by Kim Loraine
“What do we have here? Need me now, huh?” Sariel’s nondescript accent sends a chill over my skin. My back stiffens, and I stare into his silver irises.
“What’s happening to me?” I can’t keep the sob at bay.
He places a hand on my belly, going very still. “The baby is fine. I can hear a heartbeat.”
“Fine? Then why do I feel like I’m being ripped in two?”
“He needs you to feed him.”
“What?”
“His father is a vampire. You’ve given your blood to everyone lately. You’re too weak to nourish the baby, so he’s taking it out on you. He needs you to take from Galen. Replenish your stores, so to speak.”
I shake my head. “You’re his father.”
At that, his eyes flash, angry and resentful. “Nope. I’m afraid I’m not. This is like a fucking daytime talk show.”
“So, this is Galen’s baby?” I ask, dumbfounded.
Sariel blows out an exasperated breath. “Do I really need to say it again?”
“How is that possible?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know. Maybe the moon is in line with Venus and you ovulated on the third Tuesday of the vernal equinox. Who knows? Be thankful and don’t question the miracles life hands you. That’s why my Father stopped making them obvious in the first place.”
Another cramp spreads through me, and I grab his wrist, biting down as hard as I can.
“Ouch,” he complains, pulling his arm back and using his own teeth to break the skin. “Here. You don’t have to maul me.”
I suck, drawing deep and not giving a damn about what I’m doing. I’m having Galen’s baby. Galen. This changes so much for us. My head starts to spin as the euphoric sensation of Galen’s blood takes hold. I love him and he loves me, we’re going to have a child together, and Sariel? Well, we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.
“Okay, that’s enough.” Sariel pulls me off him and strokes my hair.
I sit on the floor, panting with the rush his blood gave me. Anxiety takes hold in the pit of my stomach as a thought hits me. “If Galen is his father, does that mean the baby is going to be a vampire?”
Pressing his palm to my belly as he had earlier, he closes his eyes and his brow furrows. “No.”
“But why did I need to feed?”
“I’m not sure. He’s not a vampire, but he’s not entirely human. Vampires aren’t born, they’re made. But, in your case, you may have to replenish your blood if you frequently donate yours twice in one night.”
“No. I don’t plan to do that ever again.”
Reaching out to caress my cheek, he stares at me as if searching for something, but he doesn’t speak.
“If I’m not having your baby, how can I be your soul mate?”
He shakes his head, sadness hiding behind his expression. “You can’t.”
The cramping has stopped, and now I’m left with a sore and swollen feeling in my lower belly. “So … what does that mean for you?”
“I suppose I’ll go dormant. I can’t leave Galen without killing him. Maybe he’ll live out your days with you and eventually let me take over. Or not. I can’t be sure.”
“What changed? Why did you come back?”
He laughs. “Our Galen is a stubborn bastard. He fought me every step of the way when I left you. The stupid ass caused me to crash the car into a barn. Went flying through the windshield and landed in a hay bale. After that, I realized he wasn’t going to give you up no matter how hard I tried.”
A wave of pride washes over me. Galen thinks I’m worth fighting for.
“There’s no way you can move to another body?” I ask. It’s not fair that he’ll have to spend the rest of my life waiting. Watching. I shudder at the thought.
Shaking his head, he helps me to my feet, walking us slowly out of the bathroom. “I can do what I need to, but not without killing Galen in the process.” He looks me over as he settles me on the couch, his face a mask of arrogant confidence. “I’ve survived two millennia without her. What’s seventy more years?”
Unable to stop myself, I place one hand over his cheek. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be her.”
Tears shimmer, on the cusp of falling down his cheeks, and I watch as he’s momentarily overcome with emotion. Clearing his throat, he recovers his composure and smiles. “Let’s get your lover back here, huh? I think you’ve got some stuff to discuss.”
I wrap my arms around him and hold him tight. “Thank you, Sariel.”
With a kiss pressed to the crown of my head, he sighs and Galen comes back to me. I pull back, staring into irises that are again so dark, they’re almost black.
