Archangel of Mercy

by Christina Ashcroft

  For her beloved, damaged Archangel of Mercy.

  Chapter Thirty-five

  DRESSED in long black pants, leather boots and black top, Aurora figured she looked the part for a trip into a pirate’s lair. Not that Gabe was any more willing about taking her to the Fornax system as he had been last night but at least he’d stopped arguing. They were sitting in the kitchen, facing each other, and now he was painstakingly initiating telepathic contact with her.

  Unlike the day they’d met, when his intrusion had been the equivalent of a casual glance, this time he was penetrating inside her mind. It was electrifying and utterly erotic, although by the tortured frown of concentration on Gabe’s face he was totally missing the sexual connection.

  She clamped her lips together before she said anything that might incriminate her. For sure, she knew the brain was the most erogenous zone of the body but for god’s sake, it was almost impossible to sit still when every nerve ending trembled on the precipice of orgasm.

  “Am I hurting you?” He ground the words between his teeth. He gave the impression he was in physical pain. “I’m going as slow as I can. Your brain is beautiful.”

  For a second she gaped and then an incredulous laugh escaped. “Okay, and now I’ve heard everything.” She trailed a finger along his jaw. “No one has ever told me that before.” What’s more, Gabe meant it literally. For some reason that was even more of a turn-on.

  His frown intensified, as if he didn’t appreciate her levity. “I don’t want to inadvertently damage you. I have no idea how deep inside your brain your protective network penetrates.”

  And until she’d met Gabe she had no idea she’d possessed such a thing. Did her mother even know about it? Or was it such a part of her people’s biology that it was hardly worth commenting on?

  Gabe bit out a curse in his ancient language and reared back. Alarm streaked through her and she grabbed his hands and pulled him back toward her. “What’s wrong?” Had he discovered something terrible lurking inside her brain? “What happened?”

  He let out a frustrated grunt and jerked his head in denial. “Nothing. Just had a message from Zad—another archangel. He’s at the beach and on his way here.” Gabe sounded disgusted. “Talk about crap timing.”

  Had Zad turned up to continue what Mephisto had started? She never had told Gabe everything the other archangel had said to her. Mainly because she had no idea what he’d been going on about. But clearly, he had meant something. And hadn’t, as far as she could make out, told Gabe.

  From the corner of her eye she saw a figure emerge from the edge of the forest, and she followed Gabe onto the terrace. He threaded his fingers through hers and pulled her to his side, a blatantly possessive gesture. It was as though he was expecting a less than benevolent exchange with the approaching archangel and didn’t want there to be any misunderstanding as to her status.

  Although what, exactly, that status might be she wasn’t sure.

  Trepidation fluttered in her chest as Zad drew nearer. She didn’t know why she was so nervous. Zad was hardly likely to try and fry her mind when Gabe was right by her side, was he?

  “Zad.” Gabe didn’t sound overly friendly. “Caught me at a bad time. I’m running late.”

  Mesmerized, Aurora stared at Zad as he came to a halt by the edge of the terrace. His mahogany wings were coated in fine dust and were ragged around the edges as if he’d just escaped from a falling building. He was dressed casually enough in black jeans and shirt but understated power radiated from him, as tangible as a living entity.

  Oddly, she found that thought comforting.

  “I was passing,” Zad said, his voice deep and melodic, and Aurora still couldn’t tear her gaze from his dark eyes. “Thought I’d stop by.”

  She felt tension spike from Gabe. He clearly took exception to the way Zad hadn’t yet taken his intense stare from her. But unlike the way Mephisto had looked at her, there was nothing predatory in Zad’s gaze. He looked at her as if he was seeing her.

  What a crazy thought. She blinked a couple of times to shatter the moment, and thankfully Zad finally transferred his attention to Gabe.

  “Like I said.” Gabe sounded a little defensive, although Aurora couldn’t think why. “I have a date with Kala. You know how she is if kept waiting.”

  Was Kala the pirate they were scheduled to meet? She’d better be.

