An Archangel's Promise

by Jess Buffett

  “Gabriella!”

  Her brother’s shout had her snapping back, panting as she stared into Hunter’s eyes.

  “We’ll continue this later.” Hunter grinned, dropping his mouth one more time to hers before he moved back and joined the other men.

  The other men with wings. And swords. That were on fire. Damn.

  She stood back as Hunter and the other men took control of the small crowd. Thankfully there weren’t many people left in the room, most having the sense to flee when Ash and his men had arrived. Gabriella couldn’t hear what the angels were saying to the people, but she watched as each person handed over their phone or camera, nodded to the angel, and then left the room without saying a word, a smile on their face.

  That was creepy.

  She was impressed at the speed in which the men moved, clearing the mess and debris, straightening everything they could. It certainly didn’t hide the fact that something had happened, but it looked a hell of a lot better.

  “Just how am I going to explain this mess?” she muttered as she looked around in dismay.

  Nolan rolled his eyes at her. “I’m pretty sure we have bigger things to worry about, don’t you think?”

  She shrugged. It was a matter of priorities, and hers was to focus on something other than the freaking angels walking around the destroyed restaurant right in front of her. A girl had to keep her sanity somehow.

  When they finally finished, Gabriella realized she hadn’t moved the entire time the men had been cleaning. She’d feel guilty for leaving them to clean the mess, but she kind of figured it had been their fault anyhow. What she needed right now were some answers. Snapping out of her trance, she became determined to get them.

  “Hunter?” she called out. When he turned to her, a smile on his face, she forgot how to breathe. My God, he’s gorgeous when he smiles.

  “Yes, Gabby?” Hunter cautiously walked to her, almost like he was afraid of her. Which she found hilarious given the enormous wings coming out of his back and the sword he had conjured out of nowhere earlier.

  Gabriella shook herself out of her thoughts. “W-who are they?”

  Hunter gestured for the other angels to join them. Crap, she really hadn’t wanted them any closer just yet. She tensed the closer they came, until Hunter stood beside her, placing an arm possessively around her waist.

  “For lack of a better term, these are my brothers,” he told her.

  She frowned up at him. “You have brothers?”

  “No.” He chuckled awkwardly. “Not really. They are more like cousins. Our fathers are brothers…sort of.”

  “Well, that wasn’t vague or anything,” she mumbled.

  “Seriously? Out of all of this, that is what you’re focused on?” Nolan asked incredulously. He held his hand up and began ticking things off as he went. “They have wings, their shiny swords are on frigging fire, and they just tore the place apart. Yet you’re more concerned with whether he has brothers or not?”

  “Technically it was Ash and his badly dressed bandits that caused the mess,” the angel with stunning azure wings pointed out. When they all gave him a pointed look, he shrugged. “I’m just saying…”

  “Not helpful, Brock.” Hunter shook his head at his friend, then introduced the men. “This big mouth is Brock. Next to him with the pale blue wings is Elijah, Julian has the silver wings, and then Dominic with the wings that look like they belong on a phoenix.”

  Gabriella stared in awe at the fascinating wings the angel had. So different from the others. “They’re really beautiful.”

  “Um, thanks,” Dominic said uncomfortably. If she wasn’t mistaken, the powerful angel was blushing.

  “Yeah, he’s the pretty one,” the angel she remembered was Brock joked.

  Dominic’s response was to flip Brock the bird and mutter something, no doubt unpleasant, under his breath. When Brock stuck his tongue out, Gabriella couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled out of her chest. They really were like brothers.

  “And this here,” Hunter said, indicating the tall blond with pure golden wings, “is Sebastian. Our leader, for all intents and purposes, not that he’ll admit that. But he is the oldest and the son of Michael, the archangel.”

  Sebastian gave her a nod. “It’s nice to finally meet you in person, Gabriella.”

  “In person?” she asked, but then remembered Hunter’s memories, and that it was usually Sebastian who had come to find him when he had gone in search of her. “Oh, right.”

  Sebastian quirked an eyebrow at Hunter in silent question.

