true,” Nathan insisted. “I’ll show you some pictures once we get on the ground.”
“No more issues from my world?” I asked.
“Nope. Aside from Az acting like the apocalypse is nigh, shit has been really peaceful lately.” Nathan looked back at us. “Sloan and Adrianne even took Iliana to the park this morning.”
My face whipped toward him. “Do they know we’re coming?”
“Yeah. They’re on their way back to Echo-5 now.”
“Has Chimera showed up in town yet?” I asked.
“Don’t think so, but we’ve been out and about for a while. She’s coming?”
“So I hear.” I decided to wait to tell him about the necklace until we were on the ground. He’d be understandably cautious, so I wanted a chance to fully explain.
Beside me, Fury’s shoulders were hunched, and her eyes were misty as she stared at the mountains passing beneath us. I reached for her hand, and she didn’t immediately pull away. For a moment, we took in the scenery together.
I’d once done a Google search of the most beautiful places in the world. The Blue Ridge Mountains were third on the list for good reason. The view from the helicopter was breathtaking.
After a few minutes, we seemed to be descending. We passed over the roof of a house. And then over a cow pasture. We were not heading to the airport. Or even to Echo-5.
“Where are we going?” I asked over the radio.
“Az and Adrianne’s,” NAG replied.
“Nathan, is that legal?”
“Surrre.” The way he dragged out the answer made me doubt him.
“NAG?” I asked.
“He’s right. The FAA doesn’t care as long as you don’t plow into anything. And the county doesn’t care as long as you don’t piss off the neighbors.”
I looked around the mountain and saw nothing but treetops, Azrael’s looped driveway, and the roofs of his house and detached garage. “Does he have neighbors?”
“Never seen any,” Nathan answered.
“He’s got about forty acres,” Wings said.
The most property I’d ever owned on Earth was the only property I’d ever owned. It was the house and half acre Sloan and I shared for about nineteen seconds right before Iliana was born. Before she married Nathan. And before I left the stratosphere to become the Archangel of Death.
That felt like a lifetime ago. I guess because, in Eden years, it was—a few lifetimes even.
The helicopter rocked to the side as NAG turned to land, and I flashed back to earlier in the day. Fury must have too because she grabbed the frame of the door.
“You all right?” I asked.
She nodded, staring at the ground below us. I wondered if she was thinking about Flint. “How’s the migraine?” she asked as we descended.
“Gone.” I was surprised. The pain had eased off so gradually I hadn’t even noticed until she mentioned it.
“That’s weird, isn’t it?”
“Means another angel is close by.” I looked at the ground again, like an angel might be wandering up Azrael’s driveway.
“Chimera?”
“Probably. Or maybe Shannon’s kid.” I looked over my shoulder to where Nathan sat up front. “Nate, how close does Shannon live from here?”
“They moved to Flat Rock. So thirty miles maybe.”
“Too far,” I said to Fury. “Let’s hope it’s Chimera.”
No other angels should be in the area. Since the Father had indefinitely closed the spirit line in North Carolina, limiting the access of all spirits to Asheville, even the guardians kept watch from above.
The auranos, the place in Eden where the veil between worlds was at its thinnest, had the best vantage point of Earth. Which—come to think of it—was probably why so many humans had the notion that Heaven was up.
Should there be trouble, the guardians sworn to protect Iliana, like Reuel, could breach through the spirit line outside the atmosphere and fall to the Earth like Incredible Hulk meteorites.
Technically, so could I, but my fingers were crossed that I’d never have to. I’d only recently mastered flying.
If anything sinister lurked in the area, the guardians would most likely see it and address it before we were the wiser. We’d yet to have to test the theory, however, so I wasn’t 100 percent sure.
Another thought occurred to me too. One I couldn’t say out loud over the comms. Maybe it was Adrianne. I wasn’t exactly sure how migraines were affected by angels in utero, but it seemed her presence had killed my migraine before it really got started at the beach house.