“Did you hear all that?” I ask.
His gaze is trained on my belly, his pained look making my heart lurch. I guess he heard.
“It’s mine. I can’t believe this.” A soft break in his voice makes my chest ache.
Taking his hand, I place it over the place our child grows. “Us. This is just us.”
He smiles at me, beaming with pride. “Whatever else happens, this makes me happier than I’ve been in a hundred years.”
I want to cry. Cry for the joy evident in his expression, for the love in his smile, and for the pain he felt thinking Sariel was the father for so long. But most of all, I want to cry for Sariel and the knowledge that he’ll sacrifice his own happiness for Galen.
Damn, but the angel really wasn’t that bad after all.
There. I’ve done my good deed for the day. They’re going to be together. It makes me feel good, but at the same time, a desperation so strong takes hold in me, I’m tempted to hide away and go dormant for the rest of Galen’s preternaturally long life. If I do that, though, I’ll leave them vulnerable to Gadriel. I can’t leave. Not entirely.
Closing my consciousness off, I drift back to memories of my love. Her wide, dark eyes stared at me as I held myself over her, entering her for the first time. My soul cried out to be with her, a deep ache that wouldn’t be soothed. We moved together, the only sound in the small room our breaths, harsh in the quiet surrounding us. I remember the texture of her long hair, its strands varying shades of brown and gold that glistened in the sunlight.
Oh, sunlight. I haven’t seen the glow of the sun’s rays in thousands of years. I gave everything to be with her the moment I saw her. I knew as soon as we began making love that she was worth leaving Heaven. She was my heaven. Tension built in me, coiling and growing as indescribable pleasure raced through me. She cried out, clutching my back, and I spilled everything I had into her. The instant I found my release, He struck me down. My wings, beautiful, strong wings, were cut from me, and my body was made mortal. Pain lanced through me, making me cry out in agony. She didn’t know what I was, not until He revealed me to her. Instead of fear, she met my gaze with adoration. She was my soul mate.
I whisper her name, pulling myself back from the memory.
Selah.
“Who is Selah?” I ask. Galen has been muttering the name over and over as we walk through the fields surrounding his cottage. The night sky is clear, but there’s a bit of chill in the air, and I shiver as I wait for him to answer.
He turns his gaze on me, confused. “What?”
“You keep saying it.”
Shaking his head, he frowns. “I’ve no clue what you’re talking about, a ghra. I haven’t said a word.”
Deciding to leave it alone, my thoughts turn to Sariel. He’s still coming through in bits and pieces. I know we’ll need to let him feed sooner rather than later, and though it’s been a week since he saved me and went away, I wonder when he’ll come calling.
“Galen,” I start, halting my steps and pressing my hand over his heart. “We need to talk about Sariel.”
His brows pull together. “Why?”
“He’s going to be with you a lot longer than I am.”
Stepping away from me, he looks across the field, his jaw tense.
“You know it’s true. I don’t want to be a vampire.�
��
“And I don’t want that for you either. But we have a lifetime left together,” he counters.
“Exactly, only my lifetime. You’ll never die.”
Turning his blazing stare on me, he sighs. “Do you honestly think I’ll go on after you?”
I gasp, unable to contain my shock. “You’re damn right I do. One day this little baby will be grown, and he’ll have a family, and those children will have children. You’d better protect them beyond everything else in your world.”
He tears his gaze from me and focuses on our hands, now linked tightly. “You’re my heart. I won’t be able to survive without you.”
I shake my head, putting my foot down. “Nope. Uh-uh, you don’t get to spout flowery crap at me as a way to justify killing yourself. Besides, you heard what Sariel said. Your soul is in purgatory, waiting to be judged. You think God is going to let you into Heaven if you kill yourself? Unlikely.”
I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Heaven exists, and there’s no way I want to be there if Galen can’t be with me.
Gripping the back of his neck with one hand, he walks a few paces away from me. I can see he’s warring with his emotions. “So, what do you want me to do, then? Let him take over after you’re … gone? Let this body love another woman?”
