“Oh, no.” Tears now ran down her face, each drop like a knife of guilt shredding his chest. She reached out to him again, but he pulled away before she could make contact. “Ram, please, I—”
Sara interjected, aggressively filing her nails. “Why don’t you tell us where you’ve been? Partying with rock stars? Shagging women around the world? Smoking dope with Snoop Dogg? Tru has been fretting over you for decades.” She flicked her wrist to the emotional angel. “Why the silence?”
“I don’t…I didn’t…” His head pounded. “I never heard you.”
Dan frowned. “We’re not the ones that blocked you. For the first time yesterday, Tammy picked up on your signal. She pleaded with us to go help you. After a fucking century and a half, Tammy hears you. We get there, save your ass, then you beat the shit out of me. Worse, you tried to stop the fucking Nephilim from helping Tammy while she was bleeding out.”
Ram raked over each familiar face, lingering on the long scar across Tamiel’s neck.
Tru tentatively reached over to touch the tattoos on his arm. “Ram, you have to believe us. We didn’t hear you. We all thought you…”
He pulled away more gently, unable to find the words that would make her hate him the way he hated her. He didn’t hate her. Not exactly. He hated all these…feelings.
Sara finished Tru’s sentence, as blunt as ever. “We figured you just ditched us.”
Daniel stared right at him, very serious. “I never blamed you for leaving me here alone with a house full of females. Trust me, I should have. Sara drives us crazy. Did you know she made us call her Big Mama after you were gone?”
“Oh, shut up. You liked it.” She flicked her hair again.
It was painful. Their camaraderie was a burning itch to his sanity—and his pride. They were all practically the same way they used to be. Except him.
He clenched his jaw, grinding his words out. “Look. I’m not here to play catch up or reminisce. I need…” God, he hated asking them for anything.
Tammy lifted a dark eyebrow as Dan crossed his arms. Tru frowned at him.
Sara put her hands on her hips, sighing in exasperation. “We get it, you hate us. So why are you here?”
“I need your fucking help.” That hurt to say. It came out a little gruffer than he had intended. This is for Kyria. He took a breath. “I came back because I need you to help me. The Nephilim who risked her life to save Tamiel is in danger, and she needs protection. Her name is Kyria. She saved you and deserves your help.”
Tru bobbed her head. “That’s not why we are doing this. We are family, no matter what. We let you down once. We’ll do whatever you need. It’s the least we can do.”
Dan and Tammy moved so they stood shoulder to shoulder behind Tru in silent solidarity.
Sara glanced up from her nails and held up a hand, palm out. “Not so fast.” She checked her nails again. “I still wanna know where you’ve been this entire time.”
Ram rolled his shoulders. “The chains Daniel saw on me were from Naamah. I’ve been enslaved by her for the last century and a half. Her den in hell has been my home.”
That changed the temperature in the room. Tammy tilted her head as if she was actually interested. “One hundred and fifty years? How did you let that happen? You’re one of the—”
“I know what I was,” Ram cut her off, each word straining the tendons in his neck. He turned on Sara. “I was also arrogant and pissed off at you. Trying to play the hero, I lost my wings and she chained me.”
Dan frowned as he sat on the edge of the red sofa. “How’d you get them back?” Dark eyes flicked over Ramiel’s neck and arm where the iron shackles had once been. “Really, we thought you had cut us off. Tru argued with us for a while. She was worried that you were in trouble, but we figured if you had wanted our help, you’d have let us know.” Daniel cupped a rough hand over his face, dragging the palm down his features. “Mother help us, I should’ve reached out. You’re my brother. I should’ve known.”
Tru hugged Ramiel from the side, and this time he didn’t pull away. “I prayed and prayed.” Her words bubbled through small sobs. “I’m so sorry I didn’t try harder.”
Ramiel’s heart pounded in his hollow chest. Their apologies, their guilt, the horrible ugly tears had been everything he wanted. But it didn’t make anything better for some reason.
Turiel’s voice quivered. “When did we get so weepy?”