NAG eased the bird onto the ground in the dead center of Azrael’s lush green backyard. He was waiting on the porch as we descended.
“Thanks for the rescue, guys,” I said as Fury and I unfastened our harnesses.
NAG flipped some switches on the controls. “Don’t mention it. Glad we could come.”
“And we’re glad you guys are safe,” Wings added.
“Thank you,” Fury said before sliding onto the ground.
“Hold up. I’m coming with you,” Nathan said, taking off his headset.
I passed my headset and Fury’s to Wings, then grabbed my sword, which I’d been sitting on during the flight. “You ready?” I shouted to Fury over the noise.
She nodded and started toward the house. Nate and I ducked and followed her. When we were out of the brunt of the helicopter’s windstorm, I realized Nathan was looking at me weird as we walked.
“What?” I shouted.
“When did you start carrying a purse?”
I pushed Cassiel’s bag around my side, behind my back. “It’s not a purse!”
“It’s definitely a purse.”
I shoved him sideways, and he laughed.
When I looked toward the house, I saw immediately why my migraine had dissipated.
Sloan was standing on the porch.
With Iliana in her arms.
Chapter Ten
Every eye in the yard was on me. In the auranos as well, I was sure.
And if they were waiting for a reaction, I’m sure my stunned face delivered. Jaw dropped. Eyes wide. Sudden onset of tears.
I covered my gaping mouth.
Nathan was smiling beside me. “Surprise.” He hooked his arm around my neck and dragged me toward the house.
Iliana excitedly flailed her tiny hands as we neared them. Her mouth was moving, but I couldn’t hear her words over the roar of the helicopter. It looked like she was chanting my name. “Appa! Appa! Appa!”
Black hair finally covered her head, and she wore a bright teal headband that matched her white-and-teal dress. Around her tiny neck, a purple stone sparkled in the sunlight.
She stretched her arms toward me, opening and closing her fists. Then she lunged for me when I was near enough. I thought my insides might turn to mush as I grabbed her, lifting her high above my head. She squealed with delight even over the sound of the helicopter rising into the air behind us.
I lowered her, kissing the tip of her nose, and she sandwiched my face between her hands. “Hi, sweet girl.”
“Appa!”
Curling my arms around her, I pulled her against my shoulder for a hug. She grabbed onto my shirt, happily kicking her legs.
“You can’t ask for a better welcome home than that,” Nathan said, slapping my back before walking over to stand beside Sloan.
“No, you can’t,” I agreed as tears dripped down my cheeks. I kissed her face again. “I’ve missed you, Iliana.”
“Appa,” she said, scrunching her nose against my cheek.
“She’s trying to give you a kiss. That’s her latest thing,” Sl
oan said.
Everything hard and manly in me turned to mush. “I love it so much.”
I hadn’t seen Sloan since the battle at Echo-5, many years ago for me in Eden’s time. She wore a dark floral sundress cut shorter in the front to show off her tanned legs. Her chocolate-brown hair was wavy with golden tones catching the sunlight.
She smiled. “Welcome home, Appa.”
I reached for her. “Come here.” I pulled her against my side and pressed a kiss to her temple. “God, I’ve missed you guys.”
Sloan clutched the front of my shirt. “We’ve missed you too.”
Chimera and Adrianne were standing in the doorway. Chimera pointed at me. “You promised, Parish. No more tears.”
I laughed and shook my head. “I’m not even sorry. How’d you get here so fast?”
“Az asked me to leave early with them this morning so we could surprise you.”
I looked around for my father. He’d been there when we got off the plane. Just off the porch, he was holding Fury. Her face was away from us, but I could tell from the rattle of her shoulders, she was crying.
My heart broke.
“How is she?” Sloan asked, concerned.
I shrugged. “How do you think?”
“Hated to hear what happened to her dad,” Nathan said.
“You knew?”