The thought makes me sick, but then I remember the sadness Sariel carries. “Yes. You have to give him that. He could have forced you back, destroyed you. Instead, he’s conceded so we can be together.”
He won’t look at me, but I can tell he’s mulling it over. He just needs time, and I can only hope we have it to give. Holding out my hand, I wait for him to link our fingers again. Eventually, the coolness of his palm meets my warmth, and we walk in silence.
Andrea and Devin have been gone, searching for traces of Gadriel or Azazel while Galen keeps me safe from within the walls of his cottage. I’m still at a loss for how we can possibly defeat them, but Andrea says she has a plan. At this point, all I can do is trust.
A stranger is standing in the kitchen when we walk through the door. Galen tenses and immediately places me behind him, his posture hostile.
“Who the fuck are you?” he growls.
The man turns to us, his lips quirked in a cocky grin as he scoops a spoonful of peanut butter from the jar. We watch dumbstruck while he eats, licking the spoon clean and tossing it in the sink. He’s dressed in leathers from head to foot, like he’s part of a motorcycle gang, but his chiseled jaw and cheekbones, they’re the stuff of Renaissance art.
“Where’s Sariel?” the man asks.
Galen pushes us back a step. “He’s out at the moment. Can I give him a message?”
The man saunters over to us, that smirk still on his lips. “Let him out to play. Our Father sent me.”
My heart stutters. Is he a Watcher? That wouldn’t make sense. “W-who are you?” I stammer.
“I am the angel Gabriel. Messenger of God.”
“Shit,” I breathe. “Holy shit.”
Galen tenses in front of me as I wrap my arms protectively around his waist. “It’s okay, a ghra.”
I step away from the shield of Galen’s body and walk toward Gabriel. He won’t hurt me. I can feel the comfort surrounding him. “What do you want with Sariel?”
“I need to talk to him. I told you.”
“Are you going to hurt him?”
A laugh escapes him. “Why would I do that? I’m not here to smite anyone. I am a messenger. Besides, our Father has already dealt him his punishment.”
Hearing Galen suck in a sharp breath, I turn to him. Sariel’s eyes burn bright, as if being near Gabriel gives him strength.
“Brother,” Sariel says.
“Sariel.”
I watch in awe as the two angels embrace. I’m so used to fleeing the fallen, and now here we are, a happy freaking family.
“Okay, hang on. What’s this about? How did you find us?” I interject.
Gabriel hits me with the full force of his gaze. “We’ve been watching since you woke Sariel.”
My skin prickles with embarrassment. “You have?”
Laughing, he waves away my horror. “We haven’t been watching that closely, Reese.”
“Sariel, we know you’re trying to find your soul mate. I’m here to tell you that she’s on this earth. If you find her, you’ll be allowed to stay.”
Shoulders trembling, Sariel glances from me to the angel. “I … I will?”
Gabriel holds up a single hand. “On one condition.”
Sariel nods.
“You have to join the fight against the Watchers rather than continue to run from them.”
“Fine. Yes. Anything to let me have her.” He’s eager, his tone tense and earnest.
Blazing platinum irises trained on me, Gabriel’s tone turns serious. “But your vessel will suffer.”
I take a step forward, heart hammering. “What does that mean? You’re not hurting Galen.”
“Sariel doesn’t have a body. He has to live on in a willing host.”
“I doubt Galen was willing when Sariel took up residence the first time.”
“True. But, this is where he is. Until he chooses to find a new vessel, your Galen will have to work with us as well.”
Knees suddenly weak, I sink onto the couch. “So this means we’ll never be safe from the Watchers. Galen will always be in danger. I’ll be in danger.”
Letting out a heavy sigh, Gabriel nods. “I’m sorry. Think of it as a sacrifice for the greater good. We can’t let the fallen back into Heaven. They spurned God for their own pleasure, most of them only giving in to lust. Sariel and a handful of others found true soul mates. The rest defiled our Father’s creations. Taking on Heaven means triggering the end of days.”
