by Alisa Woods
“Ahem. Zuriel?” Nyssa called out. “Sorry to interrupt, dear.”
The whimpers turned into cries of disappointment as Zuriel emerged from the attentions of her angelings and shooed them away. Her eyelids still drooped with pleasure, and she kept the angeling between her legs, grasping her head and grinding against her face. But measuring by the muffled cries and trembling of the angeling there, it was she who was finishing, not the angel herself.
“Hello, Nyssa,” Zuriel said, her voice like syrup and her gaze locked on the fae queen.
Then the angeling between her legs let out a cry, convulsed, and Zuriel drew her away from her sex, lifting her to standing. She kissed the girl full on the lips, causing another shuddering cry to shake the girl’s body. Finally, the angel released her. Two more angelings rushed over to catch the girl as she nearly collapsed to the stone floor. They hauled her back.
Zuriel slowly stepped forward, completely naked, steps heavy with whatever pleasure she had just extracted. “To what do I owe this interruption?” she asked in that same honey-dipped voice. By the time she crossed the flagstones to meet them, she was dressed in black—a dress made of crystal and smoke—and had grown in size, towering over everyone on the balcony.
Asa hoped Nyssa was on the good terms she claimed to Tajael. Otherwise, this was the beginning and end of their adventure.
“A solution to a mutual problem,” Nyssa said smoothly, seeming undaunted by the thrumming power of the angel before her.
“And which problem would that be?” But Zuriel seemed patient for the answer.
“Elyon and his ambitions,” Nyssa said. “And the Winter Court’s enabling of them.”
Zuriel tipped her head for Nyssa to continue.
“The Winter Court is apparently sending foot soldiers to help Elyon brawl with the light angels on the streets of Seattle.” Nyssa waved that away.
“The humans are progressing with their device,” Zuriel countered. “It is a problem.”
“It’s a problem mainly because Remasay is an angry fool and Elyon suffers eternally from his Wrath.”
“True,” Zuriel said. “Which is why I refused Elyon’s entreaties to bolster his forces with my own. I’d rather have my angelings at my chair, not slain in a war that will only serve to bring the Warrior Angels out of their slumber. It is a fool’s game.”
“I’d like you to reconsider that,” Asa ventured.
Zuriel scowled and barely glanced at him. “I wasn’t aware you’d acquired a shadowling pet, Nyssa.”
Asa grimaced.
Nyssa huffed a short laugh. “This is Asa, formerly of Razael’s Regiment, currently in search of a way to infiltrate Elyon’s forces—he claims it is possible to turn Elyon’s son against him.”
Zuriel’s scowl transformed into surprise. She gave Asa a long look, then finally said, “That’s a dangerous game you wish to play, shadowling.”
“I have my reasons.”
“Yes, I see you do.” Zuriel’s gaze was piercing. Angels saw straight through any pretense an angeling cared to offer—the state of one’s soul was always on display them—which was part of the danger of attempting to fool an angel of any kind, least of all one as dangerous as Elyon.
Asa couldn’t know what Zuriel saw—not precisely—but angelings also had the gift of sight, at least when the bright radiance of human souls were on display. It was part of the allure, the impossible attraction that drew him to the one woman who’d ever mattered to him.
“Elyon should see that I’m filled with Wrath,” Asa said simply. “I will use that as the pretext—say I convinced you to let me join the cause, in spite of your reticence. I’ll explain that I’m full of a need for vengeance, and this war of his against the light is my chance to have it.”
Zuriel nodded, slow and thoughtful. “You might not survive his consideration.”
Asa lifted his chin. “And I might turn the war against him—in a way he won’t see coming.”
Nyssa added, “The Winter Court is helping Elyon escalate the fight. I’m countering with forces from the Summer Court. But none of this ends well for the shadow realm, Zuriel—not if the Warrior Angels are summoned.”
Zuriel let a small smirk onto her face. “Nor for the fae, either, I imagine. Do you remember the last time?”
Asa’s eyebrows shot up, and he dashed a look to Nyssa. How old was she?
