Archangel of Mercy

by Christina Ashcroft

  Jaylar had no idea he was descended from an archangel. Had no idea he didn’t possess a soul.

  Gabe wouldn’t have taken his soul in any case. But what right did he have to wipe the minds of this small family? He had no rights over Jaylar. Except to love and protect him and his daughter as Nephilim.

  Who was their archangelic ancestor?

  He drew back, dragging Aurora with him.

  “Stand up.” His voice was hoarse. From the corner of his eye he saw Evalyne’s mother flinch as if she expected dire retribution now the mission was completed.

  Jaylar stood and looked him fearlessly in the eye. He would give whatever Gabe demanded because he would do anything to save his daughter.

  “She was taken by the Guardians.” He waited a moment to allow Jaylar to comprehend. “They wanted her for her diluted archangel blood.” He recalled the other victim Aurora had discovered. The one who’d been wearing an angel wing necklace. He didn’t want to make the connection but how could he not? Had she been another Nephilim? How many others were scattered throughout the universe? While archangels had blindly believed all their beloved children had perished in the Great Cleansing, the Guardians had discovered differently.

  But why did they hunt such an elusive prey? Guardians abducted mortals so they could feed on their terror. Did an archangelic heritage give an added edge? Or was there another reason?

  Jaylar gripped Gabe’s arm, as an equal might. They were equals. “They’ll return for her, is that what you’re saying? How can we protect her, my Lord? What must we do?”

  “They won’t be back for her.” But in the distant future they might well return for one of Evalyne’s descendants, unless the ancient protocols were once again resurrected. “We’ll let you know what you have to do to ensure continued immunity.”

  “Angel blood?” Evalyne’s mother said, looking at Jaylar. “You’re descended from the angels?”

  Mephisto needed to be informed and the archangel responsible for Jaylar and Evalyne’s protection found. But right now he needed to heal Aurora’s injuries.

  “My payment”—instantly their attention returned to him—“is this. Keep your child safe.” With that he teleported home.

  —

  BACK IN HIS kitchen as Gabe healed the bloodied gashes on her arms, Aurora silently marveled at how quickly the burns on his skin were fading. Was it from his powers of rejuvenation? Or did the healing aspects that enveloped this island have something to do with it?

  “How’s that feel?” He looked up at her.

  “Good.” Her skin was as smooth as it had been this time yesterday. She entwined her fingers through his and for several moments they sat in contemplative silence. Then she remembered something and pulled out the earpiece. “Impressive,” she said as she placed it on the table.

  He grunted but didn’t seem inclined to elaborate further. This time the silence wasn’t nearly so comfortable.

  She was no longer confined to this island for her safety. Would Gabe bring it up or was he waiting for her to? Did he want her to stay with him, or could he not wait until his island was his own once again?

  Was she deluding herself by thinking he cared about her?

  She cleared her throat and wasn’t encouraged by the dark frown he shot her way.

  “Have you always lived here on this island? Since, uh, discovering Earth, I mean?” Did you used to live here with Eleni and your daughter? That’s what she really wanted to know. Not that it made any difference whether he had or not. She just wanted to know.

  “This island didn’t even exist back then.” He looked vaguely bemused by her questions. “I found it a couple of decades before I became the uninvited guest of the Guardians. That’s why the others brought me here afterward.”

  It was stupid, but relief sank through her at the knowledge Eleni had never lived here. How selfish could she get? But it was a small pettiness, when Eleni still held the one thing Aurora craved.

  Gabe’s love.

  “I thought maybe you’d always lived here. The villa . . .” Her voice trailed off and she averted her gaze. It was bad enough he knew she’d rifled through his personal possessions without reminding him yet again.

  “In the picture,” he said. He didn’t sound mad. “That was where I lived with Eleni and Helena. I rebuilt a replica here after I recovered from the Voids. I told you once I never brought women here. It was the truth. You’re the first.”

