by Keary Taylor
At this the lines that defined everything around me started to fade and blur and the scene seemed to shake.
“You must know you will not be returning as a human.
Your human form has died, things are not going to be…” the voice was fading away as everything turned to a smoky grey and we were suddenly standing back in the forest.
I couldn’t say anything for a very long time as I simply looked into Alex’s face as he still held my hands tightly in his. I didn’t notice nor did I care that tears were slowly rolling down my cheeks. There seemed to be no words grand or sincere enough to express the feelings that were surging inside of me. Knowing I was never going to be able to express in words what I was feeling, I closed that small gap between us, pressing my lips to Alex’s and wrapping my arms around his waist. As my hands drifted over his back, I felt two thick raised scars on the insides of his shoulder blades, evidence of the wings that could appear there.
I felt in no hurry as my lips moved greedily with his and I breathed in the familiar scent that was Alex. It was impossible to comprehend the love that I felt in that moment, the love that I knew would last me through the rest of my days. Alex had sacrificed the greatest thing he could for me and I knew I would have done the same thing in a heartbeat if there had been a chance.
When I did finally pull away, my face was still streaked with tears. I looked intently into Alex’s eyes, my forehead resting against his.
“I don’t deserve you,” I breathed. Before he could protest I continued. “I don’t deserve you but I am going to try and be worthy of you. It’s going to take a lot of work but I am going to do everything I have do to be worthy of you.” That half smile cracked on Alex’s lips before he pressed a short kiss to my lips. “Just be you,” he whispered as he looked back into my eyes. “That’s all it takes. I am yours for forever and even longer.”
“I love you, Alex,” I said as I tightened my arms around him. It should have been impossible, literally holding an angel in my arms. Even more impossible knowing this angel loved me enough to become one in exchange for my survival and freedom.
“And I love you, Jessica,” he breathed. He pressed his lips very gently to mine before he stepped away. Keeping one of my hands in his, he led the way back down the hill to our house.
I knew things weren’t perfect. Cole was still out there somewhere and even though I knew he couldn’t touch those I loved, I still knew what he was capable of doing. And even though I had Alex back, he wasn’t human any more.
There would be complications and challenges. But despite everything that wasn’t right in my world, for the first time, I slept without enduring a trial and branding for things I did not do, in the arms of an angel.