“It was before my time,” Nyssa said coolly, “but I heard the tales from my mother. And any fool knows the awakening of a warrior race can’t be good for any immortal creature.”
“Indeed.” Zuriel beckoned Asa forward. “Come, my brave shadowling. Let me mark you as my own before I send you to your likely, yet noble, death.”
Asa grimaced but stepped toward her. He’d dealt with many shadow angels, but he’d never met one who struck him as fundamentally good, despite their Fall—except Razael. And now, he hoped, Zuriel.
A force suddenly gripped him—the same angel power with which Razael held him in place when removing his mark. With a flick of Zuriel’s fingers, Asa’s leather jacket was torn asunder, baring his chest. Then the searing pain began as she floated her fingers over his flesh, carving her mark there.
Asa gritted his teeth, trying to trap the anguish inside, but his body was still wracked from its recent pain, and he soon lost that battle…
His screams echoed off the stone castle looming above him.
Chapter Six
Molly stroked Eden’s long blond hair—it felt like silk.
“Honey, you need to eat something,” Molly tried.
Eden said nothing—didn’t even open her eyes—just gave a minuscule shake of her head. Molly had asked her three times, even brought over her tray from the front where the Hot Stuff angeling dropped it off, but she refused. It was going on a day since Eden had gotten back from her “time away” from the nursery, and Molly hadn’t seen her eat. At all.
It was bad this time.
But Molly pestering her wasn’t fixing anything. “Okay, but don’t blame me if Ren eats it when she’s done.” She smiled, but Eden’s eyes were still closed.
They both could hear Ren and Micah going at it again in the tent.
Molly sighed and rose up from the cot where Eden was curled up, blanket pulled to her chin. She took the tray—ham and cheese, apple, and a carton of milk—and placed it on Ren’s cot nearby. The babies—Eva and Ralphie—were both sleeping in their cradles. That Eden wouldn’t even feed them their daily bottles with lunch alarmed Molly the most. Before, when they came for Eden, it had always been awful after, but this time… Molly didn’t know if something different had happened or if it finally just broke her beautiful friend. Regardless, it made her clench her fists and want to scream her frustration—she would except it would only freak out the babies and accomplish nothing.
But she was more determined than ever to get out of this place.
Ren’s cries carried across the nursery. Micah couldn’t seem to stay away from her, now that he was “back” from wherever he went. Ren’s shrieks were ramping up to another peak. Was this the third or the fourth? Molly had lost count. Their tent-shaking lovemaking was even more depressing. Not because Molly wanted to be banging a hot angeling—that had been fun while it lasted, but it just landed her here. And fucking pregnant. No, it stressed her out because the more Micah lavished orgasms on Ren, the more Molly was sure she wouldn’t want to leave. And they had to.
She would leave Ren behind if necessary. Eden couldn’t take any more.
Molly stood and stretched and decided if the babies woke and fussed—and she wasn’t there to pick them up immediately—that maybe that would draw Eden out of her funk. Mostly, Molly’s legs were itching to cruise toward the kids’ end of the nursery, to get an update from Ariel. They hadn’t talked since the girl angeling promised to work a trade with this Devon character in exchange for learning how to “transport”—and Molly was dying to know if they’d made a deal. One that didn’t involve trading sexual favors, al
though she was afraid that was in Ariel’s future anyway.
If she returned to this place.
Molly had every intention of talking Ariel out of that.
She strolled toward the bustle of action at the kids’ end of the cavern. Either they were used to Micah and Ren’s orgasmic noises, or they just were caught up in their game, but no one seemed to notice them… or Molly approaching.
The kids had conjured white and black togas for their latest foray into fighting. This appeared to be a team thing, but really, it was just an all-out melee. Hand-to-hand combat seemed their favorite sport. Ariel and the tallest boy—Molly wagered he was Devon, the oldest—were fighting back-to-back on the black team. She hoped that was a good sign.
The skirmish went on and on, each side bloodying the other more.
Molly took a seat on the cot where she and Ariel had met two times before and waited. The fighting dragged on, but kids were dropping out—either knocked cold by their opponents or taken out by injuries that had them reeling on the floor and crawling away. The black side was winning. Then again, they had two of the biggest kids on their side. Seemed a little unfair.