  Warmth encased her heart. That was something to hold on to. And his daughter’s name was Helena. What a pretty name. She’d always liked it.

  “Don’t you like the villa?” His voice was gruff and she frowned up at him. What made him ask that? She’d never given that impression, had she? “I can shift things around. Just let me know.”

  He was willing to shift things around? For her?

  Was she jumping to conclusions here or did it sound as if he wanted her to stay with him?

  “No, I’m—everything’s fine.” Well, the upstairs balcony was a bit dodgy without a barrier but she didn’t quite feel up to mentioning that at the moment. He wanted her to stay. It hammered through her mind, a crazy refrain, and she bit the inside of her lip so she wouldn’t grin like a deranged clown.

  “Let me know. If you change your mind.”

  “I will.” He wanted her to stay. That meant he wanted her in his life. And while she couldn’t stay permanently on his island that didn’t really matter. What mattered was Gabe didn’t appear to want to lose her. “Now the Guardians are no longer after me, can you drop me back at my parents? I want to make sure my mum’s all right.” Would her mother remember the email Aurora had sent? More important, would she remember her response?

  Gabe didn’t answer right away. He just continued to look at her, and although he didn’t move a muscle she had the strangest sensation that he was retreating. She tightened her fingers around his, but he didn’t reciprocate.

  “Is that okay?” Did he think she wanted to leave for good? If so, he certainly wasn’t pleased about it. Would she make a complete dick of herself if she told him how she felt? Did it even matter? She loved him. She wanted him to know she had every intention of trying to make this improbable relationship work. Somehow.

  “Sure.” His voice was flat and he untangled his fingers. “You collect your things. When you’re ready I’ll take you back.”

  She frowned. His attitude was all wrong. And what was all that about collecting her things? Didn’t he want her coming back here after all?

  “No, look, Gabe. I didn’t mean that.” He’d obviously got the wrong end of the stick. “It’s not that I want to leave your island, but—”

  He stood up and tossed her a disinterested glance. “It’s okay, Aurora. You don’t have to explain. There’s no reason for you to be imprisoned on my island any longer. You’re free. Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted?”

  “Well, yes.” Of course she wanted her freedom. She could hardly make a choice about her future if she wasn’t free to do so. Gabe would forever wonder whether she was with him only because she had to. “But—”

  “Fine.” He jerked his head. “I’m going to have a shower. Will you be ready to leave when I’m done?”

  For a second she stared at him in mute disbelief. Not only did he want her off his island, he couldn’t wait until she was off his island.

  Except she didn’t believe it. Wouldn’t believe it. She took a deep breath and as he turned and strode from the kitchen she pushed herself to her feet.

  “I don’t think you understand.” She knew he didn’t understand. “I mean, obviously I can’t live here permanently because—”

  “Obviously.” Derision dripped from every syllable. “It’s no big deal. You have a life to get back to.” And with that he disappeared.

  Chapter Forty

  PALMS flattened against the stone-tiled wall of the shower, Gabe glared at the floor as the water jets pummeled his back and shoulders. He’d been so sure Aurora would chose to stay with
him. But the moment she knew she was free she’d wanted to go.

  He could keep her here. She could never leave without his help. But what fucking good was that? For the past week she’d been imprisoned because freedom equaled capture by the Guardians. But the Guardians would not dare touch her now.

  Do I have to hurt you? Aurora’s teasing words floated in his mind.

  I’d like to see you try. He’d been so sure she never could.

  Be careful what you wish for.

  The steam rose, obscuring his vision, and he blinked rapidly, the moisture stinging his eyes. He’d feared the time when Aurora would grow old and die and he would be left behind. But he didn’t even have those few blissful years ahead. Because she wanted out, right now.

  He knew she wanted him. Knew she still desired him. But it wasn’t enough.

  He wanted it all.

  She was his beloved. He would give her anything that was within his power to make her happy. But the one thing she wanted was the one thing that would destroy the fragile vision he’d harbored of them forging a future together.