“That’s just you, Tru.” Tammy finally spoke up. “Well, Ram, I’m not surprised. You can be an arrogant asshole, from what I remember.”
Ram glared at her. Not that it would do anything to change the cursed apathy she displayed.
Sara crossed her arms and spoke up to focus all their attention. “This girl, Kyria? What is she to you?”
“You don’t have a kid, do you?” Disgust laced Dan’s question.
“No,” Ram snarled in frustration, though the idea hit him like a spear in the chest. A future like that with Kyria…it would never be. “She’s important. If anything happens to her…” He clenched his fists.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re in love.” Sara gave him a lopsided grin.
Tammy poured a cup of hot tea and peered over the little round glasses she didn’t need. “Is she the redhead from the demon attack? The one that saved me?”
He sighed. “Yes. She’s a Nephilim. Darius’s kid.” He raised his wrist. “She broke the chains. Gave me my wings.”
“One of the betrayers? Great,” Dan grunted again. Was that what he sounded like before he met Kyria? No wonder Eli mocked his social skills.
Ram held his hand out, laying the palm flat so they could see the red C-shaped burn left behind from touching Kyria’s mark. “Do you know anything about this?”
Tru cupped his hand in hers. “Did this come from Nema?” She glanced at Sara. “What does it mean?”
They all gathered close to him, and for a moment he couldn’t breathe. Closing his eyes, he forced himself to stay grounded. Lifting his head, he tried to read their leader’s face.
She shook her head. “I haven’t seen that since the early days, before Earth. It’s a symbol associated with the Rapture, but only the heavenly Scribes would know for sure. When did it appear?”
Shit. “About two days ago. Kyria has the same on her neck. I got mine after we…”
Dan raised a brow. “We’ve all been around, you can say it.”
Ram pulled his hand back. “We had sex. I…took her vein. As soon as I had her blood, and we fully joined, my wings came back, and this was burned into my palm.” The mark. He opened his palm to touch it. “I had kissed her before and touched her mark. The symbol appeared then, but quickly vanished. This time it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Bishop said we were fated.”
“Bishop? You talk to that guy? Hasn’t he gone bat-shit crazy?” Dan turned away from the group like he’d had enough.
Sara gently took his hand and traced her flawlessly manicured fingertip over the lines. “But I’ve heard he knows things others don’t, which is why he’s lost his mind. Being trapped in a human body with its limits isn’t good for someone like him. There is an old unwritten prophecy of symbols joining and separating to create strength. Or chaos.”
“She’s not the only one with the mark. There’s a young boy who’s also dealing with powers extremely early.”
Dan leaned on the doorframe and stuffed his hands in his pockets, looking at Sara. “What do we do?”
Ram stood straighter. “I came to ask you to protect Kyria until I can permanently eliminate Nema as a threat. She wants to use her, so I’ve made a deal with the demon for now, but I don’t trust her.”
Tammy lifted her glasses to the top of her head, pushing back her hair. “Ramiel, what kind of deal did you make?”
He couldn’t form the words to tell them what he’d done. Say something, dammit.
Sara became the center of attention as she stepped up onto the damn coffee table and placed a hand o
n his shoulder. She towered over him now, even though, side by side, she was half a head shorter. Damn him if she didn’t look every inch the powerful commanding general she’d been created to be.
“We’ll do this, Ram. Not because of a wrong you feel we did. Not because we should be better people. But because you’re our brother. And we do anything for family.” A voice like the ocean spoke reason to him. Her eyes were like the dark side of the moon, and they never wavered from his face.
He shook inside. Trusting these guys, the family he’d thought had abandoned him, was one of the hardest things he’d done in a long time—besides leaving Kyria behind, at least. But he had a mission, and nothing was going to stop him. And maybe they respected that, despite the corruption Nema caused in him.
Slowly, silently, the other archangels stepped forward and stood at the ready. They each placed one hand over their heart and the other in the center of the small circle. He was the last to put his hand flat on top of Dan’s.