Somehow, Molly didn’t think “fair” was part of these kids’ world.
Not that “fair” had much play in the world of humans, but at least they pretended. And some people thought it should be better—like her. She’d had more than her share of bad luck, but that didn’t mean you stopped trying to make things right. If Molly believed that, she’d just be making a home in the nursery for whatever time she had left.
Bitters aren’t quitters. Her dad was right.
Finally, the dark side triumphed. Some of the black-toga kids went in for some extra punishment on the white-toga kids. Except Ariel and Devon. They had snuck off to the side, behind one of the giant crates used to bring in food…
Hairs rose on the back of Molly’s neck. Ariel promised she wouldn’t trade sex.
Devon put his hands on Ariel’s shoulders. She was looking up into his eyes. Molly couldn’t catch their words, not over the moaning and crying of the vanquished team and the jeers and mockery of the triumphant. If they did something… she’d have to just look away. There was no way she was strong enough to stop them. Although she was tempted to try anyway.
She couldn’t drag her gaze away.
Devon bent down—Molly thought he might be kissing Ariel, but if so, it was only on the cheek.
Then he released Ariel… and disappeared.
Molly stood up kind of automatically like her body was jolted upright with surprise. He did it. He “traveled.” Maybe he was whispering the secrets of how to Ariel!
Molly threw a quick glance back to her side of the nursery. Eden was still curled up under her blanket. The babies were sleeping. And things had quieted down with Ren and Micah in the tent. They’d have to wait until Micah left, but if Ariel was ready to go now…
Molly whipped her gaze around to search for Ariel. She was heading this way.
Molly’s heart skipped a beat. She tried to keep her excitement inside, but her body was a live wire of tension. She stroked the round of her belly. Soon, baby, soon. We’re getting out of here. She’d started talking to the baby after she met Ariel. She wasn’t sure why, but it seemed to calm her raging nerves, and she figured it didn’t hurt.
As soon as Ariel was close enough to talk, Molly blurted out, “Did you find out?”
Ariel frowned. “Find out what?” A trickle of blood ran down her cheek from a cut that was still healing. She wiped absently at it.
“How to travel.” Molly hissed that last part, low enough that hopefully the other recovering angelings wouldn’t overhear.
Ariel sighed. “Not yet.” Then she took a seat on the cot, looking weary.
Molly dropped down beside her. “You okay?” Gah. She really should have been more concerned about the whole melee thing, not just her prospects for escape.
Ariel half-frowned and half-smiled, leaning slightly away. “You’re doing that shining thing again.”
“I am? Um… okay.”
Ariel’s smile won out. “It’s okay. It’s pretty.” Then she dropped her voice. “Devon is in his second day of Practice with his Master. Tomorrow he takes his vows.”
“But I saw him… travel.” Molly’s eyes were wide. Sure, these were angelings, and everything here seemed like it was basically magic, but still. The boy just disappeared.
Ariel nodded. “His Master taught him how, but…” She frowned. “The Master has taught him many things. Things Devon didn’t want to know.”
Molly swallowed. But maybe this would help her convince Ariel not to return. “Did he tell you what things?”
“Yes.” Her frown grew. “Devon is convinced he has no choice but to take his vows tomorrow. He met the angel and…” Ariel grimaced like she’d just discovered something bitter in her mouth.
“Wait… I thought you guys were the angels.”
Ariel rolled her eyes. “We are angeling. Angels are creatures of God.” She said this like Molly was stupid. Which she supposed she was about this stuff. Then Ariel’s face fell grimly serious again. “The angel Elyon is our Regiment leader. He is vastly powerful. Devon is afraid to teach me the secrets of transport lest he be discovered. Elyon might not allow him to make his vows.”
“Maybe that’s a good thing—”
“That is not a good thing.” Ariel’s scowl left that unquestionable.
Molly’s shoulders sagged. “So what do we do?” It felt like Lady Bad Luck was staging a comeback.