He nodded. “Az told me, but he didn’t tell the others. He knew she wouldn’t want to deal with it. He sent Enzo in a with a crew to clean it up.”
“You’re both OK, though?” Adrianne asked.
“Yeah. She’s got a few cuts and scrapes, but all my wounds healed.” I looked down at my daughter. “I’m perfect now. Thank you all for this.”
“Come on,” Adrianne said, opening the door into the living room wide. “Let’s give Fury and Az some privacy.”
I followed everyone inside.
“What happened?” Nathan asked.
“I think Flint had an aneurysm. He was gone before the helicopter hit the ground.” I took off my sword and satchel, then sat down with Iliana on the sofa. “Which is all the reasons Azrael warns me not to fly.”
Sloan and Nathan sat down beside me. “You can’t blame yourself, Warren. Aneurysms don’t just pop up. It’s not your fault.”
I nodded, wishing I could believe her.
“I wish I could help her.” Sloan’s face fell. She knew how hard it was to lose a parent.
“Never thought I’d hear you say that,” Nathan said.
“Fury has some sharp edges, but she’s not all bad. She helped me a lot.” Sloan looked up at me. “If there’s anything I can do, will you let me know?”
“Of course.”
“Will this change your plans?” Nathan asked.
“I have no idea. It won’t stop her from going, and I really don’t want her to fly alone, but Az is right. It’s too dangerous. And now I don’t have a passport or anything.”
“I can get you a new one, but it’ll take a couple of days, and I have to be in New Hope to do it,” Chimera said.
“Thanks. I’ll talk to Az later.” I turned Iliana around on my lap to face me. “Right now, I want to soak all this in.” I bounced my knees, making her giggle.
“How old is she?” Chimera asked from the love seat.
“She just turned one last week,” Sloan answered.
Nathan started laughing. “Sloan, show Warren the video of her birthday party.”
“Which video?” she asked.
“The birthday crown.”
“That’s on Dad’s phone, remember?”
“Damn. That’s so funny.”
“I’ve got a picture,” Adrianne said, standing up and walking to the kitchen.
Nathan leaned forward to look around Sloan. “Adrianne bought Iliana this silver-and-pink jeweled crown for her birthday party.”
“Iliana hated it,” Sloan said.
I grinned. “Wonder where she gets that?”
Sloan raised her hand.
“Every time Adrianne would put it on her head, Illy would scowl,” Nathan said, making a mean face. “Like she’d be chatty and giggling one second, and then Adrianne would put the crown on her, and boom. Angry baby.”
Adrianne walked over and showed me the screen of her phone. On it was a picture of Iliana wearing the crown with a death glare on her face. “Just like her mama,” Adrianne said.
“That’s hysterical.”
“Did Nathan tell you she’s standing now?” Sloan asked.
“No. Really?”
“Yeah. Put her down on the floor,” she said.
I slid off the sofa onto the rug, and Nathan pushed the coffee table out of the way.
“Sit her down, and let her pull up with your hands,” Sloan said.
Adrianne held out her phone. “Everyone smile for the video.”
I waved Iliana’s hand toward the camera. “You have to send me that, OK?”
“Of course.”
I put Iliana in the middle of the rug, but before I let her pull up using my hands, she frowned and crawled back to my lap. Everyone “awed,” including me.
After hugging her again, I pointed to the floor. “Can you show Appa how you stand up?”
Her head fell to the side with a look of confusion.
“Stand up?”
Her lips puckered. “Pelu nil.”
My mouth fell open. “You little smarty.”
“Did she just say stand up?” Chimera asked.
“Yep.”
“Warren told me on the way here that Iliana called out to him in the spirit world yesterday,” Nathan told Sloan.
“Really?” Sloan asked.
“Yeah,” I said.
She touched my arm. “She kept saying your name over and over. That must have been why.”
“It was the best sound in the world.”
“She says mama now, so I totally get it.” Sloan got up. “Come here, Illy.”
