by KC Bellinger
“Camille is tied up at the moment,” I said, inching toward her.
“Stay there, Whitney!” Rhys ordered, throwing his arm out to stop me. It seemed he’d gained some of his confidence back.
“She could have stopped me a long time ago. When she was only a child, I approached her, offering the same deal I offered Camille. She refused. At the time, her parents were eating dinner with my husband and I snuck upstairs alone. She attacked me with her mind by sucking the surrounding air, making it hard to breathe. Being a human, she could have killed me and no one would have asked questions. Curtis wouldn’t have cared. He wanted Dustyn.” Amelia snarled. “Among other women.”
Amelia kept taunting me, trying to coax me to her. When she realized that wasn’t working, she tried another tactic.
“Because of her, Penn is dead!”
I stepped out of my hiding place and conjured all the feelings floating in my head and heart: sorrow, pain, loss, love, but most of all, anger. I focused my speed and strength as I ran at Amelia.
“I won’t make the same mistake twice!” I snapped her arm and elbowed her in the face before she could react. Taking the spear from her uninjured arm, I sliced her abdomen, causing her to crumble at my feet.
“Where are the others, Simone?” I turned my attention to the demon. I couldn’t look at Rhys. I didn’t feel like I belonged with a celestial being after killing Amelia, and I wasn’t done yet.
“I don’t know,” Simone replied. The knife was slipping from Azu’s throat. Simone was outnumbered, and she looked wildly around for a way out. “They’re not here.”
Two long strides and I swiped the knife from her hand. Azu stepped aside, rubbing her throat.
“Who knows where they are?” I demanded, pointing the knife at Simone.
“By killing everyone, you have sealed their fate,” she spit back in my face, “and now they will be trapped forever!” Her blood-red lips curled into a smile.
A massive boom rattled the compound and pieces of the ceiling rained down on us. Simone was no longer of any use to me, and if she let the rest of the demon population know who Rhys really was, he would be attacked. I had nothing to trap her in, so I aimed the knife at her heart. Unfortunately, she wasn’t going down without a fight.
She grabbed my wrist and wrestled me to the ground. The carpet was wet and spongy. Was there a hole in the ceiling, or a busted pipe somewhere?
My brief distraction allowed Simone to punch me in the face, causing me to drop the knife. My vision turned blurry, but I felt Simone being ripped from my body. She fell with a thud next to me.
Azu was at my side first, offering soothing words and a hand.
I was dizzy, but looking at the surrounding carnage made me feel nauseous. I rubbed at my eyes and when I opened them, Rhys had replaced Azu. His hands on my shoulders were firm, his eyes dangerously hard. He scanned my face and when he was satisfied he pulled me into his embrace.
“I am so sorry. Whit.” He exhaled. “I could never forgive myself if something happened to you.” His hands moved to my hair. Cradling my head, he kissed me.
A primal need escaped my lips. I dropped the spear, so both of my hands were free to touch my angel. There was motion behind us, but all that mattered was Rhys. I sank into his embrace while his hands slipped down my spine. His kisses became deeper, my lips swollen from his force, but I refused to pull away. Bending me, his hands brought me to the floor, his mouth never leaving mine.
A low, deep growl interrupted us.
Our eyes locked.
I knew that growl. It was the same deep sound that had disturbed Jaiten and me at the ranch. The same guttural cry I made when I wore the cloak.
Neetah!
A scream pulled us apart.
Camille, covered by the cloak, held Azu’s severed head over ours. “Two angels down, one to go.” Camille chuckled. “You look surprised, Hour of Darkness. Didn’t think I was strong enough to call the bear? Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t easy, but I convinced her you and Azu were as good as dead.” She smirked. “Because you are.” She pulled me up by my hair and threw me against the wall.
Slowly, a crack formed, and the floor shifted again. I ran at her but stopped short of the spear aimed at Rhys.
“Have any last words to say, Hour?”