  “Not personally.” Zad shot Aurora another glance before returning his attention to Gabe. “Don’t let me keep you. I’ll stay here and entertain your guest.”

  In the same second that Gabe shoved her away from Zad, Aurora realized there was no sexual undertow in the other archangel’s words. He meant, literally, he would entertain her while Gabe was gone. And the weird thing was she was almost tempted.

  “No need.” There was a definite edge in Gabe’s voice. “Aurora’s coming with me.”

  “You’re taking a human to the Fornax Galaxy?” Zad’s voice remained even but Aurora could feel the fury vibrating beneath each word. Fascinated, she glanced between Zad and Gabe. What was going on? Why did Zad give the impression he was concerned about her welfare when he’d never even met her before? And equally, why wasn’t she irritated by his interference?

  “She’s under my protection.” Gabe was obviously irritated enough for the both of them, if the glare he was directing at Zad was any indication. “No one touches her.”

  Neanderthal or not, there was no denying the jolt of pleasure that seared her chest at his blatant declaration of possession. Although why he felt the need to stake his claim to Zad she couldn’t imagine. If she knew Zad had no interest in her sexually then why on earth didn’t Gabe?

  Zad turned to her and held out his right hand, palm up. His gaze meshed with hers and his challenge was blatant.

  “Zadkiel,” he said.

  Gabe’s grip on her right hand became painful. His message was obvious.

  But he didn’t own her. And while she had no idea what Zad was up to, she was absolutely clear on one thing. Gabe was completely wrong if he thought Zad wanted to seduce her.

  She placed her left hand on top of Zad’s. “Aurora Robinson.”

  Briefly, he squeezed her hand before he stepped back and turned to Gabe. Who looked murderous.

  “Occasionally,” Zad said, “I have been known to be wrong. But whatever the truth is, any mortal woman who defies you has my blessing.”

  Gabe growled. Zad unfurled his wings and took another step back.

  “Let her in, Gabe.” Was that a command or a plea? And what the hell did he mean?

  She watched, awestruck, as Zad soared into the sky and disappeared. And then she turned to Gabe, who was glowering at the distant forest as if he’d like to incinerate it.

  “Who is he? What did he mean?”

  “You know who he is.” Gabe sounded pissed. “The Archangel Zadkiel.”

  “No.” She frowned at his obtuse attitude. He knew she was asking for more than Zad’s name. “I mean, who is he?”

  He transferred his glare to her and she was certain he wasn’t going to answer her. She folded her arms and glared back. After a moment his expression transmuted from frustrated anger into something that looked like disbelief.

  “Why do you defy me at every turn?” It wasn’t a threat. He sounded as if it was a revelation that not only she dared to defy him, but he’d not struck her down long ago for doing so.

  “I don’t know.” She decided she might as well be honest, since the look of bemusement on his face had dissolved her flare of irritation at his attitude. “It just comes naturally.”

  For a second she thought he was going to take issue with that comment. And when she thought about it, it was hard to believe that she treated Gabe like a regular human man. She doubted she’d forget his immortal status if he still possessed his wings. Yet would it really make that much difference? No matter how she should behave in the presence of an archangel, he’d still be the same to her however he looked.

  Final
ly he let out a measured breath, clearly deciding to let the matter go. Probably because he couldn’t figure out the answer any better than she could.

  “Zad was the first archangel to fall. Centuries before any other of us did. Zad and his beloved”—Gabe hesitated for a second, and a ghostly finger of presentiment trickled along her spine—“were Eleni’s distant ancestors. Eleni was almost the last of Zad’s direct bloodline. He adored Eleni.”

  —

  GABE WOUND HIS arm around Aurora and teleported to the largest planet in the seventh system of Fornax, directly into the outer sanctum of Kala’s personal penthouse suite. It wasn’t strictly protocol, but it effectively bypassed the numerous security measures set up to block a multitude of lesser beings from entering the building. The female guard who gave him a piercing once-over was a high-grade half-blood demon and didn’t appear impressed with his arrival.