  “Yes. I showed her. She knows most of it,” Hunter informed him.

  Wait! Most of it? Oh, Christ, there’s more?

  “Don’t worry,” Hunter whispered in her ear.

  She turned her head to argue and he once again claimed her lips. The guy certainly liked to kiss, and he was bloody amazing at it too. Had he always been that good? She couldn’t remember in that moment.

  “Oh, for crying out loud,” Nolan shouted. “Are you not the least bit fazed by the fact that the guy you’re making out with has frigging wings?”

  Gabriella pulled back and grinned at her brother. “Not really, but then…I think I’m still dealing with all of this.”

  “Why don’t we put away our wings, gentlemen? We don’t want more humans coming in and finding us like this,” Sebastian suggested, though it sounded more like an order.

  Elijah snorted. “Yeah, let’s not continue to freak out the humans. This one looks like he’s ready to pass out or have a stroke,” he said, pointing at Nolan.

  Gabriella grimaced, silently agreeing with the angel. Her brother appeared more pale than usual.

  “Seriously? I think I’ve been handling things pretty well up until this point,” Nolan muttered.

  Surprisingly, all the men did as instructed, even Hunter, without batting an eyelid. She found herself agreeing with Hunter, whether Sebastian wanted to admit it or not, he led these men.

  “We should probably grab our gear and put on some shirts too,” Hunter said as his wings disappeared.

  “He’s right.” Brock grinned. “The humans probably can’t handle our sexiness.”

  Gabriella rolled her eyes, noticing that the other men in the room did the same thing. Tilting her head in Brock’s direction, she asked Hunter, “Is he always like that?”

  Hunter scrunched up his nose. “Believe it or not, he’s actually behaving himself.”

  Gabriella blinked up at him. “But you’re angels. Aren’t you supposed to be more, I dunno, angelic?”

  Hunter laughed, sliding an arm around her waist. “We’re still us, Gabby. I’m still Hunter. I’m not some omnipotent being.”

  “Oh.” Because really, what else was there to say?

  Dominic walked back into the room with a duffle bag, which surprised her because she hadn’t even seen him leave. The bag was opened and shirts were handed out. There seemed to be one for each of them, plus extras. Clearly, losing their shirts was a common occurrence.

  “We really need to get out of here,” Sebastian announced. “It won’t be long until Ash and the others come back.”

  Gabriella looked up at Hunter, anger and hurt filling her. “You’re leaving? Again.”

  Nolan snorted. “Of course he is.”

  The man was not helping.

  “We have to leave, Gabby. It’s not safe here anymore. But I won’t let anything happen to you,” he soothed.

  “You’re leaving?” she repeated. She tried not to show the hurt she felt. The man had been back in her life for no more than an hour, they had made no actual promises, but dammit, he had claimed her. Didn’t that mean anything?

  As if reading her mind, Hunter chuckled. “Yes. And you’re coming with me.”

  She blinked at him. “Excuse me?”

  “Oh, like hell,” Nolan said. “You aren’t taking my sister anywhere, mate.”

  They both ignored her brother as she tried to comprehend what she was hearing.

/>   “You’re my bonded. I’ve claimed you. I cannot live without you. I barely managed to before,” he said, his voice hoarse with emotion.

  “Hunter. I-I can’t just walk away and leave everyone behind,” she whispered, wanting nothing more than to leave with him, but knowing she couldn’t do that to her brother. When she saw Hunter wince, she realized her words. “Hey, no. I understand now why you left. It still hurts, but I get it. What I said wasn’t a dig at you.”

  “Ash will be back. He knows who you are to me now, and he won’t hesitate to use you to get to me,” he whispered, cupping her head between his two large palms. “Please.”

  “Why?” she asked desperately. “Why does he want to hurt you all so badly?”

  She couldn’t understand why Ash and his men seemed so hell-bent on wiping Hunter and the others out. If what Hunter said was right, Ash was Fallen. Why would he even care?

  “I think I can answer that,” a deep baritone voice replied from behind them.