I thought hard. We had a handful of minutes before we were buried under rubble. “Camille, where are the other angels?” I asked politely.
“What other angels? There were only two.” Her confidence wavered as she seemed to ponder the thought.
“No, there are more somewhere,” I cried. “Look at the weather! There are four angels responsible for the seasons—three of them are missing.”
“If there were more, what makes you think I’d tell you?”
The Strongs must have kept them a secret from her. I could tell by her grimace that she knew nothing about them.
Camille held the spear out toward me. “They would never keep secrets from me! They can’t! I know everything!” She pouted then lunged for me.
She missed me by a foot because the water was at her knees now.
Water! Neetah hates water!
“Neetah, you are going to drown!” I screamed, reaching deep for the bear.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Camille demanded. Her shoulders twitched. “What’s going on?” Camille’s arms started failing. She dropped the spear and it splintered into two pieces.
Rhys picked up the larger piece and tucked it into his jacket. He grabbed me by the waist as wings pierced through his silk shirt. Sections of the roof fell into the room, but we dodged the large debris as we floated above the scene below. I didn’t want to, but I knew I had to watch Neetah suffocate Camille. I needed to know Camille was dead.
Chapter 26
Hovering above the compound, we watched it crumble and fall into the ocean. The sun had set, and the water glistened peacefully in the moonlight. Cradled in Rhys’s arms, I took full advantage of watching his long black hair fly away from his face and mingle with his raven wings. His gaze upward was intense. I reached for his face, and he smiled down at me. In the back of my mind, I could hear Dustyn say, What is sent will be taken. I never really understood it until now. Rhys wasn’t whole, and now he knew it. It’d only be a matter of time before he searched for Azu and Penn. For now, though, he was mine. All mine.
We landed on the beach as the last of the compound fell. The sky swallowed the last of the storm, and as the sun slept on the horizon.
Rhys looked out at the water and sighed. “I’ll need to retrieve the cloak.” He turned his attention to me. “But for now, I have you.” He nuzzled my neck. “I don’t have to share you with anyone.”
“I’m all yours, Rhys, always,” I said into his chest with a sigh.
“Have you ever watched the sunrise from the ocean?” Rhys asked.
“Not yet, but I’m sure I am about to.”
A mischievous glint appeared in his eyes. We walked to the boat docks, unable to tear our hands apart.
He pointed with his free hand. “See that boat at the end of the pier?”
“You mean the yacht?” I asked in awe.
He chuckled. “Yeah, it is rather large for one person.”
“That’s yours?”
“Ours,” he whispered. “Consider it yours, when …” his voice trailed off.
“Don’t, Rhys, not now.”
“There are a few things we need to talk about. Arwyn knows my affairs and has everything covered at the bar. You don’t need to worry about her or the demon population now that the Strongs are gone.”
“Rhys, we have time,” I pleaded with him.
“We have tonight.” The faraway look reappeared in his eyes. “I need to right all the wrongs I have done. Before you pass from this world, I need to reunite my soul. It will be your choice to join us. I mean, me, when you cross over.”
“Are you leaving tomorrow?” I whimpered.
“I don’t know how long you have
before you cross over, and if I don’t find …” he stumbled for the right words, “the rest of me, our paths may never cross.”
“So, I get you for one night, that’s all?” My anger was rising.
“We are lucky to have one night.” He freed the boat from the dock and we were drifting out into the ocean. “The pull to return is great, but my need for you is greater. Plus, I promised Penn I would find out what it was like to wake up with you in my arms.” He chuckled to himself. “I now see how my soul needs all three of us. I don’t remember having a compassionate side or even a sense of humor—it must have gone with Penn. Azu was the voice of reason, even in her moments of craziness. She was the part that could trust, believe, and had patience. We need each other—I need them.”
“I need you!”
“No, you need us,” he said, honestly. “I am not complete without them.” He took my hand and guided me to the bow of the boat. “We aren’t complete without you. Tonight you will be with a cruel, heartless angel that acted like a demon.”