  “The Primus is expecting me.” He tightened his grip on Aurora’s hand and hoped that, for once, she’d do as he’d asked and keep her mouth shut while they were here.

  “Wait here.” The guard flicked a disinterested glance at Aurora and her lip curled in clear affront that he’d dared to bring a mere human, uninvited.

  He still couldn’t believe it himself. He’d fully intended to leave her behind but Zad, damn him, had forced his hand. As soon as the door swished shut behind the guard Aurora let out a ragged breath.

  “This isn’t quite what I was expecting.” Her voice was scarcely above a whisper. “I was imagining the pirates would live in a dodgy dive somewhere.”

  He completed his third scan of the room since arriving before looking at her.

  “Don’t, under any circumstances, refer to Kala as a pirate.” Gods, when had he ever given Aurora the impression Kala was a pirate? “She’s third-generation pureblood demon and doesn’t let anyone forget it.”

  “Oh.” For one misguided second he thought she was going to leave it at that. “So, I don’t really understand. What’s the connection between the demons and the pirates?”

  He swallowed a groan of frustration. Aurora really picked her moments.

  “When the demons were banished from Earth, a lot of them ended up in the Fornax Galaxy. So too did a lot of their half-blood descendants—those who survived the initial banishment, that is.” He attempted to psychically penetrate the inner sanctum, to discover what Kala was playing at by keeping him waiting. His mental probe bounced off the wall and exploded in his mind, like deadly shrapnel. He gritted his teeth and struggled to remember what he’d been saying. “But over millennia the chasm between the demons and those they considered unworthy of acknowledging as their descendants widened. Remember I told you they breed indiscriminately? They only claim parentage if the offspring is exceptional. Most of the time demon spawn is left to its own devices.” If demons, like archangels, were able to procreate only with the one they loved would they also cherish every child? “The crème of the hierarchy spread throughout this Galaxy, conquering worlds populated by primitive mortals. Their abandoned descendants, for the most part, merged into the mortal population. But a segment carved out lucrative careers in piracy.”

  Her eyes widened in comprehension and her lips parted as another inevitable question formed in that irresistible brain of hers. But the door to Kala’s inner sanctum swished open, and the guard beckoned with one autocratic jerk of her head.

  Twilight slanted through the faceted glass wall that gave panoramic views over the impressive sky city, bathing the luxuriously appointed room in a surreal glow. Kala, tall, sleek and demonically beautiful, stood in front of her desk, arms folded, pale gold wings partially extended. She always confronted him that way. Flaunting their haunting beauty, the cream highlights threading through the gold in a perfect inverse of his own long lost wings.

  For the first time the sight didn’t make him want to demolish something.

  “Primus Kala.” He inclined his head in a gesture of greeting, acknowledging her rank.

  “Archangel Gabriel.” She flicked Aurora a glance. “I see the rumors are true. You are ensnared by a human female.” Chilly amusement tinged her words. “How quaint that you felt the need to bring it with you.”

  Gabe refused to rise to the bait despite the fact Kala had deliberately used the one language in the universe that Aurora could understand. He wanted answers from Kala and he’d get nothing if he pissed her off.

  “I’ve heard there’s a pirate tribe based in the Seventh System who trade in minors from the Andromeda Galaxies. Heard any of those rumors?”

  Kala didn’t rise to his bait, either.

  “Those that specialize in minors have no need to raid the Andromedas. We have plenty of our own ripe for harvesting in the lesser Sectors.”

  Aurora made a choking sound and her nails dug into his hand. He tightened his grip, a silent warning to bite her tongue. She was under his protection but they were in Kala’s jurisdiction, and if Aurora annoyed the demon it was doubtful Kala would give a shit about ancient protocols.

  He hadn’t been giving a shit about them just lately either.

  “My intel was clear.” At least, Eblis had been clear that pirates from Fornax had been discussing a solar system located in Andromeda. His informant who’d named this planet had been virtually incoherent with terror and hadn’t categorically stated anything much that made sense. But fortunately Kala was unable to penetrate his mind, just as he was unable to penetrate hers.