Heads bowed, they recited the warrior’s vow and pledged their lives to each other.
“Be not afraid. To every nation, tribe, language, and people, we vow. When mankind cannot fulfill their duty, we are there. May we watchers be worthy of the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wisdom and strength and honor. Enough to withstand the dragon and serve those under Her protection.”
Energy swelled within the room, exactly like the moment he got his wings back and regained his powers. The entire mansion groaned, quaking from the surge of spiritual essence building up inside. “In the name of She who was, is, and is to come: rest warrior, for we will stand your watch.” He joined them at the end to seal the promise, eyes stinging as each word passed his lips.
Finished, they took one step back and waited for their first set of orders.
Ramiel started. “Kyria’s on a ranch in Crystal Ridge, Texas. It has a natural barrier to demons that’s being reinforced by a fallen angel named Valiel.”
“Another betrayer?” Tammy crossed her arms and sighed. “You seem to be making friends in some shallow pools.”
“You and I both know not all betrayers are scumbags waiting to stab us in the back. They were manipulated. They trusted and blindly followed someone that didn’t actually give a shit about them. Hell, they’re just like us.”
He couldn’t believe the words coming out of his mouth. It wasn’t like he cared about Val, but he had the urge to defend her when she wasn’t here to do so herself. “She’s gathered lost Nephilim children. The young boy with the mark is there. Kyria is there, but I don’t trust her to stay put. I need you to act as bodyguards until I—”
A tentative knock sounded on the door. They all shared a brief moment of confusion. Tammy shrugged. “Seems to be the day for visitors.”
Opening the door, Tammy stood back and pushed up her sunglasses. “Why am I not surprised? Ramiel, your girlfriend followed you.”
“Kyria, what the hell are you doing here?” Ram barked, his voice cracked and raw.
She blinked a couple of times in surprise, then gave Tammy a once-over. “I’m happy to see you’re well.”
“See, Ram, you could learn some manners from her.” Tammy faced Kyria again, responding, “Same here. It wasn’t easy for you.”
With a shrug, Kyria smiled. “Ram took care of me.” Concern seeped into her expression when her attention shifted to him. “I was worried about you and wanted to make sure you were safe and…healthy.”
Tru ran over to the door and pulled Kyria in by the hand. “I’m so glad you’re here. Ram just told us all about you. Thank you for everything you’ve done for him.”
Ramiel crossed his arms and glared at her. “At this rate, you’re going to get captured by trackers. You need to stay on the ranch.”
She glared straight back at him, refusing to back down. “I need to find my father. Now that I know you’re back with your family I’ll move on to the next point on my to-do list. I’m a very busy woman, you know.”
Sara laughed. “I like her.”
“Kyria.” He shouldn’t touch her, but it was so damn hard to stop. Gently, he pulled her away from the women, and he took her to the other side of the room. Not strong enough to resist, he placed his hands on her shoulders, squeezing softly. “I need you to go to the ranch and stay there. I found your father, and in a short time, I’ll have him at the ranch. You need to be there so you can take care of him. He’s alive, but he won’t look good. He’ll need all your attention. So, go back, and I’ll bring him to you.”
She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him before he could finish. “I’ll go with you. We can get him together.”
The thought of having her anywhere close to Nema was worse than a sword through his gut. “No. You can’t. Do this for me, okay? It’s what I need in order to get him to you.” He moved her away from him, continuing, “It will be faster without you.”
“Are you sure?”
Nodding, he prayed she would listen. “He’s going to need you, so go get his room ready for him. I’ll see you soon.” He paused. “Sorry, I left you like that. The wings—”
Warm fingertips pressed against his lips, stopping his words. “I know. I just wanted to make sure you were safe.” Tears hovered on her bottom eyelashes, but she pushed on. “The chains are gone.” A smile played across her perfect lips. “It’s okay. I understand why you needed to leave. To feel free, to fly.”
He leaned down and pressed his mouth to hers, allowing himself one brief contact. Mother of All, he was a selfish bastard. “Go get ready for your father.”