  —

  WHEN HE ENTERED the bedroom she’d already packed and was standing awkwardly by his bed. Something cracked deep in his chest. His heart, maybe. He’d always thought he no longer possessed a heart but Aurora had proved him wrong.

  She’d proved him wrong about so many things. Gods, how could he let her go? How could he not?

  How the hell was he going to survive?

  “I’ve left your necklace on the bed.” She avoided eye contact and made a vague gesture with her hand. “Sorry, I just need to use the bathroom.” She sidled past him like they were strangers. She had no idea every word she uttered tore into his heart and lodged with agonizing intent.

  He pulled her necklace from the pocket of his shirt and then picked up the one he had created for Eleni, so many centuries ago. He loved Eleni. Would always love Eleni. But now he also loved Aurora. And his love for Aurora did not diminish his devotion for Eleni. In a strange way he couldn’t explain the one love enhanced the other, as if they were entwined.

  Tenderly he kissed the ancient angel wings before sliding it into Aurora’s purse. Maybe when she discovered what he had given her she’d understand how he felt. Understand why he’d let her go.

  She came into the bedroom and he dropped her necklace back into his pocket. Against his heart.

  It was a poor substitute for her love, but the only piece of her he could keep with him for all time.

  —

  HE TELEPORTED DIRECTLY to her bedroom and it was hell letting Aurora go. She didn’t help by keeping her arms around him for a few seconds longer, as if she never wanted them to part.

  “Are you going to come downstairs and meet my parents?” She looked up at him, her blue eyes as enchanting as the first time he’d seen her.

  “Better not.” He dumped her clothes on her bed and tried not to imagine Aurora under the rainbow-patterned duvet. But he knew the vision would plague him for all eternity.

  “Am I going to see you again?” She sounded defensive, and he briefly closed his eyes before turning to face her.

  “Friends with benefits you mean?” He saw her stiffen, and he forced a dismal smile. Where was his archangelic radiance when he needed it? “Wouldn’t work, would it?”

  “No.” She folded her arms and lowered her lashes so he could no longer drown in the haunting innocence of her eyes. “So this is it, is it? Just like a holiday romance after all.”

  His jaw tensed. A holiday romance. “Something like that.” The words just about choked him. Why was she making this so hard? He’d given her what she wanted. Didn’t she know it would destroy him if they continued to see each other on a purely casual basis? If he knew she was seeing—screwing—other men? Didn’t she know how easily he’d hunt them down and pulverize their brains for daring to touch the woman he loved?

  “Aurora.” A man’s voice, uncertain and questioning, called from downstairs. “Is that you?”

  “My dad.” Aurora offered him a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. If that wasn’t a cue for him to go he didn’t know what was. But he couldn’t leave without touching her one more time. Without kissing her one more time. And so he took her clenched fist, uncurled her fingers and kissed the palm of her hand before he teleported back to his island.

  —

  “WHAT IS THIS?” Eblis sounded disgusted. “A fucking archangel retreat?”

  Gabe glowered at Zad and Azrael as they strode into the dimly lit alcove. That had to be a first. He couldn’t remember either of them setting foot on Eta Hyperium before.

  “You need to upgrade your security,” he said to Eblis. “It can’t tell the difference between archangel and demon DNA.”

  “What the hell are you doing here?” Zad, who rarely raised his voice or emerged from his façade of tranquil acceptance of the randomness of the universe glared at him. He looked ready to leap across the table and throttle Gabe.

  “Getting pissed.” Gabe downed the remainder of his tankard and it still didn’t lessen the hard knot of desolation buried in the pit of his gut. It had been two days since he’d taken Aurora back to Ireland. Two days of constant drinking with Eblis. And still the alcohol hadn’t numbed any part of his anatomy.

  “Got a problem with that?” Eblis sounded like he hoped Zad did have a problem with it. One that involved fighting.

  “You look like shit, Gabe,” Azrael said. “Tell me it’s got nothing to do with that interfering human you picked up.”