  “Your intel,” Kala said, “is faulty.”

  “If the Higher Councils in the Andromeda Galaxies discover the trade they’ll turn Fornax inside out.”

  “There is no trade, Gabriel.” Kala rolled her shoulders and her wings expanded a fraction more. “The dickless wonders who rule the Andromedas would stand no chance against Fornax. And they know it.”

  “But this isn’t any ordinary child, is it?” Aurora said. Damn, she just couldn’t help herself, could she? Fortunately Kala completely ignored the interruption, acting like Aurora’s outburst was as meaningful as a pet cat stretching.

  “If you have solid evidence, by all means do share. Otherwise you know what you can do with your intel.”

  He wouldn’t give her Eblis’s name, but he could project an image of the pirates he’d eliminated. It was a long shot that Kala would know of them personally but her connections in this Galaxy were legion.

  If there was a tribe specializing in such abductions, Kala was his best shot in hunting them down. No matter how much she despised the people of the Andromeda Galaxies, she wouldn’t be inclined to go to war over something she had no personal involvement or investment in.

  Unless the order had come from her direct. He wouldn’t put it past her but his gut feeling was she was as completely in the dark as he was. And beneath that icy exterior she was steaming mad that something of this magnitude might be happening in the Seventh System without her spies having discovered it.

  “This child,” Aurora said, her voice higher than usual, disregarding the glare he shot her way, “was taken because she has angelic blood.”

  Great. She’d now blown to hell any hope of Kala’s cooperation. No matter what tenuous connection Aurora might believe existed between an ancient necklace and recent abductions—or the insidious knot of doubt in his own heart—it had been millennia since any mortal possessed a trace of angelic blood. Kala would conclude he was pissing her about.

  Kala turned to Aurora and looked her up and down as if she was a disgusting cockroach that had just landed at her feet. If he didn’t appease the demon right now she was likely to liquefy Aurora’s brain.

  “Kala.” He’d play on her disdain for humans. And deal with Aurora’s inevitable fury later.

  He never got the chance. Kala raised one hand in an imperial gesture, her gaze now fixed on Aurora’s face. “The Andromeda minor has angelic blood?”

  Fuck. She wasn’t going to make this easy. “It’s one theory we’re considering.”

  “Yes.” Aurora’s voice was breat
hless but her conviction rang through. “She does.”

  “The Nephilim were annihilated in the Great Cleansing.” Kala looked back at him, an unmistakable gleam of malice in her eyes. He tensed, knowing the majority of demons considered the genocide of archangelic offspring was something to be celebrated. “They haven’t existed for millennia before my time.” She paused, and her wings undulated in a sensual play of power. “Officially.”

  Chapter Thirty-six

  OFFICIALLY? Shock stabbed through his chest at her blatant implication.

  “What do you know?”

  “Never been proved.” Kala shrugged one shoulder. “But there’s an underground cult. It goes back generations and we’ve never given them much credence. They’re obsessed by the notion that Nephilim still survive. Fuck knows why. But if your minor really does have angelic blood, and they found out”—she paused and exchanged a significant glance with the guard who’d accompanied them—“then it’s likely they risked abducting her. And if they have I’ll personally hang them with their own entrails. No filthy pirate tribe goes behind my back.”

  “Not before I’ve interrogated them. We need the girl back.”

  After Kala gave orders for the cult leaders to be rounded up, Aurora stood beside Gabe as a deadly silence descended. It didn’t appear to affect either Gabe or Kala but it screeched along her nerve endings like fingernails scratching across a chalkboard.

  Finally, after what seemed like eternity, the guard reentered the room.

  “Primus. The accused have been located.” Oddly, she spoke in English just as Kala had. It appeared the demon wanted Aurora to understand exactly what was going on.

  “Bring them in.” Kala jerked her head at Gabe. “My jurisdiction, Gabriel. Don’t interfere.”

  The guard, after another significant glance at Kala, handed Gabe what looked like a glittering earpiece.