I know this isn’t my decision, but right now I want to say screw the greater good and watch the world burn as long as I have Galen with me. Gabriel lays a hand on my shoulder, and a calming warmth spreads over my body. His eyes, a brighter silver than Sariel’s, stare into my soul.
“God has favored you and shown you your truest love. Most people never find that. Be grateful and know that your hearts will always be connected.”
A tear slips down my cheek. I’m powerless. I can’t stop this from happening. If God calls, you answer.
Standing in front of Sariel, the messenger of God thrusts his hands in his pockets. “Tomorrow I’ll return for you, brother. Let Galen say his good-byes.”
Sariel nods, and with a brilliant flash of light, Gabriel vanishes.
I’ve just been handed over like a hostage. Sariel has buried himself in the recesses of my consciousness as I use the little time I have left to soak up as much of Reese as I can. The hours close in on me, making my chest constrict as I think of all the moments that will be lost to daylight.
“Galen,” Reese murmurs.
We’ve been lying together in bed, skin to skin, just holding one another in the quiet. “Yes, a ghra.”
“What does that mean?”
I turn on my side. I need to see her. She’s so beautiful, her long hair spread across the pillow, her lips swollen from kissing me.
“It means my love.”
A soft gasp escapes her. “But you’ve been calling me that—”
“Since the first time,” I interrupt her. “I think part of me knew from the moment I laid eyes on you.”
The sun will be rising soon. I can feel it approaching. My breath hitches at the thought of leaving her, and an ache takes hold in my heart.
“Make love to me, Galen. One more time before I lose you.” Her lower lip trembles, and I lean forward, kissing her ever so softly. She sighs into my kiss, letting me roll her fully onto her back, where her breasts rise and fall as she breathes and her body is laid out like an offering to me.
If this is the last time, I plan to make it the best one. My hands roam her body, teasing her skin with feather-light touches. I smile as her nipples harden, and my fingers brush the healing marks I left on the tender
skin. She moans and squirms under me, causing my dick to strain against her thigh. I want to be inside her, feel her around me, but this can’t go quickly. This needs to be a slow burn.
She has other ideas. Her hand grasps my cock, sliding over the rigid length and making me buck my hips. “Come into me, Galen. I’m ready.”
I shake my head even through the trembling of my shoulders. “Not yet. I want to cherish you.”
Leaving a trail of kisses, I work my way down her chest, laving each nipple with my tongue and hardening painfully at each of her whimpers. When I reach her belly, I place my ear over her womb, listening for the thrumming heartbeat of the life we made. It is amazing. A fresh pang of regret hits me at the thought that I might never see this little person.
“Stop. You’ll just make it worse,” she says, emotion thick in her throat.
She’s right. This is about making a memory to last a lifetime, not about regret.
Before she can get hold of my erection again, I slip between her thighs, sucking on the sensitive cluster of nerves there. She arches her back and moans long and loud. I continue a merciless assault on her, using my hands to hold her hips in place. As she writhes under my hold, she whispers, “I love you. I love you. I love you.”
Her orgasm is quick and fierce. I watch it rolling through her as she comes on my tongue. I can taste her pleasure and know I’ll keep this moment with me. She grips my hair with her fingers, tugging to pull me over her, but I look up at her instead.
“Not yet,” I whisper, my breath ghosting over the rise of her clit and making her shiver.
Removing my hold on her hips, I slide two fingers inside her, moving them slow and deep. Her answering groan has my cock pulsing and my hips pressing, searching for her. Her features darken as I move my fingers. The glow of a thin sheen of sweat covers her skin, and as the pleasure mounts, a flush starts on her chest and creeps up her neck. Taking her plump bottom lip between her teeth, she tosses her head from side to side, letting out soft cries. When I begin curling my fingers over and over, her legs tremble and a flood of her arousal covers my hand. She comes, so hard her legs jerk against me and her hands fist in the sheets. A scream rips from her throat, and I have to fight the urge to slam my cock home.