  “You abandoned her.” Zad glared at Gabe as if he had committed an unforgivable sin. Gabe gritted his teeth. Zad was one of the few archangels he’d never physically fought. Partly because of his connection with Eleni but mainly because Zad just never got that riled.

  But one more fucking word—

  “Tossed her out of your life as soon as you could. Left her to fend for herself—”

  “Shut the fuck up.” Gabe shoved the table out of the alcove with his booted foot. “What’s it to you anyway?”

  “Looks like he’s attached to this female himself,” Eblis said. “That right, archangel?”

  Disgust and fury and raw, primitive possessiveness slammed through Gabe’s chest. He’d suspected Zad wanted Aurora from the moment he’d met her the other day. And now he knew.

  “You touch her . . .” For a moment words failed him. To know that some day Aurora would take another man, might fall in love with another man—bear his children—corroded his soul. But the thought of another archangel having her was beyond intolerable. “I’ll fucking neutralize you.”

  Instead of going for his throat, Zad looked bizarrely self-satisfied. Azrael, on the other hand, had a look of horrified disbelief on his face.

  “Gabe.” Azrael’s tone was urgent. “She’s just a human. Nothing special. Right?”

  Nothing special? She was his everything. And he’d let her go without telling her.

  “You left her because that’s what she wanted,” Zad said as if that was a revelation and not a particularly welcome one. “You didn’t try and change her mind.”

  “Change her mind?” Azrael slung Zad a look of outrage. “Why the hell would Gabe want to change a human’s mind if she’s ignorant enough to turn him down?” He flung himself back against the sofa, his wings partially extending. A frown creased his forehead. “Since when have mortals ever turned down an archangel?”

  She hadn’t turned him down. Because he hadn’t asked her to stay. All she’d wanted was to check on her parents. And he’d taken that as irrefutable evidence that she wanted her life back, without any restrictions.

  “Is this what you want?” Zad’s attitude was back to normal. Calm, almost indifferent. Except for the inexplicable glitter of intensity in his eyes. “The knowledge that for the next three score years or more she’s alive and you’re not with her?”

  No. It twisted his reason that he wasn’t with her. He wanted nothing more than to ignore her protests and take her once again
to his island.

  His prisoner.

  How long would it be before her want and desire turned not to endless love but to resentment and loathing?

  “Zad, what the fuck are you on?” Azrael glowered at the other archangel. “Gabe can find another human easily enough if that’s what he wants. One that doesn’t have an unhealthy obsession in meddling with the astral planes.”

  So Azrael had figured out Aurora’s connection with the disruption in that realm. Not that it mattered. Gabe staggered to his feet. Shit, all that alcohol had affected him after all.

  “I don’t want another human.” He looked at Zad. “Aurora is the only woman I want.”

  Azrael leaped up, infuriated incomprehension flickering in his eyes as he grabbed Gabe’s shoulders.

  “You love her?” He made it sound something obscene. “How could you do that again, Gabe? It all but destroyed you after Eleni. Don’t you understand? She’s mortal. She’s destined to die. No matter how many times you find her in the future she’ll always fucking die. And each time your heart will die as well.”

  Did Azrael think he didn’t know that? It was the reason he’d fought his love for Aurora. But it made no difference if he acknowledged it or not. He loved her, even if she didn’t love him back. And he was a deluded fool if he thought he could’ve stayed away from her for the rest of her life. What price was his pride? What use was his ego? If he told her how he felt, told her what he wanted, she might refuse.

  But if he gave her the choice . . . she might just accept.

  “It’s a small price to pay, Az.” Yes, it would destroy a piece of him every time she died. But the love would survive.

  “How can a few fleeting years possibly compensate for that kind of heartache?”

  “Shut your mouth, archangel.” Eblis stood, unfurled his wings. “Before any more shit comes out of it.”

  “What the hell do you know?” Azrael said. “You’re a fucking demon.”

  “And you,” Eblis said, contempt dripping from every word, “have never fallen.”