“Fear not.” Ariel actually patted Molly’s clenched-up hand resting on the cot. “Devon promised to show me just before he leaves for his vows. There’s a leave-taking for every angeling. The oldest bestows all his possessions on the young ones. Devon says traveling will be my parting gift, only in private, so the others don’t see. We cannot use it until he is gone. That way he will still be able to make his vows.”
Molly’s eyes went wide. “So… tomorrow. We’re going tomorrow.”
“Yes.” Ariel pressed her lips together, and her gaze drifted to the recovering angeling children.
Would Ariel miss the other kids? “You’re very brave to do this,” she said quietly. “And very kind to help my friends and me.”
Ariel turned a grim smile back to her. “You will keep your promise. About the ocean. And I will keep mine.”
Molly wanted to reach out and hug the girl, but that didn’t seem in the universe of possibilities. So she just smiled instead. “Tomorrow, then.”
Ariel nodded and lifted from the cot to rise into the air on her black wings.
When Molly worked her way back to the cots with Eden and the babies, Ren had returned. Her hair was wet, so at least she had showered after her noisy rounds of sex with her angeling lover. That was considerate. But now Ren was back to lying on her cot and looking like someone had hollowed out her heart, despite the rosy glow still on her cheeks.
“I talked to him again,” Ren said without looking at Molly, still staring at the ceiling.
“About leaving?” Molly took a seat on the cot opposite her. The tray she had left—Eden’s tray—was on the floor, still untouched. Eden’s eyes were closed, but Molly couldn’t tell if she was sleeping or not.
“He says it’s not safe. Not until the baby is born.” Ren bit her lip. “Then he used sex to get me to stop talking about it.”
Ouch. “I’m sorry, Ren.”
She finally turned her soft brown eyes Molly’s way. “Do you think he’s just using me…” She choked up, looking back to the ceiling. “Just using me for…”
For sex? For the baby? Honestly, she had no idea. But that wasn’t what Ren needed to hear. “Ren, he wouldn’t keep coming around if… if he didn’t care.” Technically, that had to be true.
Ren bunched up her fists in the blanket, then sat up, facing Eden, whose eyes were still closed. Either their conversation wasn’t waking her or she was ignoring them. “Eden’s angeling doesn’t care. Yet h
e still summons her.”
Molly winced.
Eden’s eyes fluttered open and stared dully.
Ren had the decency to cover her mouth with both hands as if the words just slipped out on their own. “I’m sorry!” she gasped, her words muffled by her own hands.
“He cares a lot.” Eden’s words were almost… slurred.
Molly was frozen. Ren dashed her a horrified look—but she didn’t know what Eden meant, either.
Slowly, with great care, as if Eden were bruised all over, she pushed herself up to sitting. Her dull-eyed gaze immediately found the babies, still snoozing away in their cradles. Nothing could wake those little ones once they were down for a good sleep. Seeing they were fine, Eden’s gaze wandered the nursery, in a vaguely horrified way, almost as if seeing it for the first time.
Molly’s heart sunk more with each beat that Eden seemed lost.
Finally, Eden’s gaze landed and dropped anchor on Molly. “The one who takes me… he cares about me like a fine horse or prized dog. He cares that I am healthy and growing his child. He cares that I keep going, keep living, even if this isn’t living…” Her eyes lost focus again.
Molly’s legs unlocked, and she hurried to Eden’s side, dropping to her knees next to the cot. Ren was there instantly on her other side.
Ren was babbling. “I didn’t mean… I’m so sorry… Oh, God, I’m sorry, Eden.”
Eden just laid a hand on her arm and gave her a sad smile.
“Are you okay?” Molly asked, even though she knew Eden wasn’t. She knew this before… but now there was a whole new level of despair in Eden’s eyes.
Eden’s gaze sharpened again, and she put a hand to Molly’s cheek. Her fingers were bone cold. “You always care so much. But you don’t need to worry about me.” Yet she said it in a way that made Molly’s stomach clench even tighter.
“I’m getting us out of here.” Molly pressed Eden’s hand to her cheek before she could pull it away. “You need to just hang on, okay? We’re going to leave. And then everything’s going to be good again.”