  Gabriella gave a startled yelp as Hunter quickly drew her behind him. Her brows shot up when suddenly the other angels in the room knelt down on one knee. Huh? Looking up at Hunter, she saw that he too was confused.

  “Oh Christ. Another one?” Nolan quipped.

  “Who is that?” Gabriella asked softly, though she had no doubt the angel could hear her. The angel was powerful, that much was obvious, but what she recognized most was the little things. The way he stood in the perfectly tailored suit he wore, the natural quirk of his dark brow, and those eyes that stood out against the crisp white of his silk shirt. She knew those eyes. “Is he your father?”

  The angel looked so much like Hunter, with his dark brown hair and sapphire blue eyes. They even shared the same stark white wings with tips of midnight. The angel was handsome, rather young looking given he was Hunter’s father. The men could have been mistaken for brothers.

  “Are you?” Hunter asked. While most wouldn’t have heard it, Gabriella could hear the disguised longing in his voice.

  The angel smiled at Hunter, his eyes softening as he spoke. “Yes, my son. I have missed you.”

  Gabriella tugged at Hunter’s hand, she had an uneasy feeling about this. “You were serious when you said your father was powerful, weren’t you?”

  “Yes, honey, I was.”

  “Hunter,” she whispered. She could hear the strain in her own voice. “Who the hell is your father?”

  Hunter took a deep breath, then brought her hand to his lips, kissing it lightly. “Gabriella, I would like you to meet my father, the archangel Gabriel.”

  Gabriella knew then that she had finally reached the breaking point. As her eyes rolled up and everything went black, the only thing she could think was she hoped someone caught her.

  * * * *

  Hunter, not expecting Gabriella’s reaction, barely caught her in time as she slumped in his arms. Checking her over, he sighed in relief when he realized she had only passed out. Honestly, he was surprised she had lasted this long.

  Beside him, Nolan growled. “You idiot. Look what you’ve done now.”

  Hunter glared at the human. He understood Nolan was most likely freaking out, and therefore acting out, but he was really starting to get on Hunter’s nerves.

  “Smooth, son.” Gabriel chuckled, shaking his head. “Do you think you could have delivered that a little more gently?”

  “She handled everything else so well, I thought she would be fine.” He shrugged. “Besides, if you’re so wise then pray tell, Father, how should one tell his bonded something like that?”

  At Gabriel’s intake of breath, Hunter glanced over at him.

  “Are you okay?”

  Blinking his eyes rapidly, the archangel cleared his throat. “Yes, sorry. It’s just been so long since I have seen you… I started to lose hope that I would ever hear you call me father.”

  Hunter hadn’t even realized he had called him father. At a loss for words, Hunter just stood there with Gabriella in his arms. He was extremely thankful when she began to stir, because he didn’t know what to do with his father. He held no animosity toward him, not anymore at least, but he still didn’t know the guy. Hell, he had just met him. No amount of stories can compare to the real thing, and right now he was torn between awe and fear. After all, his father was an archangel for crying out loud.

  “Hey there, honey. You back with us?” Hunter crooned, trying to wake Gabriella up slowly. The last thing he wanted was for her to go into shock again. Striding over to the nearest seat, Hunter cradled her in his arms. “Come on, Gabby.”

  When all she did was moan, he sighed.

  “Give her time, son. She has had one hell of a night. Besides, I should explain some things to you.”

  “So I finally get to know all the secrets, huh?” he asked, not hiding the sarcasm in his voice. Okay, so maybe he still held a little resentment toward the guy.

  Gabriel didn’t seem angry, if anything, he looked guilty. “I never wanted to be away from you. I knew that when you began your transition I would have to keep my distance, but I had not planned to leave so soon.”

  “Why at all?” he asked.

  “An archangel can’t be around any Nephilim going through their transition. Our power is too great, and we risk speeding up the process. For lack of a better explanation, it would be like using the wrong wall mount for a charger. It would overload your body to experience your transition too quickly. Too much power all at once.”

  “Damn,” he muttered. “All right. And before that?”