“You are none of those things, Rhys.”
“Not anymore.” His lips found mine, and this time, there wasn’t another soul that could interrupt the intensity flowing between us.
***
I woke to find Rhys staring at the night sky. The moon was full and seemed too heavy for the heavens to hold. I watched him from the makeshift bed we’d made on the deck. He turned his gaze on me when he heard me stir. Tucking me under his arm, I weaved my legs between his.
“When I come back, this is where I want to be. Where the ocean and the moon meet, and in the arms of the brightest Star.”
I chuckled to myself.
“What’s so funny? Here I thought I’d share my softer side with you,” he teased.
“No, what you said was beautiful.” I stroked his bare chest and gazed up at him. “It’s what Azu said when I first met her. She referred to you as The Great Moon and that you stole stars for me. She also called you something else, but I don’t remember. Maybe she wasn’t as crazy as I thought she was.”
“Ah, what she said is true.” He slipped his arm out so they were both free. “Pick a star.”
I eyed him cautiously, but I pointed to the brightest star.
He cupped his hands and closed his eyes. “Make a wish, but don’t tell me.”
I thought for a moment and came up with one I knew would never come true. “Okay, I have one.”
A light breeze formed inside his hands. He raised it to his lips and blew. The star that I just wished on shot across the sky and then returned to its original location.
“That’s amazing!”
“Shooting stars or falling stars are just dust, but I like to play with the heavens.” He returned his arm behind me and leaned in close enough to kiss. “You have my mark in your eye. It isn’t a cross, but a star. Most people don’t look close enough to see it, but it’s there.”
“Tell me about the Night Hours.” At this point, I didn’t care, I was the only one left, but I didn’t want him to stop talking. He had a melodious tone, even when he wasn’t singing, that lulled me into tranquility.
“It wasn’t the brightest thing I’ve done,” shame filled his voice and his body coiled away from me.
“But you got me.”
“Yes, of course. Perhaps everything is meant to happen for a reason.” He gathered me close again and nipped my neck playfully. “Are you sure you want to talk?”
Speechless, I shook my head. He had other ways to lull me to sleep.
Chapter 27
Wrapped in blankets on the deck, we watched the stars shine until the sun danced on the horizon. The wind picked up as we docked the boat. Rhys removed his duster jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders. Sinking into his coat, I inhaled the leather scent mingling with Rhys’s.
Hand in hand, we walked back to the church. Neither of us said a word. There were no longer signs of battle on land or in the sky, just piles of wet and muddy snow. The gate was still locked. No one was awake yet, the grounds were still and silent. Rhys wrapped his arms around me and we flew to the top of the church, landing on a turret.
I knew he was torn about leaving me here. His eyes kept darting to the sky and, even though he was standing next to me, he felt distant.
“When you are ready, find Arwyn. She knows of my wishes, I trust her,” he said, breaking the silence. “Tell her I’m sorry I didn’t say goodbye.”
I nodded. The tension was so thick. I felt him slipping from my grip, so I asked, “Will you please tell me about the Night Hours. We got a little distracted.”
Rhys grinned. That was the moment I wanted to remember. He had been so intense all morning that the sexy grin on his face made me tingle inside.
He shook his head. “Ah, yes. My favorite disaster.” His eyes drifted away, but he continued, “I was jealous of the angels that had an Hour to represent them to help restore humanity. The angels I came in contact with were weak and didn’t interact with their Hours. When I confronted one, he said they’re only there to guide them. Well, me being me, I thought that was ridiculous. I put a curse on one of my shooting stars. The four women who saw it made a wish. All of them were pregnant. One of them was your mother.” He hovered for a moment, then closed his eyes tightly like he was focussing on staying still. “I decided I’d have my own Hours and make them strong enough to fight against demons. I wanted an army of angels to restore the human race, but instead of brute men, I got four females coveted by evil for their power and unable to have families of their own. You were the one born the furthest away, but the Strongs still found you. To this day, I don’t know who told them of my Hours or where you could be found.” He wrapped his arms around me and we lifted into the air.