Iliana shook her head, making everyone laugh.
“Come here. Show Appa how you can stand up.” She picked Iliana up and put her down on the floor again. I held out my hands, and Iliana crawled toward them. Then she grasped my fingers and pulled herself up to standing.
We all clapped and cheered.
“Babe, where’s your phone?” Nathan asked Sloan.
“Check the crack in the couch cushions,” Sloan said.
A second later, Nathan started chuckling. “Warren, put her down again, but this time, don’t help her.”
“Don’t help her?”
“No.”
I put Iliana on the floor between me and her mother.
“Stand up, Illy,” Nathan said.
She frowned.
Chimera crossed her arms. “She’s wondering what’s wrong with you all.”
“Probably,” I said. “Iliana, pelu nil.”
She flopped forward onto her hands and knees, then pushed up onto her feet. But then she was stuck with her butt straight up in the air.
“Watch this.” Nathan held up Sloan’s phone and “Uptown Funk” flooded the living room.
Iliana’s bottom started to bounce while she was on all fours like some sort of baby yoga-slash-Jazzercize.
We all laughed.
She finally toppled over onto her side and rolled onto her back. I snatched her up and looked back at Nathan. “Parenting is just one giant experiment to make you laugh, isn’t it?”
He was almost in tears. “Pretty much.”
I kissed her cheek. “Appa umai alis.”
“Me Appa,” she said, patting my cheeks.
The back door opened, and Fury and Azrael walked in. Her face was red, and her eyes were puffy. She sniffed and wiped her nose on the back of her hand. “What’s so funny in here?”
It felt a little wrong to be so happy.
“Warren, put Iliana down again,” Nathan said. “This can brighten anyone’s day.”
Maybe he was right. I put Iliana back on the floor, and she danced again. Fury smiled as Adrian
ne handed her a tissue.
When I caught Fury’s eye, I patted the seat I’d vacated behind me. She came over and sat down.
Azrael pointed at my sword on the floor. “Want me to put that somewhere safe until you and Fury leave town?”
“Sure. Where will you put it?”
He leaned down and picked up the sword. “Will a half-ton steel-and-high-Z safe do?”
“It certainly will.” I lifted Cassiel’s bag. “Can you put this in there too?”
“But what if you need your manpons, Warren?” Nathan asked.
“Nate, I’d flip you off if I weren’t holding my baby,” I said.
When Azrael had gone, Adrianne looked around the room. “This is the first time we’ve all been together in quite a while.”
“And the first time in never that it hasn’t been in some huge crisis,” Nathan said.
Adrianne’s head tilted. “You’re probably right.”
“Do you really think it’s possible you can come back and stay?” Sloan asked me.
“I’m not getting my hopes up just yet, but it certainly looks like more of a possibility than it did yesterday. This blood stone is revolutionary. If we can get more of it, I’d love to come back permanently.”
“Whoa. Whoa. Whoa.” Nathan held up his hands. “Have we really thought this all the way through?”
I looked back at him and smiled. “Are you worried, Nate?”
“Hell yeah, I’m worried.”
Everyone laughed.
“Don’t be. I know Sloan is right where she’s supposed to be.” I let Iliana clap my hands together. “All I want is a chance to be a father.”
“Just as long as we’re clear. We”—he waved his hand between himself and Sloan—“will live at Echo-5, and you can live somewhere waaaay over there.” He flung his hand wide to the right.
I laughed.
“I hear Tryon is lovely,” he added.
“You got it, Nate.”
Azrael returned and sat in his recliner. “So what’s the plan for the rest of the day?”
I wanted to do nothing but sit in the floor and hold my baby, but I knew that wasn’t possible. “We have to get to Oregon tomorrow to catch the flight to South Korea with the team. That means I have to see Shannon tonight.”
“Shannon Green?” Adrianne asked, surprised.
“Or whatever her last name is now,” I said. “Didn’t she get married?”