“I needed to hide him until he was older because if you or I, or any angel family raised him, it would trigger his powers before he was ready.” Uriel said. “The power would change him, and he’d blame you for Ariel’s death. Despite my best efforts to stop him in every possibility I saw, you and he would end up fighting. In some, he’d attack you, and in the ensuing fight, Nick would die. In other possibilities, he’d kill me first because I couldn’t hurt him. He’d snap and go on a rampage only you could stop. This was the only scenario where he lived.”
“I’m confused,” Trevor said. When everyone stared at him, he looked embarrassed.
“It’s OK, Trevor,” Uriel said. “After all I’ve asked of you, you’ve earned the right to ask questions.”
Trevor still looked uncomfortable, but he nodded. “You told my grandfather you found the fourth heir, but you didn’t tell anyone he was Ariel’s son. I don’t understand.”
“It wasn’t time,” Uriel said. “Without Henry, Nick would’ve died today. Neither Henry, nor Nick were ready for each other until now.”
Nick shifted beside me, but didn’t let go of my hand. “So you let me grow up thinking I was human.” Nick’s voice was hollow. “You left me with that… family.”
“Despite Ariel’s sacrifice, your powers were still a powder keg,” Uriel's face reflected genuine regret. “There was no way to take you from them that didn’t lead to releasing your powers too soon. So I left you there and tried to help as much as I could. I guided your grandparents to support you, made sure Trevor was in your life, and became Alex so I could be there for you directly. One thing, however, I didn’t see. I had no idea you and Henry wereHKarlin.”
“We’re what?” Nick asked. His skepticism had been leaking through our bond, and I knew he suspected what we had wasn’t real.
“HKarlin.It means soul-bonded," Uriel explained. “I never saw any sign of that. I suspect it was Ariel’s doing. She wanted you to be happy and loved.”
“That sure didn’t happen with the Fentons,” Nick said.
“No,” Brenda said. “But we live thousands of years. Those few are nothing compared to what you and Henry will have together.”
The weight of that responsibility settled over me, both terrifying and affirming what I'd felt since I first met Nick. It wasn’t the responsibility itself, or even spending my life with Nick. I was scared I’d fail to make him happy.
“This is…a lot,” Nick said. “I need time to process things.”
“There is no time,” Michael said, his voice firm but not unkind. “The Drevlin are here, and will send more scouts. We need to begin your training immediately.”
Nick stood before I could protest on his behalf. “No one’s making decisions for me. I need time to think.” He looked down and our gazes met. “And talk to Henry.”
Everything had moved so fast, but it had been worse for Nick. He needed me to help guide and ground him. I just needed him.
Dad put a hand on Michael's shoulder. “Let’s give the boys some space.”
One by one, they filed out. Uriel was the last to leave, his eyes lingering on Nick for a moment. I thought he’d say something, but he smiled before closing the door behind him.
“So,” I said, not sure where to begin.
Nick shocked me by pulling me into a kiss. It wasn’t the longest we’d shared, but it wasn’t quick either. When we pulled back, I had on a goofy smile.
“I’ve wanted that since I woke up,” he said without apology. “We weren’t going to be able to talk if I was focused on trying to kiss you.”
It was the lamest and cutest excuse anyone ever used on me, but it was perfect. “And what if I can’t focus?”
“Then you’ll need to kiss me whenever you’re distracted.”
I laughed because if that was the rule, we might not talk much. Leaning closer, I cupped his cheek. “One more to make sure I’m ready.”
Nick
Iopened my eyes and cringed at the ugly curtains in the safehouse bedroom Henry and I used. Talk about affirming stereotypical behavior for gay men. After all I went through, I needed something familiar to ground me. Especially since most of what I thought I knew was wrong.
Being an angel with powers was pretty cool, but it might take the shine off superhero movies since I was practically one myself. I decided I could live with that trade-off.
Not being a Fenton, however, didn’t make me as happy as I expected.
They were a shitty family and I always wished for a different one. Talk about being careful what you wished for. My real mother was dead, I didn’t know my father, and I was actually cousins with Trevor, Brenda and Zeke – if you considered third cousins, sixteen times removed real cousins.
For a hot second I thought Henry was my first cousin, but he explained the archangels weren’t brothers from the same mother. Ariel and Uriel, however, were true siblings, which made Uriel my uncle. I wasn’t sure how I felt about him being my legal guardian. He was a bit too grumpy.