She stepped back from him and wiped her face with the back of her hand. “Okay. I’ll see you soon.” With the last word, she was gone.
His soul longed to go with her, to forget all the shit that was about to go down, and run away with her. Find a lost island where they could—
“Oh, Ram.” Tru was crying again.
Fuck. He forgot he had an audience. Crossing his arms over his chest without the chains still felt odd. “You’ll help me protect her until I can take care of Nema.” He wrote the coordinates on a napkin without waiting for their answer.
They all nodded, and Sara gave out orders, leaving them to disperse.
He followed Tammy into the new, modern kitchen. The small wood burning stove was gone, replaced by a sleek, blacktop oven. The long-worn island table was still there, surrounded by twelve contemporary chairs.
Without warning, something flashed before his eyes. He stumbled right into a vision, reaching out to balance himself when he became light-headed. Check your surroundings. Try to separate reality from the prophecy.
A vision of future Kyria sat at the island table with David and Val. Eli, too, alongside the watchers. Strangers joined them, joy written on all their faces.
He didn’t see himself at the table. I’m on the right path, then. Kyria would be happy.
“Ram.” Tammy flicked water at him from the sink. “Are you having a vision?”
“I didn’t have them for over a hundred years, and now they won’t leave me the fuck alone.”
“See anything I need to know?”
“You were at the table, laughing. You looked happy. Everyone was happy.”
“Seriously? You saw me laughing?” She raised a perfectly arched ebony brow.
After drying her cup, she placed it in the cupboard. Turning around with the usual boredom pooled in her eyes, she asked him, “Do you need something from me?”
“I want a ritual to get rid of Nema.”
Her lips twitched with a hint of a smile. “Surprise, surprise. Guess what? I’m not giving it to you. That sort of stuff requires a huge blood sacrifice.”
“I know. What I need is the chant. All the words.”
“It would mean your eternal damnation, and I refuse to be the one to do that to you.”
He needed this to work, all of it to work. “I’ve seen the visions, Tam. The terror and the joy based on this one decision.”
She shook her head. “
Ram, I can’t do it…” But he recognized the resignation in the crease of her frown. She knew, as well as he did, it was time for one of the demon lords to die.
Two hours later, when Ramiel returned to the spot where he’d left Nema in the canyon valley, she was nowhere to be found. The word of a demon could never be trusted. But a former archangel like Naamah wouldn’t take oaths so lightly.
The back of his neck prickled. He twisted around with a crunch of gravel beneath his boots. There, pinned up on the cliff face like the crucifixion, Darius hung with his arms spread out, wearing only a pair of torn up jeans.
“Shit.” That’s bad. Flashing upward, Ramiel spread his wings to hover over the other angel and grab onto him. “This is gonna hurt for a second.”
Darius said nothing, head lowered. Out cold. He could easily imagine the horrors she put him through. Clenching his teeth, Ramiel yanked the long iron spikes out of the angel’s wrists and flashed him back down to the ground.
“Kyria?” The groggy voice thick with pain whispered between cracked lips.
“Hold on. You’ll see Kyria soon enough.” Ramiel checked him for fatal injuries. None of his bones were poking out of his skin. There were a few deep gashes and holes drilled into him, but nothing worse.
Confusion twisted Darius’s face as he opened his one good eye. “Ramiel?”
“You’re gonna be okay.”
“You said Kyria’s name. You’ve seen her. Where is she?”
“She’s safe. I’ve made sure of it. She found me when you collapsed on her in Houston.”
“God. I never thought…she’d be the one saving me.”
“You underestimated her.” He leaned forward, bracing an elbow on his knee. “I did, too, when I first met her, but she’s stronger. She saved both of us, even if we probably didn’t deserve it.”
The angel’s golden blue eye, so much like Kyria’s, pinned him with hazy realization. “You love her.”
His stupid heart thudded. “How could I not? Here.” He bit into his wrist and bled over Darius’s mouth. The angel hesitated only a moment before drinking.
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