  “Ash.” Gabriel sighed. “I had hope for him once, but he turned out just like his father. When the others and I were left with no choice but to cast him out, he swore his revenge. I knew then that he had discovered I had a son, and so did Raphael. He knew our sons were helpless against him. The only way to keep you safe was to stay away. Until you began your transition, he could not find you. I wasn’t willing to risk the chance that I would lead him to you. Both Raphael and I agreed with your mothers that it would be for the best to stay away.”

  He had stayed away to keep Hunter safe? Deep down Hunter had known that since the moment he had discovered the truth, but it didn’t take away the loneliness he felt. Only a few years later his mother had died, leaving him alone.

  As if he read Hunter’s mind, Gabriel said, “I’m so sorry about your mother. She was a good friend. I loved her…at least in my own way. When a prophecy was foretold that we archangels would have children of our own, I had never found my bonded and just knew she would make a wonderful mother to my son.”

  Hunter’s heart hurt at the thought of his mother. “Is she okay?” He hated that he sounded like a lost child, but he needed to know.

  “Yes, Hunter. Worried for you as always, but she is happy.” Gabriel smiled fondly.

  Well, that was something.

  Chapter 7

  Gabriella stirred in Hunter’s arms. When he glanced down, it was to find her eyes open, staring up at him. “So, you really are the son of an archangel, huh?”

  He nodded. “Yes, Gabby. I am.”

  She seemed to contemplate that. “And the others…your cousins, are their fathers archangels too? I know you said Sebastian’s was, but…”

  “Yes.” He smiled down at her. “They are the sons of the other archangels. Well, except for Raphael’s son. He hasn’t gone through his transition yet. Too young.”

  “Oh,” she said simply.

  He raised a brow, trying not to laugh. “Oh?”

  Hunter didn’t think he had done a very good job when she glared at him. “Yeah, oh. Sorry, did you expect something a little more articulate? If so, come back tomorrow, I think my brain is fried right now,” she snarked.

  Hunter didn’t hide his grin that time. He was both amused and enthralled by her attitude.

  “I’m afraid there isn’t time anyway,” Gabriel interrupted, concern shining in his eyes. “There is something we need you men to attend to.”

  Seriously?

 
“What is it, Uncle?” Sebastian asked.

  Sebastian’s familiarity with Gabriel surprised Hunter, until he remembered that Sebastian was much older, and as his mother was an angel, Sebastian had never had to be separated from his father or uncles. Hunter wondered briefly what it would have been like for him had his mother been an angel. Sebastian and Dominic were the only sons of the archangels with angelic mothers, and while they had guarded and protected the others through their transitions, the two older angels had never had to experience it themselves.

  “We received word that Ash and the rest of Renatus are hunting Raphael’s son, Landon.”

  “But the kid would only be sixteen,” Elijah said, outraged. “Ash can’t go after him. He can’t even track him.”

  Gabriel grimaced. “It appears Ash is determined to stop the prophecy from coming true. He is willing to break any and all laws.”

  “What prophecy are you talking about?” Hunter had never heard of a prophecy.

  Sebastian’s brows furrowed, and he crossed his arms over his wide chest. “I was not told of a prophecy either. Why?”

  Gabriel held his hands up in a placating gesture. “Now is not the time for you to know. When you are all finally together things will be revealed, but to tell you now could risk everything. Only those high up are aware of the prophecy.”

  “Then how is it Ash knows?” Brock asked the question they had all been thinking.

  Gabriel sighed deeply. “His father knew, and he told Ash.” Before more questions could be asked, Gabriel held a hand up to silence them. “As I said, you will know more when it’s time, I promise.”

  Hunter gaped at his father. The archangel had just told them about a prophecy involving them, that Ash had a father high enough to know about it, and left them with a million questions. And he expected them to focus on something else?

  “Where is Landon?” Dominic asked, bringing the conversation back to the problem at hand.

  “We aren’t sure. We can’t keep tabs on him ourselves because that would draw attention, so we sent guards like we did for you four. Yesterday, one of those guards returned without the others. He informed us that his team was taken out by Ash and his men,” Gabriel explained. “It was all we got from him. His injuries were too severe.”