“I’m not ready!” Rhys cried into the sky. Our feet dropped out from under us and we landed with a thud.
The doors to the kids’ dormitory opened and a handful of children ran outside with balls and other playground equipment. I loved seeing how happy they were even though they didn’t have any parents or family.
Justin followed the group, carrying a small child on his shoulders.
“You’ll be happy here.”
“I feel guilty,”
“Why?” Rhys asked, gazing down at me.
It was my turn to look away. “Because they make me happy. They remind me of my brother and sisters. I miss them a lot. I thought if something happened to me, like an accident ...” I stopped talking before I gave away my plan.
“There is no reason to feel guilty. You still have a lot of living to do.”
“I want to be with you, too.”
“And you will be. You will be with all of us.” Rhys took off his sunglasses and tucked them in the pocket of his jacket. I guess he was leaving them with me. His eyes penetrated mine. “You belong here, for now anyway. They need you. These kids, your siblings,” his voice cracked, “even Justin.”
“What are you talking about? We’re just friends.”
“Uh-huh.” Rhys leaned into me. His lips hovered over mine. “Don’t forget your soul belongs to me.”
I shivered.
“I can’t fight it any longer.” Rhys looked pained as his fingers curled into fists. An unseen force peeled him off of me. “When you close your eyes, I’ll be waiting.”
“And when you return, I’ll be here,” I promised.
Rhys’s back arched heavenward as his raven wings unfolded. Sun rays shot through a gap in the thin clouds. His gaze left mine. I blinked away the blinding light.
When I opened my eyes, he was gone.
“Send me a shooting star when you get home.”
Chapter 28
Arwyn met me at the bottom of the turret ladder. Tucked in Rhys’s jacket, I could still feel his hands in my hair and his lips on mine. My heart felt painfully cheated, like a bandaid torn off too soon, the wound oozing everywhere.
“What do you want, Arwyn?” I wasn’t in the mood for anything. I wanted to return to my cabin and sleep. Foreve
r.
She rolled her eyes and started walking away. What was she doing here? When I didn’t automatically follow her, she stopped, folded her arms, and tapped her foot. She wasn’t even looking at me.
“Seriously, why are you here?” I ran to catch up with her.
“How are you with water?” she asked, still turned toward the gates.
“I don’t know? I can swim, I guess.”
“You don’t know?” Turning, she flipped her neon-green hair, which matched her sexy, elf-like boots, and glared at me.
“Look, I’ve had a rough couple of days. I’m not in the mood for your shenanigans.”
“What the hell are shenanigans?”
“Do you have to curse? We are on sacred ground,” I reprimanded her. “Wait, how are you standing here?”
“My feet,” she said snarkily. “Stop asking stupid questions.”
I followed her out of the church grounds. As soon as we stepped out, she glared up at me.
“That’s better. Never make me linger in there again.” She kept walking.
I think this time she would have kept on going whether or not I followed her. She led us to the edge of the Strongs’ property. The only thing left were the rooms built underground. Most of them had caved in, leaving the ground unstable.
“What’s going on?”
“You need to retrieve Neetah. Rhys was too distracted last night to get her himself.” She shook her head. “Since you were the distraction, you will get her.”
I looked past the cliff and watched the tides pummel the jagged rocks below. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” I gulped.
“You don’t have a choice. If she ends up in the wrong hands, we’ll have a horrible mess. The angels are gone, so we don’t have backup.”
“What if I can’t find her?”
“What if you stop asking questions?”
“Why the shitty attitude, Arwyn?” We needed to figure this out before we continued.
“You weren’t the only one who lost Rhys.” Her eyes narrowed and penetrated my self-pity. “He was my best friend and business partner for years. We knew each other’s secrets, and we accepted each other for who and what we were.” She sighed. “He spent his last night with you. I get it, but I didn’t even get a goodbye. Damn him!”